When a beloved pet passes away, many owners will make the decision to preserve their memory in a special way. Whether that be having their name engraved on a bench, getting a tattoo using their ashes or donating to an animal shelter in their honour.
One mourning family has chosen to transform their late golden retriever into a rug, so they will always be reminded of the fluffy pooch at home. Australian company Chimera Taxidermy was hired to create the memorial keepsake, and business owner Maddy, 29, says it's not an unusual request - pet taxidermy is on the rise.
In an Instagram post on her company's account, Maddy wrote: "Beautiful old golden retriever preserved as a pelt for his family. Finally ready to head home."
In the comments, she explained that "the pelt has been tanned and turned to leather so the fur won't fall out".
Speaking to Yahoo News, Maddy continued: "Pet taxidermy has only really become more popular in the last five years or so, so it's a very new thing to see for most people.
"Some are more of a sentimental keepsake, others are on display resting in their beds or however their owners wanted them preserved."
Maddy has been asked to preserve lots of different animals, including rats, rabbits, goats and guinea pigs.
The taxidermist admits it's "definitely not for everyone" and she said she "absolutely respects that".
Though she finds it incredibly rewarding to help owners with their grief and "allow them to keep a part of their pet forever".
After sharing a video of the golden retriever rug online, Maddy received mixed responses from dog lovers.
While some loved the "beautiful" idea and deemed it "sweet", others were convinced it would make their mourning harder.
"I'm so glad more people are doing this now," one person wrote, while another said: "Super cute, never seen pets preserved as pelts before."
Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal, often by stuffing or mounting them.
It has a long history, with stuffed or mounted animals traditionally being kept as hunting trophies or on display in museums.
Although taxidermy may seem like a thing of the past, it appears to be more popular than ever with pet taxidermy garnering popularity across the world.
Many owners are choosing to transform their late dogs and cats into rugs, teddies and works of art.
How did you preserve your pet's memory after they passed away? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
