Pet Cemitary to Dig Up Some 13,000 Animals.. (Daily Bulletin 061706) Leased Property to be returned to owner...

I did some research on this one, I guess their lease is up, however they have animals that have been placed to rest in this area, and the Land owner, even though, they were supposed to have a land lease that was suppose to stay in tact for a long time, however the land owner now wants the land back for other uses, and is revoking the Lease. So the Pet Cemetery, which has been on the property since 1949, has to move some 13, 000 dead animals. they still have land to keep the Pet Cemetery going, however it is just the nerve of if all. Especially since the person that owned the land was making money from the lease more then likely.

BSRanch..

Pet cemetery to dig up some 13,000 animals
Leased property to be returned to owner
Associated Press

COLMA, Calif. - Nila Negri grieved her two dogs and a cat years ago, when they were buried at the lone pet cemetery among 17 human graveyards in this town known as "The City of Souls."

But there she was this week, sitting on a gravestone, head in hands.

Some of the 13,000 animals buried at the Pet's Rest cemetery have to be dug up and moved because they were buried on leased property. Now the landowner, a local real estate firm, wants its land back.

For Negri and the others, the prospect of seeing their pets exhumed has stirred up grief they thought had been put to rest.

"I don't want anybody touching my pets," said Negri, who has lived in San Francisco since 1949.

Angry pet owners rallied at the cemetery last week and are exploring legal options to stop the exhumations, Hrudicka said.

The state of California has no regulations governing pet cemeteries, said Kevin Flanagan, a spokesman for the state's cemetery and funeral bureau.

Grief counselors who deal with pet loss say mourning a pet is as natural as mourning a person.

"It's like losing another child," said Dr. Carol A. Brothers, founder of Support Services for Animal Care Professionals and a clinical psychologist who specializes in grief and trauma.

Pet owners often feel embarrassed or ashamed for grieving over the loss of their animals as strongly as they have for a human friend or relative, Brother said.

"It's a disenfranchised grief," she said.

Close to the grave where Negri's cocker spaniel Rusty, her poodle Gigi, and her cat Morden are buried, piles of freshly turned earth and cracked stone slabs marked places where animals had recently been removed. A miniature coffin scarred with rust sat in the grass nearby.

Negri's husband and parents are also buried in Colma, which became a magnet for cemeteries after a San Francisco law passed in 1900 prohibited the burial of human remains within city limits.

Pet's Rest owner Phillip C'de Baca sent letters in May to the owners of 1,000 pets buried at the eastern end of the cemetery, giving them two options: relocation or cremation, both free of charge. The owners were given 15 days to decide.

Negri didn't get a letter from C'de Baca. But she came anyway to make sure her pets weren't among those being disinterred.

She walked into the cemetery office to learn her animals' fate. As she came out, she smiled. Her pets could continue to rest in peace, she said.

"They told me," she said, "I am in a safe location."

Other frantic pet owners flocked to the cemetery.

"At no time was I told he was being buried on leased land," said Cathryn Hrudicka, 53, of Berkeley.

Time was running out for Hrudicka to decide whether she wanted her dog Poquito's remains cremated, returned to her, or moved to a part of the cemetery that is owned by Pet's Rest.

C'de Baca thought he'd be given the option to buy the leased land once the lease was up, he said.

But Cypress Abbey, the Colma real estate firm that owns the land, plans to use it as a human cemetery, said David J. Friedenberg, an attorney for Cypress Abbey.

"They've been waiting to get their property back," he said.

According to the lease agreement, Pet's Rest was required to issue notice to everyone with animals buried on the leased land that said "all rights of interment" would expire on May 19, 2006. Many with animals buried there said they were never notified.

June 7, 2006

You may have been reading or watching news about problems at Pet's Rest. I would like to clear things up, as there has been much confusion about what the truth is.

The situation resulted from a verbal agreement made many years ago between the prior owners of Pet's Rest and Dr. Atwood Sr., on behalf of Cypress Abbey, in which Pet's Rest was allowed to use, on a very informal basis, vacant property which was immediately adjacent to Pet's Rest. Twenty years ago I became involved in running Pet's Rest and long after Pet's Rest began using the adjacent property, Tom Atwood insisted that the agreement be made formal. Believing that the arrangements could be made to purchase the land, Pet's Rest signed a 20 year lease agreement with Tom Atwood. During the course of this agreement, many efforts were made to acquire the property and, on each occasion the discussions were essentially put on hold. Then, recently, I received a letter from Tom's attorney, advising that the lease was over and that the land was to be returned in its original condition.

