What You Should Know About Permanent Identification

by Jenny Zablotny, DVM, General Education Committee member 

The process of permanently identifying dogs is not new. Tattoos have been around for many years. In the last 10-15 years, microchips have come onto the scene and are gaining acceptance as a means of identifying animals. 

A tattoo is a visible means of permanently identifying an animal. Dogs are tattooed on the earflap or on the inside of their thighs. A special tattooing pen for locations other than ears or a livestock tattoo device is needed to apply a tattoo. There is no special equipment required to read a tattoo, although time can decrease its readability. Tattoos can also be altered or rendered unreadable. There isn't one universal system or requirement of how tattoos should be numbered and registered. So, while a dog may have a tattoo, unless that number is registered somewhere, it is unlikely that that tattoo will result in the recovery of that dog in the event the dog gets loose and is found by someone. 

Microchips, on the other hand, are either registered by the company or can be registered with a central registry. A microchip is a chip about the size of a grain of rice that is implanted underneath the skin between the shoulder blades in dogs. Migration can be a problem and dogs and cats that are scanned should be checked first in the region of the shoulders with the scanner then dropped to either side and down the front legs in case the chip has moved. Chips are not readily visible and a scanner is required to read them. Microchips are difficult to alter. 

There are two major companies in the U.S. that produce microchips. AVID chips are registered automatically to whomever implants the chip. They are mostly available through veterinarians, who would be registered to that particular chip. The owner of the chipped dog can also send in a registration to AVID with veterinary and emergency contacts listed for an additional fee. Schering-Plough Animal Health distributes the "Home Again" chip. These chips are not registered at the time of implantation. They must be registered separately with AKC's Companion Animal Recovery. Some veterinarians that use Home Again chips automatically register the chips for the owner and roll the additional cost of the registration into the cost of the procedure. Unregistered microchips are as useful as unregistered tattoos. A number can be found, but there will be no information stored anywhere regarding the dog or its owner.

There are a few options for registration of either microchips or tattoos. Some individual states will maintain records of permanently identified dogs, but unfortunately, many of these programs aren't well publicized. Permanent identification could also be noted with the local animal control facilities. Tattoo-A-Pet is a national organization that registers tattoos only. They will register all animals living at the same address for a $25.00 fee. The AVID company maintains information on their microchips, but Schering does not. AKC's Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program will register information on any animals that are tattooed or microchipped. The chips can be from any company.

Which dogs should be permanently identified? The AKC requires some form of identification on dogs for proper kennel records. If your dogs don't wear collars, then they must have some kind of permanent identification on them. If you use microchips, you must have a scanner on the premises. Tattoos must be a unique combination of numbers and letters. AKC also requires that a dog be permanently identified in order for OFA clearances to be linked with the dog's registration number on pedigrees. OFA will read films from dogs that are not permanently identified, but will issue a number indicating that the dog is not permanently identified. The Canadian Kennel Club requires permanent ID in order to register a dog. Persons that travel should consider identifying their dogs in case of an accident or that the dog escapes. Breeders could microchip puppies and keep the registration in their name in the event that the dog ends up in Rescue or at a shelter. They could then retrieve their puppy instead of wondering what might have happened to the dog belonging to the family they can no longer locate. Rescue groups should chip dogs that they place for the same reason. The dog can be retrieved if it ends up in a shelter. 

Who should be searching for permanent identification? Anyone that comes across a stray dog should check it for permanent ID, either a chip or a tattoo. Shelters, government animal control groups and humane societies should all be checking for permanent ID, even if they don't take in stray animals and only accept owner-surrendered animals. AVID and Schering both provide free scanners if a facility is scanning dogs. It does owners no good if their animals aren't being scanned with chips being followed up on. If a breeder tattoos or chips a puppy and then sells that puppy to a home that turns the dog over to the local humane society a few years later, shouldn't that breeder be contacted so that they can have the opportunity to take the dog back? The dog was surrendered by its owner, but may still have an avenue for placement that does not involve the shelter. This could allow another animal a chance for a home. There are instances where people have lied to be able to turn a stray over to a facility that is perceived as having little to no euthanasia of animals that can't find homes. Unfortunately, the owners of the lost dog may not look at facilities that don't accept strays. Purebred dogs or dogs that appear to have been cared for shouldn't be the only ones scanned or searched for permanent ID. A Newfoundland that hasn't received regular grooming for even a week or two won't be quite as presentable as a recently groomed dog. It might look a bit rough, but should still be screened for permanent ID. 

Permanent identification of dogs is a useful tool for the pet owner and breeder alike. Costs tend to be minimal and one time. There is little to no change in the physical appearance of the dog and the potential of recovering your pet if it is lost is increased. 

For more information: 

AKC Companion Animal Recovery

Home Again Microchips

AVID microchips

Tattoo-A-Pet tattoos and registration information 

reprinted from NewfTide 2002

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