I'm ready. And you're ready. It's my job! To freeze you!
August 25, 2011 9:06 PM Subscribe
My friends and I are raising the cash and surprise-preserving our friend's decrepit chihuahua who will (most likely) be put to sleep soon. Help me find the best facility or company to freeze-dry/preserve my friend's dog.
My friend has a smelly, mean, mangy 15 year old chihuahua that is on death's door. The dog has difficulty seeing and hearing and has severe respiratory and allergy problems. He coughs or "horks" almost every waking moment now and it basically sounds like a protracted death rattle. My friend is slowly coming to the realization that he should put him to sleep.
This friend has a great sense of humor about his dog and would truly be honored if his dog were preserved. I've had "what if" discussions with said friend and he's definitely into the idea. He even came up with his own action poses and accessories for the dog.
I've spread the word secretly among dozens of his friends and money is being raised. I've done a little research as to who should prepare the dog.
Is freeze-drying a dog really better than having a taxidermist "stuff" the dog? Do you recommend a particular facility? What's the turn around time? What is your experience with the whole process?
Help me preserve Roger for the ages, Metafilter. I'm all ears.
My friend has a smelly, mean, mangy 15 year old chihuahua that is on death's door. The dog has difficulty seeing and hearing and has severe respiratory and allergy problems. He coughs or "horks" almost every waking moment now and it basically sounds like a protracted death rattle. My friend is slowly coming to the realization that he should put him to sleep.
This friend has a great sense of humor about his dog and would truly be honored if his dog were preserved. I've had "what if" discussions with said friend and he's definitely into the idea. He even came up with his own action poses and accessories for the dog.
I've spread the word secretly among dozens of his friends and money is being raised. I've done a little research as to who should prepare the dog.
Is freeze-drying a dog really better than having a taxidermist "stuff" the dog? Do you recommend a particular facility? What's the turn around time? What is your experience with the whole process?
Help me preserve Roger for the ages, Metafilter. I'm all ears.
I don't think this should be done secretly. (Or at all, really.) Whether your friend will still think it's a great idea after his dog is dead is not something you can be sure about. And honestly, you don't seem to be going into this in the most compassionate way, so I'm not sure you're the best judge of whether your friend will appreciate this. What your friend cheerfully entertained as a "what if" scenario may not be what he wants when the beloved dog passes on. What seemed funny as a hypothetical may seem disrespectful once the dog's life is over. And whether he would really want the dog's body to be just another object in his home to sit around, gather dust, as a questionably tasteful tribute to a precious life, seems very much in doubt. Just my two cents.
posted by jayder at 9:24 PM on August 25, 2011 [55 favorites]
posted by jayder at 9:24 PM on August 25, 2011 [55 favorites]
Honestly, this sounds like a terrible idea. Most people are not prepared, no matter how much they plan or talk about it, for a pet's death. Your friend might have thought it was a funny idea at the time--while the dog is still alive--but doing this behind his back seems downright cruel. I know you say he has a good sense of humor about it, but no one can really predict how he'll feel after he puts his dog to sleep. Could you collect the money and give it to him, but let him decide if he wants to go through with it or not?
posted by lucysparrow at 9:43 PM on August 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by lucysparrow at 9:43 PM on August 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yeah, this is just a little weird and creepy. Don't do it. Use the money to buy your friend some beer after the dog passes and have a memorial party for him, perhaps?
posted by chrisfromthelc at 9:44 PM on August 25, 2011
posted by chrisfromthelc at 9:44 PM on August 25, 2011
Sorry, I know I didn't answer your original question, but I really think you should reconsider. I know you're trying to do something nice for your friend to honor his pet, but you might be more successful if you involve him. In fact, if he's really into it, it might be a nice way to help him heal from the loss of his dog. But it seems risky to go ahead and do it without his permission.
posted by lucysparrow at 9:46 PM on August 25, 2011
posted by lucysparrow at 9:46 PM on August 25, 2011
This will fail. I mean, how are you going to get the dog's body when his grieving owner will likely want to bury him? How do explain his body's disappearance?
