For many pet owners, memorial tattoos are a way to keep a beloved companion close after they're gone. But one woman in the United Kingdom took that idea in a highly unusual direction, choosing to have her late dog's ashes mixed into the ink used for a semi-permanent eyeliner tattoo.
Claire Hobson, a permanent makeup artist, recently shared the story of how she honored her dog Patch after his death. According to Vice, Patch had been by her side for 20 years before illness forced her to make the difficult decision to put him down. As she prepared to move to Dubai, she struggled with the idea of simply packing his ashes away and instead decided to incorporate a small amount of them into a cosmetic tattoo applied along her eyelids.
The procedure was carried out with the help of a fellow industry professional who had also lost a pet. Together, they mixed a portion of Patch's ashes into the pigment used for the eyeliner treatment. The result was a memorial that Hobson says allows her dog to continue experiencing the world alongside her.
Speaking about the tribute, Hobson acknowledged that the concept might sound unusual. "I'm getting my eyeliner tattooed," she explained. "People have their loved ones tattooed into body tattoos, so why not just have it in my eyeliner?"
She also described Patch as her "soul dog" and said he was "the most loyal man" she'd ever known. Reflecting on their two decades together, Hobson praised the unconditional affection dogs provide, calling it "the purest form of love."
Memorial tattoos involving cremated remains have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly among pet owners and families honoring lost relatives. Some tattoo studios report that a significant portion of clients now seek remembrance-focused designs.
While cremation tattoos are not new, safety experts note that the process requires careful handling. Although cremation destroys biological pathogens through extreme heat, raw ashes are not considered medically sterile after processing and storage.
Specialized companies have emerged to create laboratory-treated memorial inks, reducing contamination risks and ensuring the material can be safely incorporated into tattoo pigment.
Because Hobson's eyeliner tattoo is semi-permanent, it will gradually fade over time. That doesn't appear to concern her. She has retained additional ashes for future touch-ups, ensuring that Patch's memory—and his place in her daily life—will remain visible for years to come.
