PET PRESERVATION

Yes, you read that right. I found out last night that there is a very disturbing practice going on in the world. Preserving your dead pet was one of the stories highlighted on last night's episode of Primetime's "The Outsiders". It was about people who cannot stand the thought of not having their cat or dog or hamster around so they freeze dry them and then set them out for display in thier home. Apparently there is an entire population of pet owners who find it completely normal to wake up every morning and pick up your dead cat, Sir Lancelot, giving him a quick rub down on your way out to get the morning paper.

There is this guy in Colorado who has been freeze drying animals for years. He asks that pet owners get the animal into a freezer as soon as possible after it has died. Then they send him a picture of the animal in a "sleeping position". In freeze-drying the animal, he removes the animal's internal organs, then fills the cavity with wood fiber, and arranges the body in the desired position from the photo. About $1000 and 3 months later, they can pick up their pet and take them home for display!

Does anyone but me find this disturbing? Granted, I am not going to claim that I am the biggest animal lover in the world. I like dogs if it is mine or one that I know well. I don't do cats or any kind of rodent pet. Fish never stay alive and birds make me feel like I am going to catch some kind of disease. They're just nasty to me. Suprisingly, I love and prefer most farm animals like horses, cows, and sheep over domestic animals. Even with my prejudices, I understand that some people think of their pets as family members. But what ever happend to the urn on the fireplace? As creepy as I think that is, it doesn't even compare to freeze dried Fido, sleeping peacefully beside the couch.

Oh, one more thing, this guy says he does mostly cats, but will do all domestic pets except fish. "They just don't turn out right" he says.

And in case you were wondering, the dog in the picture is well, dead asleep.