In 1899, the first ever cemetery for dogs and other pets opened to the public, at a listed site in Asnières-sur-Seine. It was created by two animal advocates, who bought part of the Île des Ravageurs, an island facing the banks of the Seine.
Visitors enter this legendary place through an Art Nouveau gate designed by the Parisian architect Eugène Petit. The cemetery is divided into four areas: dogs, cats, birds and other animals (rabbits, tortoises, mice, fish...). Alongside all the unknowns, a few celebrity animals have a place there for eternity: Rintintin, the hero of the TV show; Barry, the St. Bernard who saved the lives of 40 people; pets belonging to Courteline, Sacha Guitry and various princes, princesses and dukes; police dogs awarded medals, etc. A monument has been erected in honour of the graveyard's 40,000th occupant, a stray dog who came to die at the cemetery gates on 15 May 1958.
