Dubai: Losing a beloved pet is traumatic, but you can cope with the grief and cherish the memory of the animal by having its customised cuddly version made, thanks to a service offered by a Dubai-based woman.
Using fabric pieces, Russian expat Eva Yumshanova, 43, has so far created 2,000 adorable lookalikes of pets who either died of natural causes or were left behind by expats in their home countries.
Eva said the idea was born out of a yearning for her own pet cat, Vasya, who she left behind in Russia when she relocated to Dubai in 2011. “I missed Vaysa so much that I decided to immortalise her by making a stuffed replica using old clothes and soft material,” she recalled. “Who would have thought it would turn into a preoccupation. My neighbours and friends were impressed by my creation and soon many wanted something similar for their own pets. Before long I was inundated with orders -- not just from pet owners but also from people asking me to make stuffed dogs, octopuses, camels and owls.”
Adoption
Eva claims she doesn’t “sell” the stuffed animals but instead gives them away for “adoption”.
“A lot of people adopt these stuffed animals and take them to their home countries. My pets are now in different parts of the world,” she said with a hint of pride.
The soft toys designed by Eva are now known as Eva’s Cats.
“Initially, I used to make pet replicas from discarded material, but not anymore. Many parents want these stuffed toys for children. Their safety is paramount so I have to be careful with the choice of fabric and material,” she said. The stuffed animals cost between Dh100 and Dh200 and can be ordered online. Eva’s creations will be on display at the ARTE market that will take place at Times Square Mall in September.
