Plan your pet's paw print so the moment isn't missed
Paw-print add-ons at US crematories have a median price of ~$32[1] by our estimate, but no amount of money can recapture a print after cremation. This worksheet makes sure the right person takes it, in the right way.
- Six prompts, from capture to backup
- Compare two keepsake quotes
- Share the plan with your vet or crematory
What should I record before contacting the team?
Paw Print Keepsakes & Memorial Impressions uses this worksheet to prepare worldwide inquiries. Your entries stay in this page’s memory until you copy, download or open an email draft. Reloading clears the fields. Record the requested outcome and location, leaving unresolved choices as questions and sensitive medical or personal details out of a shared copy.
0 of 6 fields have an entry. This is a completion count, not a safety score or booking approval.
How do I compare two itemized quotes?
Paw Print Keepsakes & Memorial Impressions compares your entered amounts for worldwide inquiries; it does not supply market prices. Use two written quotes in one currency, counting each charge once. Leave unknown amounts blank and use zero only for confirmed inclusions or no charge. Put taxes and other separate charges in the final row.
The tool adds your entries. It does not estimate prices, recommend a provider or establish that two service definitions are equivalent.
| Cost factor | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Capture medium | ||
| Originals and copies | ||
| Personalization | ||
| Mounting and delivery | ||
| Taxes and other quoted charges | ||
| Entered subtotal | UnknownSome amounts unknown | UnknownSome amounts unknown |
How can I keep and share my planning record?
Paw Print Keepsakes & Memorial Impressions lets you keep this worldwide planning record with your answers, selected source and entered quote amounts. Copying or downloading creates a copy you control. Opening an email draft lets you review the text in your email app before sending; none of these actions automatically submits an inquiry.
Clear entries removes all worksheet fields, including quote amounts and currency. It does not delete a copy you already saved or an email draft.
Read the text of your plan
Paw Print Keepsakes & Memorial Impressions: The original impression and reproduction plan Original planning worksheet; entries supplied by the visitor. Country or territory: To confirm City and region: To confirm Paw, nose, hoof or foot impression: To confirm Capture date and responsible person: To confirm Clay, ink, scan or other medium: To confirm Number of original attempts: To confirm Name and date proof: To confirm Original storage and digital backup: To confirm Before proceeding: Arrange an original impression before cremation and confirm whether capture has actually occurred.
Before the window closes
Why a paw print is worth planning ahead
A paw print is one of the smallest keepsakes, and one of the easiest to miss. In the rush after a death, a clinic may assume someone else will take it, or a family may assume it's included. Once cremation has happened, the original impression is gone for good.
Writing a plan closes those gaps. It names one person responsible for the print, records how many originals you want and in what medium, and gives you something to hand the clinic so no one has to remember details on a hard day. It takes about ten minutes and can be done weeks ahead.
If your pet is elderly or ill, you can ask your vet about prints in advance, or even take one at home while your pet is alive and comfortable. Our post on asking the veterinary team about paw prints ahead of time has the words to use. Our print services page explains who else can take the print for you.
~$32[1]
Field by field
How to fill in the six paw print boxes
Choose your country and town; no street address is needed. Then fill in each box, or write the question you still need answered.
- Paw, nose, hoof or foot. Which impression you want, and which paw if it matters.
- Capture date and responsible person. Who will take the print, and when: you, the vet, the crematory or a mobile service.
- Medium. Clay, ink, a scan or another method.
- Number of original attempts. How many prints to take, so there's a spare if one smudges.
- Name and date proof. The exact spelling and date format for anything added to the keepsake.
- Original storage and digital backup. Where the original will live and who will scan it.
Comparing makers
Comparing two paw print keepsake quotes
The worksheet's quote table has rows for the capture medium, originals and copies, personalization, mounting and delivery, and taxes. Enter only written amounts; leave unknowns blank so they show as unknown.
Prices range widely. A Northeast US cremation network charges $49–$133[2] from a simple ink print to a framed print with fur. A Canadian studio charges from CA$155[3] for a handmade ceramic keepsake and asks buyers to allow three to four weeks. The Northeast network's memorial jewelry runs $60–$420[4]. Check whether framing, names and shipping are included before comparing totals. Prices also vary by area, so our local pages are worth a look before you compare quotes.
Watch the originals and copies row in particular. One quote may include two clay impressions while another includes one impression plus a printed copy; they can look the same on paper but aren't. Ask each maker to state how many original impressions are included.
Free tool
Paw print keepsake chooser
Match a print method to your pet's size, fur and the keepsake you want to keep.
Doing it yourself
Taking a print at home if the clinic can't
If no one else can take a print, you can. For ink, use a pet-safe ink pad and a sheet of card on a firm surface, press gently and lift straight up. For clay, soften it, press the paw evenly and let it dry as the packet says. Take two or three tries; the first is often smudged. If an ink pad isn't sold as pet-safe, look for the "Conforms to ASTM D-4236" statement: the Consumer Product Safety Commission's art materials rules require it on art supplies reviewed for chronic health hazards.
Children can help by holding the paper or pressing the clay, if they'd like to. The guide to optional print-making roles for children explains how to offer the job gently.
If your pet has already died, prints are still possible before cremation, but the paw may be stiffer and the pads cooler. Work slowly, support the leg, and don't force a joint. If it feels too hard to do yourself, a crematory or vet will usually take the print for you if you ask on the phone before collection.
Next steps
Keeping the original safe and sharing your plan
Once you have the print, scan or photograph it in good light and store the file in two places. Keep the original out of damp and direct sun. Our guide to displaying prints and pairing engraved tags has framing ideas. The National Archives' advice on preserving family papers and photos applies to ink prints too: handle them as little as possible and keep originals out of bright light.
To save your plan, copy it, download it or open it as an email draft; nothing is sent automatically, and reloading clears the fields. Share it with your vet or crematory, or paste it into the request form for keepsake options. The three-question paw print quiz can help if you're unsure where to start.
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.
Who would you rather take the print?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
How many copies of the print would your family want?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Do you keep more than one memorial for the same pet?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Will my vet take a paw print for me?
Many clinics will if asked, and some crematories include a print in their packages. Don't assume it: ask directly, say how many you want, and ask them to confirm once it's done, ideally with a photo.
How many paw prints should I take?
At least two, so there's a spare if one smudges. If others in the family want a print, take one each at the same time. It only takes a few extra minutes and avoids needing copies later.
Is my paw print plan saved online?
No. It stays in your browser until you copy, download or email it. We only see it if you send us the email draft or paste it into our form.
What's the difference between an original and a copy?
An original is the impression taken directly from your pet's paw or nose. A copy is made from a scan or photo of that original, for jewelry, frames or art. Copies can be made at any time; originals only before cremation.
Can I take a paw print while my pet is still alive?
Yes, and many families do, especially for an elderly or ill pet. Choose a calm moment, use pet-safe ink or clay, and offer treats. It can become a gentle memory in itself.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] 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.
- [2] 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.
- [3] 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.
- [4] Final Gift's pet memorial jewelry runs from a $60 urn pendant to $290–$420 for custom sterling silver print charms, with glass ash beads at $245. Final Gift Pet Memorial Center – Memorial Products, 2026.
Send your paw print plan for options
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.