Governments are pressing us to become ever more "environmentally friendly", so it makes sense to turn our dead mutts and cats into something fun or useful, rather than consigning them to landfill, or flushing them down the toilet (I did that to a dead goldfish once, but I prefer to think of it more as a Viking ceremony).
Anyway, I was doing a bit of research about innovative uses for dead pets, when I stumbled across a Dutch artist called Bart Jansen. His pet moggy (Orville) was unfortunately squashed by a juggernaut. But after Bart had peeled Orville off the road, and subsequent resuscitation attempts had failed, he made a decision ..... that Orville must live on, in one guise or another.
In a stroke of genius, he decided to capitalise upon Orville's lamentable and procumbent state by ....... turning him into an 'Orvillecopter'.
First of all, Bart stuffed Orville, thoughtfully retaining the characteristics of his flattened demeanour. Then he teamed up with a helicopter expert to attach the flying mechanisms. As Bart said himself, the results were 'artwork'.
And because I am like Mother Theresa (except that I don't wear sackcloth skids), I have got some pictures for you ...........
Pic.No.1 Bart stares lovingly at his four-legged furry friend prior to his virgin flight
Pic.No.2 Orville soars through the air like a mighty eagle, except that eagles don't have electronic cables hanging out of their arses ..... or stabilisers
Pic.No.3 Bart conceded that Orville has grown more intellectually challenging following his sudden demise. "When he was alive, I gave him Kitty treats," Bart said, "but now I have to contend with thermals and cumulus."
Pic.No.4 Orville undergoing routine maintenance
How cool is Orvillecopter? And the beauty is, that you don't necessarily have to have a dead pet to hand, unlike most taxidermy projects. It would be really easy to improvise using roadkill. Imagine Badgercopter or Squirrelcopter! That would outdo the neighbours ..... unless they were the ambitious type and took things a stage further with Deercopter .... or even Cowcopter.
So dahlink ..... can you out-taxidermy Bart? The gauntlett has been thrown down ........
If I were to make something similar to a helicopter, I would have to use road kill or perhaps a plush toy in lieu of my real (albeit dead) pet. The thing about me is I love my pets much like I love my human people. Just as I wouldn't make Wayne (my husband) into a helicopter, I wouldn't make Carmen or Chantel (my cats). It would make me really sad. When I lost my little 17 year old dog, I had her cremated but I sincerely mourned her passing.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, you have left me speechless....This must be the best post I've ever read.....it had me in tears of laughter....Where do these people come from?....Keep up the great work........
ReplyDeleteOK I officially wet myself a little laughing so hard!
ReplyDeleteI bet NG is eyeing you rather nervously right now!
ReplyDeleteThere are now 102 things to do with a dead cat. Its isn't just about pencil sharpeners and toast racks any more.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Masher on this....NG could 'live' forever!!
ReplyDeleteHow bizarre yet interesting is this, Annie? I am perplexed but must hand it to Orville's daddy, I think! I wouldn't want to be his partner/love interest though!!! Just sayin'.....
Wow. I've never given thought to your sanity before this. LOL Girl, you are crazy! :)
ReplyDeleteFlippin' hek Pam, I must be slipping then! You know you want that Orvillecopter .....!
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You need some coupons for Tena Lady, you do.
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You have armadillos over there don't you? They would make a really cool helicopter.
ReplyDeleteThey way I look at it is, that you are allowing them to 'live on' ...... what kind of dog did you have? 17 is the same age as NG.
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Glad to oblige! I was well chuffed to have discovered the Orvillecopter. It's nice to be getting back to normal posts rather than blogging about holidays ;-)
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Nah, he's lying in his basket steaming and guffing. He got mudded up good on our walk this afternoon. I might have to bath him, it's been a couple of years.
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Oh yes. The stakes have been well and truly raised with Orvillecopter. It's like extreme taxidermy.
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Ha ha! Have you and Mash formed a splinter group?!
ReplyDeleteBut just imagine that you WERE his partner. If you carked it, there would be no boring burials or cremations. You could become a submarine, or a skateboard, or any number of wonderful things!
I know for sure that I would rather be made into a drinks trolley than planted ;-)
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I am lost for words.....
ReplyDeleteFlying moggies is just too much.
Mind you if somebody told me they had found a blog talking about dead flying cats, then yours would have been first choice.
Took your advice by the way and there will be a special Halloween blog from mwe on dreams, visions and the like.
It will be spooky!!!!!! Though not perhaps as spooky as flying moggies.
Armadillos and Opossums might be the two exceptions I would make as far as turning dead animals into helicopters. I had a little Shiz TSu who was adorable. Yes, when you mentioned that Darling George was getting up in years,and needed to go to the vet, it made me a bit sad. I was so relieved he was fine. It is just the craziest thing that I have become attached to your mutt. But he is darling!
ReplyDeleteah, i see why you do need my cat. by the way i have 3 so let me know if there's a particular colour you're looking for. i'm finally able to comment on your blog - i've enjoyed it for some time now but only recently able to use disqus. you have been over to visit me at Black Ink Paperie. loved the post.
ReplyDeleteThis simply has to stop. Have another holiday.
ReplyDeleteOh my word. I'm frightened for us all. Especially you. And for my dog. One wrong step. and its dead dog 'ocopter'.
ReplyDeleteDon't be frightened. Your pet doesn't have to be a Dog-copter. I am currently researching whether mini jet engines are a possibility. Imagine that ...... you could create your own runway in the garden!
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Blimey, you mean you didn't secretly like Orvillecopter?! Actually, thinking about it, it's been weeks since I last had a holiday ...... time to log onto Trailfinders methinks! ;-)
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If you have a spare ginger one going, that would be cool ......!
ReplyDeleteAwe, thanks Robert. You'd think of me when the subject of dead flying cats arises. Can't wait to read the Halloween blog, let me know when you post it!!
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents used to have ShizTsus - well cute they were. Don't you go worrying about NG, he has the life of riley over here. Snoozing, sweating and guffing in his big cozy basket all day. And he gets walked over a mile daily. He is living the doggy dream!
ReplyDeleteI feel quite sick because hele-cat looks like our Frankie ( who is curled up on my bed at the mo ) Used to have a copy of 101 uses of a dead cat in the loo !
ReplyDeleteHave had to download something or other to leave this comment !
Woo hoo Pen! You managed to leave a comment. I think there is something going on with your computer ;-)
ReplyDeleteI laughed my head off that Orvillecopter looks like Frankie. I found a taxidermied dog that looked just like Naughty George and it was well weird!
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