# Is it just me, or is this strange? ("souvenir" of dead pet) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130 "2008-08-15T19:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/1 "2008-08-15T19:15:17Z")
We had a guinea pig euthanized early last week after a couple of weeks of declining health. Last time we had a pet die (another guinea pig, last year), the vet sent us a sympathy note. OK, that’s not unreasonable and was a nice gesture though (I’m sooooo going to hell) I had to snicker at “she was a very special guinea pig”. But yesterday in the mail, we got a padded mailer labeled “fragile”. We opened it up - and found an acrylic-clay heart. With the pig’s name stamped in it, and his date of death… and his pawprints. Presumably taken just after they euthanized him as he’d have put up quite a fight while still alive. **Typo Knig** and I just stared at the thing dumbfounded, wondering what in hell we were supposed to _do_ with it. I pointed out that there wasn’t even a hole in it in case we wished to hang it up somewhere (to which he replied “An ornament! Nothing says ‘Christmas’ like a plastic heart with a dead animal’s pawprints!!”). Had to admit he had a point. Are we supposed to put it on his grave? (we took him home and buried him in the backyard with a big flat stone over it, to avoid a repeat of last year where a few weeks later, somehow the grave of the other piggie got dug up… either a predator that liked rotting rodent, or we’ve got a zombie guinea pig lurking outdoors, wheeking “braaaainnnnsssss”). Are we supposed to leave it out on the coffee table for everyone to admire, right next to the book of landscape photos a friend gave us? (“Oooh look, the Grand Canyon!” “Hah, that’s boring, now _here’s_ something REALLY interesting to look at!”). Are we supposed to put it under our pillows to dream of the dear departed? (nah, I never liked that pig and surely don’t want to dream of him! I mean, I took care of him and sunk a small fortune in vet bills to try to save him, but that was duty not love). Give it to the kids as a souvenir? Yeah, that’ll work out reeeealllll good. I LIKE hearing the kids sob uncontrollably about things even 2 years after they’ve happened, and if Dweezil puts on a show worrying about a stuffed animal being lonely for him, he’ll be LOADS of fun with a plastic heart with pawprints. Thank heaven the kids are away at camp! We’ve hidden the object or we’d never hear the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/2 "2008-08-15T19:24:58Z")
Put it in the garden and forget about it. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/3 "2008-08-15T19:27:11Z")
Not just you, although I’m inclined to label it as not _that_ strange. Although, not to be insulting to you or other guinea pig owners, but . . . I’d find it a lot less strange if the newly deceased pet were a cat or a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/4 "2008-08-15T19:28:15Z")
I had an ill cat put down about 18 months ago. I also got the sympathy card from the vet, and while I didn’t get the momento, I got an offer to let my buy one. So someone took a footprint from my dead cat, and wants me to buy it? Maybe if you have large dog, you could use it as a soap dish? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/5 "2008-08-15T19:28:46Z")
When I had to let Whitey the Wonder Cat go, I got a little ceramic plaque and a plastic stand for it. The plaque says: In Memory Of WHITEY The Pet we loved will remain with us forever, and cherished memories will abide within our hearts reminding us that the love we shared together is eternal. _picture of red roses_ I can tell you exactly because it’s here in my bottom desk drawer. I didn’t know quite what to do with it either, but I didn’t throw it away. It’s generic as all hell, but pawprints would really be disturbing. Paints quite the mental picture, it does… ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/6 "2008-08-15T19:51:11Z")
I can’t be the only one who on the first read thought they removed the little guy’s heart and coated it in acrylic, can I? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/7 "2008-08-15T20:00:20Z")
I honestly had no idea that someone would go through the cost and trouble to euthanise a guinea pig. Was this little trinket’s cost included in the price of the prodecure? Because next time I’d ask them to do what they have to do, hold the bric a brac. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/8 "2008-08-15T20:00:48Z")
I’ve gotten sympathy cards from the vet after my cats died. But never a “souvenir”. They did once try to sell me an urn to keep his ashes in, though. I know someone who, after her dog died, had it made into a rug/blanket. Now _that_ struck me as strange. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/9 "2008-08-15T20:06:34Z")
