Ridgeleigh Residents To Strategize on Pet Cemetery's Fate

A Tuesday night meeting at Johnny Dee's Lounge in Parkville will focus on an ailing local landmark.

Oakleigh Pet Cemetery, located in the Ridgeleigh neighborhood, contains the graves of pets dating back to the 1920's, according to an email from the Ridgeleigh Community Association.

The cemetery site, located at 8408 Oakleigh Road, has become a concern for the neighbors since falling into disrepair.

"The grounds have become overgrown with weeds and brush, the headstones have been vandalized, debris and litter covers the graves, and the cemetery is fast becoming a refuge for juvenile delinquents and rodents," according to the email. "The current state of the cemetery has earned its current owner tens of thousands of dollars in fines and the ire of many local residents. The cemetery is now in danger of development due to foreclosure as a result of fines and back taxes."

At 7 p.m. Feb. 19, the group will hear from Bigg Jim Jones of the Paranormal Research and Investigative Society of Maryland about the current condition of the cemetery and strategies for its restoration.

During the recent Comprehensive Zoning Map Process, Fifth District Councilman David Marks decreased the residential zoning density on the property to protect it from future development.

Read Marks' blog about the cemetery on Patch.

Marks also introduced legislation back in October to protect those who had purchased plots at the cemetery.

The Ridgeleigh Community Association, though, is hoping that neither the zoning change nor the new law come into play. They'd like to see the space, where it's rumored a pet monkey that belonged to actress Shirley Temple is buried, restored and preserved.

"We are hoping to generate interest in preserving the cemetery and protecting it from any future development. We are also interested in possibly partnering with others in the area in order to organize clean up and restoration efforts," an email from the group said. "Hopefully, together we can save this local landmark from destruction before it is too late."

Do you think the Oakleigh Pet Cemetery should be preserved? Do you know someone who has a pet buried there? Tell us in the comments.