Keeping your pet's paw print in Dublin, Leinster
Clay, ink, inkless paper or a 3D cast: this page explains what each one gives you, how the weather in Dublin affects drying and setting, and what to ask your vet or crematory.
- Nose prints and fur clippings too
- Keep a scan so the original stays home
- Options that serve Dublin
Dublin, Leinster
Home, clinic or crematory: paw prints in Dublin
In Dublin homes where space is limited, a small wooden or ceramic urn on a shelf is the usual choice after a cremation. Some families prefer a memorial stone for a window box or garden border, or a paw print cast taken before collection. Ask for any print or fur clipping at the first contact, since these must be made before the body leaves your home.
Irish memorial customs lean toward the personal: a candle lit on an anniversary, a photograph on the mantelpiece, a name spoken at a family meal. Pet memorials in Dublin often follow the same pattern. A framed photo with a collar tag, a small engraved urn, or a piece of jewellery holding a trace of ashes all fit that tradition of keeping someone close without fuss.
Air-dry clay is fragile, and few people realize a pottery studio in a large city like Dublin may fire a print for them. If you use a proper stoneware or earthenware clay instead of air-dry, a studio with a kiln can fire and glaze it into something as durable as a dinner plate. Call ahead, ask what clay they accept and let the print dry right through before you drop it off, because trapped moisture can crack a piece in the kiln.
With roughly 1,228,000 residents, Dublin is one of the Leinster communities we cover.
For a second opinion on price, Galway (116 miles) and Cork (137 miles) are close enough that their providers cover Dublin routinely. Two written quotes tell you more than any price list.
26.56%[1]
In 2024, 26.56% of deaths in the Republic of Ireland were cremated (9,341 of 35,173; excludes one crematorium).
~$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.
How Ireland thinks about cremation, and why prints matter
Cremation is a minority choice for people in Ireland, at about 26.56%[1], and the pet aftercare trade is smaller to match. A crematory an hour away may not list prints at all, and a vet clinic may never have been asked for one. Bring your own kit. A pack of air-dry clay plus a card and a pet-safe ink pad costs little, fits in a bag and means the print doesn't depend on anyone else's supply cupboard.
For the Ireland figure we rely on Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Statistics 2024 - Eire (2024). Read it as a picture of local custom around death and remembrance in Dublin rather than as pet data.
Clay, ink and the local climate
Whatever the season in Dublin, 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.
Paw print costs around Dublin, line by line
In Dublin, your vet is usually the first contact and will arrange collection by a pet crematorium, which may offer a clay or ink paw print. Ask by name: a Pfotenabdruck in German, an empreinte de patte in French, a pootafdruk in Dutch. For comparison, a US crematory network lists a clay paw print at $76[4], and a UK studio casts small dog paws in resin from about £120[5].
We keep the detailed Leinster price table on one page so it stays current: see Leinster prices.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Landlords, parks and permits in Leinster
You don't need anyone's permission to take your pet's paw print, and prints, casts and ashes jewelry can be kept, posted or carried anywhere. The rules that matter in Leinster are about burial and scattering. If you plan a home burial, take the print before you begin; if you plan to scatter, keep some ashes back for a print pendant first.
Dublin City Council Animal Welfare Unit publishes Dublin's official guidance. Note that it deals with public collection, not with booking a private cremation.
In Ireland, pet crematoria commonly offer paw prints within their individual cremation packages, and your vet can usually arrange one before collection. The damp climate means air-dry clay can take several days to harden fully, so dry it indoors on a rack and seal it only once it's pale and light all through.
What to do first, and what can wait
- 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 if more than one person in the family would like one.
- 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: in your hands the same day, or alongside the ashes later, and what name goes on it.
- Keep the paperwork so that, once everything is returned, the invoice, ashes and print can be tied together.
Turning a print into something lasting
Many Dubliners feel a strong pull to the sea. Dollymount Strand, Sandymount and the cliff paths at Howth are places families often come back to, and some choose a biodegradable urn or a quiet scattering at a spot they loved. Choose a calm day, avoid busy bathing areas, and remember that a scattering is permanent, so you may want to keep a pinch of ashes in a pendant, a small urn or a glass keepsake first.
run the numbers with the free planning tools, look through our guides and the blog, or see what other families chose in the poll results, Compare every option on our services page. More local pages: the Leinster overview and every city in Ireland.
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.
Whose print are you thinking about?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Where would your pet's print live?
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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
Why does the Dublin page quote a human cremation rate?
Because it is the best local signal we have. Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Statistics 2024 - Eire (2024) reports about 26.56%[1] of Ireland residents are cremated. There is no official pet equivalent, and inventing one would be worse than quoting a real, clearly labelled number.
Can a provider from a neighbouring town collect from Dublin?
Usually yes. Galway is about 116 miles away and Cork is about 137 miles away, all inside a normal collection radius. Get the mileage written into the quote so there is no surprise on the day.
How do I get my pet's paw print in Dublin?
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.
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.
Should I use a local jeweler or an online maker for a paw print pendant?
Both work. A local jeweler or engraver in Dublin lets you see samples and hand over the print in person. Online makers usually work from a photo or scan, so the original never has to leave your home. Ask either one for a proof before they start, and check how long it will take: a custom silver print charm takes about two weeks at one US maker[6].
How do I stop an ink paw print from smudging?
Dry the paw with a towel first, tape the card to a hard surface and press straight down with steady pressure, then lift straight up without sliding. Too much ink blurs the pads, so dab lightly. Take three or four prints and keep the clearest. Let the ink dry fully before touching it, especially in humid weather.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] In 2024, 26.56% of deaths in the Republic of Ireland were cremated (9,341 of 35,173; excludes one crematorium). Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Statistics 2024 - Eire, 2024.
- [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] 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.
- [5] 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.
- [6] 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.
Ask who takes paw prints in Dublin
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.