[QUOTE=LurkMeister] I know someone who, after her dog died, had it made into a rug/blanket. Now _that_ struck me as strange. [/QUOTE] :eek: Like, skinned it? Cuz that’s just creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/10 "2008-08-15T20:13:58Z")
[QUOTE=Silver Tyger Girl] :eek: Like, skinned it? Cuz that’s just creepy. [/QUOTE] Not as creepy as doing it yourself of course. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/11 "2008-08-15T20:17:17Z")
[QUOTE=Silver Tyger Girl] :eek: Like, skinned it? Cuz that’s just creepy. [/QUOTE] My ex was going to have a vest made out of the dog. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/12 "2008-08-15T20:21:03Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] Not as creepy as doing it yourself of course. [/QUOTE] I dunno, I think both are about the same. Getting your pet stuffed is slightly less disturbing… unless you have a whole house full of your dead pets. (“And here’s Mr. Wiggles, the caterpillar I had when I was in second grade…”) ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/13 "2008-08-15T20:23:00Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] My ex was going to have a vest made out of the dog. [/QUOTE] See my vest, see my vest made of real gorilla chest! ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/14 "2008-08-15T20:27:30Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] See my vest, see my vest made of real gorilla chest! [/QUOTE] Damn you for beating me to that comment. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/15 "2008-08-15T20:33:50Z")
[QUOTE=Silver Tyger Girl] :eek: Like, skinned it? Cuz that’s just creepy. [/QUOTE] Yep, she had it skinned. I happened to see it later, and it looked just like a bearskin rug, although without the head attached. It was a large dog, although I can’t remember the breed offhand. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/16 "2008-08-15T20:35:32Z")
[QUOTE=Silver Tyger Girl] I dunno, I think both are about the same. [/QUOTE] No, if you were considering taxidermy as a good idea for a pet, it would be waaaaaay less creepy to have someone else do it than to haul Spot down to the basement and get out the tool chest… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/17 "2008-08-15T20:46:23Z")
I recently had a cat cremated and I think her cremains came back with a pawprint plaque. I haven’t been able to open the bag yet (still sad) but I think that if/when I get my own place, it will go in the garden. A friend of mind had his dog’s hide tanned AND skull cleaned. Alrighty. I used to joke about getting a hat made from my oldest cat but the older we both get, I know that it won’t happen. When I worked in the taxidermy studio, we had a few people contact us about getting their pets done. The artist wouldn’t do cats & dogs because he told me that the end product would never ‘look’ like their pet. He’s done a few tropical fish and birds though. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/18 "2008-08-15T20:56:04Z")
We got a pawprint plaque from the LSU Vet School along with a little note and a brochure about their grief counseling service for people who’ve lost pets. We had chosen not to have Charles T. Cat’s cremains returned to us, so I wasn’t expecting any further communication from them. It upset my calm and made me cry again. I also felt it was on the creepy side of weird, because all I can think when I look at it is that someone pressed his \*dead \* little paw into Sculpey clay. I mean, thanks for the thought and all, but… :dubious: Glad they didn’t have a digital camera. My husband put it on his home altar, next to our cat buddha statuette and a figure of Bast, which seems an appropriate place for it. Charles T. Cat never went outside, after all. I’m pretty open-minded, but having your dead pets taxidermied is beyond creepy and into Norman Bates weird. Birds less so than mammals though. Ugh, I’m so grossed out now. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/19 "2008-08-15T21:04:34Z")
We have a couple of snips of Miss Emily’s fur, taken from an earlier grooming, and we saved what lost puppy teeth of Phyllis and Dottie’s we could find. That stuff is in a little dish on the piano next to the cubical urn that holds Emily’s ashes. I wouldn’t have objected to receiving a little pawprint plaque. Seem like a nice caring touch to me (much nicer than what the assholes at the pet crematory did). But rugs, taxidermy, and (I’ve heard) freeze-drying? Eww. I think a nice picture will do. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130/20 "2008-08-15T22:18:32Z")
[QUOTE=lisacurl] I also felt it was on the creepy side of weird, because all I can think when I look at it is that someone pressed his \*dead \* little paw into Sculpey clay. [/QUOTE] Yes…that’s incredibly weird to me, too. The little acrylic heart is one thing, but the paw thing is another. I don’t like the image of them pressing paws into clay…it just feels icky. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-strange-souvenir-of-dead-pet/460130.md?page=2)