Paw print keepsakes in Redmond
About 2,550 households in Redmond lose a dog or cat each year, by our estimate. A clear paw print, taken at home or by your vet, is often the keepsake people are most glad to have.
- Take the print before cremation
- Clay, ink or cast, explained simply
- Published prices, no guesswork
Redmond, Washington
Home, clinic or crematory: paw prints in Redmond
Apartment and townhouse life around downtown Redmond favors compact memorials that don't take over a room. A small wooden box on a desk, a clay imprint on a bookcase or a ring with a sealed chamber for ash are easy to keep and to move. For a balcony or patio, pick glazed ceramic or metal, since steady Eastside drizzle stains porous stone.
The Sammamish River runs right through Redmond, and a memorial tied to water appeals to some households, perhaps a water-soluble urn released privately where regulations allow, or a small garden fountain beside a stone. Ask the crematory to set aside a portion for that purpose, and keep the remainder in a closed vessel for relatives who may want a share later on.
Supplies are easy to find even in a small town. Air-dry modeling clay, a washable non-toxic ink pad, card stock and baby wipes are enough for a first print. A purpose-made kit is kinder for fluffy paws and cats, but it may take days to arrive, so buy one while your pet is still well rather than waiting until you need it urgently.
Redmond's population is around 82,506, the 17th-largest of the 67 Washington communities we cover. Seattle, roughly 11 miles off, is the closest larger centre, and a share of the providers who cover Redmond run from there.
Nearby, we also have local pages for Sammamish (3 miles), Kirkland (4 miles) and Bellevue (6 miles), which can help if your vet or the provider you prefer is based there.
Our estimate
30,500
Redmond: dog- or cat-owning households, our estimate
How we calculated this
82,506 ÷ 2.5 = 33,002 households; × 53% (dog) + 39% (cat) = 30,500. Homes are counted once however many pets they keep.
Our estimate
2,550
Redmond families who lose a dog or cat each year (estimate)
How we calculated this
30,500 dog/cat-owning homes ÷ average lifespan (dog: 12.69 yrs + cat: 11.18 yrs) ≈ 2,550 a year. A floor, not a ceiling.
53%[1]
53% of US households own a dog, which is about 71 million households.
12.69 years[2]
US dogs have an average life expectancy at birth of 12.69 years.
39%[3]
39% of US households own a cat, which is about 53 million households.
11.18 years[4]
US cats seen at Banfield hospitals have an average life expectancy at birth of 11.18 years.
To check the figures yourself, see Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science and American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry.
How Washington thinks about cremation, and why prints matter
Because Washington cremates about 79.1%[5] of the people who die there, many families have no grave to visit, for people or for pets. Something has to take the place of a headstone, and a print does that job surprisingly well. It's physical, it's unmistakably your animal, and it can hang by the front door or sit on a desk. If you plan to scatter the ashes, the print may be the only memorial you keep.
Direct Cremate (citing CANA) (2024) is where the Washington figure comes from. It counts people; we use it because attitudes to cremating a pet in Redmond tend to follow attitudes to cremation generally.
When the weather works against clay and ink
Because the weather in Redmond is rarely extreme, many families choose to say goodbye outdoors: on a blanket in the garden, on a porch or under a favorite tree. If that's your plan, bring a board to work on. Grass and blankets are too soft for a clean print, so tape your card or set your clay on a cutting board or a large book, and have a damp cloth ready for the paws afterwards.
Humidity in Redmond can still catch you out, even in a mild year. Air-dry clay that feels firm on top may be soft underneath, and sealing it too soon can trap moisture and leave a dull, cloudy finish. Turn the print daily, wait until it's pale and light all through, then seal it with a matte acrylic sealer before framing.
Paw print costs around Redmond, line by line
If the print is heading for jewelry, budget for the metal rather than the print. By our estimate, a typical sterling silver pet pendant costs about $190[6], and entry-level solid gold pieces at the same retailer cost about 15 times the silver equivalent[7]. Ask any maker in Redmond whether the quote includes the chain, a proof image before production and engraving on the back, because those three extras are where quotes differ most.
The full price table by product is on our Washington page, and the services page explains what each option includes.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
What Washington allows after your pet dies
Renters in Washington 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 Washington allows for burial and scattering; whatever they say, a print moves with you to the next address.
