ABANDONED PET CEMETERY in Surrey British Columbia

This now abandoned Pet Cemetery was founded by Daniel and Mary Blair. After their dog died, they decided to create this pet cemetery, believed to be the only one in BC, which opened in 1952. Nearly 700 pets have been buried here over the years, including dogs, cats, gerbils, birds, guinea pigs, and many other species.
The cemetery is currently unmaintained, unprotected and partially-overgrown, making many of the graves hard to spot.
#cemeteries #cemeteries #thruthegiftshop
⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰
0:00 BC Pet Cemetery - Introduction
0:13 History of the BC Pet Cemetery
1:34 Abandoned Pet Graveyard
2:53 Gravesite of Nellie Blair
3:33 More Abandoned Pet Graves
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INTERACTIVE MAP: link.thruthegiftshop.com/map
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RELATED LINKS
CBC News Push to turn Pet Cemetery into a Park
www.cbc.ca/amp/1.850201
ABOUT EXIT THRU THE GIFT SHOP
Join me in exploring roadside attractions, museums, oddities, points of interest and other diversions before finally...exiting thru the gift shop.

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Check out this latest update on the work that has been done by Dave the Druid on restoration of the cemetery: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoXWg5lsgbRsjKc

[@ctopoussogloutopoussoglou1533]

we were there yesterday afternoon, there were no trespassing signs up and all the headstones were gone

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

No!

[@ctopoussogloutopoussoglou1533]

@@ExitThrutheGiftShop yes, its so sad there were 3 statues thrown around and ALL headstones were gone, I would have taken pictures but our phone needed charging. There was one grave that was exposed revealing 2 containers with what looked like ashes. The development sign was on or abouts the grave of the WW2 vet.

[@ctoptop978]

This needs to be saved for sure.

[@davedruid7427]

At 1:05 of the Presentation, you pan across a Grave that has some Fresh Yellow Flowers on it. I have met the owner of that Grave during 2021 Winter Solstice when she came by to put more Flowers on it. Her name is Heidi and her Labrador Retriever was named 'Jet Junior'. I always give that Grave an Extra Neat Trimming.

[@scottp3953]

in the early 2000's our landscape company was brought in by the SPCA to clean it up, very interesting to see how many animals were buried here. There was a very hidden rabbit plot that was the oldest (1952)

[@davedruid7427]

What Landscaping Company was that?

[@lweir3187]

Untrue. SPCA was never brought in to clean it up.

[@violetskye8462]

This was behind my old house! Used to walk through there to get in my back yard...always had weird stuff happen in that house !!

[@davedruid7427]

Happy Autumnal Equinox! I Celebrated the Equinox by getting more of the BlackBerry Hacked Down and uncovered the Graves of Pedro & Tippy. I have about 3 or 4 Days of BlackBerry Hacking to get the rest of it Hacked Down.

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

You've done so much work taking care of and respecting this site! I hope those blackberries aren't growing back faster than you chop them down!

[@chronictonicwizardcat]

This is amazing! I need to visit!

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

You should! Hopefully this can get some recognition and the upkeep it deserved. I know another of our subscribers has started to do some upkeep in their spare time. I wish more people would be willing to do the same!

[@DanOnPlanetEarth]

R.I.P Sooty!... A fascinating place. Nellie was such a nice lady to set it up but it’s a little sad to see her legacy a little run down. Hopefully one day someone will give it a little love.

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

So sad - I can't help but wonder if any of the previous owners still visit their beloved friends. I'd hate them to see it in this condition after they went to the trouble of burying their pets in a respectful manner.

[@caroleeb1997]

@@ExitThrutheGiftShopSome of the graves are pretty old. Some probably are not here anymore. I am in my late 50s and I was a child when some of these pets died

[@MrGregcarr]

Walked by there yesterday the video surveillance signs sparked my interest. A passerby told me it was maintained now which is great.

[@davedruid7427]

It is me to has been Maintaining it along with a Local Resident who has now Sold his House and moving to White Rock. So it will now be just me doing it.

[@whalleyinferno2966]

The city's sign used to have a beaver which was changed to the towers we see today. If we've learned anything from observable patterns over the years, it's that this lot is now on death row. There has been a sort of dark satirical game that locals have been playing in recent years which is to guess how long it will take for the developer's wrecking ball to finally take out another historical landmark and replace it with a towering eyesore. There is little interest in preserving history in this city, just increasing development. Judging by the area in which this lot resides, we can now begin playing the aforementioned game by predicting when the excavator will make its first plunge into this forgotten hallowed ground to build more tacky mega houses. Place your bets!

[@MrGregcarr]

Bring the beaver back and combine it with the towers. There are beavers in Surrey Lake Park.

[@MrUranium238]

all the woof woofs and meow meows RIP 😺😺😺🐶🐶🐶

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

It's a bit sad to see the place let go. Thankfully @Dave Druid has been working hard to clean the site up and restore the overgrown grave markers!

[@cyriltench6580]

This is also the site of one of our pets. I have been wondering if the site might be designated as heritage as it has a long history and was never maintained as per the desires of Nellie Blair and the pet owners. The present owners left it sit for this long without any evidence of an effort work with the surviving pet parents I firmly believe that this site should be considered as a park space. When the property around this site was developed by the present owners. The city of Surrey had a practice of requiring the developers provide a green space. It is extremely disappointing that the city allowed this property to be left in this state for years. The city should have required the developer to provide a designated green space on the site. Instead the pets were left unattended. The cold and calloused attitude of some people is very sad

[@peenarsfootage2134]

So if you do a little research of this place you will discover that it's not just a Pet Cemetery. There are actually 3 people buried here as well. 2 were cremained. The third. Her name was Murial S Clerke. She was a corporal in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during WW2 and passed away in 1981 at the age of 57 I dont know why you wouldn't mention it in your video. Her plot is pretty well on the corner and is the probably the biggest plot.

