A lasting stone for your pet in Hays
Around 650 dogs and cats die in Hays each year, by our estimate. If yours was one of them, this guide covers which stones suit local weather, what they cost and where they can go.
- Engraving and proof steps explained
- Delivery weight and setting, planned ahead
- Quotes by email from makers who serve Hays
Hays, Kansas
What getting a pet stone made in Hays is like
Wind is the biggest enemy of outdoor memorials in northwest Kansas, followed closely by hail and the high, dry sun. Low, heavy markers of granite or local post-rock limestone stay put; light garden statues blow over. For something living, a drought-hardy tree such as a bur oak or a hackberry, planted in spring and watered through the first summer, suits the dry climate.
Some Hays households want a memorial with a local connection, such as a small slab of the region's cream-colored limestone carved with a name and dates, or a photo taken along Big Creek. Others want pendants or mini urns so relatives on scattered farms can each keep a share. Get the full cost and delivery date in writing, particularly for carved stone, which takes time.
Low ground floods, and rural land around Hays often has a creek or a wet corner. Before choosing the spot, think about where water sits after a heavy storm. A stone in a hollow can end up under silt, and the grave beneath may stay waterlogged. A slight rise, even a few feet higher, keeps both drier.
About 21,258 people live in Hays, which makes it the 20th-largest of the 23 Kansas communities we cover.
For a second opinion on price, Dodge City (86 miles), Salina (92 miles, a larger centre) and Hutchinson (95 miles) are close enough that their providers cover Hays routinely. Two written quotes tell you more than any price list.
Our estimate
7,800
Hays: dog- or cat-owning households, our estimate
How we calculated this
21,258 ÷ 2.5 = 8,503 households; × 53% (dog) + 39% (cat) = 7,800. Multi-pet homes count once.
Our estimate
650
Hays families who lose a dog or cat each year (estimate)
How we calculated this
7,800 dog/cat-owning homes ÷ average lifespan (dog: 12.69 yrs + cat: 11.18 yrs) ≈ 650 a year. A floor, not a ceiling.
53%[1]
53% of US households own a dog, which is about 71 million households.
12.69 years[2]
US dogs have an average life expectancy at birth of 12.69 years.
39%[3]
39% of US households own a cat, which is about 53 million households.
11.18 years[4]
US cats seen at Banfield hospitals have an average life expectancy at birth of 11.18 years.
We built the this numbers from Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science and American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, and both are worth a look if you want the detail.
Grave or ashes? The local habit in Kansas
About 64.6%[5] of people in Kansas are cremated, a share that has been rising for years. Many families here grew up visiting headstones in a churchyard or town cemetery, and a stone for a pet can feel like a natural extension of that habit. Others prefer something less formal, such as an engraved river rock in a flower bed.
For the Kansas figure we rely on NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024). Read it as a picture of local custom around death and remembrance in Hays rather than as pet data.
Which stones survive the weather in Hays
Plan installation for the gentle seasons in Hays. The ground is often frozen in January, February, March, November and December, and digging and tamping gravel in the July heat is hard going. Late spring and early fall usually give you soft soil and comfortable weather, and the stone can wait indoors until then.
Photo stones and sealed ashes compartments need extra care in a climate like Hays's. Summer sun around 93°F can dry out sealants, and water that gets in then freezes in January, February, March, November and December. Check the seal each fall, ask the maker whether the stone is rated for freeze-thaw, and keep the ashes in a waterproof inner bag.
Stone, engraving and setting: the real prices
Lead times vary more than prices. Natural engraved stones from one US maker arrive in ~1 week[6], made-to-order granite and bronze markers take 2–4 weeks[7], and a new full-size headstone from a monument company can take 6–12 weeks[8]. If you want the stone in place for an anniversary in Hays, order well ahead.
The full price table by product is on our Kansas page, and the services page explains what each option includes.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Rules to check before placing a stone in Kansas
If you own your home, you can usually place a garden stone wherever you like; the stricter rules concern burying a body, not marking a spot. If you rent, ask your landlord before burying anything or setting a stone in concrete, and choose a stone you can lift and take with you. Below are the burial and scattering notes we have for Kansas.
Kansas keeps an official directory of local governments; use it to reach the county or city office that covers Hays.
We keep Kansas's burial and scattering rules in one place: the Kansas rules summary. Before a home burial in Hays, also ask the city whether local ordinances add anything.
A step-by-step plan for your situation
- Decide whether each pet gets its own stone or they share one. A row of matching small markers suits a path; one larger stone with several names saves room.
- If you expect to add names later, leave space on purpose. Have the engraver set the first inscription high up and leave the rest of the face clear.
- Stay with one maker where you can, and keep a record of the stone type, typeface and letter height so a later inscription matches.