Just sounds like a horrible and creepy idea.
posted by inturnaround at 10:01 PM on August 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just sounds like a horrible and creepy idea.
posted by inturnaround at 10:01 PM on August 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ok, I work in the animal medicine side of things; I advise getting a "pawprint" (clay) and a hair-clipping (after the dog has been euthanized). Sounds like he is dying from heart disease.
If you really think the owner wants a taxiderm-ied thing of his pet it can be done. I would not advise it though. Those things are more than a little creepy! Even if the taxidermist can show the snarly-growl-about-to-bite thing. Ahem!
posted by bebrave! at 10:08 PM on August 25, 2011
If you really think the owner wants a taxiderm-ied thing of his pet it can be done. I would not advise it though. Those things are more than a little creepy! Even if the taxidermist can show the snarly-growl-about-to-bite thing. Ahem!
posted by bebrave! at 10:08 PM on August 25, 2011
Perhaps... a coupon for a free taxidermy job? That you only present to him after sounding out his post-death feelings? And which doesn't cost anything if you read him wrong and he doesn't want it?
Any other approach is doomed to badness, I think.
And this one isn't exactly the world's greatest plan either.
posted by jsturgill at 10:09 PM on August 25, 2011
Any other approach is doomed to badness, I think.
And this one isn't exactly the world's greatest plan either.
posted by jsturgill at 10:09 PM on August 25, 2011
Response by poster: Folks, your concern is well received but you need to understand a few things:
-that this friend's sense of humor is complicated and deviant. he is weird and awesome.
-the dog has been loved and well taken care of by its owner. he wasn't a novelty dog. he may have been an irritable and cantankerous mess for years but he was an institution among the dog owner's circle of friends.
-I know my friend. I'm confident about this plan. The dog owner's sister, ex-wife and *parents* have already donated money to the cause.
Whether this is right or "not tasteful" is not the issue at all and was not part of my question.
Also, my plan is to escort or intercept my friend when he is at the vet and basically spring the surprise on him then. He's going to immediately know what's going on and if he objects and wants to have the dog cremated or buried then it's no problem and money will be refunded and/or donated to the SPCA.
posted by kumazemi at 10:13 PM on August 25, 2011 [9 favorites]
-that this friend's sense of humor is complicated and deviant. he is weird and awesome.
-the dog has been loved and well taken care of by its owner. he wasn't a novelty dog. he may have been an irritable and cantankerous mess for years but he was an institution among the dog owner's circle of friends.
-I know my friend. I'm confident about this plan. The dog owner's sister, ex-wife and *parents* have already donated money to the cause.
Whether this is right or "not tasteful" is not the issue at all and was not part of my question.
Also, my plan is to escort or intercept my friend when he is at the vet and basically spring the surprise on him then. He's going to immediately know what's going on and if he objects and wants to have the dog cremated or buried then it's no problem and money will be refunded and/or donated to the SPCA.
posted by kumazemi at 10:13 PM on August 25, 2011 [9 favorites]
Jeez, you people are no fun. I like the coupon idea as a compromise, but I would be adamant not to just forget about the whole thing silently.
posted by rhizome at 10:14 PM on August 25, 2011
posted by rhizome at 10:14 PM on August 25, 2011
Just some thoughts.
There's a big difference between joking about a pet that's still alive versus dealing with one that has recently passed. I had a cat that I had to put to sleep because he had un-resolvable behavioral litter box issues. Even though I had dealt with the issues for more than ten years and had come to the conclusion that there was no remedy to the situation, it still tore my heart in two when I held my pet of over a decade in my arms and let the vet give him the final injection.
(And that cat had driven me crazy! Nothing like cleaning cat piss out of your newborn daughter's car seat, or out of a wet paint tray that you were just using to paint the kitchen, or laundry basket, or flower pot. Damn cat. I still loved him.)
