Sweetums had always been a steadfast companion, and now, even in death, the beloved chihuahua remains by its owner’s side — immortalized through the delicate craft of taxidermy.
Sweetums’ preservation is just one of many heartfelt projects undertaken by Lauren Kane, a master taxidermist known for transforming cherished pets into lasting memorials.
Speaking exclusively to the DailyMail.com, Kane, 35, owner of Precious Taxidermy in Redlands, California, shares some of her most intricate and astonishing creations.
She embraces her reputation as the ‘Grief Fairy,’ finding fulfillment in offering solace to those mourning the loss of their furry companions.
Kane’s journey into taxidermy was shaped by a lifelong fascination with mortality — an interplay of fear and curiosity that took root in childhood. This interest initially led her to work in a funeral home, where she discovered her passion for supporting the bereaved.
However, the structured solemnity of traditional funerary work left her craving a creative outlet — an unexpected realization. Seeking a way to merge her love for animals, art and death care, she found her true calling in taxidermy.
‘I take a lot of pride in approaching this work from a non-judgmental place,’ Krane said, ‘If someone has an idea something that I hadn’t even thought of or done before, I want it make happen.’
From crafting necklaces from pet tails, pillows from dog fur, cufflinks from mouse heads, a bikini top made of a cat’s pelt, and even a witch’s cape and hat for a skeletal cat made of its skin, Krane approaches each project with compassion and creativity.
Sweetums had always been a steadfast companion, and now, even in death, the beloved chihuahua remains by its owner’s side — immortalized through the delicate craft of taxidermy
Speaking exclusively to the DailyMail.com, Kane, 35, owner of Precious Taxidermy in Redlands, California, shares some of her most intricate and astonishing creations
She challenges the perception of taxidermy as morbid, viewing it instead as a celebration of life.
‘If anything, it’s really sunny because you’re celebrating and preserving the life. people think bones are morbid, but we’re all made out of bones, we’re all just walking skeletons.’
While many taxidermists shy away from pet commissions due to the razor-thin margin for error and the heightened emotions involved, Kane embraces the challenge.
‘I’ve always been drawn to working with domesticated animals because they are so familiar, because we know them so personally,’ Krane said. ‘It’s not like you’re taking a deer who’s a stranger and putting him on a wall. I’d much rather preserve my pet Chihuahua’s head on the wall that I personally knew, loved and shared a special bond with.’
‘It’s not just a trophy — it’s a commemoration.’
However, she acknowledges that the process can be bittersweet.
‘[The pet owners] know their loved ones so intimately and deeply that whatever we give them back, as much love and time and care that we pour into it, it’s not going to look exactly like and feel exactly like the loved one that they knew in life,’ Krane admits.
Some clients are overjoyed, while others find the experience brings back their grief. Some never pick up their pet.
Pictured: A coat preservation pillow
Pictured: A bikini top made from a pet cat’s coat
Pictured: A framed coat preservation of a dog
‘Some pet owners just don’t want to open that door again to their grief, and it’s really hard,’ she said.
Despite the challenges, Krane finds immense reward in her work.
‘It feels really good when families say, ‘Wow, he looks just like he did in life, or even better than he did,” she said. ‘It is so rewarding when it goes, right.’
Krane’s services range from simple paw print keepsakes to full-body taxidermy, with prices varying depending on the size and complexity of the project.
A full-sized cat in a laying position, for example, starts at around $8,200. She also offers payment plans, recognizing the emotional and financial investment involved.
Her new brick-and-mortar studio in Redlands, California, provides a dedicated space for clients to say goodbye to their pets and pick them up again in their new form.
Krane offers personalized ‘reunions,’ allowing families to create unique memorials with music, flowers and even toasts. ‘We kind of just roll with whatever grief wants in that moment,’ she said.
Her clientele is diverse, including commissions from Marilyn Manson to preserve his cat’s coat in a heart shape. Danielle Smith-Boldt, a client of Krane’s, had her two dogs, Hades and Sweetums, were made into taxidermy.
Pictured: Hades basking in the sun, the same pose Danielle Smith-Boldt requested
Pictures: Hades after being created into taxidermy
Pictured: Sweetums while he was alive
Pictured: Sweetums at his ‘reunion’ with Smith-Boldt
Her decision, while sparking curiosity and even bewilderment in others, brought her profound peace and a continued sense of connection.
