Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard facts for kids
Coon Dog Monument
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| Details | |
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| Established | September 4, 1937 |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Private |
The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard is a cemetery located in rural Colbert County, Alabama, USA, reserved specifically for the burial of coon dogs. Key Underwood established the cemetery on September 4, 1937 by burying his own dog there. Underwood chose the spot as it was previously a popular hunting camp. As of August 2014[update], more than 300 dogs are buried in the graveyard.
Dogs must meet three requirements to qualify for burial at the cemetery: the owner must verify that their dog is a purebred coonhound, a witness must declare that the deceased is a coon dog, and a member of the local coonhunters' organization must be allowed to view the remains.
Headstones in the cemetery range from homemade wooden and metal monuments to more elaborate marble engraved stones. The dead include many notable coonhounds.
History
The cemetery was established on September 4, 1937 by Key Underwood, who buried his coon dog, Troop, in an old hunting camp located in rural Colbert County, Alabama, USA. The closest town is Cherokee, Alabama. At the time, Underwood had no intention of starting a dog cemetery but wanted to bury Troop, who he had owned and coon hunted for 15 years, in a place the dog had liked. Underwood buried Troop three feet deep and engraved an old chimney stone for a marker. Other hunters followed his example when their dogs died, and gradually the cemetery came into being. The entrance is marked by a statue of two coonhounds treeing a raccoon.
Dogs must meet three requirements to qualify for burial at the cemetery: the owner must certify that their dog is a purebred coonhound, a witness must declare that the deceased is a coon dog that has been hunted, and a member of the local coonhunters' organization must be allowed to view the coonhound's body and certify it to be purebred. Mixed breeds or pet dogs are not allowed to be buried in the graveyard.
Headstones in the cemetery range from basic homemade wooden and metal monuments to the more elaborate marble engraved stones similar to the ones found at many human cemeteries. Some have epitaphs, such as "He wasn't the best, but he was the best I ever owned". The interred dogs include many notable hunting dogs such as Hunter's Famous Amos, Ralston Purina's 1984 Dog of the Year. It is the only cemetery in the world specifically dedicated to coonhounds. By 2014, over 300 dogs were buried in the cemetery.
The cemetery was featured in the movie Sweet Home Alabama, but the producers used artistic license to relocate it to south Alabama.
Labor Day
Every Labor Day the Tennessee Valley Coon Hunter's Association sponsors a gathering at the cemetery in a tribute to the inauguration of the cemetery on Labor Day in 1937. The celebration includes bluegrass music, dancing, barbecue and a liar's contest. Admission is free to the public, but donations are accepted and go toward upkeep. In 2014 eight Redbone Coonhound puppies were sold at the gathering, with proceeds going to upkeep. The gathering is often attended by local politicians.
