How to Get a Paw Print for Memorial Jewellery (Even After They've Gone) | Tag A Paw
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How to Get a Paw Print for Memorial Jewellery (Even After They've Gone)
A gentle, practical guide to getting a paw print for memorial jewellery. What works, what doesn't, and what's still possible if you didn't get the chance to take one.
If you're reading this in a hurry, the short answer is: you almost certainly still have options, even if you don't have a paw print.
A clear photo of the paw is usually enough. So is a print taken at the vet — most vets will do this if you ask, and many do it as standard. Even old paint paw prints, fading on a piece of paper from years ago, often still work.
If you have a moment, the rest of this post is the longer, gentler version. It's written for people who are either preparing in advance, or trying to figure out what's possible after a sudden loss. Take it at your own pace.
If You Still Have Time
If your pet is still with you and you're thinking ahead — for whatever reason — these are the methods that produce the best print for memorial work, in order of preference.
Method 1: Ink and paper (the gold standard)
A specific kind of ink is used for this — non-toxic, water-based, designed to wash off skin and fur easily. It's sold in small "paw print kits" widely available online for a few pounds. They usually contain the ink pad, paper, and instructions.
To take the print:
- Choose a calm moment. Most dogs and cats find this easier than expected if it's done quietly and unhurried.
- Clean the paw. Brush off loose dirt, wipe with a dry cloth.
- Press the paw firmly but gently onto the ink pad — make sure all pads make contact. The toes, the main pad, the smaller pads at the back.
- Press the paw onto the paper, as squarely as you can. Hold for a second.
- Don't try to lift and re-press. Use a fresh sheet for a second attempt if needed.
- Wash the paw with warm water and a soft cloth.
You'll usually get the best print on the second or third attempt. First prints often have too much ink or smudge as the animal moves. Don't be discouraged.
Method 2: A clay or putty impression
A small, flat disc of soft clay (specific pet-print kits sell these too) takes a 3D impression of the paw rather than a 2D ink mark. Some people prefer this because they keep the impression itself as a keepsake — and a clear photo of the impression engraves beautifully.
The downside: it's harder to get right. The clay needs to be the right softness, and the paw needs to be pressed firmly enough to get depth without distorting. Worth the practice if you're prepared.
Method 3: A photograph of the paw
Quietly the most underrated method.
A high-resolution close-up photograph of the underside of the paw — taken in good, even daylight — can be turned into an engraving as detailed as any ink print. Sometimes more so, because the photo captures the texture and shape of the pads in a way ink doesn't.
To take a good photo:
- Daylight, indoors near a window if possible. Not direct sunlight, and not artificial light.
- The paw flat on a clean, plain surface — a sheet of white paper is ideal.
- Phone or camera held directly above the paw, square on, not at an angle.
- Hold steady, take several shots.
- Don't worry about cropping. Get the whole paw clearly in the frame.
A photo of the paw is what we work from for many of the engravings we make. If you can take a good one, you don't need an ink print at all.
If Your Pet Has Already Gone
This is the part of the post that needs to be said gently, but honestly.
You almost certainly still have options.
If your pet is still at home, or with the vet
Most vets will take a paw print as part of the goodbye process if you ask. It's worth asking even after the fact — if your pet is still at the practice, the vet team will often arrange this. Some practices do it automatically and have it waiting for you when you collect them.
If your pet is at home, taking a print yourself is still possible in the immediate hours afterwards. It's a quiet, deliberate thing to do, and many people find it less distressing than they expected — but only do it if it feels right to you. There is no obligation, and there are other ways.
If a print isn't possible — a photograph still works
If a print can't be taken — for any reason — a clear photograph of the paw is enough. Look through your phone for any close-up photos you may already have. Many pet owners have more than they realise: photos of paws on laps, paws on the carpet, paws on a beach. Any of these can be worked with.
What we look for in a photo:
- The pads visible, not just the top of the paw
- Reasonably in focus
- Daylight if possible (artificial light is workable)
- Any angle is okay — we can work with paws photographed flat, sideways, or from above
If you have one of these photos, you have what you need. Send it to the maker and ask before you order.
