French police are investigating the theft of a diamond-studded dog collar from a grave at the world's oldest pet cemetery, whose most famous tenant is Hollywood canine star Rin Tin Tin.
Police told AFP someone stole a collar worth 9,000 euros (11,700 dollars) on the night of February 4 after slipping into the animal cemetery in the Paris suburb of Asnieres-sur-Seine and unearthing the remains of a black poodle.
A wealthy American industrialist's wife had buried the poodle in 2003 in a marble tomb whose headstone includes a large red heart and an image of a black poodle. The name "Tipsy" was covered with orange tape on Wednesday.
For years the legend of a dog buried with a diamond necklace had circulated in the town, according to cemetery pet owners, but it was only after the theft that police confirmed the truth of what had been thought an urban myth.
Today the French cemetery houses the tombs of 3,000 animals, most of them dogs and cats but also others like Kiki the monkey, Bunga the rabbit, Faust the sheep, several horses and even a lion, staff said.
The tombs are adorned with animal photos, colourful marbles, gnome figurines,...
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