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Coon Dog makes final stop in the Shoals

By Josh Ault
WAFF 48 News Reporter

The Shoals is known for several unique things, one of those is the Coon Dog Cemetery.  This afternoon a champion coon dog was laid to rest.

The Coon Dog Cemetery is located outside of Tuscumbia in Colbert County.  A couple traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to bury their coon dog.

A large crowd gathered today to honor one of the South's most beloved friends, the coon dog.  Residents from all around brought their dogs to honor a champion named The Merchant.

Raynor Frost, Merchant's owner, said, "After being in the ground a year and a half, I dug him back up and pulled him out by the leg and he still looked like the day I put him in the ground."

Frost was the owner of Merch, when he heard about Coon Dog Cemetery, he knew this is where his dog belonged.  Not in the grave in Pennsylvania where they had buried him.

Frost said, "I read about it in the different coon hunting magazines, and really never though I would be here doing this today."

Residents dressed in black, and tears were shed, as an old faithful coon dog was reburied in a peaceful ceremony.  A wooden casket was constructed, and help from strangers put the final chapter in Merch's life.

"He had an excellent heart, just a good dog, hardly made a mistake," said Frost.

Frost is not the first coon dog owner to bring his animal to the cemetery.  There is more than 200 dogs buried at Coon Dog Cemetery.

The rules are strict on what dogs are allowed to be buried in this special cemetery. 

Susann Hamlin, Executive Director of Colbert County Tourism, said, "The only kind of dog that can be buried here is a tried and true bonified coon hound."

Key Underwood started the cemetery when he buried his coon dog, Troop, back in 1937.  The cemetery is the only one of its kind in the world.

You can contact Josh at jault@waff.com