Christmas can be a tough time for those who have lost loved ones – and that includes pets. For some of us, Christmas brings back a flood of happy memories for those pets who were much loved family members, but are now at Rainbow Bridge.
One local pet shop has come up with a way to memorialise beloved pets no longer with us, and include them in the festivities.
Pets Corner Telford store manager Nick Latham created a Celebration Tree. He says, “Customers can make a donation, write their pets name on a bauble, then it's placed on the tree and then it's up for the whole of Christmas. We bring the baubles out every year.”
The celebration tree also makes Christmas happier for pets in rescue. “We raise money for local charities. All the money that's raised, then we spend in store and send all the cats and dogs at Shropshire Cat Rescue and Hilbrae Rescue Kennels a Christmas dinner, a toy, and some treats.”
The Celebration Tree is all inclusive though, “You can put any family members on there - dogs, babies, goldfish, guinea pigs, pretty much whoever you wanted to put on there.”
Julie Hill, local podcaster and writer, was visiting the store for dog food and said, “It’s a lovely idea. I hung a bauble for our dogs Buddy and Star, who we lost in 2018 and 2015. There’s a comfort in remembering them, and it being a shared, public remembrance. I’m glad some pets in need will benefit too.”
This is the third year Nick has put up the Celebration Tree, and it has grown each year, raising £247 in its debut appearance, and an impressive £1,257.37 last year. Hopes are high for raising even more to provide comfort and cheer for rescue animals this year. The Celebration Tree fund raising will operate until the 22nd of December.
To get involved, visit Pets Corner in Dobbie’s Garden Centre Telford, where a warm welcome is waiting for you and your dog. Other pets may be better waiting at home while you stock up on pet supplies.
As Nick says, “It's just a nice way to raise money for charity and pay respect to ones that we've lost.”