Company Turns Ashes Of People’s Beloved Pets Into Glass Replica Paws That Will Serve As A Memorial Forever
Losing a loved one, either human or animal, is one of the hardest experiences you’ll face in life. To help keep the memories alive many of us like to have a physical reminder to keep close at hand, something beautiful and meaningful that contains the essence of a friend departed.
Davenport Memorial Glass specializes in just these kind of physical reminders, creating pet memorial pieces that infuse a small quantity of a loved one’s ashes with stunning glass works of art. The pet paw glass pendants are particularly popular and are small enough for you could carry a little piece of your beloved cat or dog with you wherever you go.
“Our goal is to physically capture a moment, to create a keepsake that brings back a memory,” Davenport writes on their website. “Nothing will compare to the time spent with your loved one, but we hope to aid in treasuring them and remembering the precious time you had together.”
While pets make up a huge part of many of our lives, there is no formal custom when it comes to memorializing them. If pet lovers decide to do anything at all, most will choose to bury their furry friends. Pet cemeteries exist, and people can choose to bury or cremate their pets there along with gravestones and statues, just like we do for humans.
However, if you don’t have a pet cemetery nearby and feel that perhaps a formal burial is too much, Davenport’s pet memorial jewelry offers a tasteful alternative. You just need to get a small spoonful of cremation ashes and send them to Davenport by post. You could also get a paw-imprint pendant, like the one pictured below.
“Ash heart and pendant. Made with the ashes of a beautiful young girl born to rock”
Davenport also makes glass jewelry and art without the addition of ashes, but simply for its aesthetic value. This ancient art has been around for centuries, and Davenport uses classic techniques combined with modern methods to create their masterpieces. “I started blowing glass back in 2003, Cameron Davenport, the man behind the business told Bored Panda. “After many years of struggling, I finally took a class from an artist by the name of Phil Siegel. That’s when everything changed. I started focusing more on the art, and less on the function. Working harder to make it clean and uniform rather than just sellable.”
“About ten years ago I lost a good friend. I was given a small spoonful of his ashes that I had just set on my bookshelf for a number of years.”
“One day it came to me, and I decided to make him into a memorial jewelry marble. There were quite a few friends that thought this was a neat idea and asked me to make them some memorial glass as well. It sort of just snowballed after that.”
Cameron has a special technique of infusing the ashes is one that he prefers to keep secret, having spent years hard at work perfecting it. “The ashes put a lot of stress into the glass while working with it, making it very difficult to work with,” he explained. “I’ve had many glass artists contact me and ask how I do it. I’d be up for teaching a class one day.”
The job comes with a portion of sadness for Cameron, as many of his customers are still in a grieving process. Cameron takes the time to make a personal connection with his customers, so he often hears the background behind the requests for custom pieces. “One of the hardest parts about my job is hearing stories bout S.I.D.S. It absolutely eats me up inside. I get a ton of sad emails and often need to take breaks from reading,” he said.
Of course, there is the other side too. Cameron’s craftmanship produces pieces that go beyond art and become cherished memories, something that can make a real difference to the lives of his clients. “One of my favorite parts about my job is the smiles and tears I receive from my clients,” he told us.
“They love the work I do for them and the meaning behind it. As each day goes on, I become more and more grateful for the people in my life and the time I get to spend with them. Doing this type of work really highlights the love in my life. I look forward to many more years of spreading joy and comfort through the memorial glass.”
These are so pretty, wish I knew about them when my dog died. At least we have her ashes in a nice urn on a special shelf designated to her memory.
If you still have the ashes, you can still have this done. They roll the glass through the ashes as they are making the piece.
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I wish I knew about this before I agreed to bury my cat. I still miss her so much. I kept some of her fur and I put it in a locket I wear. I would rather still have her back though :(
Countelss times I dreamed that my beloved cat came to life. It was over 15 years ago, memory still is fresh as yesterday. It truly is the most traumatic emotional experience many go through. For many pets are part of families, closest friends, losing them rips heart out. I'd give anything to have my cat back, even though I got now two lovable furballs. I am all in for them, but still miss him much.
