How long does a custom pet memorial take to arrive?
Three to eight weeks, depending on what you order. A hand-tooled leather plaque takes about 3–4 weeks in total. An engraved pendant or keychain takes about 4 weeks. A hand-painted oil portrait takes 6–8 weeks. Almost all of that is production, not shipping — and it is worth knowing which part you are waiting on before you order.
This page exists because most listings say "fast shipping" and leave you to guess. Here are our real numbers, including the part that makes us look slow.
The actual breakdown, by piece
| Piece | Making it | In transit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather portrait plaque | 1–2 weeks | 9–15 days | ≈ 3–4 weeks |
| Engraved pendant, keychain, tag | ≈ 15 days | 9–15 days | ≈ 4 weeks |
| Figurine magnet | ≈ 15 days | 9–15 days | ≈ 4 weeks |
| Hand-painted oil portrait | 3–4 weeks | 2–3 weeks | ≈ 6–8 weeks |
Add one or two days for the QC photo we send before dispatch — that is the picture of your finished piece you approve before it leaves.
Why the making takes that long
Nothing here is pulled from a shelf. A leather portrait is tooled by hand, one at a time — the artist is carving a specific face, not picking a design off a sheet. A painting is painted, dried, and painted again. A pendant is engraved from your photo and checked before it is packed.
If a shop promises a hand-painted portrait in five days, one of three things is true: it is printed rather than painted, it was already made, or the promise will slip.
Why the shipping takes that long
Everything is made and shipped from China. A tracked parcel to the US, UK or EU typically takes 9–15 days once it leaves the maker, and a rolled canvas 2–3 weeks because of its size. That is normal international post, not express, and it is the trade-off for the price.
What we will not promise
- A date we cannot hit. If you tell us the date first, we will say yes or no before you pay.
- Rushed painting. A portrait done in three days looks like a portrait done in three days.
- Overnight anything. If you need it this week, we are the wrong shop.
When you should not order from us
Being straight about this saves us both a bad experience:
- You need it for a service or funeral this week. We cannot do it. A local framer or a print shop can.
- You need it inside three weeks, full stop. Only occasionally can a small piece be moved up the queue — ask first, do not assume.
- You are not comfortable waiting without news. There is a quiet stretch between "ordered" and "QC photo". We send one update when making starts, but it is still a few weeks of silence.
None of that is a sales pitch. If any of it describes you, a keepsake bought locally this week will serve you better than a better-made one that arrives too late.
If you have a date to hit
Work backwards. For a birthday or an anniversary, subtract four weeks for an engraved piece or eight for a painting, then add a buffer week. If that lands in the past, choose a smaller piece or a different gift — not a promise we cannot keep.
Message us with the date before you order and we will tell you honestly whether it is possible. We would rather lose the order than miss the day.
The short version
- Leather plaque: 3–4 weeks
- Engraved pendant, keychain, magnet, tag: ≈ 4 weeks
- Hand-painted oil portrait: 6–8 weeks
- Most of the wait is the making, not the post
- Tell us your date before you pay, and we will say yes or no
Related reading
- Can you return a personalized pet gift? — what happens if the timing or the piece is wrong
- Sterling silver, stainless steel or brass? — which metal suits how you will wear it