I got an email from a lady wondering about having her cat mounted. I'm assuming I'm allowed to charge for my services of mounting someone's pet dog or cat. But in the event the customer does not come to pick it up once the project is completed, can I sell a mounted domestic dog or cat to an unrelated party? What's the deal with the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000? It makes it clear you cannot IMPORT items made with dog and cat fur, but what about selling such items WITHIN the U.S.? I've checked the Taxidermy.net archives on this one and have not found any definitive answers to the question. Anyone know FOR SURE what the deal is?
Thanks all,
Brad
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you are going to mount someone's dog or cat, get the WHOLE amout of the job up front. Then, if they don't pick it up in a reasonable amount of time, throw it in the dumpster.
Brad=
Post your e-mail and I will send you a copy of the disclaimer and contract that I use for all pets!
If you are doing them you need to protect yourself.
On these types of projects, you should ALWAYS get 100% payment before you take it. I also wouldn't take credit cards for these. What happens is the pet owner is upset and emotional. They want fluffy "stuffed" and leave him with you. When you get it done, they're either too emotional to pick it up or they have moved on, or don't have the money.... You get the point.
If you do take them in, I would recommend using a freeze dry service, to get the best looking results with the least effort. Otherwise, you'll have to carve (or severely modify) a form. A lot of these animals are so fat that it takes forever to flesh them. If you have them freeze dried, you can simply send them off with some reference pics and have them delivered directly to the client if you wish. Just make sure that if you do decide to take in pets, that you make plenty for your troubles. I would charge at least twice the rate that the freeze drier charges you. And if I was going to conventionally mount them, I would figure all my costs, overhead, and time (labor) and multiply by 3. I have been very successful at talking people out of having their pets "stuffed". Just be friendly and sincere. I have been able to talk most folks into having them cremated. If they insist on having it done, then you will make some money.
Mike - thanks for the advice and I'd like to check out the disclaimer you use - I appreciate it. Good advice from Bill too - Just hard to toss something in the dumpster after all those hours of work even if it's paid for.
Thanks,
Brad
Pet owners will stiff you with the mount so get the full amount up front, and offer no guarantees.
Many pets that have being ill and with high fevers and have received IVs will slip when tanned,