Before I started collecting dead animals, I was just a normal person. Okay, maybe not entirely. But I didn't come across as quite so strange. When I was a kid I begged and begged my parents to get me a kitten. In 2003, after the death of our elderly cat, they finally gave in and got three. This story focuses on one of those kittens, we called her Pandora.
Pandora was a very sickly cat. She was always seeing the vet, and her favourite pastime seemed to be climbing up onto high pieces of furniture and vomiting over the edge. We were close, I was her favourite human. She used to sleep on my bed at night, and eventually reached the stage where she would only eat with me present. Which became a problem as I grew up and moved out.
I visited often whilst I was at university. My wife and I agreed that once we had our own place we would take her with us, as she only seemed well when I was around. But before that could happen, she suffered multiple organ failures and died whilst I was away. She was also buried without me being there.
That could have been the end. But I felt that I didn't have a real sense of closure, as I had not had an opportunity to say goodbye. So, once my wife and I finally had our own house, a year after she was buried, we finally had the opportunity to take her with us. It was hard to convince my parents, but they eventually agreed to allow us to exhume her remains.
That could have been the end. But I felt that I didn't have a real sense of closure, as I had not had an opportunity to say goodbye. So, once my wife and I finally had our own house, a year after she was buried, we finally had the opportunity to take her with us. It was hard to convince my parents, but they eventually agreed to allow us to exhume her remains.
We managed to recover almost all of her bones, which was very interesting comparing to a diagram of a cat skeleton. My wife and I took her skull, shoulder-blade and various vertebrae home with us, and reburied the remainder of her bones. I appreciate having part of her with us now.
It was a very interesting experience. And as a person interested in animals and biology, I really enjoyed being able to get hands-on experience with some animal anatomy. This has lead me to want to have similar experiences. Obviously I am against animal cruelty, so I must source my animals ethically. Many people have cats who bring them dead animals, but I'm not keen on this idea and keep my cats indoors. Instead I search for animals by the roadside that have already died. This way I am indulging my hobby, cruelty-free, whilst also cleaning up the area.
It was a very interesting experience. And as a person interested in animals and biology, I really enjoyed being able to get hands-on experience with some animal anatomy. This has lead me to want to have similar experiences. Obviously I am against animal cruelty, so I must source my animals ethically. Many people have cats who bring them dead animals, but I'm not keen on this idea and keep my cats indoors. Instead I search for animals by the roadside that have already died. This way I am indulging my hobby, cruelty-free, whilst also cleaning up the area.