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I'm always a bit sceptical about these things. There was a company that did this but turned the ashes into diamond jewellery, which I was going to do for my old dog....then I found out that they got into trouble for basically just not doing that and discarding the ashes sent to them but sending out jewellery worth considerably less than what the customer paid. Luckily I found this out before I forked out £2k (or whatever it was). Don't remember the name of the company - it was over 15 years ago now.
I’ve been with the same veterinarian for 26 years now, and I’ve had to make the heartbreaking decision to put 8 dogs and 2 cats down; only 1 dog died on his own. Roughly 15 years ago, the lady who has performed the cremations for all of my animals, started to produce the ashes within the glass. I have had 2 hearts made that I wear on a necklace. One is of my soulmate Labrador that I’ve worn every day for the last 6 years and the other I had made when I lost my sidekick Cocker Spaniel in March. So with all of that being said (thanks for listening), if you are interested in having something like this done, maybe you could contact the crematorium. After all, if you trusted them enough to take care of your beloved dog... Or maybe contact some veterinarians to see if they have any suggestions. I too have heard about those ‘diamond’ places but it seems rather... sketchy is the word that comes to mind. I prefer small businesses that have a proven track record. Best wishes to you.
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I got to the second photo and started choking up, i find it hard to deal with my dogs passing away. I have a small amount of ashes of 3 dogs mixed into some tattoos to make me feel close to them forever but all this stuff is lovely but i find it hard to even read about.
I completely understand your pain and I’m so sorry that you still hurt so badly. I believe that being the guardian of any animal is an incredible blessing, but when the time comes for them to walk across the rainbow bridge - most especially if we are left to decide when their time is up - a piece of our heart & soul goes along with them. I lost my latest snuggle-buddy in March. She was the biggest mama’s girl I’ve ever had. I had a heart pendant made that has her ashes incorporated and that piece of her joined, what was my truest soulmate amongst all of my dogs, a pendant that I’ve worn every day for 6 years. I’m sending you a virtual hug, a peck on the cheek and hoping that your happy memories will one day overshadow the memories of pain.
Load More Replies... Many glassblowers or hot shops will do this for you. It doesnt necessarily have to be somewhere that specializes in it.
Just make sure it is someone that does have some experience in working with cremains. I make pet portrait pendants in glass and many have had cremains incorporated within the glass.
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If this is the case w/ all places that do it I don’t know, but, I’ve read numerous times they don’t even use the animals ashes. Just sucker ya out of money.
I’m sure there are some places like that since there are disreputable people in every aspect of life. However, I’ve been with the same vet for 26 years now. The crematorium that the vet uses has been of service to me for the same amount of time. She has cremated 9 of my dogs & 2 cats. About 15 years ago the woman who performs the cremations started offering for sale glass pendants which incorporate the ashes. The ashes can be clearly seen and I’ve not had any problems with the pendants. My daughters pendant has been on her keychain for 4 years now and I’ve worn my heart shaped pendant on a necklace every day for the last 6 years. This is a prime example why I support small businesses.
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we do the same thing EXCEPT ours are completely customized to each individual and we do pet and human ashes at TyDrops Forever Memories
Price points will vary depending on what glass piece is made and who the glass artist is.
Load More Replies...
He's a phenomenal artist! An amazing person as well! His heart goes into every piece, you will find he makes it much easier in a time that is generally such a difficult and emotional event to navigate. . . And what a blessing in the end!
Yes , It would be great I knew before . This can be only with ashes , or can be with bones too?
Ashes only. Bone would fracture and possibly explode because of the heat. The glass is generally around 2000 degrees F at it's hottest state.
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I'm sorry, I laughed at the second picture. The article's all sad until suddenly BEAN.
That’s my 15 yr old pups name :-) short for butterbean
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What a beautiful idea for glass cremation jewelry for pets. I got one recently for my dog who passed on from https://minimemorials.com/collections/glass and it was rather beautiful. I miss him so much and I always look at that piece of jewelry to remember him by.
