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Family has their beloved golden retriever’s coat kept by a taxidermist – who says the keepsake will certainly not be used as a rug
- Golden Retriever who died turned into a memento for his grieving family
- Maddy from Chimera Taxidermy said pet conservation has become hugely popular
- She also pointed out that her work is exhibited, but never used as a rug
A family whose beloved dog died made the unusual decision to turn his fur into a memento, sparking debate among viewers as to whether it was going a little too far.
Melbourne-based Chimera Taxidermy shared a video of the golden retriever’s fur on social media and said it would be kept by his family as a keepsake.
The business owner, 29-year-old Maddy, explained that the fur was “tanned and turned into leather so that the fur wouldn’t fall out” and should remain in good condition for years.
Maddy shared a follow-up message Friday explaining that the pelts will be stored or displayed, but certainly not used as rugs to walk on, as some people had assumed.
‘I didn’t make a living room rug for this golden retriever. I create alternative pet memorials for those who want to preserve a physical memory of their pet,” she said.
“Some people choose only part of the fur, others choose the whole fur.”
“The pets I keep are not rugs. They are kept alongside ashes, photographs, artwork, collars and any other mementos the owner has kept… It’s the same concept as storing an urn on the shelf.”
Many people who commented were supportive and said she helped people lose a beloved animal.
“I don’t think people understand how special this art is and how much peace it can bring,” said one person.
“Love you and the owners who find comfort in your services,” said another.
“I’d much rather have fur or taxidermy than ashes,” said a third.
A pet owner has turned their beloved golden retriever who died into a memento (pictured) but Maddy from Chimera Taxidermy pointed out that her work is never used as a rug
But others said they would find it difficult to get such a reminder.
“My memories give me peace of mind, I couldn’t do this, it would make it harder for me,” said one.
“This is interesting, but certainly not for everyone,” said another.
“I don’t know if I could handle this,” added a third.
Maddy told Yahoo News Australia she has been doing pet taxidermy since she was 18 and it has become extremely popular in recent years.
“Some are sentimental keepsakes, others can be seen lying on their beds or how their owners want to keep them,” she said.
She said most of her requests are for full mounted mounts and she has done birds, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs as well as puppies.
While prices are given based on a quote for a specific job, owners can look to keep their pet on anything from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
“It’s worth it to be able to help people with their grief and allow them to keep a part of their pet forever,” Maddy said.