An animal tattoo or pet tattoo is a tattoo that a person has placed on an animal, which may be for animal identification, aesthetics, or artistic purposes. Animal identification via tattoo is a practice within the agricultural industry, at breeding farms, in scientific laboratories, and in the identification of domesticated pets. Anaesthetic or other methods of sedation are commonly administered for this type of procedure, with the aim to provide minimal harm and pain to the animal. There is a diversity of opinion concerning the morality of animal tattooing, related to concerns about animal welfare.



History 
Animal tattooing can be traced back to 2,000 B.C., where Egyptians marked their cattle with tattoos to prevent theft. These tattoos signified ownership of cattle and were recurrently seen in early historical records. Cattle tattooing became widespread in the 16th century, when Spanish explorers brought cattle to North America. It was common for these tattoos to be the owner’s initials or the name of their ranch, as a symbol of ownership as well as identification.

There is also evidence of animal tattooing in the first half of the twentieth century, utilised by the military. A newspaper article from 1910 outlined that it was common for the military to tattoo identification numbers onto horse’s hooves, as armies were still operating on horsepower. However, these markings only lasted for approximately four months. Due to this, the British Army began tattooing identification numbers and letters onto the inside of horse’s lips; this eventually became a common technique among military units.

Animal identification 
The most common use of animal tattooing is for animal identification purposes.

Agriculture 
Animal identification is essential in the agricultural industry, due to its aid in identity confirmation, breeding security and theft prevention. Within the realm of livestock production, animal identification aids producers in the documentation of areas such as reproduction, health issues, milk production and medical procedures.

The method of tattooing identification codes on animals is very complex and specific and is commonly taught very early in agricultural training. There are several different procedures associated with animal identification tattooing; the appropriate procedure is determined through examining the size of the animal, the size of the herd or the various purposes for identification. 

Animal identification can either be permanent or non-permanent. Examples of non-permanent animal identification are paint and chalk, whereas tattooing and ear tags are examples of permanent identification. For dairy cattle, beef cattle and goats, tattoos are usually done on the ears. Cats and dogs are usually tattooed either on the ear or stomach, whereas horses are commonly tattooed inside of their lips. The cattle tattooing procedure requires numbers or letters made of sharp needles, rubbing alcohol, tattoo ink, gloves and pliers. 

To ensure hygiene and decrease the risk of spreading infection throughout a herd, all tattoo equipment used must be sanitised after use. Several weeks after the tattoo is executed, the ink will dry and flake, leaving a legible permanent identification.

Pets 

For domesticated pets, tattooing is not recommended as the primary identification procedure. This is because tattooing animals requires heavy sedation as well as specific disinfected equipment for every procedure. Tattoos on domesticated pets are likely to become superfluous due to hair growth and fading over time. There are also no specific guidelines for the placement of identification tattoos on domesticated animals, so it may be hard to detect the whereabouts or existence of an identification tattoo on these animals. For dogs and cats, the primary recommended form of identification is a collar as it is non-intrusive and has a high success rate of reunification with owners when lost. However, identification tattoos can also be beneficial as they are argued to be more reliable and permanent than a collar or microchip.

Identification tattoos are also commonly used by breeders to maintain accurate documentation of their kennel, and for veterinarians or animal rescue organisations to signify whether or not a rescued animal has been spayed. 

It is common for veterinarians and breeders to use an electric tattoo machine to tattoo animals, but sometimes manual hand tattooing is utilised instead. When using an electric tattoo machine, veterinarians and breeders typically put animals under anaesthesia prior to the procedure in order to inflict minimal pain.

Biomedical 
In the biomedical industry, animal identification is important for experimental subjects in a laboratory, predominantly rats; tattoos are used to ensure that no domesticated companion animals are accidentally in a research lab.

