A Vancouver taxidermy studio is now offering an interesting... er... product. They're producing and selling cute, stuffed rabbit heads.
Just the heads.
Sourced from a B.C. trapper who harvests the animals for their meat, that particular part of their body would otherwise be disposed of. The pair of licensed taxidermists who run Pretty Dead put their heads together and came up with the idea of stuffing them.
Jo Lepeska and Lexi Boyd are both schooled taxidermists and entrepreneurs who operate their business from a studio in the space that the pinball repair shop John's Jukes used to occupy at Main and Broadway.
They stuff and sell obscure things like the rabbit heads (which they say many people use as paperweights), skeletons, skulls, two-headed ducklings and a wide range of insects.
They also provide props for film and TV, and yet another part of their business is stuffing peoples beloved pets.
During a recent studio visit I watched as a family's late dog who died of old age was being turned into a rug.
While it's a fascinating process I find the thought of having our family's pooch stuffed when he passes away darkly comical - it's not something I'd want. He's 17 and we've had a wonderful life with him, but when it's over I'd like to just have memories, photographs, and the tattoo my wife got of him to remind me of how great of a companion he was.
It's not for everyone, but I have to say that seeing this type of work being done in the city is refreshing. Taxidermy is an old trade that is seeing new life breathed into it by a new generation who are approaching it with an artisanal flare, and seeing entrepreneurs succeed in our expensive city is a joy.
The pair describes themselves as animal lovers, and the work they do honours wildlife and helps people connect not only with the things they sell, but with the carft itself as they offer courses.
You can go in and do a workshop in their Academy of Oddities where you are taught how to stuff a rat (sourced from a company that breeds them as reptile food), then move on to larger projects if it appeals to you.
They're always offering new courses and new oddities to buy, and I would encourage you to check out their taxidermy website where they sell some of their works.
The stuffed rabbit heads make great gifts at $120. In fact I bought one for myself when I visited. I think it's good luck.
