American Stuffers, a reality show about “pet preservation” set at Xtreme Taxidermy (they put the X in taxidermy) in Arkansas, would have loved Baron George Haas. The guy loved dead animals, specifically the stuffed dog kind. If you ever find yourself in Southern Moravia in the Czech Republic, stop at Bítov Castle (Haas owned the place) to see the Guinness World Record’s largest collection of stuffed dogs. Even though he was an antifascist, Haas was ethnically German, which caused some problems during World War II. He committed suicide in 1945 before deportation to Austria. Survived by thousands of animals, including 200 dogs, 51 of his precious pets were stuffed after their deaths and put on display in the castle. His son, also named George, is an animal lover too and has turned the castle into one of the largest private zoos in the country. Oh, and in case you were wondering, all the unstuffed pooches are buried in several cemeteries around the castle grounds, some with wooden crosses and metal plates carved with their names. Didn’t know dogs had a particular religious affiliation? Interesting.
Bítov Castle in Southern Moravia in the Czech Republic
