I had a moment of rebellious madness when I turned 30, and had a small tattoo put on my upper arm, and I likened it to having a Stanley knife drawn across the skin, having had 3 children without pain relief, I thought I could handle it, and while I wouldn't have it done again, it was uncomfortable while it was being done.

There have been reports here in the UK of chips being dug out by dog thieves, so I guess a tattoo would be harder to hide, but I wonder if a determined thief would scrape the surface of the skin and use Indian ink on the raw area to smudge the design??

There have recently been a huge amount of dogs being stolen from gardens and homes recently here, with some dogs being lured away on walks, or even simply being forcefully taken from people in some circumstances, so anything that helps with that problem has to be looked into, the police believe most of these stolen dogs are being used as bait in dog fights

 Quote: tracey holden

I likened it to having a Stanley knife drawn across the skin, having had 3 children without pain relief, I thought I could handle it, and while I wouldn't have it done again, it was uncomfortable while it was being done.

Tattoos feel different to everybody. Mine was almost completely pain free. The only part that hurt was the area closer to the back of my arm. My skin hates tattoo ink or I'd get mine retouched.

An inner thigh tattoo would HURT. I don't think it's a treats and tug situation. Maybe for an ear tattoo but not a tattoo in such a sensitive area. Wait until they need to be knocked out for something?

With ear tattoos, I'd be concerned that a theif would simply remove a portion (or all) of the ear. Chances are a tattoo on an inner thigh would go unnoticed for quite some time. Other than being ugly, I don't think the guy did anything wrong with his ID form (Perhaps a dictionary would have helped!) If it were my dog, I would have chosen something more simple for a quicker job but it looks like he was pretty fast as it is sloppy. A dog's pain tolerance is so different that ours, I can see it not being as big of an issue as it is for people. I have one about the size of my hand on my shoulder with some pretty small details and didn't think it was bad at all. My dogs have most definitely had some moments that would have dropped me to my knees while out running around

I didn't want ear tattoos for that exact reason...I wanted something that wouldn't be seen right away and potentially destroyed. It's interesting the amount of "inner thigh hurts the most" because I talked to a LOT of vets (ones that tattoo...but nothing other than numbers). It's supposed to be the least painful for the dog as long as you don't get it over the bone. They noted that the biggest issue I should have would be the sound of a tattoo gun or if the dog doesn't like being rolled onto it's side (which both of mine are belly rub hounds and are pretty okay with odd non-gunfire noises...so I don't think that's going to be an issue). Before I moved my previous vet helped with a lot of research and fully supported the idea. We did sensitivity and a couple of location tests as well to determine the best areas for healing (so they wouldn't rub) and so that there was always a fleshy bit between the bone. Gambit has gotten some of the most horrible scraps and stabs on his inner thigh (ran through pricker bushes XD), it took me 3 hours with tweezers and alcohol to pull out the thorns and clean each hole...he fell asleep. Ryuk has reacted to skin trauma once in his life (and he's gotten a good chunk of scrapes that needed cleaning and treating) and that was when I got him microchipped...I think it had more to do with surprise. He was expecting a typical vaccine shot and got a HUGE thick needle, he forgot about it a few minutes later.

Ryuk will never again be put under if I can help it (Heart issue, and if I lost him to something stupid like a tattoo there is a very good chance I would lose control and seriously hurt someone. This is a dog who has been trained to have his teeth scaled and brushed at home so that he never even needs to go under for a dental cleaning).....and since I'm not going through a vet because I don't want numbers there aren't many ways to safely sedate.

 Quote: Jamie Craig

Gambit has gotten some of the most horrible scraps and stabs on his inner thigh (ran through pricker bushes XD), it took me 3 hours with tweezers and alcohol to pull out the thorns and clean each hole...he fell asleep.

Wow. I guess dogs aren't as sensitive there as I've heard.

I'm curious about how one can "legally" change the registration on a microchip WITHOUT the original owner's consent. I had issues with Sadie's owner when I adopted because she wouldn't sign the release. After I paid a ransom, she relented.

I guess I could have forged it, but that's certainly not "legal", and would not have stood up in any court of law.

 Quote: Duane Hull

I'm curious about how one can "legally" change the registration on a microchip WITHOUT the original owner's consent. I had issues with Sadie's owner when I adopted because she wouldn't sign the release. After I paid a ransom, she relented.

I guess I could have forged it, but that's certainly not "legal", and would not have stood up in any court of law.

You mean even with a contract of sale, etc., you need the original owner's consent?

You mean to change it so the ownership is updated, right?

My vet scanned her, found a chip, and gave me the chip id# and phone number for the brand registry. I called them, and was told that I couldn't change the ownership info, period, without signature of the original owner on an application for change. It did not matter that there was a receipt and updated pedigree.

The only way that I'm aware of for a dog thief to transfer the chip registration is via forgery, which is not a legal transfer.
There is also a fee involved ($30, in my case).

that is interesting, I know that Harley has a chiput never had it read, but in horses the chip is just a number and the number is printed on reg paper or import paper and the owner is the one who has the reg paper in his posession, making it illegal to sale, any way a warmblood, without his paper or international paseport

How do people find the owner from a tattoo? At least the chip leads to a phone number fairly quickly.