A Hope resident is helping people cope with the loss of their furry companions over the holidays.
Ed Stephens and his neighbour set up a pet memorial tree last week on Union Bar Road, near the entrance to the Thacker Marsh nature trail.
“Over the period of a year, when a good season rolls around, you see there’s always a quiet spot in the house,” he said. “We all have our little buddies that are missing family members. Let’s face it, they’re our kids.”
Since the memorial tree was set up, several people have stopped by to hang pictures of their beloved pets in resealable plastic bags along with their pet’s name and age. Stephens encourages residents to not only visit the site, but help decorate the tree in memory of their animals.