For those with beloved pets...You may want to make a treasured keepsake...

[Dystopian]

Our beloved pets...... they can still give us a gift.. a treasured memory of them before they pass...
Making paw prints while we still have them. Some vets don't do this, and sometimes our pets leave us because of a tragic accident.
I'm going to do this soon with my Maeve...
I now fear that the same thing may happen to her print...The paw print that my son's vet gave to my son when Bam left us on Memorial Day....

When my son's vet gave him Bam's paw print... I posted it. What happened next was too sad.
The next night Jonas noticed that the edges were lifting up, so he gently pressed it down.
He came to me, handing the print to me in tears. He was a mess. It had not completely dried and was cracked it half. I did the best I could to glue it together after calling the vet to ask what medium they used to make the print. It's not quite the same, the crack is still slightly visible. I'm going to paint it.

Only you know (or will know) if your vet does this for families. Someone in the thread mentioned that the vet gave them one also.

Before they leave you....and sadly, they will...you may want to keep a paw print...His vet used Crayola Air-Dry Clay, but any other clay-type product can be used. It's in a tub found at any craft department. My son found it at Walmart.

Below is the print I posted before the sad damage.


My opinion: The surface should have been rolled out with more thickness. Also, you could mold or use a cutter to make a beautiful shape.....such as a heart.
The print could have been deeper....Yet it is still a treasure...slight damage, restored with love.

*I was going to get around to posting this when I was not still in major stage of grief. But now I am posting in hopes that Bake will read this.
I'm thinking of him....Muffin....his family... his daughter...*

So to anyone....for what it's worth...
And it could be priceless...

peace & love to you ...and all of your beloved pet family members~

[arcane1]

1. I thought about this idea once, and then forgot about it

Thanks for the reminder!!

[pipi_k]

2. Oh man...

now I'm near tears again.

I'm so sorry about Bam's pawprint.

I hadn't thought about doing that, but I did take some fur from my three old girls not long before I lost each of them.

You know, from when they get brushed and all. Saved a couple of their toys, and their collars too.

Lost them all in the space of seven months, from 2008 to 2009.

Even though we have two beautiful new girls I don't think I'm completely over the loss of my other babies.

They really are members of the family.

[Denninmi]

3. Well, they did this when I had my last dog euthanized from cancer.

And honestly, I wish they had asked first. I went to pick up the ashes, and there was also the paw print imprint with name. It actually really gave me the willies. I know they meant well, and it was meant to be a touching gesture, but I wasn't comfortable with that.

[Auggie]

4. I was lucky to shoot an incredible portrait of my cat ...

that'll be my keepsake.

It was early morning, outside, and the light was just right. She jumped up on a table and was startled by a noise. Ears up, eyes open, alert and engaged. She stayed that way as I framed the shot. I swear, she was showing off.

[jaymetal]

8. I got the most perfect shot also

I agree with you. I got the most incredible shot alittle over a week ago before putting down my boy. I walked outside late afternoon. The sun was going down over the trees. I walked out to my garden and there in the window was my cat Chad just perched so perfectly on his condo. Like a made to order picture of pure content and delight. All i had in my hand at the time was my cell phone camera. It isn't all that good quality, but let me tell you what. It was like something watching over me to make sure i got this one last final shot just right. Right it was. It was taken through the living room screen which added something to the picture. Now i want to try and see how large i can get this blown up to hang in my living room area. Thats my keepsake. Thanks for sharing .

[hlthe2b]

9. Photos are my keepsake--in addition to a St Francis ("bless my pet") medalian my dog wore

I treasure that and have it on a bracelet I wear. The little charm was always against her neck so when I touch it, I feel as though I am touching her once again.

I also have a big oversized three foot stuffed doggie that I used to keep her comfortable during her last days. Even though it is a bit soiled, I treasure it and it makes me feel like she is close.

Heavens we miss our babies when they leave us.

[OllieLotte]

5. I might do that. I have been struggling a bit with a "downer dog" for 2 months.

Can't help but to think about their mortality. I think a paw print would be nice.

[byeya]

6. I liked my late bullmastiff so much I bought a low rise granite grave marker

to keep in the yard where she liked to sit and watch whatever was going by.
I had her cremated and buried her ashes in our woods where we used to like
to go up and down the mountainside, but it's nice to have a stone with her
name, breed, dates, and the inscription "Friend and Protector".

[RebelOne]

7. When I had my beloved Rottweiler cremated,

I was given her ashes plus her front and rear paw prints in plaster.

[Vanje]

10. Heres a photo a friend took

I treasure it.
Its my dear little Kelly at 15.