Getting your pet's paw print in Kingston
Nose prints, hoof prints, tiny bird feet and big dog paws each need a slightly different approach. This page for Kingston walks through them all, with published prices and no pressure.
- Ask for a print when you book
- Help for paws, noses and hooves
- We reply by email, no obligation
Kingston, Ontario
Who takes paw prints in Kingston
Kingston's waterfront, the paths along Lake Ontario and the start of the Rideau Canal are places many residents think of when they want a quiet spot to remember a pet. Before scattering ashes on public land or in water, check the local rules, which vary by place. Keeping part of the ashes for a small urn or keepsake gives you something to hold as well.
The Limestone City's old grey stone buildings give many people a feel for memorials that last, and an engraved stone in the garden can echo that. For those in rentals or student housing, a paw print impression, a framed photo with a small ash compartment or a keepsake urn works better. Ashes can be divided if family members want a share.
Home goodbyes are increasingly common in Kingston. If you're booking an in-home vet, ask whether they bring a clay kit and whether they'll take two prints, one for each person in the family. Taking your own print the day before, when your pet is calm and comfortable on their own bed, is another option and often gives a cleaner result.
Kingston's population is around 132,000, the 15th-largest of the 15 Ontario communities we cover.
The closest communities we cover are Ottawa (91 miles, a larger centre), Markham (144 miles, a larger centre) and Richmond Hill (149 miles). Providers serving those towns often travel to Kingston too, so it can be worth asking them for a quote.
81.1%[1]
CANA projects the Canadian cremation rate will reach 81.1% by 2030.
~$32[2]
Paw-print add-ons at US crematories have a median price of about $32, from $10 to $76.
3-5% of body weight[3]
Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight.
Ashes, graves and the print that comes first
With about 81.1%[1] of people in Canada cremated, most local families already know the rhythm of a cremation: collection, a few days' wait, then the ashes come home. A print fits neatly into the start of that process, before collection. Once your pet is cremated, the chance is gone, so the first phone call is the right moment to mention it.
Source for the Canada number: CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030). Nobody publishes a pet cremation rate for Kingston, so the human figure is the best local signal available.
Weather in Kingston and your pet's print
Whatever the weather outside, think about where the finished print will live. A sunny windowsill fades ink, a bathroom's steam softens clay, and an attic or garage swings between heat and cold. A bookshelf in a living room, away from direct light, is the safest home. If you'd like something outdoors in Kingston, have a copy engraved in stone or metal and keep the original inside.
What paw print keepsakes cost in Kingston
Many paw print jewelers that owners in Kingston find online are based in the US and price in US dollars. A custom sterling silver print charm from one US maker costs $143 plus a chain[4]. Once you convert the currency and add shipping, any duties and GST or HST, the total can be noticeably higher. Ask for a landed price in Canadian dollars, or look for a Canadian maker who works from a scan.
The Ontario price table breaks costs down by product; our services page explains what sits behind each line.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Landlords, parks and permits in Ontario
Renters in Ontario often can't bury a pet in the yard without the landlord's agreement, and even where they can, the grave stays behind when the lease ends. That's one reason portable memorials such as prints are so popular. The notes below set out what Ontario allows for burial and scattering; whatever they say, a print moves with you to the next address.
In Canada, paw prints are usually arranged through your vet or the pet crematory at the same time as cremation, and some small studios make ceramic keepsakes from them. Cold winters are the main practical hurdle: warm clay in your hands, keep plaster work indoors and don't post a print that isn't fully dry. In Quebec, ask for an empreinte de patte.
Home burial and scattering are governed at the Ontario level first; our Ontario rules summary has the detail. Then check whether Kingston or your HOA adds anything.
In order: the print, the aftercare, the keepsake
- Mention the print when you book rather than waiting until the appointment itself, whether that's the euthanasia or the cremation. Ask the team to note it on the aftercare form.
- Ask what kind they take: a clay disc, an ink print or both. If you might want jewelry later, ask for an ink or inkless print as well.
- Ask for two copies when several people at home would each like their own.
- Ask to see or photograph the print while your pet is still at the clinic; a smudged one can then be done again.
- Check how it comes back: with you that day, or with the ashes later, and how it's labeled.
