Dog Walkers play a vital role at Congressional Cemetery
Need to know when we are closed to dogs?
Text DOG to 1 (877) 589-4390 to receive our text alerts
Membership is a requirement of dog walking privileges in Congressional Cemetery.
The community comes together walking their dogs off-leash over the beautiful 35+ fenced acres. Membership is annual and runs from March 1st to the last day of February the following year. K9 Corps memberships are our largest ongoing fundraiser here at the cemetery.
Dog walking at the cemetery is a privilege permitted by membership only to active members in good standing who respect the space and its residents.
The purpose of the K9 Corps is to support the ongoing conservation work and public programming at Historic Congressional Cemetery. This is accomplished by each member’s ongoing volunteer work and annual membership fee. Non-member dog walking is only permitted with the purchase of a one-day pass ($15 per dog), and pass holders must follow K9 Corps rules.
Membership
K9 Corps membership is a privilege, not a right, and is maintained through an active relationship between dog owners and the cemetery. Members are required to submit an annual membership fee of $400 for one dog. Additional dogs can be added for a $50 fee each (up to two additional dogs per family) annually. These fees support the ongoing work at HCC to preserve our sacred burial ground.
Volunteerism is at the core of the K9 Corps program
Each family that registers for a volunteer membership is required to commit to serving eight (8) volunteer hours annually in support of cemetery activities. Volunteer hours are a requirement because we wish for our members to be invested in the cemetery and in relationship with the staff, visitors, and other members. Volunteer opportunities are robust and vary from season to season.
What types of volunteer opportunities are available?
Volunteering can be done as an individual or in groups, onsite or offsite, virtually or in-person. Our offerings include taking photographs, clerical work, conservation, clean-up, giving tours, working events, and more. If you need a special accommodation or project, one can be made for you. Please contact the office for a more personalized volunteer opportunity.
Why do I see so many closures to dogs each week? Is this common?
As an active burial ground, our first duty is to those interred on the site and to the families of those burying their loved ones. For this reason, we commit to providing a dog-free atmosphere during all burials out of respect for the bereaved. Typically, the cemetery is closed one hour prior to a burial until one hour after the burial. There is a bell we will ring 15 minutes before a service to announce the coming closure should any dogs be onsite prior to the closing. As we often cannot predict when our burial services will be needed more than a few days in advance, these closures can occur with limited notice to the K9 Corps. The K9 corps will be notified of these closures by text and email as the information becomes available. We appreciate your understanding when this occurs; and your continued respect for our grieving families.
Additionally, we raise funds as a nonprofit by hosting private events and public programs. Closures to dogs coincide with these events, as well as for maintenance and conservation work. Your cooperation and understanding are appreciated as we continue to raise funds to keep our grounds beautiful and open for years to come.
The Cemetery is always closed to dog walking between 11am and 3pm every Saturday and on specific holidays, including Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Cemetery staff or the HCC Board of Directors may direct further closures on an as-needed basis. Thank you for your cooperation.
Dog walking is prohibited during ALL burials and services.
The Cemetery will also be closed at other times for special events, as announced in advance to the K9 Corps. Notifications of periodic closures for burials and events are sent via email and text to all members/walkers, posted on congressionalcemetery.org, and displayed on signage at the HCC main gate. It is the walker’s responsibility to confirm that the Cemetery is open to dogs before visiting. To maintain the integrity of burials, services, and non-dog walking events, the owner of any dog found to be on the Cemetery grounds during closure hours will have their membership/day-pass privileges immediately revoked.
Day Passes
The purpose of the day pass program is to allow community members to periodically experience the grounds with their dogs for recreation. Non-member dog walking is only permitted with the purchase of a one-day pass ($15 per dog). Day passes are valid only for the date on which they are purchased. The cemetery is open to the public from dawn to dusk.
We are closed to all dogs during:
- Funerals
- Private & community events
- Each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for family grave site visits
- Federal holidays
Need to know when we are closed to dogs?
Text DOG to 1 (877) 589-4390 to receive our text alerts
Purchase a Day Pass
Day passes can be purchased onsite using one of our contactless payment options below:
Venmo – @CongCemetery
PayPal – @CongCemetery
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Get Involved
We have many opportunities to help save this treasured place for people of all ages and abilities. Volunteer work keeps the Cemetery clean and secure as well as lively and well loved. Our volunteers put in thousands of hours of work each year. Help accomplish tasks the cemetery needs while earning the discounted volunteer rate for your K9 Corps membership. To receive the discounted rate, simply complete and document eight (8) hours of volunteer work annually per household.
