Remember Heidi? Her family members did, and commemorated their beloved collie’s life with a headstone at the Presidio Pet Cemetery, final resting place of hundreds of animals owned by soldiers and families stationed at this famous San Francisco military post. Once shaded by ghostly Monterey pines, the half-acre plot surrounded by a white fence has succumbed to progress in the name of highway construction. But while some 500 trees have been felled and traffic roars on Doyle Avenue overhead, the 400-plus headstones commemorating family companions from dogs to goldfish still prompt contemplation. Long-term stewardship is assured through community-based volunteer efforts.
For another blast from the past, visit the eerie ruins of Sutro Baths, where you and Fluffy can clamber over the crumbling ruins of a once-grand facility that, in its 1890s heyday, boasted 500 dressing rooms, seven swimming pools, an amphitheater seating 3,700 and three restaurants accommodating 1,000 people.
Another Fido-friendly haunt is Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park, ranked by Haunted America Tours as one of the 10 most haunted places in California. Curious about other places in San Francisco said to be frequented by specters? Well-behaved canine companions are allowed to tag along on highly-rated Haunted Haight walking tours this weekend and on other selected dates.
