Microchip or tattoo? - Page 1

I'm curious which one you all use?

In the past, I have used microchips but I am no longer pleased with them. In my area, most shelters don't have a scanner and if they do they don't use them properly or they're broken. It's similar for the vets. Most of the time, they have broken scanners if any at all. Also, I had a dog stolen a few years back and when I happened to a local horse auction, I saw the dog and thief in person. I confronted the thief and called the cops, but the cops said there was no proof I ever owned the dog (even with AKC papers in hand). I would have to go to court and let a judge hear it is what I was told. When I tried this, the thief said the dog had "died." To this day I feel like if the dog had been tattooed, things might have been different. Who knows?

Also, we have a litter every now and then and I worry that the new owners might not register a microchip. I had a rescue here a few days ago with a microchip, but you guessed it, it was never registered!

Anyhow, I am leaning more towards tattoos for my current dogs as well as future pups. The tattoos are visible, so even if a local pet owner found one of my dogs they'd visibly see the tattoo where as a microchip they would not. Also, I'd think chance for theft would be reduced with a visible ID branded onto the dog. Then again, I have heard that tattoos can be altered so I guess there is no guarantee with anything!

What do you all use?

Also, for those who tattoo pups, do you have your own marker or do you take them somewhere? What age do you tattoo and what type of distortion have you witnessed with age? Do you mark the thigh or ear?

Would love to hear thoughts ... thanks.

My puppy got both.  Our local vets and shelters all scan for chips so I had a chip put it.  I had to register it which was annoying but I was told it was the most common type of chip/frequency.

The tat he got was the kind where you put the letters and numbers in a clamp, rub the dye on the ear and clamp it.  So it's not a pen that draws the tattoo, more like getting a hundred little pokes all at once and then it's over.  He got it done at 12 weeks but I think most who use this type do it 7-10 weeks.  It did not effect his ear at all, no complications and the tat is readable.

I had to send a 4-gen AKC pedigree to the WDA so his tattoo number and chip number are both on the pedigree and stamped/sealed by the WDA.  Since I hold the AKC papers and they are in my name I guess this proves the dog is mine and the numbers are legit.

Good point about the stamped papers. I forgot to ask about that, too.

Someone online I read that the only proof of ownership the court of law will recognize is a tattoo and certificate w/ tattoo number and owner name on it. Does anyone know if this is true?

How old is your pup now? Did the tattoo stay the same in size or stretch?

He's 10 months.  The last show he was in was last month and they didn't have any trouble reading his tat.  I'm not sure if it stretches or not.  This type of tattoo is numbers and letters but really they are just dots.  He's sort of growing into his ears at the moment, lol, his ears have always been big so I don't think they will get any bigger even as he fills out and his head matures.

As far as proof of ownership, I figure that with my dog's microchip, tattoo, certified pedigree (with the chip and tat), AKC registration in my name, WDA and USA score cards in my name, UKC reg in my name, collar with tags with my name and contact (worn when we are in public or traveling), and me holding vet records from 8 weeks to present, I don't see what else I could possible do to prove ownership.  I just keep everything on file and everything up to date with my name and address.  When I got a van through a dealership last month the sales guy kept apologizing for all the paperwork and I just laughed and said I had three times as much for each of my dogs.

Well, I cannot seem to find anyone around here that offers tattooing, but I did find one of those tattoo clamps online that I can buy myself.

Can you tell me how your pup reacted to this clamp on his ear? Did he seem to be in much pain or did it not bother him at all?

I'd love to have my own and do everyone myself (including my pups). It would be handy, but I don't want to get it if it's painful. I've heard the pen type isn't painful, haven't heard anything about the clamp. Can you shed some light?? Thanks!!

I like to have both on my dogs, makes me feel better.

Scary story. I think you answered your own question.
No dog leaves here without both, and ME as the original registration contact in every major pet recovery database, just in case the new owner forgets. Still, no fool-proof process, but the best we have till microchips feature GPS location capability at affordable costs.
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