I have been researching into the benefits vs the risks with microchipping, and I just haven't come to a conclusion either way. With the recent article that was pro chipping, I thought I'd just plunge right in and see what people have to say.

The things that are keeping me from microchipping are;
1. Risk of cancer or other health problems associated with microchipping that are never discussed
2. How microchips are well known to move around in the body and sometimes even "disappear"
3. How only SOME scanners pick up SOME chips
4. How even if your pet is stolen and the chip is scanned, you still may not get them back.
--http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/microchips-pet/
-This article is one of many that have me second guessing the information that has been put out there about microchips and have never really been questioned.

That being said, searching for alternatives I obviously landed on the NDR and tattooing. Now, I haven't really done a lot of research as I literally JUST landed on the site, but I was wondering if anyone knew much about tattooing? I have surfed the NDR website, but that is the extent of it right now.

I think the very rare risks, like moving which is extremely rare, from microchipping far out way the benefit of a quick recovery, most of the time. It's relatively affordable for the security of a pet, especially a dog. That being said, I know people who tattoo and microchip for the extra security. Tattoos are easily modified, unlike chips, and I prefer chips, but I've thought about doing both.

I prefer both. When I've dogs tattooed it was on the belly near the groin and never an ear or lip (which a really bad person could remove). The downside is that it would be difficult to find on a husky in full coat. The upside is that it's permanent (though it can be modified/covered up as the previous poster mentioned)

I think dog tattooing was done before Microchipping came along.

I used to have a cat that was tattoo by the shelter she came from.

I have also heard that female dogs are tattoo to indicated that they have been spayed because it isn't easy to tell not like it is in male dogs being neutered.

I have both of my dogs micro chip, we could not get the rescue dog Kerian from the shelter before they microchip her they also charge use 15.00 for it.

It risks are very low I believe where the advantages to having them chipped.

In Australia microchipping has become mandatory which I think is a good thing. In Victoria, the state I live in, no dog/cat can be advertised for sale without including their microchip number. Dogs still get the tattoo's here when they get de-sexed.

Dog tattooing? How is this humane?

It is no where near the same process as human tattooing.

http://www.nationaldogregistry.com/

Here is a link that explains the process and why it is not painful for dogs or cats as compared to humans.

oh well jeez i should have googled it before i jumped to conclusions. your subject title made my heart jump!

Oh no it's okay! I thought the same thing the first time I heard anything about it .

This is a good subject, one that I researched quite a bit for my dogs.

I don't like all the cons associated with microchips, and tattoos are far too easy to remove if or cover up in the event your dog is stolen for my comfort. Ultimately I decided that I wouldn't be doing either for my dogs if I have that option. My sibe is microchipped, I had no control over that since it was a requirement to adopt him. But after all my research, I decided that I definitely prefer microchipping over tattooing. Of course that is basically me choosing what I consider the lesser of two evils so to speak because I am not thrilled with either option.

Thankfully my sibes chip hasn't moved or caused any health problems (yet). But I know of far too many people whose dogs' chips either migrated or caused tumors or caused severe reactions. One lady I know had found the dogs chip migrated to her dogs foot...and not all vets/shelters scan a dogs foot for a microchip! One lady I know, her dog had a severe reaction to the chip and had to have it surgically removed, it was a horrible ordeal for her and her dog. These cases are in the minority, but it does happen. Either way, so long as I have an option, I choose not to microchip or tattoo. I do things the old fashioned way, collar and tags.

Tattooing isn't worth it to me. So few people do it that, where I work, we don't even check for one. There was one dog that came in with its owner that had one, and it was illegible; kinda defeats the purpose. Pros for microchiping far outweigh the cons. I've never seen a dog or cat have any reaction from a microchip. It's a known fact that they migrate. We scan the entire body when a stray comes in, and we keep track of where they are in our patients by leaving alerts if the have migrated left or right. It's all personal choice, and I prefer a microchip.