A local man is giving credit to turning his life around to his unusual pet.
Philip Wood, 34, says his best friend, a crow named Lokei, helped him become a better person by giving him something to care for and learn from.
Wood, who graduated from the Construction Trades and Labour Course at Northwest Community College recently, is a recovering addict, now one-and-a-half years clean.
At the start of his education at the college, while living in the trades dorm, he found an injured crow that he says was only three weeks old and had a deformed foot.
He thought its mother had kicked it out of its nest after finding out it wasn't perfect and he decided to help it.
“This bird changed my life,” said Wood.
“For the past 15 years, I couldn't find any way to clean up my life. I'd tried everything possible.
“This bird ended up becoming my best friend. He showed me how to be accountable for something other then my addiction. It also gave me a reason to wake up every morning – the crow would bite my toes until I woke up.”
He said some college staff thought keeping the crow was a wonderful idea to see how it went.
Wood graduated at the top of his class and says he now has a career and support from the whole college and students.
“I have been through hell and back and finally I have found my peace and found a future,” he said.
“All I ask is for others to see how there are options out there for everyone, even troubled people looking to make a change in their lives.
“I would love the community to see my true colors and see that if given the chance, we all can change our lives for the positive.”
Recently, the crow broke its leg after it got caught in a closing door.
Wood got Lokei to the Prince Rupert Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, who then took it to see the vet, who set the bone and put a cast on it.
Wood is hoping Lokei can come home soon.