Dogs become part of who we are. They were your constant through everything, and now there’s just this hole where they used to be. A Dog Ashes Tattoo means carrying them with you in the most literal way possible – it’s about keeping that bond alive.

If you’re in Birmingham trying to find where to get this done, you’ll find that experience and expertise vary wildly. Some studios have the right equipment and training, while many simply don’t have access to the specialized processes this requires. Knowing what to look for matters because this isn’t something you want to do twice.

Working with cremation ashes requires a different approach than regular tattooing. Understanding the technical side helps you make informed choices: the weight difference between ashes and ink is significant. Without proper formulation, they settle rather than staying suspended. The tattooing process pulls from the surface, meaning separated ashes remain untransferred.

This is just how materials behave – standard tattoo equipment and inks weren’t designed for this purpose. The result can look perfect on the surface, but the ashes themselves may not have made it into your skin.

Then there’s the safety consideration. Cremated remains include various compounds – heavy metals from bone composition, medication residues from flea treatments and pain management, and other biological materials. The skin’s natural defense mechanisms react to contaminants, which can cause rejection, inflammation, or healing complications. Pharmaceutical-grade sterilization addresses these risks.

Over 18 years ago, we recognized this needed proper development, and from the beginning we knew this required more than traditional tattooing knowledge. Being in Cheshire gave us access to pharmaceutical researchers, and we partnered with their team to develop proper protocols. Six months of protocol development, tested with the same rigor applied to medical products, gave us a process that addresses both the technical and safety challenges.

Our ink is custom-made to hold cremation ash particles. We process ashes to match our ink’s particle size, so they don’t separate or settle. Every ash sample goes through cleaning and sterilization, removing heavy metals and contaminants, prior to being mixed with our custom ink. We control every stage of the process your loved one is truly part of what you carry.

In over 18 years, we’ve never experienced a rejection from the ashes themselves. Those results stem from pharmaceutical-grade processing.

I’ve worked in this industry for over 28 years, specializing in memorial tattoos for the last 18. This specialization established us as experts in the field. People travel to us from well beyond Birmingham – we’ve had visitors from Cornwall, Scotland, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool. International clients have flown in from America and Canada because geography doesn’t matter when you’re honoring someone you loved.

Professional tattoo artists across the UK refer clients to us when cremation ash work comes up. They understand the technical requirements. Those referrals reflect industry respect.

We’ve been covered by the BBC and CNN, and global newspapers have reported on our approach. If you’re in Birmingham trying to find the right studio, our name appears consistently because reputation builds through results over time.

Most of our clients come for dog memorial tattoos, we work with ashes from any pet that was loved. Cat memorial tattoos are common here. For those who’ve loved a horse, the bond needs no explanation. We’ve created memorials for rabbits, hamsters, birds – if they mattered to you, we can help.

The cleaning, sterilization, and formulation process remains the same regardless of the animal. Every beloved pet is treated with equal respect and expertise, because proper processing is proper processing.

We’re based in Sandbach, Cheshire – completely private, no other clients present. This is emotional for most people, and for many this is their introduction to tattooing. There’s no rush. If you’d like to talk about them, we’re ready to hear it. Rather just get through it quietly? That’s equally fine.

Bring roughly a tablespoon of your dog’s ashes – it’s less than most people expect. Whatever isn’t used goes home with you. Can’t face measuring some out? Bring it all and we’ll take care of it.

Visually, it’s indistinguishable from regular tattoo work. It heals the same way. What matters is you know they’re truly present, not just symbolically, but physically.

There are tattoo studios closer to you, and choosing somewhere around Birmingham. But some things matter more than proximity, it’s about doing right by the dog who gave you everything. Your companion deserves more than assumptions, and you deserve to know the science is sound.

Dog owners come to us from Birmingham regularly because they’ve researched and understand the difference. They recognize our track record, and that matters to them.

If that resonates with you, phone us at 01270 385001, contact us at info@bubblegumink.com, or complete the contact form. Honest discussion, just honest answers to your questions.