Your friend is going to be doing the same thing. Yes, the dog may be this scrappy, stinky bit of fur but he's still a living thing that has shared many years of your friend's life. While your friend may be able to joke about his demise before the fact, he may have very different, raw feelings after it happens. I think that you have to wait and sort of feel things out. Expect your friend to be somewhat emotional at the vet, and be sensitive to that.
To answer your question, taxidermy seems to be the standard. It takes a long time, though -- up to a year, depending on the demand in your area. I guess taxidermists are in high demand.
posted by Ostara at 10:24 PM on August 25, 2011 [4 favorites]
There's a big difference between joking about a pet that's still alive versus dealing with one that has recently passed. I had a cat that I had to put to sleep because he had un-resolvable behavioral litter box issues. Even though I had dealt with the issues for more than ten years and had come to the conclusion that there was no remedy to the situation, it still tore my heart in two when I held my pet of over a decade in my arms and let the vet give him the final injection.
(And that cat had driven me crazy! Nothing like cleaning cat piss out of your newborn daughter's car seat, or out of a wet paint tray that you were just using to paint the kitchen, or laundry basket, or flower pot. Damn cat. I still loved him.)
Your friend is going to be doing the same thing. Yes, the dog may be this scrappy, stinky bit of fur but he's still a living thing that has shared many years of your friend's life. While your friend may be able to joke about his demise before the fact, he may have very different, raw feelings after it happens. I think that you have to wait and sort of feel things out. Expect your friend to be somewhat emotional at the vet, and be sensitive to that.
To answer your question, taxidermy seems to be the standard. It takes a long time, though -- up to a year, depending on the demand in your area. I guess taxidermists are in high demand.
posted by Ostara at 10:24 PM on August 25, 2011 [4 favorites]
Where are you located? It might help find local recommendations. I've tried to look for this before and I think that many places that might do this don't really advertise working on pets. I would have kinda liked this for my pets in fact. The problem is that even if he does want this he'll be pretty sad when they put down the dog and you'll have to get the vet to give you the body and you'll probably have to freeze it before shopping / dropping it off at the taxidermist.
posted by oneear at 10:28 PM on August 25, 2011
posted by oneear at 10:28 PM on August 25, 2011
There's a reason Alan Alda called his memoir book "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed."
posted by IndigoRain at 10:32 PM on August 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by IndigoRain at 10:32 PM on August 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: I understand fully that my friend will probably fall apart when he puts his dog down. I've had several pets, both cats and dogs and I've seen many of them through till the end. I know how painful it is. I still remember every aspect of the process. It's awful.
This is not going to be done without the owner's permission. It's a surprise insomuch that he will basically be offered a choice after the procedure is complete.
If he objects, that's completely fine. Money will be refunded or donated.
If he agrees, I will take the dog into my care at the vet and immediately freeze him and then take or ship him where he needs to go for the procedure.
posted by kumazemi at 10:40 PM on August 25, 2011
This is not going to be done without the owner's permission. It's a surprise insomuch that he will basically be offered a choice after the procedure is complete.
If he objects, that's completely fine. Money will be refunded or donated.
If he agrees, I will take the dog into my care at the vet and immediately freeze him and then take or ship him where he needs to go for the procedure.
posted by kumazemi at 10:40 PM on August 25, 2011
I think people are rightfully bristling at the "surprise" aspect. What part of the surprise actually benefits him instead of you? If you offer this gift to him before he's in crisis mode, he can give you a considered opinion on the matter.
posted by threeants at 10:58 PM on August 25, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by threeants at 10:58 PM on August 25, 2011 [8 favorites]
My sister got stuck with a weird kid in her documentary class- weird kid insisted they make a documentary about pet death. Anyway, they interviewed a taxidermist, who said that he would prefer not to do pets any more, as it is really hard to get the shape/eyes right. He also said that if people knew the process of what exactly went into taxidermy (he described the skin removal process) they wouldn't want to get their pets done either.
ditto the weirdness of springing the surprise.
posted by titanium_geek at 11:04 PM on August 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
ditto the weirdness of springing the surprise.
posted by titanium_geek at 11:04 PM on August 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Holy derail, everybody.
