Do people taxidermy their pets when they die? In a word, yes.
Taxidermy has gained a bit of an odd perspective thanks to Hollywood, spooky movies, and stereotypical presentations of big lounge rooms with hunting trophies mounted on the walls. Real taxidermy is anything but a stuffy wall presentation. While the typical person, if asked, would rear in horror at the idea of preserving grandma on the couch in the living room, for many the idea of preserving their favorite dog or cat after it has passed is a completely different reaction. Not only does pet taxidermy make sense, it helps people remember their favorite pets in a way that lasts longer than immediately becoming a memory that fades with time.
A Pause in the Moment for a Thought-Out Decision
The taxidermy process begins quickly after the pet has passed away or been euthanized, a common veterinary procedure when it is too painful for the animal to continue on. From this point, the pet is preserved at a freezing temperature, which provides a time delay for the pet owner to make a final decision on whether to proceed or choose otherwise. This also allows a decision for a taxidermy application to be fully thought-out by the pet owner rather than being an immediate emotional reaction to the moment and loss of the pet in life. Knowing that people are extremely torn at the immediate moment of the loss of a loved pet, most pet taxidermy service providers will not seek or pursue a commitment until weeks afterwards. Instead, with temperature preservation, the decision can be effectively delayed until folks are ready.
From this point, the pet is then transitioned from a frozen state to one that involves the actual preparation of the pet in a taxidermy condition and finished presentation. The process is not rushed, which ensures the final presentation is as accurate as possible. The animal will be posed in a manner that the owner prefers, typically modeled on photographs or digital images provided by the owner of the pet during life. When returned, the preserved pet will appear and present almost as lifelike as before it passed, and owners who choose taxidermy often remark that it helps ease their multiple memories and loss of a close animal friend they had for years prior.
Allowing the Healing to Take Place Without Pressure
Reconnecting with the memory of a pet through a physical representation can have a tremendous healing effect, especially if the pet was suddenly lost in a way that wasn’t expected. This can happen in instances where the pet was in an accident or suddenly expired from a serious medical condition that moved quickly or wasn’t identified until too late. Pet taxidermy services help with an owner’s healing by providing a replica of a loved pet that is simultaneously both familiar as well as respectful of your pet’s memories. Many owners even find themselves looking at their pet after the fact almost as if for a moment it was a step back in time.
Pet taxidermy services are available and doable for both cats and dogs, including different poses and positions. Many options are designed for placement in a special location of the owner’s preference, in a sitting position or in a relaxed floor position, similar to how the pet would have behaved naturally when comfortable and relaxed in the owner’s home. The animal is completely prepared, groomed and preserved in the process so that their final presentation is both endearing as well as problem-free for years to follow.
Questions are Normal and Should be Asked
For folks who are considering pet taxidermy as an option for memory preservation and have never done it before, there are going to be lots of questions at first. This is normal. And working with an expert in the taxidermy process is the best way to get the correct information about how it works, what to expect, and how a loved pet will be treated in the preservation approach from beginning to end. The key factor in the related education about pet taxidermy is transparency. This builds trust in the preparer’s services as well as a peace of mind for the pet owner. Owners should feel free to ask all their questions to be comfortable with their decision. There’s no dumb topic or query that a pet owner should be embarrassed to ask.
Pet owners should also expect the taxidermy process to take close to a year to complete. Most dogs and all cats are eligible for pet taxidermy services. However, the process is limited to common pet species versus larger exotic pet types or farm-related animals. The initial decision phase lasts a couple of weeks until the pet owner has made a full and complete determination to move forward. Then the preparation and taxidermy process will take another few months for full completion of the expert service involved. For that wait, a pet owner is then returned with a vivid memory of their animal loved one, which can be cherished for years to come. Animal Family Pet Preservation is common, an expression of one’s love for their pet, and normal. Don’t be afraid to find out more.