Not sure which office covers Redmond? The Washington local government directory is the official list.
Start with the Washington rules, which cover burial, scattering and oversight for the whole state, and treat Redmond's local ordinances as a possible extra layer.
Getting a paw print in Redmond, step by step
- Choose one calm afternoon to print every pet in the house, starting with the most relaxed animal.
- Label everything before you start: write each name on the reverse of its card, or scratch an initial into the base of each clay disc.
- Use a separate ink pad or wipe for each animal then wipe each paw clean the moment you're done, so nobody licks ink off a housemate.
- Keep each turn short, no more than a minute or two each, and reward every press with a treat.
- Make a combined piece if you like: several paws on one large card or clay slab makes a family portrait.
- Store the set together with the date written on the back, so no print goes missing over the years.
Remembering your pet through their print
Redmond is home to many tech workers from around the world, and memorial choices reflect that mix. Some families want a digital tribute, such as a photo book, an online memorial page or a short video, alongside a physical urn. Others follow religious or cultural customs that involve returning ashes to water or keeping them near a family shrine. Tell the provider what matters so it can help with timing.
or see what other families chose in the poll results, use the free tools before you ring anyone, read our guides and latest articles, The services page is the place to compare what is included. Close to Redmond we also cover Spokane, Tacoma, Bellevue and Seattle; the full list for Washington and for the United States 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 Washington?
For people, yes: about 79.1%[5] of Washington deaths end in cremation, according to Direct Cremate (citing CANA) (2024). Nobody publishes the same figure for pets, but in our experience pet choices in Redmond follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
How many pet owners live in Redmond?
By our estimate, about 30,500 households in Redmond have at least one dog or cat, and around 2,550 are lost each year. We calculate this from the city's population of about 82,506, the average household size and national ownership and lifespan figures, so treat it as a floor rather than an exact count.
Which nearby towns can I compare with Redmond?
The closest communities we cover are Sammamish (about 3 miles), Kirkland (about 4 miles) and Bellevue (about 6 miles). Providers based in those places often serve Redmond too. Ask each one for a written total that includes collection, so the distance is priced in.
When is the hardest time of year to arrange a burial in Redmond?
There is no frozen-ground season here; average lows stay above freezing all year. The other pressure point is August, when highs around 77°F mean a body needs cooling and collecting quickly.
Can my pet's paw print be turned into a tattoo?
Yes, and it's a popular choice. A tattoo artist will want a clear, high-contrast flat print, so an ink or inkless print works better than clay. Scan it at a high resolution and bring the file to your consultation. Many people have the print tattooed at actual size, sometimes with the pet's name or a nose print alongside.
Can I get a print of my bird's feet?
Yes, with care. Birds are light and their toes are delicate, so use very soft clay and the gentlest pressure, or an inkless kit with treated paper. Ink is best avoided because birds preen and may swallow it. An avian vet can help if your bird is nervous. The result is a lovely, delicate impression of the toes and scales.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] 53% of US households own a dog, which is about 71 million households. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [2] US dogs have an average life expectancy at birth of 12.69 years. Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Banfield Pet Hospital life expectancy tables (13.3 million dogs, 2.4 million cats, 2013-2019), 2023.
- [3] 39% of US households own a cat, which is about 53 million households. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [4] US cats seen at Banfield hospitals have an average life expectancy at birth of 11.18 years. Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Banfield Pet Hospital life expectancy tables (13.3 million dogs, 2.4 million cats, 2013-2019), 2023.
- [5] Washington had a 79.1% cremation rate in 2024, among the highest in the US. Direct Cremate (citing CANA), 2024.
- [6] The typical sterling silver pet cremation pendant costs about $190, based on the middle of three sellers' price points. Our estimate: median of [Urns.com median $129, Memorials.com midpoint of $87.95–$297.95 = $193, Final Gift sterling paw pendant $240]. How we calculate.
- [7] Entry-level solid 14k gold pet-ash pendants cost about 15 times entry-level sterling silver ones at the same retailer. Our estimate: $1,297.95 / $87.95 (Memorials.com starting prices). How we calculate.
Get paw print options in Redmond
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