Australian Taxidermist Shuts Down Rumors That She Made a Rug Out of Dog Fur [Video]

An Australian taxidermist had to speak out after receiving immense backlash about her supposed “dog rug” that went viral.

Chimera Taxidermy came under fire days ago after sharing the aftermath of a golden retriever that appeared to have been turned into a carpet. The dog’s snout, ears, and claws were still attached as the company showed off the morbid yet stunning creation that a family hired them to complete. The company’s official Instagram, @chimerataxidermy, explained that the fur had been tanned and transformed to leather so it wouldn’t shed over time.

As the video swept the web, sparking debates from pet lovers everywhere, the company responded in the comment section. Replying to one curious spectator on IG, Chimera tried explaining that the dog’s coat was not a rug and that people concocted the story as an “attention-grabbing news headline that wasn’t true at all.” Eventually, the company was forced to make a new IG Reel shutting down the rumors and educating people about properly using the pelts. Chimera emphasized that this piece was never meant to be on the floor. Instead, similar to throw blankets, the creation is made for shelf decor or storing next to deceased pets’ ashes.

“No, I didn’t make a living room rug out of this golden retriever like the headlines say,” the caption read. “The pets I preserve are not ‘floor rugs.’ They are stored alongside ashes, photos, artwork, collars, and whatever other mementos the owner has kept. It’s the same concept as storing an urn on the shelf.”

In the video, Chimera showed the finished product of a different pelt that was neatly folded and tied with a ribbon.

When speaking with Yahoo! News Australia, Maddy, the owner of the Melbourne-based business, stated that this method of taxidermy is not the most popular but yields beautiful results that can last for years to come.