Longtime cat owner arrives at Memphis pet cemetery to find burial plots bulldozed

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The resting places of dozens of pets are in question after a piece of property changed hands.

Now, a pet owner is frustrated after finding out her pets’ burial areas were allegedly bulldozed.

Linda Swindler says she has around eight cats buried at Pinecrest Pet Cemetery on Hacks Cross Road in Memphis.

She said just days before Thanksgiving, she went to put more flowers on their plots, but she couldn’t find them.

After weeks, Swindler found what she was looking for.

“Up, up. This is one of mine, this is one of mine, mine,” she said when she found some of the decorations on the burial plot of her cat Bella.

She found them in a pile of headstones belonging to dozens of other pets.

One of Swindler’s cats has been there for nearly 30 years. She was surprised to find how damaged not only her plots were, but others.

“Look at this, they just threw it and broke it all up. But this one, it’s one of mine,” she said.

She believes just over a month ago, the cemetery was bulldozed, leaving behind a pile of headstones and destroyed burial plots.

The owner of the cemetery recently passed away, according to a voice message left on the cemetery’s phone. The message also noted that there would be no new business at the cemetery until an owner is established.

After searching through Shelby County property records for the owner of 5151 Hacks Cross Road, it shows Khalid Haimed as the owner.

“I bought it from the tax sale and I am trying to get rid of it,” said Haimed.

Assessors’ records show he bought the land for just under $70,000 in 2023.

Hamied said he did not know the 3.5 acres of land he purchased contained a pet cemetery when he bought it.

“When I found out it was a pet cemetery, I was so mad. I lost all my money,” said Haimed. “I don’t even like that street anymore, Hacks Cross, because I lost my money over there. I don’t like it.”

He went on to say he does not know who allegedly bulldozed through the cemetery and he wants to get rid of the property.

“Yep, that’s one of mine,” said Swindler as she found more decorations crushed in mud.

She said she wants to know who will take care of the property or how she can get her pets moved to another cemetery.

“That’s what I am trying to stop, find out what I can do, what needs to be done, what can be done, if anything,” she said.

Haimed said he does not have plans for the land or the cemetery right now. He said he originally bought the land to build a home for his family.

As for the pet owner’s burial plots destroyed, he said he does not know anything about that.

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