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Hidden California desert pet cemetery holds unexpected piece of White House history
A secluded pet cemetery in California’s Sonoran Desert contains the graves of former President Gerald Ford’s golden retriever, Liberty, and her daughter, Misty. Liberty was the first dog to give birth in the White House, making the site an unusual and largely hidden part of presidential history; Secret Service agents inspected the grounds before her burial.
Haven for Pets, near Desert Hot Springs, was established in the 1960s by Charley Stewart’s father after he saw a dead dog discarded in a bin. About 1,000 animals are buried there, including pets belonging to Liberace, Michael Landon and composer Jimmy Van Heusen; burial costs have risen from $35 to nearly $900, while the owner now limits burials to preserve the cemetery.
In short
- Gerald Ford’s dog Liberty is buried in a remote California pet cemetery.
- Liberty was the first dog to give birth in the White House.
- The cemetery also contains pets of several Hollywood celebrities.
Explained simply
Haven for Pets is a secluded cemetery near Desert Hot Springs in California's Sonoran Desert. The site holds the graves of Liberty and Misty, the golden retrievers of former President Gerald Ford. Liberty was the first dog to give birth inside the White House.
The cemetery was founded in the 1960s after the current owner's father discovered a dead dog discarded in a bin and wanted to create a proper burial ground for pets. Since then, approximately 1,000 animals have been buried at the site, including pets belonging to celebrities such as Liberace, Michael Landon and composer Jimmy Van Heusen. The facility has operated as a private cemetery for pet owners seeking formal burial services.
The presence of a former president's dogs at a remote desert pet cemetery is an unusual piece of presidential history. Secret Service agents inspected the grounds before Liberty's burial, reflecting the historical significance of the site to the presidential family and their administration.
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