‘I was just so connected to him,’ Smith-Boldt explained, referring to Hades, her miniature pinscher.
Though she originally wanted to mummify him, that proved to be even more expensive.
‘It really is very warming and soothing to me,’ Smith-Boldt said of having Hades taxidermied. ‘It helped the grieving process for me that he was like at the spa. I would always say he’s at the spa, and he’s still coming home.’
Hades, her miniature pinscher, was more than just a pet; he was her ‘first all me dog,’ a constant companion through life’s upheavals, including escaping an abusive relationship.
‘Hades was very special,’ she recalls.
His preserved form, positioned exactly as he slept in a sunlit photo, brings a sense of familiar comfort.
‘If you put him in a dog bed or on the couch or on the bed or anything, anybody will say, ‘Oh, my God, there’s a dog in there,” she explained. ‘And you can’t tell that he’s not just a dog that’s sleeping.’
Pictured: Sweetums posed at his reunion
Pictured: Extra gifts provided by Kane, including a plush of Sweetums
Though encased behind glass to protect him from her cat, Hades’ presence remains a source of solace.
‘He was my baby, and he still is my baby, and now he’s here with me in a special way,’ she said.
Sweetums, a rescue chihuahua mix, held a different kind of significance.
‘She blew the roof off of what I knew special to be,’ Smith-Boldt said. ‘She’s my familiar. She’s in my dreams every single night.’
Seeking a more tactile connection, Smith-Boldt chose a traditional taxidermy method that preserved Sweetums’ distinctive wire-haired fur without the need for stuffing.
This allows Smith-Boldt to physically connect with her memory.
‘When I’m having a really bad day, I can take her out and I can just pet her,’ she shares. ‘And just feel her and feel that connection.’
Smith-Boldt expressed immense gratitude for Kane, the taxidermist who brought her vision to life.
Pictured: Smith-Boldt with Hades and Sweetums
Pictured: A taxidermy chihuahua preserved by Kane
Pictured: Mice-head cufflinks bade my Kane
‘I couldn’t be happier,’ she said. ‘She’s given me such a gift.’
Smith-Boldt’s choice has elicited varied reactions.
‘Very mixed,’ she admits. ‘People would just be like, “Oh my God, there’s a dog on the shelf. It freaked me out”.’
However, she emphasizes that it’s a personal decision, not intended to make anyone uncomfortable.
‘It’s not for everyone, and I understand that,’ she says. ‘But they’re with me, they make me happy, and they’re extra special.’
Smith-Boldt’s perspective is deeply rooted in her understanding of life’s cyclical nature.
‘It’s life and death, and that it’s all a part of the experience,’ she said. ‘Time is fleeting, and it’s just part of nature and it’s beauty.’
This philosophy extends to her appreciation of the preserved skulls of her dogs, ‘the artistry of nature,’ as she refers to them.
Pictured: A tail preservation in the form of a necklace, made by Kane
Pictured: A cat paw preservation by Kane
Pictured: A hybrid of taxidermy and a blanket made from a deceased pet dog
Kane’s care extended beyond the taxidermy itself. When Smith-Boldt received Hades’ remains at their ‘reunion’, she found him presented in a bed of flowers, accompanied by thoughtful gifts.
‘There were so many extra gifts — a gift bag of sage, for example. I think she even made me an essential oil blend for grieving, along with all these little things meant to help,’ she said.
‘It’s not just, “Here’s the thing,” but rather, “Here’s a collection of thoughtful items I put together just for you”.’
Sweetums’ ‘reunion’ was similar, with her body lay on a soft bed of fur under a canopy.
Looking to the future, Smith-Boldt acknowledged that she may preserve aspects of her other pets, but each memorial will be unique.
‘I don’t want to repeat the same thing for any of the pets,’ she says. ‘It would always have to be their own special idea.’
She even contemplates preserving her cat Timmy’s beautiful tail.
‘This morning, I was thinking about how Timmy is this huge, fluffy cat with a gorgeous tail. Well, sorry Timmy, but I might have to keep your tail when you go!’ she said, laughing.
‘But don’t worry, he’s only one year old, so we have plenty of time.’