We can't pass up sharing this New York Times blog post from a few weeks ago about what some pet owners do to keep memories of Fido with them, long after Fido is gone. When most of us think of preserving memories of a beloved, departed pet, we think framed photographs or the pet's cremated remains in a wooden box or urn for the bookshelf. But Amy Finkel thinks taxidermy.
Photo of Ms. Finkel with stuffed companion, courtesy of Ruth Fremson/The New York Times
For the last four years, Ms. Finkel, who teaches documentary video at Parsons The New School for Design, "has been studying what animal lovers do with the bodies of their deceased dependents."And it's not just burial and cremation-think, mummification and cloning (although she has developed a friendship with a talented taxidermist in Pennsylvania.) According to this article, she's currently working on her own documentary on this subject, called "Furever", sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts. "This is about the human-pet bond...and it's also about mortality. We shy away from discourse on death...but maybe through talking about pets, we can open up the dialogue."
So what do you think? is this a fascinating subject worthy of a documentary? And what have you done to preserve the remains and memories of your departed pets?
Photo of Ms. Finkel with stuffed companion, courtesy of Ruth Fremson/The New York Times
For the last four years, Ms. Finkel, who teaches documentary video at Parsons The New School for Design, "has been studying what animal lovers do with the bodies of their deceased dependents."And it's not just burial and cremation-think, mummification and cloning (although she has developed a friendship with a talented taxidermist in Pennsylvania.) According to this article, she's currently working on her own documentary on this subject, called "Furever", sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts. "This is about the human-pet bond...and it's also about mortality. We shy away from discourse on death...but maybe through talking about pets, we can open up the dialogue."
So what do you think? is this a fascinating subject worthy of a documentary? And what have you done to preserve the remains and memories of your departed pets?
5 comments:
This is a bizarre subject for a documentary, but I would watch it . I would not have a departed pet stuffed, that is just to creepy for me. I would set up a memorial area with candle, picture and ashes.
The thought of having a creepy stuffed Kolchak around just makes me...sad. To take my little guy who is so full of vim and vigor and life and have him sitting like a posed ornament would break my heart. I'd rather remember him as he is: crazy as a jaybird and loving life.
I am with Kolchak Puggle, the though of any of my furbabes sitting forever in one position kind of creeps me out. I would rather remember them full of life, naughtyness, mischief and fun and the spirit they lived each and every day. I have photo's all over my home of my departed furbabes and videos I can watch. They each live in a casket on the cupboard above my bed and I say goodnight to them every night as I did when they were with me which may make me a nutty as a fruitcake but it works for me
Yikes. I don't think I could do that. We have our angel cats' ashes (and their favorite toys and such) in small decorative boxes, and photos around the house.
yikes...but interesting
Benny & Lily
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