Opportunities to volunteer are vast. Here are just a few ideas:
- Act as a bartender, actor, event support, or guide for one of our many programs such as Soul Strolls, Dead Man’s Run, or Cinematery.
- Become a docent and lead tours through our historic grounds.
- Become an ambassador helping with visitor service (toolkit under ‘resources’).
- Adopt-a-plot and keep our plants thriving.
- Take photographs of stones for our archivist to update our records.
- Set up for a yappy hour with owner pet parents and their furry little ones.
- And more!
If you have an expertise you think you could lend (fundraiser, help find event sponsors, horticulturist, photographer, etc.), please let us know! We would be delighted to work with you to design a volunteer experience that highlights your talents.
Socialize
What is a yappy hour? Yappy hours, our popular pup-friendly happy hours, occur almost monthly during the ‘nice weather’ season. Attendees are asked to bring a food item or beverage to share, while the cemetery provides the space, setup, drinks, and other treats. Some yappy hours are accompanied by pop-up gift shops or themed pet portraits. We also collect donations for local shelters at many of these events. We hope to see you and your pup soon!
Rules Refresher
Welcome to the Historic Congressional Cemetery (HCC) K9 Corps rules. Please bear in mind that HCC is first and foremost a functioning cemetery, not a “dog park,” and dog walking isa privilege that is limited to members of the HCC K9 Corps. Non-member dog walking is only permitted with the purchase of a one-day pass, and pass holders must follow K9 Corps rules. Collective enjoyment of the Cemetery should be readily possible as long as all dog walkers are courteous and considerate toward each other, the cemetery grounds, and other visitors.
The K9 Corps Committee has established the following rules and regulations to ensure that the Cemetery remains both a safe and pleasant environment for all. Please review these carefully; members will indicate agreement to fully comply with all terms and conditions of K9 Corps membership by signing an Acceptance of Rules/Waiver and Release of Liability at their annual mandatory membership orientation. Payment of the day-pass fee by non-members signifies an agreement to follow all K9 Corps rules. Those found in violation of any of these rules may have their privileges revoked immediately and without refund.
Closed to Dogs Calendar
Closed to Dogs
Please use this calendar to see our upcoming cemetery events which will include closures to dogs. Remember to check other communication avenues for funerals and other unexpected closures.
Calendar of Events
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Closed to Dogs
Closed to Dogs
Congressional Cemetery is closed to all dogs each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for family grave site visits as well as during: Funerals | Private & community events | Federal […]
Cemetery Speaker Series: Disinterments, Exhumations, and Grave Robbing
Cemetery Speaker Series: Disinterments, Exhumations, and Grave Robbing
Disinterment. Exhumation. Grave Robbing. The words themselves seemingly resonate in our collective consciousness, conjuring images of the silhouettes of misbegotten characters, toting shovels, sneaking into a cemetery on a dark […]
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Funeral Service
Funeral Service
The Cemetery will be closed to all dogs for the duration of our funeral proceedings. Thank You, HCC
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Closed to Dogs
Closed to Dogs
Congressional Cemetery is closed to all dogs each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for family grave site visits as well as during: Funerals | Private & community events | Federal […]
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0 events,
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1 event,
Closed to Dogs
Closed to Dogs
Congressional Cemetery is closed to all dogs each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for family grave site visits as well as during: Funerals | Private & community events | Federal […]
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1 event,
Closed to Dogs
Closed to Dogs
Congressional Cemetery is closed to all dogs each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for family grave site visits as well as during: Funerals | Private & community events | Federal […]
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2 events,
Closed to Dogs
Closed to Dogs
Congressional Cemetery is closed to all dogs each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for family grave site visits as well as during: Funerals | Private & community events | Federal […]
Dia De Los Muertos At Congressional Cemetery
Dia De Los Muertos At Congressional Cemetery
Join us for an extraordinary celebration of Dia De Los Muertos at Historic Congressional Cemetery. In collaboration with special guest and Capitol Hill resident, Rosa Moreno, we will transform the chapel in […]
