Stuffing pet: Psychologist says it makes saying goodbye even harder

Created: 09/30/2022, 15:00

After the death of a beloved pet, some owners decide to have it taxidermy.

From a psychological point of view, however, this is not a good decision.

Stuffed animals have been considered pretty decorations for many years.

In particular, hunting trophies or specimens found to be exotic were exhibited and admired not only in public spaces, but also in one's own four walls.

Today, stuffed animal bodies can mostly only be found in museums or in the clubhouse of the local hunters' association.

But even pet owners sometimes still decide to have their faithful companion stuffed after their death.

In all cases, the taxidermy is carried out by taxidermists who ensure that the animal body is preserved and appears as lifelike as possible.

The complex work is associated with some costs and not every deceased animal is equally suitable for a preparation.

But also for psychological reasons, in most cases it is not recommended to have your pet stuffed.

According to an expert, the lifeless exhibit makes it more difficult to say goodbye and makes it almost impossible to finally accept the death of a loved one.

Taxidermy: This is what happens when the pet is stuffed

Many pet owners would like to stay with their pet forever.

(Iconic image) © Westend61/Imago

Stuffing a dead animal is a laborious affair.

So that the preparation of the body does not fail, everything must be well organized and planned in advance.

At best, the animal should be frozen or at least refrigerated after its death.

In the case of pets, taxidermists also need numerous photos in different positions in order to be able to reproduce the faithful companion as realistically as possible.

Not much of the actual body is used for the stuffed animal other than skin and bones.

However, if desired, most taxidermists will save the entrails for the owners to bury.

With the help of the photos, the proportions of the animal are then reproduced as best as possible using different materials.

It is particularly difficult

correctly represent the facial features and eye area of ​​the model.

However, not all animals are suitable for taxidermy treatment.

Small and fragile birds, for example, or particularly old and sick animals with poor tissue are often difficult to prepare after they die.

Who chooses to have their pet stuffed?

The majority of pet owners would probably not think of having their beloved family member stuffed after their death and then draping it in their living room.

Despite this, many people continue to opt for taxidermy.

There are many reasons for this - in most cases, however, pet owners are simply not ready to part with their four-legged friends once and for all.

To be able to continue to see the companion of many years in his usual environment, to be able to stroke him or to talk to him, appears as a reassuring consolation to the mourner.

This makes the pet's death seem less final.

However, a few pet owners have other things in mind when they bring their pet to the taxidermist.

Some of the deceased four-legged friends are said to be made into bedside rugs or even made into a so-called Wolpertinger — a fantasy creature — using the body parts of dead wild animals.

In these cases, however, reputable taxidermists refer to the statements of various animal protection associations, which call for the deceased animal to be treated with respect.

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Stuffed Pets: This is why it is discouraged

If you are seriously considering having your pet stuffed after it dies, you might want to reconsider that decision.

The renowned Erlangen psychologist Andrea Beetz explained in

-Interview about, among other things, that saying goodbye to a beloved animal is hardly possible if the stuffed body is still permanently present.

It is often a matter of the owner's desperate attempt to ignore the death of the animal and thereby delay the grieving process.

In her opinion, it makes more sense to take the time to say goodbye, allow emotions and slowly process the loss in this way.

Since pets are now considered family members, their death should also be dealt with in a similar way to that of a loved one.

Taxidermy can also have psychological consequences afterwards.

Some owners later cannot come to terms with what was done to their beloved stuffing companion.

It should also be borne in mind

that even a pet has quirks and traits that are difficult to replicate in a stuffed specimen.

The taxidermy treatment is not only a disappointment, but potentially even complicates the beautiful memories of the four-legged friend.