Tattoo's for Dogs Inhumane? Dah!

Since man first domesticated animals some 13,000 years ago, we have sought to change and alter the appearance and utility of these animals. Through millennia’s of selective breeding the dog lost its original characteristics and took on the form of the many different breeds we see today. The short, loose skinned Dachshund was bred to track and push out badgers, while the large Irish Wolf Hound was bred to hunt wolves. Breeding difference weren’t sufficient enough for certain species and their owners adopted several procedures to fit their individual style. Long tails were docked, ears were shortened and even the ability to bark was removed. Even still, the un-natural procedures forced on man’s best friend, has stretched to tattoos. 

Is It As Inhumane As Some Think?

Recently I came across a post on Facebook of a man who had tattooed his dog after he had his spleen removed and was still unconscious. With his Veterinary’s approval that it would cause no real damage to the dog, he proceeded to give it, the dog, a tattoo. Here's the dog

Originally when I first saw this post I thought to myself “man that’s kind of cool.” And realistically my opinion hasn’t changed. I’m a very simplistic person and try to get the most simple and basic answers. If you look at it simply, the fact that they tattooed this dog, a dog which he is fully and legally responsible for, if it happens to bite someone, is really not as bad as some alterations to “disfigure” his natural look.

There are thousands of dogs, that I’m sure would be much happier with a tattooed shoulder, than face a dog shelter for the last agonizing months of their life. In the grand retrospect, the owner of this dog obviously cares greatly for its well being. The operation to remove the spleen of his dog was something only a truly responsible pet owner would do, the other option being to put it down.

If you look at the big picture how much damage is he really doing? It’s a dog, and it’s his dog, and as long as he isn’t diminishing or destroying the quality of life, what’s the big deal?

I love animals and think that they should be treated with the utmost love and care.  Though I don’t think that it’s the worse thing to do, it’s definitely borderline abuse. Personally I believe that you should only tattoo your dog for identification purposes. But just because my personal believes say otherwise doesn’t mean I should enforce those beliefs on others.