If you have nothing — there are still options
If there is no print and no photo of the paw itself, memorial jewellery can still be made meaningful in other ways:
- A photo of your pet can be turned into a portrait engraving
- A nose print or close-up of the nose from any photo (every nose is unique, like a fingerprint)
- Their name and dates on a beautifully simple pendant — sometimes the right answer is the simplest one
- A small piece of their fur, photographed in close-up and engraved as a textural detail
- Their pawprint outline in a generic shape, with their specific name and dates engraved alongside
We've made all of these. Each one carries the same weight as a piece taken from a perfect ink print. The piece doesn't need a paw print to be the right piece.
Old or Imperfect Prints
If you have a paw print from years ago — fading, smudged, taken on bad paper, half-torn — bring it anyway.
We've worked from prints that the owner apologised for before sending. Faded vet prints from 15 years ago. Half-prints where only three toes registered. Prints with chunks of paper missing. The work of a jeweller is in interpreting what's there, and most prints have far more detail than the owner thinks.
The same applies to photos. A blurry close-up that you took years ago, never deleted, and rediscovered on an old phone — that's often more than enough.
You don't need to apologise for the quality of what you have. Just send it and ask.
What Happens After You Send the Print or Photo
Different makers work differently, but for us specifically:
- You send the image (paw print, photo, or both) by email or through the order page.
- We look at it before starting work. If there's a problem, we tell you straight away — and we'll suggest alternatives if needed.
- We prepare the design. The print or photo is digitally cleaned up and scaled to fit the pendant. The actual print isn't altered or "prettified" — we keep the texture and character of what you sent.
- The engraving is cut deep into solid sterling silver — properly deep, not surface marked. The detail of the original print is preserved as accurately as we can.
- The piece is hand-finished and polished.
If you'd like to see a digital proof before we engrave the silver, just ask. We don't send proofs as standard (most people prefer to see the finished piece), but if you'd rather check the layout first, we'll send one.
A Practical Note for Anyone Preparing in Advance
If you've found this post because someone you love is nearing the end — your own pet, or a friend's — and you're trying to think practically about what comes next:
Take the print or the photo while you can. Take more than one. The day will come when you wish you had, and the day after that the chance is gone.
This is a gentle thing to do, not a morbid one. Many owners have told us afterwards that taking a print or a photo in advance felt like a small piece of agency at a time when nothing else did.
You can keep it tucked away. You don't need to use it for jewellery. You don't need to use it at all. But having it means the option is yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a paw print be taken after a pet has died? Yes. Most vets will take a paw print as part of euthanasia or end-of-life care if you ask — many do it automatically. If your pet is at home, a print can still be taken in the hours afterwards if you'd like to do it yourself.
My paw print is old or smudged. Can it still be used? Almost certainly, yes. We've worked from prints decades old, half-faded, and partially torn. Send it anyway — the maker will tell you honestly if there's a problem and suggest alternatives if needed.
I don't have a paw print at all. What can I do? A clear close-up photo of the paw works just as well. Look through your phone — many owners have suitable photos without realising. If you don't have either, the maker can usually still make something meaningful using their name, dates, a portrait, or a nose print from any photo of your pet.
What kind of photo of the paw works best? A photo taken in daylight, from above, with the paw flat on a clean surface. Phone photos are fine. The pads should be visible, not just the top of the paw. If in doubt, send a few options and the maker can pick the best one.
Do I need to use special ink for a paw print? Yes — use a non-toxic, water-based ink designed for pet prints, sold in inexpensive paw print kits online. Don't use stamp ink, household ink, or anything else, as some inks can irritate the paw or be difficult to wash off.
Will the engraving look exactly like my paw print? Yes — the original print is preserved in the engraving, including its texture and any small imperfections. We don't "tidy up" the print or make it look generic. The whole point is that it's your pet's paw, not a stylised version.
A Last Word
Whatever you have — a perfect ink print, a phone photo from years ago, or nothing more than a name and a date — there's almost certainly a way to make something that honours your pet properly.
The first step is just to ask the maker. Send what you have. They'll tell you what's possible.
Tag A Paw makes pet memorial jewellery by hand in our Essex workshop, working from photos and prints sent by people across the UK. If you'd like to talk through what you have before ordering, please get in touch. We'll always answer honestly.
With our sincere condolences.