Dog Tattoo Clinic Comes to Local Tattoo Parlor

For some people, getting a tattoo takes months or even years of considerable thought. For others, the decision comes after just a few hours at the bar. But for dogs, a tattoo could save their life.

Betty Laurin, of TLC Dog and Puppy Training LLC., is holding a dog tattoo clinic next week for owners to permanently ID their dog. Don't expect a heart on their leg with “Mom” going through it, though.

Fred Smith, of American Tattoo, will ink the inside of each dog's rear thigh with a personalized number and letter combination, which helps identify lost or stolen dogs. An ID starts at $80 and personalized designs cost extra. 

According to Laurin, dog tattooing was the protocol for identification before the age of microchips.

“All serious/reputable dog breeders had their dogs tattooed for identification and some still use them as identification since they are a visible form of identification,” she said. “When I began my search to have my own dog tattooed, I went absolutely crazy trying to find a tattoo agent. The ones that used to do itsold their equipment because the microchips came out. “

The visible nature of the identification deters dognappers and prompts people who find dogs to look into its rightful owner, Tattoo-A-Pet's website said. Tattoo-A-Pet is a pet protection and recovery network.

The lack of dog tattoo artists in the area prompted Laurin to hold the clinic. If it is successful, she said she will hold another in the spring.

Laurin prefers tattooing over microchip technology for a number of reasons. Adopted dogs may already have an implanted chip, she said, which causes problems when a new owner implants another one.

“Now the dog has a multitude of chips and when he gets lost, who do you call?” she said.

She added that not all scanners are able to read the different types of microchips, and that the chips sometimes migrate in the dog and are later found in their legs or torso.

Laurin said while there are pros and cons with the microchips, the decision is a personal one.

According to Tattoo-A-Pet, tattooing is safe and pain-free, and does not require anesthesia. 

Their website advocates for tattoos over microchips because a tattoo does not need to be scanned like a microchip. The tattoo number system can be traced even if the registration process is not complete and the permanency of the tattoo guarantees identification for life. 

Laurin said her dog was unphased while getting a tattoo by Smith, whom the dog was not familiar with.

“When she was tattooed she laid there on the table with her head in my lap. After the tattoo was completed and we told her to get down off the table, she did,” Laurin said. “She sat in front of Fred and then she licked him, looked up at me and jumped back up on the table! Since dogs cannot speak, her actions spoke louder than words for me.”

Although anyone can be a canine tattoo agent by purchasing the right equipment, Laurin said she chose Smith because he is licensed and “more than knowledgeable in the art of tattoo.”

Any size dog can be tattooed, but Laurin recommends dogs be full grown.

The clinic will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 6-9 p.m. at American Tattoo, 10 Collins St. Email Betty Laurin the pre-register.