Art and aesthetics 

Tattoo artist Bob Shaw stated that in middle of the 20th century, himself, as well as many other tattoo artists, used to tattoo the pink marks on dogs’ noses to make them appear completely black for either aesthetic reasons, or to avoid sunburn. Shaw reported that many of his friends that were performing these types of tattoos had black marks on their hands, from the dogs jumping from pain. These tattoo procedures were performed at the veterinary clinic, and dogs were administered a small amount of anaesthetic to avoid great pain.

Wim Delvoye (b.1965) has an artistic and conceptual practice involving the tattooing of live pigs, which he began in 1997. Delvoye is known for tattooing 'pop culture' symbols directly onto live pigs, which he then exhibits them in galleries or on his Art Farm. This has provoked debate about the morality of this art form.

An example of tattooing animals for decorative means occurred in Detroit in 2007, where at least seven pet shops in the metro area sold tattooed Parrot Cichlid fish for Valentine’s Day. These fish were tattooed with pink lips and the text ‘I (heart) U’ on their bodies. An injection or a laser was used on the fish in order to imprint a permanent design. This was therefore administered purely for aesthetic means, which provoked disappointment from animal rights activists.

Ethical implications 

Ethical implications on animal tattooing refers to the ethical considerations and potential concerns associated with the practice of applying tattoos on animals. Animal tattooing involves using needles, dyes, or other methods to permanently mark an animal's skin with decorative or identification designs.

Animal tattooing has been practiced for various reasons throughout history. It has been used for livestock identification, marking working animals, and in some cases, as a form of adornment for pets or show animals. However, the ethical implications surrounding this practice have become a topic of debate and concern in recent years.

One of the main ethical concerns related to animal tattooing is the potential for harm or discomfort it may cause to the animals involved. The process of tattoo application can be painful and stressful, particularly if inadequate precautions are taken to minimize discomfort. Some argue that subjecting animals to unnecessary pain and stress for cosmetic purposes is unethical and goes against their well-being.

Furthermore, there are concerns about the long-term effects of tattooing on animal health. Infections or allergic reactions may occur as a result of poorly performed procedures or low-quality materials. These complications can lead to further discomfort and potentially jeopardize the overall health of the animal. Critics argue that subjecting animals to these risks solely for aesthetic purposes raises questions about the ethics of such practices.

Another ethical consideration revolves around consent and autonomy. Animals cannot provide informed consent or express their preferences regarding being tattooed. This raises questions about whether it is morally justifiable to modify an animal's body without its understanding or agreement. Some argue that this lack of consent violates the animal's right to bodily integrity and self-determination.

In addition, there is an ongoing debate about whether animal tattooing contributes to objectification or commodification of animals by treating them as mere accessories or property rather than living beings with inherent rights and dignity.

However, proponents of animal tattooing argue that when performed under appropriate conditions by knowledgeable professionals, it can serve legitimate purposes such as identification for lost or stolen animals, medical procedures, or research. They argue that these justifications outweigh the potential ethical concerns.

To address these ethical implications and mitigate any adverse effects on animal welfare, guidelines and regulations have been put in place in some jurisdictions. These regulations may include requirements for professional training, the use of anesthetics or numbing agents during the procedure, ensuring aseptic conditions, and promoting proper aftercare to minimize any harm to animals.

Additionally, alternative methods such as microchipping have been developed as potentially less invasive means of permanently identifying animals. Microchips are implanted under an animal's skin and can be scanned to retrieve identification information without causing physical discomfort or altering the animal's appearance. Advocates for this approach argue that it is a more humane and ethically acceptable form of identification compared to tattooing.

Animal tattooing raises important ethical implications that revolve around issues of animal welfare, consent, autonomy, and objectification. While there are arguments supporting its use for certain practical purposes, there is also growing concern about the potential harm and lack of consent associated with this practice. Striking a balance between individual freedom, societal needs for identification and safety measures aligned with ethical considerations remains an ongoing challenge in evaluating the moral justification for animal tattooing.

References

Tattooing
Pets