Paw Print Keepsakes in Georgia
Whether your pet is a healthy senior or has just died, there's usually still time for a print. Here's the calm, practical version for Georgia: what to do first and what can wait.
- Ask for a print when you book
- Help for paws, noses and hooves
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Georgia, the United States
Paw Print Keepsakes in Georgia: what to know
Paw prints in Georgia aren't only for dogs and cats. Horse owners keep hoof prints pressed into clay slabs, bird owners capture tiny feet in soft clay, and rabbit owners find that clay shows the long, furry shape of the hind foot better than ink. Each needs a slightly different approach, and each city page covers the basics.
Many owners in Georgia take their pet's print long before the end, on a calm afternoon while their dog or cat is still a healthy senior. It's gentler, it gives a crisper result and it means the keepsake exists no matter how suddenly things change later. If your pet is still with you, that's the approach we'd suggest first.
We cover 68 communities in Georgia, from Atlanta, Columbus and Augusta to smaller towns. Conditions vary a lot across Georgia: summer highs reach about 94°F in Augusta, while winter lows average 31°F in Roswell. In 0% of the Georgia communities we cover, average lows drop below freezing for three months or more, which matters for home burial.
Our estimate
1,400,000
Estimated pet-owning households across the communities we cover in Georgia
How we calculated this
The sum of our per-city estimates for the 68 communities in Georgia on this site: each city's population ÷ national average household size × the national share of households with a pet. Households with several pets count once.
Every Georgia community we cover
Choose your city or town for local prices, weather and timing, and rules. 68 communities in Georgia, largest first below.
- Atlanta529,110 people
- Columbus202,171 people
- Augusta202,000 people
- Macon156,000 people
- Savannah149,440 people
- Athens127,000 people
- South Fulton112,820 people
- Sandy Springs105,013 people
How Georgia thinks about cremation, and why prints matter
Cremation has become steadily more common in Georgia, now chosen for about 54.2%[1] of those who die there, and newer pet aftercare providers have arrived with it. Some offer a 3D scan of the paw or a digital print file alongside the clay. If a provider mentions this, ask whether you'll receive the file itself, in a standard format, so you can take it to any maker later rather than only through them.
The cremation figure for Georgia comes from NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024). It counts people, not pets, so treat it as a guide to local attitudes rather than a pet statistic.
Where the money goes: the print, then the finishing
A paw print is one of the least expensive keepsakes there is. Many US crematories sell it as a small add-on: one Arizona provider lists a clay paw impression at $10, a nose print at $10 and a laser-engraved paw print at $15[2], and across the US price lists we've checked, paw-print add-ons have a median of about $32[3]. Prices in Georgia vary by provider, so ask whether a print is already included before you pay extra.
Engraving is the add-on that surprises people. By our estimate, name-and-dates engraving adds about 36%[4] to the price of a mid-priced wooden urn, and a paw print costs extra again. Before you pay for either in Georgia, check your pet insurance: some wellness add-ons reimburse end-of-life costs, and one plan's add-on could pay up to $650 toward cremation, burial and keepsakes[5]. Read the policy wording, then ask for an itemized quote.
| Keepsake | Published price | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Clay paw impression (crematory add-on) | $10[2] | Arizona aquamation provider; nose print also $10 |
| Ink paw prints | $49[6] | Northeast crematory network |
| Clay or silver-clay paw print | $76 ($111 framed)[6] | Same network |
| Engraved paw print added to an urn | $20–$35[7] | Typical engraving add-on |
| Paw or nose print pendant | from $99.95[8] | Online memorial retailer |
| Sterling silver charm from your pet's print | $143 plus chain[9] | About two weeks to make |
| Median paw-print add-on | about $32[3] | Our estimate across US crematory price lists |
To check the figures yourself, see Memorials.com and String of Jewels.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Rules in Georgia that touch on keepsakes
There are no rules about taking a paw print; it's yours to do at home, at the clinic or at the crematory. Where Georgia does have rules is what happens next: whether your pet can be buried at home and where ashes can be scattered. Those choices can affect your print too, for example if you want it set into a garden stone or a grave marker.
- Burial at home: Confirm the rule for the actual parcel and proposed burial with the local authority and property owner.
- Scattering ashes: Ask the exact land manager about scattering before making arrangements; a general gathering permission is a separate matter.
- Who oversees it: the authority responsible for the specific activity and location; this guide does not identify a universal permit or licensing rule
- Worth knowing: Record the service method, release authority, identification and return instructions in writing.
A city's population does not establish which aftercare activities are allowed at an address. Check the actual site and activity before proceeding.
County and city offices set many of the local rules. To find yours, start with the official Georgia local government directory.