- Ask now what a second inscription will cost and find out if the engraver can work on the stone where it sits or needs it returned to the shop.
- Leave enough room between graves that stones don't crowd each other, and sketch a simple plan showing who rests where.
- Set every stone at the same height on the same gravel base, which keeps the row level as it beds in and lets you mow straight over without catching an edge.
Remembering your pet beside the stone
In Hays, memorials often find a home on a sturdy shelf, a window ledge facing the yard, or a flat spot in a garden bed. Families in older houses near downtown sometimes use a built-in cabinet, while students often want something small enough to pack in a car. The simple box the ashes come home in is perfectly adequate while you think, even for months.
See what each option includes on our services page, read our guides and latest articles, use the free tools before you ring anyone, or see what other families chose in the poll results. You can also browse every city in the United States. Nearby, we also cover Lawrence, Kansas City, Olathe and Overland Park, and every city in Kansas.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Where would your pet's stone go?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
What feels like the right amount to spend on a garden stone?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Free tools to help you plan
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Memorial stone planner
Plan size, material and engraving length so your wording fits the stone.
Memorial tree finder
Pick a tree for a planting urn that suits your climate, space and pet.
Questions people ask
Why does the Hays page quote a human cremation rate?
Because it is the best local signal we have. NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024) reports about 64.6%[5] of Kansas residents are cremated. There is no official pet equivalent, and inventing one would be worse than quoting a real, clearly labelled number.
Roughly how many pets die in Hays each year?
Our estimate is around 650. It comes from Hays's population (about 21,258), the average household size, the share of homes with a dog or cat (about 7,800 households here) and the average lifespan. It is arithmetic, not a count, so read it as a rough floor.
Can a provider from a neighbouring town collect from Hays?
Usually yes. Dodge City is about 86 miles away, Salina is about 92 miles away and Hutchinson is about 95 miles away, all inside a normal collection radius. Get the mileage written into the quote so there is no surprise on the day.
How does Hays's weather affect pet aftercare?
July is the hottest month in Hays, with average highs around 93°F, so prompt collection matters most then. Average lows drop below freezing in January, February, March, November and December, which can make digging a grave hard until spring.
What do people usually engrave on a pet memorial stone?
Most choose the pet's name and years, plus one short line: a nickname, a place they loved or a phrase the family always said. A paw print or small outline is a popular alternative to words. Read the wording out loud, check the spelling with someone else and keep it short enough to read from the path.
What does a pet cemetery plot cost compared with a garden stone?
A lot more. In a sample of 15 US pet cemeteries, a typical burial cost $1,500–$2,000[10], and ongoing care can add more; one New York cemetery charges $105/yr or $3,500[11] for upkeep. A garden stone at home costs only the stone and delivery, starting at ~$39[12] for an engraved garden stone.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] 53% of US households own a dog, which is about 71 million households. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [2] US dogs have an average life expectancy at birth of 12.69 years. Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Banfield Pet Hospital life expectancy tables (13.3 million dogs, 2.4 million cats, 2013-2019), 2023.
- [3] 39% of US households own a cat, which is about 53 million households. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [4] US cats seen at Banfield hospitals have an average life expectancy at birth of 11.18 years. Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Banfield Pet Hospital life expectancy tables (13.3 million dogs, 2.4 million cats, 2013-2019), 2023.
- [5] The NFDA projected Kansas's cremation rate at 64.6% for 2024. NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage), 2024.
- [6] Adirondack Stone Works says engraved pet stones arrive in about a week from ordering. Adirondack Stone Works Pet Memorials, 2026.
- [7] Made-to-order granite and bronze pet markers take 2–4 weeks to produce; garden and cultured stones ship in 3–5 business days. Memorials.com – Pet Memorial Stones, 2026.
- [8] New headstones take 6–12 weeks to make; adding dates to an existing stone takes 1–4 weeks once scheduled. Memorials.com – Headstone Engraving Cost, 2026.
- [9] Photo-etched or flat granite pet markers start at about $158–$160 at two US sellers. Our estimate: Memorials.com flat granite from $157.95; Comfort Co. photo granite from $159.99. How we calculate.
- [10] Furever Memorials' review of 15 US pet cemeteries puts the typical pet burial at $1,500–$2,000. Furever Memorials – Pet Burial Cost (15 cemeteries), 2025.
- [11] Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in New York charges $105 a year for plot maintenance, or $3,500 one time for perpetual care. VOA News – America's oldest pet cemetery, 2024.
- [12] Engraved pet garden stones start at about $39 at the median of three US sellers. Our estimate: median of starting prices [$38 Adirondack, $38.95 Memorials.com, $89.99 Comfort Co.]. How we calculate.
Ask for pet stone options near Hays
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.