Tan and a team of 20 employees use photos sent by customers to create lifelike replicas of their deceased pets using synthetic fur that is airbrushed to recreate colours and markings of the animals.

The process is different from taxidermy, which preserves the body of the animal, said Tan, owner of the Pampanga Teddy Bear Factory.

“It removes that ‘ick’ factor. This is actually 100%, genuinely a stuffed toy,” he said. They’re touchable, huggable, and can be made in the exact same size as one’s dearly departed companion.

Tan shared that the factory initially produced garments and apparel but, six months into the business, he learnt one of his staff had knowledge in toymaking.

So, he began giving this employee projects to work on, which eventually drove the brand to make the stuffed animals.

Aside from different breeds of cats and dogs, Pampanga Teddy Bear Factory produces other replicas such as rabbits, and accepts almost any kind of animal based on the customer’s request.

According to Tan, one plushie can be finished within one to two days, but given that the factory produces over 100 pieces a month, it takes three to four weeks upon receiving an order before a customer receives the finished product.

They also ship internationally. Each plushie costs about 3,500 pesos (RM280), which 38-year-old dog lover Jaja Lazarte said is a price worth paying for the memory of her Shih Tzu.

“Although his ashes are here, and his memories are here, it’s so much better to see something that really resembles him,” she told Reuters.

Tan added that it gives him a good feeling when he sees a new TikTok video or post on their Facebook page from a satisfied client.

“We get reminded about how special our services are, so that’s a really good motivating factor,” he said.

Learn more about Pampanga Teddy Bear Factory via its  website or Facebook page.