Cremation or Taxidermy? It’s always better to have an alternative. Why choose to have your pet embalmed rather than cremated? Deciding to have your pet cremated is undoubtedly a good choice. It is respectable and understandable, but in this section I would like to express my opinion on the exclusion of this final decision and invite you to choose embalming.
Cremating your pet means eliminating all earthly traces of your deceased friend. In fact, cremating pets is a solution that confronts us with the total destruction of a body. Entrusting the mortal remains to a funeral home that also handles pet cremation is an extreme gesture that instantly compromises the possibility of remaining in contact with your pet. In fact, cremation consists of the total destruction of a body, unlike taxidermy, which allows you to preserve the memory much more than a photo or an urn containing ashes. Choosing not to cremate your pet but to proceed with taxidermy (embalming) is a wonderful opportunity, an extraordinary chance that this discipline allows you to see, touch, caress, and have a lasting presence of your deceased animal friend. Those who have never had pets cannot know how painful it is to lose one. People who turn to a taxidermist (embalmer) will feel as if they have never completely lost their pet. It is necessary to come to terms with the fact that life has gone and only the external appearance remains. Through taxidermy, you can experience continuity, a consolation that allows you to suffer less for the death of your beloved pet.
Although cremation is a dignified solution, it is still a destructive solution, beyond which there is only ashes.
The cremation of pets is irreversible, and from that point on, any second thoughts are useless. Embalming preserves the body and deceives death. During my years of experience as an embalmer, I have collected testimonials from people who told me that if they had known about the possibility of embalming their pet after its death, they would have done so and would not have chosen cremation. Some people believe that embalming is illegal. To all those who think that taxidermy of a pet is prohibited by law, I say not to worry because it is a legal practice as long as it is performed by a licensed taxidermist. To become a taxidermist, you must pass an exam administered by a commission set up specifically for this purpose by the relevant region. A taxidermist must be registered with the Chamber of Commerce of their city and then open a studio/laboratory in which to operate. This space must be approved by an official from the relevant Veterinary District. Once all the permits (Region, Chamber of Commerce, and Local Health Authority) have been obtained, the taxidermist can begin their profession.
Taxidermy is more than a photo, and taxidermic preparation lasts much longer than a human lifetime. In fact, a stuffed animal outlives a human being, becoming a testimony that spans generations and defies death. At the same time, a stuffed animal remains with its owner until their own death. At that point, it can be passed on to their heirs, to their descendants, as a testament to a love that was lived, a love felt for an animal.
As already explained in the Taxidermy section, the preparation of an animal (domestic or wild) involves only the use of its skin. In fact, the carcass is not touched except to take anatomical measurements useful for preparing the sculpture of the body, so in the end it can be returned to the owner, who can then proceed with the cremation or burial (where possible under the law) of their animal.
Animal Factor Studio provides the contact details of a company specializing in individual or collective animal cremations.