An attempt to sell a stuffed family pet has fallen foul of a little known eBay rule banning dog and cat fur products, with the online auction site pulling the listing.
But seller Justin O'Connor appears to have got around the restriction by reposting the ad for a taxidermy Doberman with a tongue-in-cheek warning to buyers that the fur had been removed.
Mr O'Connor first advertised the stuffed dog last week, saying he could no longer keep it in his family's home, after "many years" of care.
"I gave him a good home and he fit in well with our family and even the living pets," the ad said. "Unfortunately my family wasn't so great to him and some of the kids ripped his skin off at the front [while] playing with him and a bit near his hind leg.
"For his preservation and benefit I am listing him on eBay in the hope he can find a safe resting place for the future and will be appreciated, cared for and protected from children!"
The ad said the one-metre-tall taxidermy, circa 1960s, was an "excellent thief deterrent" and a "very cool and unusual item to display around the home or bar, boys room, man cave".
Mr O'Connor, who lives in New South Wales, said within 24 hours bidding had reached more than $400.
"I immediately had bids," he said. "People love it, I had 101 people watching it within six hours."
But eBay quickly deactivated the listing, explaining in an email to Mr O'Connor that even though some animal parts and products could be sold through the website, items containing dog fur were prohibited.
"We noticed that item(s) offered for sale on this account weren't listed in accordance with our Animals, Plants, and Wildlife policy," it said.
"You listed an item that contains dog fur. Since the sale of live animals and wildlife products is in some cases prohibited, highly regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers are restricted in their listing of them on eBay."
According to the auction website's guidelines "pelt, fur or any item made from cats or dogs" is prohibited.
An eBay search for "taxidermy" listings in Australia on Wednesday returned 383 results, including a peacock, crab, goat, bat, fox, swan, moose, cane toad, giraffe, zebra and American raccoon.
Mr O'Connor said he was shocked that the ad was pulled and this week relisted it with the following caveat:
"eBay will apparently not permit fur and skin products to be sold," the new ad said. "Fur, skin and banned parts have been put in a plastic bag and placed next to my front door for the buyer to place in the bin for me upon pick up."
The ad has not been removed by eBay, but its wording may have deterred potential buyers. As of Wednesday afternoon - two days into the new auction - no bids had been made.
