Desert Pet Cemetery Holds Unexpected Piece of White House History

Tucked away in California's Sonoran Desert lies a pet cemetery with an unexpected connection to presidential history. Haven for Pets, located in Desert Hot Springs, is the final resting place for Liberty, former President Gerald Ford's golden retriever.

When Liberty was to be buried at the cemetery, Secret Service agents visited the grounds to conduct inspections, according to cemetery owner Charley Stewart. Stewart told Fox News Digital that the agents were there to "look for mines and walk around" ahead of the burial, acknowledging the security protocols for a presidential pet.

Liberty, who arrived at the White House as a puppy, became the nation's first dog. She gained national attention in 1975 when she gave birth to nine puppies on the third floor of the White House, marking the first time a dog had done so in the residence. Liberty was frequently photographed alongside President Ford, often seen on the North Lawn, in the Oval Office, and at Camp David. She even received fan mail from across the country.

Stewart's father, Charles Stewart, founded Haven for Pets in the 1960s. He was inspired to create the cemetery after witnessing a distressing incident where a deceased pet was discarded in a garbage can. This experience led him to establish a dignified burial place for animals, a mission that continues today.

The cemetery's celebrity clientele extends beyond the White House. World-famous pianist Liberace has six of his dogs buried there, with their headstones listing their owner as "Lee," his nickname. Pets belonging to actor Michael Landon and Academy Award-winning composer Jimmy Van Heusen are also interred at Haven for Pets. These connections grew from the Stewart family's long-standing practice of caring for the pets of celebrities who resided in the Coachella Valley.

Roughly 1,000 pets are buried at Haven for Pets. While the burial rate was once $35, it has increased to nearly $900. Stewart has consciously limited the number of annual burials to three or four, aiming to preserve the cemetery for future generations, estimating it has the capacity to last for over 200 years. Stewart himself spends time daily at the cemetery, maintaining the grounds and overseeing the resting places of the animals.

Misty, one of Liberty's puppies who was kept by the Ford family, is also buried alongside her mother at Haven for Pets, adding another layer to the cemetery's historical significance.