• Life-like pet plushies are displayed at the Pampanga Teddy Bear Factory in Angeles City in the Philippines. All photos: Reuters
    Life-like pet plushies are displayed at the Pampanga Teddy Bear Factory in Angeles City in the Philippines. All photos: Reuters
  • Filipino toy maker David Tan has helped thousands grieving the loss of their pet animals by creating realistic replica plushies of them
    Filipino toy maker David Tan has helped thousands grieving the loss of their pet animals by creating realistic replica plushies of them
  • A worker paints the face of a realistic pet plushie, at the Pampanga Teddy Bear Factory, in Angeles City, Pampanga province, Philippines, March 10, 2023. REUTERS / Lisa Marie David TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
    A worker paints the face of a realistic pet plushie, at the Pampanga Teddy Bear Factory, in Angeles City, Pampanga province, Philippines, March 10, 2023. REUTERS / Lisa Marie David TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
  • Mr Tan and his team have created realistic plushies of dogs, cats, hamsters and rabbits
    Mr Tan and his team have created realistic plushies of dogs, cats, hamsters and rabbits
  • Customers send the details and measurements of the animal along with pictures and videos to use as a reference
    Customers send the details and measurements of the animal along with pictures and videos to use as a reference
  • The workers make a sketch of the animal and create the pattern on cardboard which is then sewn onto fabric to create a shell. This is filled with the stuffing to create a plushie
    The workers make a sketch of the animal and create the pattern on cardboard which is then sewn onto fabric to create a shell. This is filled with the stuffing to create a plushie
  • The plushie’s synthetic fur is intricately airbrushed to recreate the colours and markings of the deceased pet
    The plushie’s synthetic fur is intricately airbrushed to recreate the colours and markings of the deceased pet
  • The materials used to make realistic plushies are the same as those used to make stuff toys such as a teddy bear
    The materials used to make realistic plushies are the same as those used to make stuff toys such as a teddy bear
  • The process is different from taxidermy, which preserves the body of the animal. So it removes that ‘ick’ factor, said Mr Tan
    The process is different from taxidermy, which preserves the body of the animal. So it removes that ‘ick’ factor, said Mr Tan
  • Each plushie costs about 3,500 pesos ($65). Jaja Lazarte, pictured, 38, said it is worth, who memorialised her Shih Tzu
    Each plushie costs about 3,500 pesos ($65). Jaja Lazarte, pictured, 38, said it is worth, who memorialised her Shih Tzu

World

Filipino toy maker creates life-like pet plushies for grieving owners - in pictures

Replica comes with a $65 price tag

The National

April 07, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic
Updated: April 07, 2023, 11:35 AM