Let's see, my dog is a 175lb Newfoundland, and I'm pretty sure when he goes his ashes aren't going to be contained by those tiny little pieces of glass.
Only a very small amount of cremains are needed to create glass memorial pieces. When I make glass pet portrait pendants I ask for a half teaspoon of cremains, use what I need and return the remaining cremains with the completed order.
Load More Replies... For more ashes jewellery try www.resinhead.co.uk 37057250_9...4af556.jpg 
I totally get this and would not mock anybody that wants one, or anybody that keeps ashes on a shelf but its not for me. When I lost my boy I took his ashes to his favourite place and let the wind take him so he could run free forever, I dont need bits of his physical remains, he lives forever in my heart and memory. The more you love the more it hurts but that love will never leave me.
I wish I wasn't such a klutz, I've broken every piece of blown glass I've ever had. These are lovely.
You could have a paperweight made. They are solid and less likely to break, even if dropped.
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I get missing a loved one, animal or human, but the tributes and things are just morbid. It's a way of holding on to the pain rather than dealing with it and moving on. Like putting "In loving memory of ...." of your car. My neighbor has her dead sons faces printed on t-shirts. My other neighbor has a perpetual web-page dedicated to her dog's memory. It's not healthy holding on to it.
Why do you believe that you have the moral authority to decide what’s right or wrong, healthy or unhealthy?? I’m curious, Gerry. Have you voiced your opinion on the subject to your neighbors? If no, why not? You obviously feel strongly about the topic.
Load More Replies... 
These are so pretty, wish I knew about them when my dog died. At least we have her ashes in a nice urn on a special shelf designated to her memory.
If you still have the ashes, you can still have this done. They roll the glass through the ashes as they are making the piece.
Load More Replies... I wish I knew about this before I agreed to bury my cat. I still miss her so much. I kept some of her fur and I put it in a locket I wear. I would rather still have her back though :(
Countelss times I dreamed that my beloved cat came to life. It was over 15 years ago, memory still is fresh as yesterday. It truly is the most traumatic emotional experience many go through. For many pets are part of families, closest friends, losing them rips heart out. I'd give anything to have my cat back, even though I got now two lovable furballs. I am all in for them, but still miss him much.
Load More Replies... I'm always a bit sceptical about these things. There was a company that did this but turned the ashes into diamond jewellery, which I was going to do for my old dog....then I found out that they got into trouble for basically just not doing that and discarding the ashes sent to them but sending out jewellery worth considerably less than what the customer paid. Luckily I found this out before I forked out £2k (or whatever it was). Don't remember the name of the company - it was over 15 years ago now.
I’ve been with the same veterinarian for 26 years now, and I’ve had to make the heartbreaking decision to put 8 dogs and 2 cats down; only 1 dog died on his own. Roughly 15 years ago, the lady who has performed the cremations for all of my animals, started to produce the ashes within the glass. I have had 2 hearts made that I wear on a necklace. One is of my soulmate Labrador that I’ve worn every day for the last 6 years and the other I had made when I lost my sidekick Cocker Spaniel in March. So with all of that being said (thanks for listening), if you are interested in having something like this done, maybe you could contact the crematorium. After all, if you trusted them enough to take care of your beloved dog... Or maybe contact some veterinarians to see if they have any suggestions. I too have heard about those ‘diamond’ places but it seems rather... sketchy is the word that comes to mind. I prefer small businesses that have a proven track record. Best wishes to you.
Load More Replies... I got to the second photo and started choking up, i find it hard to deal with my dogs passing away. I have a small amount of ashes of 3 dogs mixed into some tattoos to make me feel close to them forever but all this stuff is lovely but i find it hard to even read about.
