WMBD/WYZZ TV - PEORIA -- Giving loved ones a place to rest for eternity can be a way of getting closure for those left behind to mourn, and now Peoria is giving residents the same opportunity with their pets.

Deep inside the property of Springdale Cemetery, you'll find three acres of land called Whispering Woods. Saturday morning, Springdale Cemetery officials along with the Peoria Zoo held a dedication ceremony.

They unveiled two memorials, one in honor of Boomer and Leah, lions from the Peoria Zoo who've passed away. The second memorial honors Bill Rutherford and his dog Frosty. Rutherford was responsible for opening the Wildlife Prairie State Park, along with his faithful companion Frosty.

Yvonne Strode is the manager at the Peoria Zoo, and says, "Pets and animals are such big parts of our lives and we want to remember them and this gives us a chance to do that."

The land has been available for pets for close to a year, and is already home to some eternal residents.