Getting your pet's paw print in Markham
Many vets and pet crematories will take a paw print before cremation, but often only if someone asks. This guide to Markham covers timing, home kits, costs and turning a print into jewelry or art.
- Nose prints and fur clippings too
- Keep a scan so the original stays home
- Options that serve Markham
Markham, Ontario
Getting a paw print in Markham: the local picture
Rouge National Urban Park, the Milne Dam Conservation Park and the trails along the Rouge River give Markham families green places to remember a pet. Some scatter a little of the ashes somewhere meaningful and keep the rest at home. Check the rules for parks and conservation areas first, and consider that in winter, a spring scattering may be easier.
Memorial traditions in Markham draw on many cultures, from incense and photos on a family shrine to a stone in a backyard garden. If you plan an outdoor memorial, choose weatherproof stone or metal that handles freeze-thaw cycles. A biodegradable urn or a memorial tree works well once the ground thaws, and planting in spring can be a meaningful way to mark the first months.
If your pet is a senior with good days left, a routine vet visit in Markham can be a gentle moment to ask about a print. Some clinic teams will help take one there and then, with treats on hand. You can also do it at home after a long walk, when your dog is tired, or after a meal, when your cat is sleepy and relaxed.
With roughly 338,000 residents, Markham is the 7th-largest of the 15 Ontario communities we cover. Some of the providers who serve Markham are based about 14 miles away in Toronto, the nearest larger centre, so collection times reflect that drive.
If you want to compare providers, look at Richmond Hill (5 miles), Vaughan (9 miles) and Toronto (14 miles, a larger centre). Distance matters because pickup fees and the time until the ashes come back both grow with the drive.
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
Cremation accounts for about 81.1%[1] of human deaths in Canada, so many households already have a shelf or cabinet where family ashes and photos sit. A pet's print tends to join that shelf. That's worth knowing before you choose a format: a clay disc needs a small stand, an ink print suits a frame the same size as your photos, and a print engraved straight onto the urn saves space altogether.
The Canada percentage above is from CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030) and refers to human funerals. Treat it as context for Markham, not as a count of pets.
Clay, ink and the local climate
Whatever the season in Markham, take prints indoors in a comfortable room, not in direct sun or a cold garage. Dry the paw with a towel before using ink so it doesn't smudge, and tape the card down. Let clay dry on a rack at room temperature for two or three days, then seal it before framing or posting it anywhere.
Where the money goes: the print, then the finishing
Canadian paw print prices are mostly published by small studios and crematories. One Canadian studio charges from CA$155 for a handmade ceramic paw-print keepsake and asks buyers to allow 3 to 4 weeks[4]. A clinic or crematory clay print taken before cremation is usually much cheaper, so ask what's included when you book in Markham.
Rather than repeat the price table on every city page, we keep one for Ontario: Ontario costs. What each service includes is on the services page.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Local rules worth knowing in Ontario
If you might move away from Ontario one day, it helps to know that a print, a cast or a photograph needs no paperwork at a border, while ashes sometimes do, and a grave can't come with you at all. None of that should decide your plans, but it's worth weighing alongside what Ontario allows, set out below.
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.
The Ontario page sets out who oversees pet cremation and what the state says about burial and scattering. Markham's own bylaws can sit on top of that, so ask before you dig.
Your paw print plan for Markham
- 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: some clinics do clay only, some ink, some both. If there's any chance you'll want jewelry made, request an ink or inkless version too.
- 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 you can match the print, the ashes and the invoice when they arrive.
Shelf, wall or garden: where the print ends up
Many Markham families keep a pet's ashes at home in a small urn with a photo, or share them among relatives in keepsake containers. A pendant with a pinch of ashes, a framed paw print or an engraved stone for the garden are also common. If you're choosing an urn, think about where it will sit: a shelf, a family altar or a quiet corner of the living room.
or see what other families chose in the poll results, use the free tools before you ring anyone, browse in-depth guides or recent articles, For a plain comparison of the choices, open services. Close to Markham we also cover Mississauga, Toronto, London and Ottawa; the full list for Ontario and for Canada is a click away.
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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 Markham follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
Can a provider from a neighbouring town collect from Markham?
Usually yes. Richmond Hill is about 5 miles away, Vaughan is about 9 miles away and Toronto is about 14 miles away, all inside a normal collection radius. Get the mileage written into the quote so there is no surprise on the day.
Where are the providers that serve Markham actually based?
Some are local, and some run from Toronto, about 14 miles away. That is normal for a city this size. What matters is the collection time they quote for Markham and whether the drive is priced into the total, so ask both up front.
Is it possible to print a guinea pig's or hamster's feet?
Yes, but it takes patience and a light touch. Tiny feet leave only faint marks in ink, so very soft modeling clay or an inkless kit usually works better. Warm the clay well, cradle your pet in a towel on your lap and press the clay gently up to the foot rather than lowering the foot. For a hamster, one clear hind foot is plenty. If your pet is frightened, stop; letting your vet take it after death is gentler.
Can a paw print be taken after my pet has died?
Yes. A print can usually be taken in the first hours after death at home, and later by a vet or crematory before cremation. If the leg has stiffened, press the clay gently onto the paw rather than forcing the paw down. A print from a relaxed, living pet tends to be crisper, which is why many owners take one while their pet is still a healthy senior.
My pet was cremated without a paw print. Is there anything I can do?
You can't take a new impression after cremation, but there are good alternatives. Look through your photos for a clear shot of a paw, or of paw prints in snow, sand or mud; engravers and artists can trace one. Check old vet records, the puppy or kitten pack from a breeder, and grooming photos. Some artists can also draw a lifelike paw from pictures of your pet's feet. It won't be the exact pad pattern, but many owners find it just as meaningful.
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] Spawts, a Canadian studio, charges from CA$155 for a handmade ceramic paw-print keepsake and asks buyers to allow 3–4 weeks. Spawts – Ceramic keepsakes, 2026.
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