Halifax man's 'cremation tattoo' plan halted by airport security over dog's ashes

A Halifax man encountered an unexpected hurdle at airport security when attempting to travel with his late dog's cremated remains. Vincent Masse was carrying a small wooden box containing the ashes of Balthazar, his dachshund who passed away at 16, intending to get a cremation tattoo.

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What I quickly found out is that even that highest-ranked person on the floor does not have the ability to manually bypass the decision of the machine.

Masse planned to have a portion of Balthazar's ashes incorporated into tattoo ink, a process he chose for its portability and to keep his beloved pet close. However, the X-ray scanner rejected the box, and airport security informed him it could be placed in checked luggage. Unwilling to risk damage or loss, Masse sought an alternative.

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I wanted something that was both portable, but that cannot be lost.

The tattoo artist in Winnipeg, Kerri Parnell, who specializes in cremation tattoos, guided Masse via video call. Masse placed a small amount of ashes into a Ziplock bag, which successfully passed through security on his return to the airport. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) stated that cremated remains can be difficult to screen but may pass if under 350 ml and in a wooden or plastic container.

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He called me from the airport, very upset.

Masse eventually made it to Winnipeg, where Parnell created a tattoo on his chest in honor of Balthazar, using a process she described as a six-step, patent-pending method. The incident highlights the unusual challenges travelers can face with unique personal items.

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My solution was maybe go home and take out a little bit of ashes because we only need a little bit for the tattoo.