What Are ClayPaws® Kits?
ClayPaws® kits provide everything needed to press a pet's paw into a soft, air-drying clay disc that hardens into a lasting keepsake. Veterinary professionals use them during end-of-life visits, and pet parents can create one at home as well.
The process is quick, gentle, and suitable for animals of nearly any size. Once dry, prints can be displayed, shared with family, or paired with a sympathy card.
ClayPaws kits offer a thoughtful way to honor the bond between people and their animal companions during moments of goodbye. The clay captures a clear impression of a paw, then air-dries into a solid keepsake that can be held, displayed, or tucked into a memory box. Because the materials are soft and the process is brief, the experience tends to feel calm rather than clinical, allowing families and care teams a quiet pause to focus on the animal in front of them rather than on complicated instructions.
Veterinary professionals often rely on these kits as part of compassionate end-of-life care, integrating them smoothly into euthanasia appointments and supportive conversations with grieving pet parents. Shelter staff and rescue volunteers also find them helpful when animals are aging or transitioning, giving volunteers something tangible to offer alongside words. The straightforward nature of the kit means staff do not need extensive training to present it, and the finished prints frequently become treasured mementos that families revisit long after the visit has ended.
Beyond the clinic, ClayPaws kits can be used at home by families who want to create a print before saying goodbye, or even as a celebr keepsake for healthy pets at milestone moments. Finished impressions can be paired with sympathy cards, framed alongside photographs, or shared with children who are processing a loss. Resources available through the Veterinary Wisdom platform, including blog posts and instructional videos, help guide users through each step so the focus can remain on remembrance rather than logistics.
About ClayPaws® — Common Questions
Who Uses ClayPaws®?
Veterinary teams, shelter staff, and pet parents who want a tangible reminder of a companion animal.
What Is Special About CPs?
The clay captures fine detail, sets without baking, and produces a durable, frameable keepsake.
Where Did CPs Originate?
ClayPaws® was developed by World by the Tail, Inc. as part of the Veterinary Wisdom® line of grief support tools.
When Can You Use CPs?
At any time — during routine visits, hospice care, euthanasia appointments, or memorial events.
Why Should You Use CPs?
A paw print offers comfort, helps families grieve, and strengthens the bond-centered approach to care.
How Do You Make CPs?
Roll the clay, press the paw, and let it air-dry. Full instructions, charts, and a video walk-through are included with each kit.
Learn, Watch, and Try
Step-by-step instructions ship with every ClayPaws® kit. Additional support materials help teams build confidence and consistency.
- Instructional videos demonstrating the impression and finishing process.
- Downloadable charts with timing and drying guidance.
- Optional ClayPaws® sample available on request for practice and training.