I contacted the attorney to inform him that I had been negotiating to acquire the land, but the attorney stated that he had no knowledge and required that the land be returned under the terms of his letter. I then contacted Tom and asked him to consider selling a portion of the land which would not impact any plans he might have had. Unfortunately, the only response came from his attorney, who again insisted that the land be vacated. At that point, it became clear that I had no choice but to comply.

It was at that time that we drafted and sent a letter to the people who would be affected by the termination of the agreement with Tom. The letter offered the people the opportunity to come out and select a new location and, if they wished, they could witness the transfer of remains. They may also elect to have their pets removed and cremated, and all without charge.

In response to this unfortunate situation, all those involved or affected have been very understanding. the transfers are being done on an appointment basis, one client at a time. The work is going smoothly and in the most dignified manner possible, with great respect for the pets.

Since this process began, I have been contacted by print and TV news. During the first newscast (KTVU, Channel 2 - Oakland), the announcer incorrectly stated that all of the pets at Pet's Rest were going to be removed. Later, a fair and decent report was done by another station (ABC, Channel 7 - San Francisco), but still much damage had been done. The Channel 2 mistake (which was later retracted) caused an unnecessary myriad of grief and concern for all of the patrons of Pet's Rest. The phones have been ringing off the hook, with calls from all over the world.

We have no idea what use is intended for the property which we had to give up. But since this happened, we are getting more visitors and more flowers that is usual for this time of year. We truly appreciate the support and understanding of those who we have served for so long.

Finally, as a reminder, if you have a pet with us, please remember to maintain your current address on file at Pet's Rest. It is important for us to be able to keep in touch with you.

Respectfully,

Phillip C'de Baca

Save Pet's Rest Pet Cemetery!!!

Brief Summary Of The Issue:

Pet's Rest Pet Cemetery is actually located on two separately owned parcels of property, one belonging to Pet's Rest and the other to Cypress Abbey Land Company. Cypress Abbey leased the property to Pet's Rest years ago on a verbal agreement, but now they want it back (presumably to widen the entry way for a new human cemetery now under construction).

The Problem:

Pet's Rest never disclosed to pet owners who buried their beloved pets at the cemetery that the property was leased until sending a certified letter on 5/22/2006 telling pet owners they have 15 days to remove the remains of their pets!

Pet's Rest Cemetery entered into a Written Agreement in 1986 outlining the terms of the leased property, but continued to inter pets in the leased area. Pet's Rest insists they have always intended to purchase the leased property, but Cypress Abby refuses to sell. (Please see the Statement from Phillip C' de Baca on the Pet's Rest Website)

An informal committee of Pet's Rest Clients has formed to try to Save Pet's Rest Pet Cemetery in its current state. We are trying to get all parties together to discuss options to that end. At this time, the Township of Colma's representative has stated that Cypress Abby has refused to speak to anyone regarding the excavation of roughly 1300 pets who were unknowingly interned on leased property.

While it may seem simple enough to just move some grave sites of pets, it is not easy at all! This has been emotionally traumatic for many pet owners. They have had to relive the loss of their beloved pets as their remains are uprooted and identified. Additionally, over the years the pet remains have disintegrated into the soil. Many pets were not interned in caskets, but blankets or the bare earth. This is not just a matter of property rights. Many believe their pet's spirits live in the cemetery, and the ground to be sacred.

Please help us by writing to Cypress Abby Land Company asking them to meet with us to find a solution that will keep Pet's Rest Pet Cemetery whole. Click here for a sample letter passed out at a recent rally held at Pet's Rest Cemetery. Many were collected and forwarded to Cypress Abby Land Company.

We are also petitioning the local governments' involvement, click here for a sample letter of the many that were signed at the rally and sent to the San Mateo Board of Supervisors and Town of Colma City Council.

All letters and messages e-mailed to savepetsrest@gmail.com will be forwarded on your behalf, and your name added to our list of supporters!

Thank you for your support!