Traditional taxidermy, you'll have to find a local person. Due to the difficulty of getting it just right (and how familiar people are with their pets' faces), you'll need an amazing taxidermist who is fully committed to it and has experience with pets (and a book of work they can share with you). Done wrong, traditional taxidermy is kind of horrible. Done right, it's expensive, time consuming and done by someone who is a high demand.
Freeze drying, you can get a preservation kit and go further afield (basically, a cooler) from your town. It's more likely to look like the pet. However, done wrong, you've got more of a chance of rot. Which is pretty awful.
I've seen someone commission a seamstress to make a custom stuffed animal of her cat after the cat died. In this case, it was a stuffed animal with the ashes inside -- which is just as creepy, but less of a rot issue.
Good luck and whatever you decide to do, report back on how it goes.
posted by Gucky at 11:30 PM on August 25, 2011
Traditional taxidermy, you'll have to find a local person. Due to the difficulty of getting it just right (and how familiar people are with their pets' faces), you'll need an amazing taxidermist who is fully committed to it and has experience with pets (and a book of work they can share with you). Done wrong, traditional taxidermy is kind of horrible. Done right, it's expensive, time consuming and done by someone who is a high demand.
Freeze drying, you can get a preservation kit and go further afield (basically, a cooler) from your town. It's more likely to look like the pet. However, done wrong, you've got more of a chance of rot. Which is pretty awful.
I've seen someone commission a seamstress to make a custom stuffed animal of her cat after the cat died. In this case, it was a stuffed animal with the ashes inside -- which is just as creepy, but less of a rot issue.
Good luck and whatever you decide to do, report back on how it goes.
posted by Gucky at 11:30 PM on August 25, 2011
Best answer: Long or short haired chihuahua? Looking at the pictures at this freeze-drying site (not a specific endorsement) the longer haired pets seem to remain more natural looking than those with short hair. If the chihuahua is short-haired and a natural look is a goal you may be better served by finding a local traditional taxidermist with pet experience.
posted by 6550 at 12:12 AM on August 26, 2011
posted by 6550 at 12:12 AM on August 26, 2011
You might consider getting him a dermestid beetle colony starter kit,
so he could do what comes naturally with them.
It's 'way more deviant and weird than taxidermy or freeze-drying.
>Also, my plan is to escort or intercept my friend when he is at the vet and basically
>spring the surprise on him then.
This is the terrible part of the plan.
Spring it on him several days before he puts the dog down.
You'll still probably end up making a pupsicle while ramping up the beetle population.
If you pose them nicely while they are still warm, it's surprising how natural they
look when they change phase.
posted by the Real Dan at 2:18 AM on August 26, 2011
so he could do what comes naturally with them.
It's 'way more deviant and weird than taxidermy or freeze-drying.
>Also, my plan is to escort or intercept my friend when he is at the vet and basically
>spring the surprise on him then.
This is the terrible part of the plan.
Spring it on him several days before he puts the dog down.
You'll still probably end up making a pupsicle while ramping up the beetle population.
If you pose them nicely while they are still warm, it's surprising how natural they
look when they change phase.
posted by the Real Dan at 2:18 AM on August 26, 2011
We had glass beads made with our pets cremains, the company also made glass ornaments, other jewelry, etc. They were very respectful and the result was beautiful. Just saying. Not cheap either...might be an option.
posted by pearlybob at 3:41 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pearlybob at 3:41 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
If it's good enough for Jeremy Bentham, it's good enough for Roger the chihuahua.
Jeez, people. Lighten up.
I say have the dog's head mounted on a plaque, like a hunting trophy.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:14 AM on August 26, 2011 [7 favorites]
Jeez, people. Lighten up.
