How does tattooing your dog(with contact information) work?

Question

Where is it at(on the body), how much does it cost, how long does it take, and how is it done(the same as with humans?)? I've read that microchipping causes cancer(http://www.dogtopics.com/132/microchipping-your-dog-whats-the-risk/) and while it isn't common, I don't want to add to the list of hazards that may give my dog cancer if I don't have to. I can provide more links if you want. Any other alternatives to chipping/tattooing other than tags, and do animal control people always check the tattoo area like they always scan dogs?

Answer 1

I would still recommend going the microchip route. The risk of cancer is very very very small. In my opinion, the pros far outweigh the chance of this con.

Tattooing isn't used so much anymore. The tattoo is hard to see on dogs with a long coat, so may go unnoticed if someone finds a dog. (A lot of people wouldn't even think to check for a tattoo now days, they'd look for a collar with ID tags, and then take the dog to be scanned for microchip.)

Also, the tattoo can distort over time, sometimes making it barely readable.

Also, you don't want to tattoo your contact information, because that can change. (Are you still going to have the same address and phone number in 15 years?) Most people get something like their social security number; or a kennel identifier (when I had a dog that was a service dog wash-out, the tattoo was the abbreviation of the service dog organization and then an individual dog number).

ADD:

Most readers read multiple brands of chips. (Since microchips are so common, they've been making the readers more and more universal.) The few that can't read the chip information will pick up that there's a chip there, they just can't get the number; but then the people are aware there *is* a chip and the dog can be scanned with another reader.

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Answer 2

My dog has a chip in his back in case he gets lots or runs away. It took about twenty minutes to get done. The animal shelter where I adopted him from did it before I could pick him up. I dont think its that expensive since I only had to pay 50 dollars for him. I have never heard anything bad about it or that it causes cancer. I know that the animal shelter here immediately looks for a chip if they pick up the dog so that they can find the owner! Basically all they did was insert the chip in his back with a needle! Its very small and you can even tell they did it.  

Answer 3

I think tattooing is an excellent idea.  You're right, not all chips are readable by every reader.  We are looking into getting our Danes done.

Answer 4

Chipping is better than tattooing by far. My sheltie mix was tattooed, and in her fur, anyone that wasn't looking couldn't find it. Her microchip never fails.

Shelters are required by law to scan a dog for a microchip. Tags are a great add-on to a microchip as well because if the dog HAS a microchip, a tag stating the number is given to the owner, so even if the microchip has shifted or moved, the tag shows that the dog IS chipped and they will search for it.

I can't tell you how many times Roxy has gotten off lead, jumped a fence, dug under a fence, or burst out a door, and every time someone has spotted her chip license and had her taken to a shelter for them to scan and call us.

Her tattoo has never been spotted.

Answer 5

I think a chip is better.

Answer 6

omg are you serious....isn't that animal torture wow

Answer 7

training is best.

Answer 8

The area usually tattooed is on the inner upper thigh. I have a dog from Canada with a tattoo.This is a requirement  for registered dogs.I don't know what it costs.It used to cost around $35.00  in my area.I guess you could ask your vet or some local breeders.I know many are going to microchipping  or just use tags.Downside of tattoos is they can be altered easily.Here is a good link:http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/t...

Here is some other info I found:

Barked: Tue Aug 5, '08 8:54am PST  

  

THE TATTOO ON A PET IS PAINLESS AND JUST TAKES A FEW MINUTES. THERE IS A WEB VIDEO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE COMPLETE PROCESS BEING DONE ON MANY DOGS.

GO TO GOOGLE. SEARCH : THIS PET TATTOO MEANS I LOVE YOU

IT WILL COME UP. 13MIN UNEDITED PUT UP YOUR SOUND, NO PET IS TELLING OF BEING HURT. PET TATTOOIST CAN BE FOUND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. JUST CALL 1 800 828-8667 FOR A PERSON NEAR YOU. MANY VETS DO IT, BUT MOST ARE PROMOTING THE WORTHTLESS CHIP, THAT WILL IN MOST INSTANCES NOT GET YOUR PET BACK. PEOPLE ARE KEEPING NICE FOUND PETS, AND THE CHIPS WILL NOT BE DETECTED.

ALSO CHECK WWW.TATTOO-A-PET.COM FOR MORE INFO.

QUESTIONS ADVISE..MY MICKEY WAS LOST AND BECAUSE HE WAS TATTOOED,(HAD A CHIP ALSO. DID NOT WORK) I GOT HIM BACK WITHIN AN HOUR. THE FINDER WOULD HAVE KEPT HIM SHE SAID,UNTIL SHE SAW THE VISIBLE TATTOO NUMBER ON HIS BELLY............THE COMPANY HAS A 99% DOCUMENTED RECOVERY RECORD IN BUSINESS SINCE 1972