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Hi Tyler - I didn't know about the people buried there when I put the video together, and I found out about Murial afterwards. This wasn't mentioned in the initial articles I'd read. Thanks for calling it out - This is an important piece of the history of this site!

[@lweir3187]

Research Vital Statistics No people were buried there.

[@sarahb7795]

I’d like to go visit there. I’m from Surrey and I never knew that existed

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Druid Dave had been doing some great work restoring this location! I need to go back to see how it looks.

[@MrGregcarr]

@@ExitThrutheGiftShop Way to go Dave.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Awesome... Nice video

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Grampa_Swood]

Super cool but also sad at the same time. My backyard is an unmarked grave cemetery as well, I wish we got tombstones like that.

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

I appreciate that people cared about their pets enough to give a proper burial, but it is just sad to see the site go unmaintained.

[@whalleyinferno2966]

Jon? Is that you?!!

[@jefraymagnusentosa8179]

Can we still bury here? Ours just passed yesterday 😥

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Sorry to hear about your loss :( Unfortunately, this pet cemetery has been long abandoned and hasn't accepted burials in many years. I haven't used them, but I found another pet memorial service in the Surrey area: Until We Meet Again [phone] g.co/kgs/1H2UhB

[@davedruid7427]

I am going there tomorrow to spend the afternoon cutting down Blackberry Patches.

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Hi Dave, Thanks again for all the work you have put into restoring this grounds. Not only are there the animals buried there, but I believe three people as well (one burial and two cremation). Appreciate that you are taking the time to show them respect.

[@davedruid7427]

I found it. It is not a Big Secret. It is on the SW Corner of 78Avenue and 147A Street. It is actually registered with Findagrave.com. I went there today and had a bit of Walkabout. It should be Preserved!

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Thanks Dave! Most of the locations I visit can be found with a bit of research online :) I agree though - this should be preserved!

[@davedruid7427]

@@ExitThrutheGiftShop I spent today pulling Blackberry out of the Cemetery. I am taking up doing Restorations on the site as a PT Hobby.

[@davedruid7427]

Murial L. Clerke's Grave Stone is clearly visible from its Glare on Google Earth.

[@davedruid7427]

Yesterday, I went there and chopped out about 200pds of Blackberry. A local Resident brought out a Chain Saw for me to use to chop up Blackberry. I have uncovered 3 Graves that were buried while digging up Blackberry.

[@davedruid7427]

I went there today and spent 4 Hours chopping down Blackberry that is around there.

[@davedruid7427]

Just did a 2022 Summer Solstice update on the Restoration Progress I have been making with the help of one local Elderly Gentleman. Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJWpoZiLbtuYe5o

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

🔴 SUBSCRIBE: link.thruthegiftshop.com/subscribe 🔴 ⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰ 0:00 BC Pet Cemetery - Introduction 0:20 History of the BC Pet Cemetery 1:40 Abandoned Pet Graveyard 3:10 Gravesite of Nellie Blair 3:40 More Abandoned Pet Graves

[@davedruid7427]

Here is my Spring Equinox Update on how things are going with the Restorations that we have been doing in the past 2 years: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omqyXnVjZp2giNk

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Dave - This is truly incredible! This is practically unrecognizable compared to when I first visited a few years back (in a good way)! Half of this plot of land was completely overgrown and inaccessible. I can't imagine all of the hard work you've put into this restoration, but I appreciate the respect that you have shown this piece of land and the ones buried here.

[@davedruid7427]

@@ExitThrutheGiftShop FYI: I somehow accidentally clicked on the wrong Icon on your comment on my KZbin and got your Comment Deleted there. I tried figuring out how to Restore your Comment but could not. Please Repost Your Comment.

[@l21n18]

I want to see this

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

It's an interesting site for sure, especially exploring all the pet names.

[@wonderporium6822]

Hope someone saves this place for what it what intended for

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

+Jennifer Czank Hope so too! I'm sure the developer isn't interested in maintaining it - Maybe it could be turned over to the vity so it can be properly cared for.

[@whalleyinferno2966]

@@ExitThrutheGiftShop Unfortunately, the result of that would probably just be a large development proposal sign being planted the next day. It's how we roll out here. Out with the old, in with the eyesore.

[@alimenhaj5147]

maintain it plz

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Agree - I'd love to see this space get the respect it deserves.

[@elfishcoder7287]

Hey whereabouts is this?

[@davedruid7427]

I have read in the area of 76th Ave and 147th Street. After checking out Google Earth, maybe in the Forested area just North of Chimney Heights Park and Chimney Hill Elementary.

[@maegantoth4751]

78ave and 147a street is the remaining plot

[@ruzicatowers8693]

@@davedruid7427 what u mean u heard? u were there.

[@MrGregcarr]

147A And 78 Ave.

[@ruzicatowers8693]

this REALLY bothers me, shame on Surrey, clearly they have NO respect for nature or anything with history, i mean just look at what theyre doing to Bear Creek Park? running a road right through it !! and right through a salmon bearing stream ! im disgusted, who wants to start a little get together and get this cemetery cleaned up totally:???

[@liztowers2058]

Sad and disgusting how disrespectful developers are. Hope whoever builds a home here is haunted until they die, by angry dogs and cats with rabies.:)