The Pet Cemetery

When we first moved to Resthaven, I came upon what appears to be a headstone tucked into the woods just beyond the edge of the lawn between the chapel and the pool area. There is no hint of writing or engraving on the granite stone, and it's somewhat imperfect shape and solitary placement made me wonder if it indeed belonged to someone, or if it was just a rock coincidentally shaped like a grave marker. I finally came upon the answer when I met with Dr. Ashkin's daughter, Sally, last year. Sally told me that her father always had cats and dogs (the dogs often named Bo), and that the area where the "headstone" is located is the Pet Cemetery, where generations of Resthaven's pets were buried. The Pet Cemetery dates back before the Ashkins' ownership of the property, although how far back, we'll probably never know. Nonetheless, it is another unique little part of the history of Resthaven, where beloved pets (including our own- see Kayla in photo) happily roamed the woods and fields over the past 180 years.