We’re looking for 10 volunteers to help with a really special project at the Stanton shelter - revitalizing our historic pet cemetery.
Decades ago, animal lovers were invited to bury their beloved companions on the back of our property so they would always have a peaceful place to visit them. Over time, nature has slowly reclaimed parts of the cemetery, and we’d love to bring these resting places back into view.
Among the graves are some fascinating pieces of local history, including “Captain,” the country’s first police dog; Igloo, the Brandywine Zoo bear; and Minnie Pearl, a goat. We also hope to locate the resting place connected to Maurine Ligon, a nationally recognized sculptor and animal lover who buried her collie, Lady, here in 1973. Ligon lived and worked in the historic half-octagonal Old Town Library in New Castle and passed away in. When Ligon passed away in 1980, her ashes were buried alongside Lady in the cemetery, honoring the bond they shared. Part of our goal is to locate and preserve their resting place so their story is not lost to time.
Interestingly, the project gained new momentum thanks to a donor who recently came across historical records about Maurine Ligon by chance - when a scrapbook with photos fell off the back of a truck. Captivated by her life and legacy, and the fact that he came across something like this by chance, he is now working to tell her story and plans to write a book about her life. After learning about the cemetery, he was inspired to support this effort — and is generously providing lunch for our volunteers that day.
This event is part restoration, part historical discovery, and could be especially meaningful for anyone who loves animals, local history, or hands-on projects.
Event Details
Friday, April 10, 20269:00 AM – 12:00 PM
What volunteers will be doing:
• Uncovering and clearing around headstones
• Creating space around stones so they’re visible again
• Identifying and marking rows
• Cataloging each headstone with its location and inscription
What to wear/expect: This is an outdoor cleanup project, so please dress for the weather and terrain. Volunteers may encounter thorny brush, poison ivy/oak, ticks, or other critters, so long sleeves, sturdy shoes, and work clothes are recommended.
Tools to bring (if you have them- we don't have many at the shelter):
• Garden gloves
• Metal rakes
• Long-handle scrub brush or heavy-duty broom
• Metal shovel or half-moon edger
• Hedge shears or clippers
HAP will provide wheelbarrows for debris and flags for marking headstones. Lunch from Capriotti's will be provided by our generous donor who helped spark renewed interest in this project. If you enjoy hands-on projects and the chance to uncover a meaningful piece of animal and local history, we’d love to have you join us. Please sign up in the volunteer portal if you’re interested.
Thank you for helping us honor the animals - and people - who are part of our organization’s story.