- Keep the paperwork so that, once everything is returned, the invoice, ashes and print can be tied together.
Shelf, wall or garden: where the print ends up
Frost heave and deep winter cold are hard on outdoor memorials in eastern Ontario. A granite or limestone marker stands up far better than wood or resin, and a flat stone set level with the ground is less likely to shift. If you are posted elsewhere every few years, a portable urn or a piece of jewelry holding a little ash is easier to keep with you.
the planning tools turn your pet's details into figures, or compare your instinct with the poll results, the guides answer the longer questions and the blog the newer ones, Every option Kingston families choose between is on the services page. You can also browse every city in Canada. Nearby, we also cover Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and London, and every city in Ontario.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
When did (or will) you take your pet's print?
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Who would you rather take the print?
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If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
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Free tools to help you plan
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Paw print keepsake chooser
Match a print method to your pet's size, fur and the keepsake you want to keep.
Jewelry ash capacity guide
How much ash fits in pendants, rings and glass, and how many pieces one pet can fill.
Questions people ask
Is cremation common in Canada?
For people, yes: about 81.1%[1] of Canada deaths end in cremation, according to CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030). Nobody publishes the same figure for pets, but in our experience pet choices in Kingston follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
Which nearby towns can I compare with Kingston?
The closest communities we cover are Ottawa (about 91 miles), Markham (about 144 miles) and Richmond Hill (about 149 miles). Providers based in those places often serve Kingston too. Ask each one for a written total that includes collection, so the distance is priced in.
Will my vet or crematory take a paw print before cremation?
Most will if asked, and many include a clay or ink print in the package. But requests can be missed on a busy day, especially at emergency clinics. Mention it when you book, ask for it to be written on the aftercare form and ask whether it comes back to you that day or with the ashes. Once your pet has been cremated, the chance is gone.
How do I get my pet's paw print in Kingston?
You have three options. Take it yourself at home with clay or an ink kit, ideally while your pet is still well. Ask your vet or in-home euthanasia vet to take one at the appointment. Or ask the pet crematory to take one at intake, before cremation. Whichever you choose, ask for it in advance and check the print is clear before your pet leaves.
Is ink safe on my pet's paw?
Use a pet-safe, non-toxic, water-based ink made for paw prints, not a stamp pad or permanent marker. Wipe the paw clean straight afterwards with a damp cloth or unscented pet wipe and dry between the toes so your pet doesn't lick any off. For fluffy paws, cats and anxious pets, an inkless kit, where a special wipe reacts with treated paper, avoids ink on fur altogether.
How much does a paw print keepsake cost in Kingston?
Local published prices for prints are scarce outside the US; most vets and crematories include them in a package or quote on request. As a benchmark, a US crematory network lists a clay paw print at $76[6] and a UK studio casts a small dog's paw in resin from about £120[7]. Ask for a written local price.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] CANA projects the Canadian cremation rate will reach 81.1% by 2030. CANA Industry Statistical Information, 2030.
- [2] Paw-print add-ons at US crematories have a median price of about $32, from $10 to $76. Our estimate: median of [$10 clay (AGP), $15 laser engraving (AGP), $49 ink (Final Gift), $76 clay (Final Gift)]. How we calculate.
- [3] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [4] A custom sterling silver actual-paw-print charm costs $143 before the chain (about $59–$79 for silver) and takes about 2 weeks to make. String of Jewels – Actual paw print necklace, 2026.
- [5] Published ashes-return times across the network's markets range from same-day (paid express) to about 4 weeks; a conservative typical window is 3-14 days. Our estimate: min/max across sources: Lambeth 3 days; US 5-10 days; RSPCA QLD within 14 days; AniCura Sweden 2-4 weeks. How we calculate.
- [6] Final Gift charges $49 for ink paw prints, $76 for a clay or silver-clay paw print, $111 framed, and $133 framed with a fur clipping; a fur clipping alone costs $23. Final Gift Pet Memorial Center – Memorial Products, 2026.
- [7] Brighton Body Casting in the UK charges from about £120 to cast a small dog's paw pads in resin; medium and large breeds cost about 1/5 and 1/3 more. Brighton Body Casting – Pets, 2026.
Ask who takes paw prints in Kingston
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.