A devoted pet owner from Birmingham, who made headlines for spending thousands to scatter her hamster's ashes in Hawaii, has found a new way to honour her beloved companion: on a giant 100ft billboard in the city.
A £1 Tribute on a Grand Scale
Lisa Murray-Lang, 49, a self-employed pet sitter, recently spotted a community initiative on Facebook. Locals could advertise an image on digital billboards in Longbridge, Birmingham, for just £1 per picture. Seizing the chance, she uploaded a photo of her Syrian hamster, Spud, creating a touching and larger-than-life memorial.
"I was over the moon and so proud to see his little face!" Lisa said. "I popped out last night to see him shining brightly like the star he was!" The billboard display, which also brightened the day for locals who remembered Spud's lockdown adventures, will be shown again between 28th and 31st December 2025.
An International Farewell Tour
This billboard is the latest chapter in an extraordinary story of devotion. Spud, named after a character in Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, died in 2022 at the age of three years and seven months. Heartbroken, Lisa embarked on a series of trips to honour his memory.
Her most significant journey was a 7,000-mile trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she scattered some of his ashes on a beach at a cost of £3,500. Unable to part with him completely, she kept the remainder in a vial on a necklace.
A European Tour for a Tiny Friend
In 2023, Lisa and Spud's ashes undertook a poignant tour of Europe, visiting cities she had lovingly recreated for him in miniature during Covid lockdowns. The itinerary included:
- Paris: Visiting the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre over six days in September.
- London: A two-day trip in November to Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and 10 Downing Street.
- Amsterdam: A five-day visit in December, including the Van Gogh museum and a cat rescue centre via canal boat.
"Spud loved the model of Buckingham Palace I made him," Lisa recalled. "He used to stick his head over the top next to the flag and give a royal wave. It was important to go to the real places he 'explored'."
A Legacy of Love and Miniature Worlds
During the pandemic, Lisa spent countless hours building intricate, tiny models for Spud to play in, ranging from European capitals to fictional settings like Hogwarts and Coronation Street. This creative labour of love forged an unbreakable bond, making her subsequent tributes a natural progression of her grief and affection.
From a Hawaiian beach to the streets of Paris and now towering over Birmingham, Spud's memory continues to be celebrated in the most unique ways. Lisa's story is a powerful testament to the profound connection between pets and their owners, proving that the smallest creatures can leave the biggest paw prints on our hearts.