I completely understand your pain and I’m so sorry that you still hurt so badly. I believe that being the guardian of any animal is an incredible blessing, but when the time comes for them to walk across the rainbow bridge - most especially if we are left to decide when their time is up - a piece of our heart & soul goes along with them. I lost my latest snuggle-buddy in March. She was the biggest mama’s girl I’ve ever had. I had a heart pendant made that has her ashes incorporated and that piece of her joined, what was my truest soulmate amongst all of my dogs, a pendant that I’ve worn every day for 6 years. I’m sending you a virtual hug, a peck on the cheek and hoping that your happy memories will one day overshadow the memories of pain.
Load More Replies... Many glassblowers or hot shops will do this for you. It doesnt necessarily have to be somewhere that specializes in it.
Just make sure it is someone that does have some experience in working with cremains. I make pet portrait pendants in glass and many have had cremains incorporated within the glass.
Load More Replies... If this is the case w/ all places that do it I don’t know, but, I’ve read numerous times they don’t even use the animals ashes. Just sucker ya out of money.
I’m sure there are some places like that since there are disreputable people in every aspect of life. However, I’ve been with the same vet for 26 years now. The crematorium that the vet uses has been of service to me for the same amount of time. She has cremated 9 of my dogs & 2 cats. About 15 years ago the woman who performs the cremations started offering for sale glass pendants which incorporate the ashes. The ashes can be clearly seen and I’ve not had any problems with the pendants. My daughters pendant has been on her keychain for 4 years now and I’ve worn my heart shaped pendant on a necklace every day for the last 6 years. This is a prime example why I support small businesses.
Load More Replies... we do the same thing EXCEPT ours are completely customized to each individual and we do pet and human ashes at TyDrops Forever Memories
Price points will vary depending on what glass piece is made and who the glass artist is.
Load More Replies... He's a phenomenal artist! An amazing person as well! His heart goes into every piece, you will find he makes it much easier in a time that is generally such a difficult and emotional event to navigate. . . And what a blessing in the end!
Yes , It would be great I knew before . This can be only with ashes , or can be with bones too?
Ashes only. Bone would fracture and possibly explode because of the heat. The glass is generally around 2000 degrees F at it's hottest state.
Load More Replies... I'm sorry, I laughed at the second picture. The article's all sad until suddenly BEAN.
That’s my 15 yr old pups name :-) short for butterbean
Load More Replies... What a beautiful idea for glass cremation jewelry for pets. I got one recently for my dog who passed on from https://minimemorials.com/collections/glass and it was rather beautiful. I miss him so much and I always look at that piece of jewelry to remember him by.
Let's see, my dog is a 175lb Newfoundland, and I'm pretty sure when he goes his ashes aren't going to be contained by those tiny little pieces of glass.
Only a very small amount of cremains are needed to create glass memorial pieces. When I make glass pet portrait pendants I ask for a half teaspoon of cremains, use what I need and return the remaining cremains with the completed order.
Load More Replies... For more ashes jewellery try www.resinhead.co.uk 37057250_9...4af556.jpg
I totally get this and would not mock anybody that wants one, or anybody that keeps ashes on a shelf but its not for me. When I lost my boy I took his ashes to his favourite place and let the wind take him so he could run free forever, I dont need bits of his physical remains, he lives forever in my heart and memory. The more you love the more it hurts but that love will never leave me.
I wish I wasn't such a klutz, I've broken every piece of blown glass I've ever had. These are lovely.
You could have a paperweight made. They are solid and less likely to break, even if dropped.
Load More Replies... I get missing a loved one, animal or human, but the tributes and things are just morbid. It's a way of holding on to the pain rather than dealing with it and moving on. Like putting "In loving memory of ...." of your car. My neighbor has her dead sons faces printed on t-shirts. My other neighbor has a perpetual web-page dedicated to her dog's memory. It's not healthy holding on to it.
Why do you believe that you have the moral authority to decide what’s right or wrong, healthy or unhealthy?? I’m curious, Gerry. Have you voiced your opinion on the subject to your neighbors? If no, why not? You obviously feel strongly about the topic.
Load More Replies... 
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