Easter decorations stolen from Vernon dog park

An Easter bunny's annual attempt to brighten up a BX dog park has been dashed.

The spring holiday decorations were peeking from trees and shrubs and adorned tables and fences at the BX Ranch Dog Park two weeks ago.

“Hundreds of Easter eggs and other Easter decorations hung from the trees and fences bringing awe and happiness to us dog walkers,” said Barbara Laursen, a regular at the park with her four-legged friend Ozzy.

But by Friday, they were all gone.

“Not a single decoration is left,” Laursen said. “Wiped clean.”

Knowing how much time and pleasure the dog park's Easter bunny puts into setting up the decorations, Laursen and others are devastated to see it all gone ahead of the holiday.

“Christel (Hirschkorn), a sweet elderly woman, who loves to share Easter joy with all us dog walkers at BX dog park, has spent the last 10 Easters putting her own colourful decorations on display,” Laursen said, adding Christel does the same at Christmas.

Laursen estimates Christel, who is in her 80s, spends a minimum two days of work putting them all up and carefully taking them all down to store for the next year.

“A disrespectful and brazen thief or thieves stole every piece that was so thoughtfully placed by Christel. Who would do such a thing? Someone who dislikes Easter? Vandals stealing for the fun of it?”

Laursen and other regulars who know and love Christel ask that the decorations be returned, even tucked inside the fence so the walkers can put them back up again.