A short checklist for a clean print
- If your pet is still with you, don't wait. Pick a quiet, settled moment, perhaps once they've eaten or come back from a walk, and make the print then. Prints taken while a pet is alive tend to come out sharpest.
- Choose your method. Clay for something to hold, ink or inkless paper for engraving and jewelry later. Our kit chooser helps you decide.
- Trim the tufts between the pads using round-ended scissors, so the paw rather than the hair leaves the impression.
- Hold the leg, not the paw, and press straight down with steady pressure, then lift straight up. Take several prints and keep the clearest.
- Dry clay slowly indoors over two to three days, flipping it now and then, and finish with a coat of matte acrylic sealer.
- Photograph or scan the print flat in daylight. Makers can work from that image, so the original stays at home.
Turning a print into something lasting
Many families keep the clay print on a shelf beside a photo and the collar, and have a copy made for each person who loved the pet. If the family is spread out, a scanned print can be engraved onto several small keepsakes, so nobody has to choose who keeps the original.
If Georgia is not quite where you are, all locations has the rest. Otherwise the services page, the tools and the poll results are the useful next stops.
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.
Who would you rather take the print?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
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
Can children help make a paw print?
Often, yes, and many find it helps. Let them roll the clay, pick the frame or add their own handprint next to the paw. When the print is made after death, a vet or another adult can take it privately and show them the result. There are age-by-age ideas in our children's print-making guide.
Can I get a hoof print from a horse in Georgia?
Yes. Ask your farrier to trim and clean the hoof, then press it into a thick clay slab or paint the sole with non-toxic paint and press it onto heavy card. Many horse owners also keep the last shoe and a braid of tail hair. Do it while your horse is still well if you can.
What if my pet is cremated far from home?
In rural parts of Georgia, pets are often cremated in a larger town some distance away. Take the print locally before collection, yourself or through your vet, so you can check it. Many crematories also take one at intake as a backup and return it with the ashes.
Is it better to use a local maker in Georgia or order online?
Either works. A local jeweler, engraver or ceramic studio lets you see samples and hand the print over in person. Online makers usually work from a photo or scan, so the original stays at home. Ask for a proof before production and check the turnaround time.
Does the weather in Georgia affect clay and ink prints?
Yes. Summer highs reach about 94°F in Augusta, where air-dry clay can crack if it dries too fast and ink can smudge on a warm paw. Winter lows average 31°F in Roswell, cold enough to ruin plaster that freezes before it sets. Whatever the season, take and dry prints indoors at room temperature.
Can my vet in Georgia take a paw print before cremation?
Almost always, if you ask in time. Mention it when you book the appointment or the cremation, ask for it on the aftercare form and ask to see it before your pet leaves. If the vet can't, the crematory can usually take one at intake. After cremation, it's too late.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] The NFDA projected Georgia's cremation rate at 54.2% for 2024. NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage), 2024.
- [2] Memorial add-ons at A Greener Place: $15 laser-engraved paw print, $10 clay paw impression, $10 nose print, $5 fur clipping. A Greener Place Pet Aquamation – Pricing, 2026.
- [3] 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.
- [4] Name-and-dates engraving adds about 36% to the price of a mid-priced wooden pet urn. Our estimate: midpoint engraving $32.50 ($25–$40) / midpoint wood urn $90 ($30–$150). How we calculate.
- [5] Embrace's Wellness Rewards add-on could reimburse up to $650 toward cremation, burial and keepsakes. Pet Insurance Review - Does Pet Insurance Cover Euthanasia? (Dec 2023), 2023.
- [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] Adding an engraved paw print or symbol to a pet urn typically costs $20–$35. Memorials.com – Pet Urn Cost Guide, 2025.
- [8] Paw print and nose print pendants at Memorials.com start at $99.95. Memorials.com – Pet print jewelry, 2026.
- [9] 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.
- [10] The median price multiple of private (ashes returned) over communal cremation across 8 markets is about 2.0x, ranging from 1.25x (Tokyo) to 5.2x (Auckland). Our estimate: median(private_price / communal_price) same weight band: US CareCredit 51-70 lb midpoints (250/75) = 3.33x; Auckland 15-25 kg (445/85) = 5.24x; Norway 1-20 kg (3790/1190) = 3.18x; Singapore 10-20 kg (480/260) = 1.85x; Ontario 25-250 lb (549/279) = 1.97x; Tokyo 20-30 kg (38500/30800) = 1.25x; France 20 kg midpoints (200/95) = 2.11x; Germany range midpoints (270/145) = 1.86x. How we calculate.
Tell us about your pet's print
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.