A Queensland family reeling from the deaths of four pets in a year has regular visits with the remains of their much-loved furry friends not at the cemetery, but in a bone museum.
The Robinson family's unexpected relationship with Australia's first bone museum began with the accidental death of nine-year-old Alexander's pet guinea pig, Caramel.
With the family in "minor hysterics" after Caramel's death, dad Matthew Robinson sought advice from Gympie Bone Museum owner Jaimie Cook then issued an ultimatum to his son.
"We can bury the guinea pig or we can take it out to Jaimie," Mr Robinson said.
"Anytime you want to go check out Caramel his bones will be there."
Initially, Alexander was reluctant.
"I prefer seeing him in actual body … but I said 'Yes' because I really wanted to see him again," Alexander said.
Mr Robinson became aware of the museum after seeing its educational displays of animal skeletal remains.
In Gympie, 160 kilometres north of Brisbane, the interactive facility uses the displays to show the bone structure of recently deceased animals.
It also provides animal parts for dissection to schools and universities.
The museum is believed to be the first of its kind in Australia dedicated to modern animals.
First the guinea pig, then the cow
Caramel's death was the catalyst for an uncanny relationship between the family and the museum.
Two months after the guinea pig died, the family's cow, Strawberry, died unexpectedly.
"Something happened to it, it died, not sure if it fell," Mr Robinson said.
"We asked Jaimie whether or not he had a cow, he said 'No' and so they dutifully came out and they dug a hole."
When Mr Cook arrived at the Robinson's home, insects had begun eating the carcass.
He said that the more that decomposition took place in the natural environment, the less work it would be for the bone museum's flesh-eating beetles.
"We used some wire to peg it [the carcass] down so it was secure," Mr Cook said.
"The fly maggots would've started the process off."
Goodbye Katie
While tending to the carcass, Mr Robinson's mother Eleanor told Mr Cook about the family's ageing 15-year-old blue cattle dog, Katie.
"Eleanor said to me, 'Oh look Katie's getting a bit old … would you like her for the museum when it happens?'," Mr Cook said.
"And then three days later … it's such bad luck really."
Matthew Robinson said the much-loved pet's deterioration was obvious.
"She was at the point where she would play with the kids for a little while and then go lie down," he said.
"So she was battling to keep in the game."
Tick claims Theo
After Katie passed away, the family was keen to begin some happy memories with a blue cattle dog pup, Theo.
But the family still could not shake its bad luck and Theo was just seven weeks old when he became ill.
"He got a tick and we didn't realise until it was too late," Mr Robinson said.
"He had a reaction to the anti-venom with the tick … it's unfortunate."
Within minutes of leaving the vet, the Robinson family delivered Theo to the bone museum where his remains are currently stored.
Making peace with death
Bone museum owner Jaimie Cook said working with the family had been unique yet entertaining.
"It's been interesting dealing with the community in that regard [taking in pets]," he said.
"It's terribly unfortunate but they've been great and the grandfather even keeps threatening to donate himself."
Meanwhile, Matthew Robinson said the animal deaths had been life lessons for nine-year-old Alexander.
"We said, 'Yeah, you have to let it go, it's not there to have any more good times with and that's unfortunate but we have to keep living'," he said.
"You can't be crying over these things forever."
