Submitted by dan on 3/17/99. ( dhart@saatchila.com )
I was unable to find any information about stuffing common housepets, ie, cats, dogs, hamsters. Is there a market for this?
Any advice you could give me would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Dan
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This response submitted by Carl on 3/17/99. ( carl@argyle.ednet.ns.ca )
I have one motto I tell all my customers
NO PETS, NO HUSBANDS and NO WIVES .. hahaha
but seriously I do stay away from pets as they are even more difficult to mount. the owner has had daily close contact with the pet for years and every little flaw in your work will show up big time to them. You can do as you please but thats what I do at any rate :))
This response submitted by Perry on 3/17/99. ( pgk@ncentral.com )
I have the same policy, for the same reason, plus, most pets pass
on because of old age or disease. That means they are not in
prime condition, and more suseptable to problems. When asked,
I recommend they look for someone who freeze drys, as that will give
the best results. I don't know of anyone who does it though.
This response submitted by Jerry on 3/17/99. ( jds@vvm.com )
I agree 100% - no pets! You will not please the customer because Kitty always held her head a certain way and there was this little flop to her ear, and she always had sparkle in her eye. You'll not be able to recreate it and the customer will not be happy. My motto is: No pets, family members, or body parts! Jerry
This response submitted by John C on 3/18/99. ( )
It is ten times the price and it is all due upon acceptance. No REFUNDS, NO WAY< NO SHAPE< NO HOW< NO GAURANTE. Always explain the personality to them and have a contract, to hold harm less.
Also offer creamatorie services. The vet will have the facilities again five times what the vet charges. Simple ashes in a fruit jar. crude but a money maker. John C
This response submitted by John Bellucci on 3/19/99. ( ArtistExpr@aol.com )
Hey Dan,
Having done numerous dogs and cats; pet rabbits (both domestic and hand-raised cottontails); guniea pigs; birds; monkeys; a horse; and a kinkajoo, I can tell you that it is a WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD than dealing with an animal that has been taken by a hunter.
Why? There is an emotional attachment that comes with a pet. That can be a very hard thing to deal with, and these distraught folks need to be handled with a finess that many in this industry are lacking.
They have to be spoken to as someone who has lost a dearly loved one. They have to be given the time to talk about their pet, the way many sit there and let a hunter ramble on about a hunt.
The first thing I do when I begin "getting down to business", is ask the people if this is really what they want... if they've thought it through. Can they handle coming home day after day, to their pet who will be there, but no longer will be able to greet them?
I then explain to them that the price is much higher than an average animal mount because of the fact that the mannikin for their pet needs to be custom sculpted. There is nothing on the market, no "standard" mannikin that can be had to act even as a base over which to model their pet onto. This can push the price four or five times higher than a comparable sized animal.
I also let them know that the entire fee MUST be paid UP FRONT. This is due to the fact that often when the tears dry up so does the wallet -- the cash-flow from the client.
I also tell them that in order to get the "look" of their pet as it was in life, I will need as many good, clear photos of the pet as they can provide, and that these will be returned to them ast the time the pet is picked up. I also let them know that there is a definite "time-limit" as to how long I will wait for them to pick the pet up after it's completion!
Finally, I give them the other options. Interrment (burial) at a Pet Memorial Gardens or a Pet Cremation Service. This is the final push, the thing I try to convince the owner to do. Many times, it works.
Other times, the owner is determined not to let the pet go. It is then that I set up the "appointment" for them to bring the pet in for service. And quite frankly, it is then that some serious money is to be made!
Personally, I have NEVER suggested freeze-drying for a pet owner. This is because of my confidence in my abilities, and the feeling for the animal I'll be working on. But that's me! Unless you've been at this for a while, and know your skills are up to the challenge, I would strongly suggest you practice on a few dogs and cats first. They are different from their wild cousins, no doubt!
Like I said, there is some seriously good money to be made from the "Pet Market", but it is also a huge emotional strain. I don't know how funeral directors deal with it every day, but when your talking to a distraught pet owner, you'll get an idea!
Hope this has helped you out some. Best of luck to you... John B.
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