I say have the dog's head mounted on a plaque, like a hunting trophy.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:14 AM on August 26, 2011 [7 favorites]
In terms of getting the most natural pose, could I suggest curled up and sleeping? Because he is sleeping, kind of, and then the eye mismatch (they will never be perfect) isn't an issue.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:59 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Meatbomb at 5:59 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Forget the eye mismatch, don't even try. Get flame-red marbles put in instead. Maybe with LEDs behind them. RABID ROGER!
posted by resurrexit at 7:13 AM on August 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by resurrexit at 7:13 AM on August 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
If you're going to go with the taxidermy route, bring lots of photos, especially of the face. If you haven't got any, now's the time to take some.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:14 AM on August 26, 2011
posted by elsietheeel at 8:14 AM on August 26, 2011
didn't parts of Jeremy Bentham rot and have to be replaced with wax?
posted by Neekee at 8:32 AM on August 26, 2011
posted by Neekee at 8:32 AM on August 26, 2011
if he objects and wants to have the dog cremated or buried then it's no problem and money will be refunded and/or donated to the SPCA.
It actually costs money to put a pet to sleep and then pay for a cremation or burial. You get charged for it. So I wonder if you could just take up this collection from friends and offer it to your friend - it's for the disposal of the dog's remains, and that could mean covering the end-of-life bills, or doing the preservation, whichever he prefers.
When my last pet died I was distraught enough - having to pay about $500 for the experience only made it harder. I think I would have taken an offer like this as a really loving gesture from my friends. I don't think you push your vision of the hilarious taxidermy - he might or might not go for it, let him decide in the moment, and let him decide what an appropriate memorial use for this money would be.
posted by Miko at 9:25 AM on August 26, 2011
It actually costs money to put a pet to sleep and then pay for a cremation or burial. You get charged for it. So I wonder if you could just take up this collection from friends and offer it to your friend - it's for the disposal of the dog's remains, and that could mean covering the end-of-life bills, or doing the preservation, whichever he prefers.
When my last pet died I was distraught enough - having to pay about $500 for the experience only made it harder. I think I would have taken an offer like this as a really loving gesture from my friends. I don't think you push your vision of the hilarious taxidermy - he might or might not go for it, let him decide in the moment, and let him decide what an appropriate memorial use for this money would be.
posted by Miko at 9:25 AM on August 26, 2011
I am planning to have this done with my cat when she dies. Curled up and sleeping would be the likely position.
If you need help finding a good taxidermist, try asking around at hunting or sporting-good stores.
posted by MonsieurBon at 11:29 AM on August 26, 2011
If you need help finding a good taxidermist, try asking around at hunting or sporting-good stores.
posted by MonsieurBon at 11:29 AM on August 26, 2011
Best answer: Aformentioned ex-wife here. I'm looking at the differences between freeze-dried and taxidermy. Considering Roger's delicate pee-pee sticks (legs), and delicate skull (tiny), i think freeze drying would yield the best results as it removes the moisture from the body and preserves all those little perfect and horrible details. "Taxidermied" means stuffed. Roger is so little that he would look weird stuffed...unless he was stuffed with hot dogs.
I'm assuming freeze-drying is one of many tools that taxidermists use. Let's go to the phone book and start calling around.
This is totally gonna happen. Roger is kind of a legend.
posted by pandyfackler at 2:13 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm assuming freeze-drying is one of many tools that taxidermists use. Let's go to the phone book and start calling around.
This is totally gonna happen. Roger is kind of a legend.
posted by pandyfackler at 2:13 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: oh, and I'm all for the red LED light eyeballs
posted by pandyfackler at 2:14 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pandyfackler at 2:14 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Also, I think this is completely creepy disgusting and tasteless. Just like my ex.
posted by pandyfackler at 2:23 PM on August 26, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by pandyfackler at 2:23 PM on August 26, 2011 [6 favorites]
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Get some quotes based on the animal and the pose (and possibly the setting if you put in a scene, or mount him on the wall) and figure it out. Take pictures of the animal while it is alive, that might help the taxidermist do a better job getting it exactly right. You can figure out the details of the pose when you drop him off. The taxidermist will give you whatever other info is needed.
posted by milqman at 9:21 PM on August 25, 2011