Something to hold
Paw print keepsakes — how to take one, and what we include
A paw print is the keepsake families reach for most, and it is the one people most often wish they had taken. If your pet has just died, you still have time — prints can be taken for many hours afterwards.
Every individual cremation with us includes a paw print and a clipping of fur as standard, at no extra cost. If you want to take your own as well, here is how.
Taking a paw print at home
- Choose the paw that is cleanest and easiest to reach. A front paw usually gives the clearest print.
- Wipe the pad clean and dry it. Dirt and moisture blur the detail more than anything else.
- For an ink print: use a non-toxic, water-based ink pad or child-safe paint, press the pad on firmly and evenly, then roll it once onto thick paper or card. Do not slide it.
- For a clay impression: use air-dry clay rolled about 1cm thick, press the paw straight down with firm even pressure, then lift straight up.
- Wash and dry the paw afterwards with a warm damp cloth.
- Take two or three — the second attempt is almost always better than the first, and you cannot go back later.
What we include with every cremation
- A paw print taken by hand before the cremation.
- A clipping of fur, or tail and mane hair for horses.
- A certificate naming your pet.
- Ashes returned in the urn or timber memorial you chose, delivered in person wherever distance allows.
Hand-finished pencil sketch prints
We can also turn a paw print, a nose print or your pet's face into a fine pencil study, sized and prepared for a standard 4x6 frame. Families use them for a bedside frame, for siblings who live in different states, or as the first thing that goes on the wall.
Ask Alby when you book, or phone anytime to talk it through.
If it is too late to take a print
It very rarely is. Prints can be taken for many hours after death, and if your pet is already with the vet or with us, tell us and we will take one before anything else happens.
If your pet died some time ago and you have no print, a photograph of the paw is often enough for us to work from for a pencil study. Send it through and we will tell you honestly whether it will work.
The prints and keepsakes we offer
Two are included with every individual cremation at no cost. The rest are optional, priced as published, and never offered to you at the door.
- Ink paw print on a framing card — included, no charge.
- Clipping of fur, or tail and mane hair for horses — included, no charge.
- Framed paw print and premium paw artwork — included in the Gold and Platinum packages.
- Ink-stamp nose print on a 4x6 card — $39.
- Memorial name plaque, engraved with their name and dates — $39.
- Digital fine pencil paw portrait on archival 4x6 photo paper — $69.
How long you have to take a print
Longer than most families think. A paw print can usually still be taken many hours after death, and we take ours by hand before the cremation, so nothing is lost if you were too upset to do it yourself.
Keep them somewhere cool and flat, with the paws accessible rather than tucked underneath. If you want to try your own print first, tell Alby on the phone and collection will wait until you are done.
What they look like
Questions families ask us
- How do I take a paw print of my dog after they die?
- Clean and dry the pad, then press it onto a water-based non-toxic ink pad and roll it once onto thick card, or press it straight down into air-dry clay about 1cm thick. Take two or three attempts — prints can be taken for many hours after death.
- Do you include a paw print with cremation?
- Yes. Every individual cremation includes a paw print and a fur clipping at no additional cost, along with a certificate naming your pet.
- What ink is safe to use for a pet paw print?
- Use a non-toxic, water-based ink pad or child-safe washable paint, and wash the paw afterwards with a warm damp cloth. Avoid solvent-based inks.
- Can you make a paw print into artwork?
- Yes. We can turn a paw print, nose print or a photograph of your pet's face into a hand-finished pencil study, prepared for a 4x6 frame. Ask Alby when you book.
- Can I still get a paw print if my pet is already at the vet?
- Usually yes. Tell us when you call and we will take a print before anything else happens.