Taxidermy - Creepy or Memorable?

Taxidermy is the art of reproducing dead animals for display (mounting), to study them, or just for a persons memory keepsake of their beloved pet. Some people believe this is a cruelty to animals, some people believe that this is a way to keep "Fido" close to their sides. I am drawn down the middle on this subject because I can see two different points of view. Let me explain.

To use a Taxidermist ( the person who performs Taxidermy on an animal) to preserve the animal for studying purposes is OK in my eyes. I think that it can help in science research for years to come. I remember back when I was in high school and I took an Anatomy class, we had to dissect a cat. Gross as it was, it was very helpful in knowing how organs and muscles in the cat performed different actions. I learned alot from it and believe it or not some of the people I took the class with, it inspired them to go on and become Doctors and Veterinarians. So, if preserving an animal for studying, then yes, I agree with Taxidermy and do not believe it is as creepy as some people may tend to think it is. If it can help the next future Doctor find a cure for cancer then who are we to stand in the way of it?

Now, on the other hand, Taxidermy is also used to preserve animals for peoples personal use like if a man goes hunting and he shot the biggest deer he has ever seen in his whole life, and he wants to mount it to show off his accomplishments. I believe this is completely wrong and most definitely creepy! First of all, I do not believe in killing animals for pleasure and sport. No I am not a vegetarian, and I believe in the chain of life when it comes to an animal must die for us to eat, however when it comes to killing one just so we can say we killed this big, massive deer, you want to come to the living room to see? To have a dead deer head, or a stuffed fish mounted on the fireplace is nasty and definitely creepy.

There is a big popularity for people these days having their family pet stuffed and put into a position that looks like they are still alive. They take them home and place them by the fireplace, or the front door, or even by their chair just so they feel like they are still around. I love animals and have a dog myself, however it creeps me out when I see things like this on television because I think it is animal cruelty big time. Animals are not people, however they do have feelings like we do, so what if we started mounting and stuffing our Grand-maw Irene who passed away last week, placed her on the sofa with an afcan on her lap so we can feel better on the inside and she is still with us. It is being selfish to me. and I think people who use Taxidermy for this purpose are in need of some serious consoling!

Like I said this is my personal opinion and I reserve the right to think the way I do!