Getting your pet's paw print in Bergen
Many vets and pet crematories will take a paw print before cremation, but often only if someone asks. This guide to Bergen covers timing, home kits, costs and turning a print into jewelry or art.
- Ask for a print when you book
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Bergen, Vestland
Who takes paw prints in Bergen
In a Bergen apartment or a small wooden house, a compact memorial often suits best: a birch or stone urn on a windowsill, a paw print in a simple frame, or a pendant worn every day. Where relatives each want a keepsake, the ashes can be split before you pick pieces. Small pieces also travel easily if you move within Norway or abroad.
Norwegians often feel close to nature, and many Bergen families like a memorial connected to it: a tree planted in the garden, a small cairn of stones by a favorite viewpoint on private land, or a bio urn in a large planter on the balcony. Plant in spring so the roots settle before autumn storms arrive off the North Sea.
If your dog or cat has a regular groomer in Bergen, ask for their help. A quick paw tidy a day or two before a planned goodbye trims the fur between the pads and around the toes, which is the difference between a clear print and a fuzzy oval. Many groomers will fit in a short, gentle appointment for an elderly pet once they know why. Ask them to leave the fur around the outer edge so the outline stays.
About 283,000 people live in Bergen.
The closest communities we cover are Stavanger (99 miles). Providers serving those towns often travel to Bergen too, so it can be worth asking them for a quote.
49.27%[1]
In 2023, 49.27% of deaths in Norway were cremated (25 crematoria).
~$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
In Norway, only about 49.27%[1] of people are cremated, and many families still prefer a grave. A paw print can become part of that grave: pressed into a concrete stepping stone, cast in resin and set into a headstone, or kept at home while your pet rests in the garden. Take the print before burial, while the paw is still easy to position.
The Norway figure comes from Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023). It describes people, not pets, so read it as a sign of local attitudes rather than a pet statistic.
When the weather works against clay and ink
Local weather in Bergen affects a paw print more than you might think. In hot, dry spells, air-dry clay can crack if it dries too fast, so dry it slowly indoors and turn it often. In humid months it stays soft for longer, so be patient. In cold weather, warm the clay in your hands and never let plaster freeze before it has set.
Where the money goes: the print, then the finishing
European crematoria often price by package rather than by item. An Irish crematorium, for example, lists individual cremation from €250 for cats or dogs up to 10 kg[4]. A print is usually a modest extra within that, and jewelry or engraving from a print is priced separately by the maker. Ask providers in Bergen what's included before you choose.
We keep the detailed Vestland price table on one page so it stays current: see Vestland prices.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Rules in Vestland that touch on keepsakes
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 Vestland 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.
How to make sure a print is taken in time
- Tell your child what's happening in plain words, and ask whether they'd like to help with the print. Our guide to print-making with children suggests roles for different ages.
- Give them a real job: rolling the clay, choosing the card color or writing the name.
- Let them press a hand or fingerprint beside the paw if they want to.
- If the print is taken after death, leave the pressing to an adult or the vet, then let your child see the result.
- Make a copy for your child's room, so the original can stay somewhere safe.
- Come back to it later. Some children want the print framed straight away; others return to it months on.
From paw print to pendant, frame or garden stone
Outdoor memorials in Bergen have to cope with near-constant rain, wind and occasional frost. Granite, slate and bronze hold up well, while soft stone grows moss and printed plaques fade in the damp. Norway has a long tradition of working stone and wood, and a simple engraved slate or granite marker placed in a garden fits the landscape naturally. Set it on gravel so rainwater drains away.
the planning tools turn your pet's details into figures, browse in-depth guides or recent articles, Our services overview lays out every option side by side, or see how other readers answered in our polls. the full list for Vestland and for Norway is a click away.
Reader polls
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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 Norway?
For people, yes: about 49.27%[1] of Norway deaths end in cremation, according to Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023). Nobody publishes the same figure for pets, but in our experience pet choices in Bergen follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
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.
What should I ask for if I don't know the local word for a paw print?
Say paw print, and show a photo if you can; most vets and crematoria in Norway will understand. It can help to know the local term: Pfotenabdruck in German, empreinte de patte in French, pootafdruk in Dutch, impronta della zampa in Italian. Ask whether they take a clay impression, an ink print or both, and whether it's included in the price.
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.
Can I get my dog's nose print?
Yes. Dab a small amount of pet-safe ink onto the nose with a soft sponge, or use an inkless wipe, then press a folded card gently against the nose from the front. It usually takes a few tries. The ridges on a dog's nose make a striking engraving on a pendant or an urn, and many providers take a nose print alongside the paw.
Will the crematory send the paw print back with the ashes?
It depends on the provider. Some take the print at intake and return it with the ashes; others hand it to your vet or post it separately. Ask how the print is labeled and when it will come back, and ask for a photo of it before cremation so you know it's clear. If you'd rather not wait, take your own before collection.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] In 2023, 49.27% of deaths in Norway were cremated (25 crematoria). Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023, 2023.
- [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] An Irish pet crematorium lists individual cremation from EUR 150 for pets under 2 kg and EUR 250 for cats or dogs up to 10 kg. Donegal Pet Crematorium - How Much is Pet Cremation in Ireland?, 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.
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