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He couldn't understand why we gave him away |
Written by Tambra C White, on November 1, 1989 for "Merlin", Colite Bradmar The Sorcer
before he was returned to her with the help of his tattoo!
On behalf of your companion animals, thank you for considering a pet tattoo for protecting and keeping them safe! Should you decide to schedule an appointment at the upcoming SPCA of Northern Virginia pet tattoo clinic, you will be making a wise decision.
SPCA of Northern Virginia Pet Tattoo Clinic Questions & Answers
Will it hurt my pet to be tattooed?
What does the process involve? The process takes only a few short minutes.
Who will be doing the tattooing? The SPCA of Northern Virginia is fortunate to maintain a long-time relationship with Nancy & Tommy Mantlo of Richmond VA, who have been tattooing pets for over 25 years. They are great with cats and dogs alike, as well as their people. Here is the story of how they got into pet tattooing:
| In 1974, Tommy & Nancy were camping at Lake Aspen with their show collie. Back then, the cabins were fitted with only screens and windows for ventilation, and had no air conditioning. They took the dog around the cabin for a final walk, and went to bed. At about 3am, the dog pushed out the screen door to go out and relieve himself, and Tommy and Nancy knew he'd be back in a moment. But the next thing they knew, they heard a car door slam, and a car pulled away. Just like that, their collie was gone.
The following day, they began going all over the campground looking for him. One woman pointed down the road, and asked if that was their dog. Looking where the woman was pointing, they saw their collie walking up the road, sniffing to locate any of his earlier markings. At that point, he saw Tommy & Nancy, and he came running back to them. His collar was missing, and in its place was a rope that he had chewed in half. He was soaking wet, as if he had been swimming to get back to them. In addition to this, two of his front teeth were missing, probably from chewing through the rope. It was clear that his days as a show dog were over, but the Mantlos were grateful just to have him back. They knew how lucky they were at this point, and how if the dog hadn't gotten free on his own, they would never have been able to prove ownership if they did happen to find him. Nancy turned to Tommy and said she wanted some better, more permanent way of identifying all their dogs. When they got home, the checked all their local vets and groomers, and only found one groomer who would tattoo an ID number for them, but he wanted $35 to do one dog. Being show dog owners, and having 15 or more dogs of their own, they decided it would be better to simply get their own equipment and do it themselves. They started on their own dogs, and then those of their friends, and the process has grown from there. |
What are the costs involved in tattooing? The SPCA of Northern Virginia charges $17 for your pet's tattoo to be applied by the Mantlos, a portion of which is a contribution to help the animals of the SPCA. (Walk-ins are charged $20.) For those that wish to make an even larger donation to the SPCA of Northern Virginia, this is a very convenient time to do so. But there is another cost associated with your pet's tattoo, which is the registry. The registry fee is a one-time charge of between $25 and $38, depending on which one you choose, and well worth it for the protection it provides.
Tell me about registering. There are a very few major tattoo registries - enough for a choice, but not an overwhelming one. Fortunately, these major registries communicate with each other when they receive reports of found pets with tattoos, but which they don't find in their own databases. The time to register the tattoo is immediately after it is applied - NOT after your companion animal is lost! Registry forms and information will be provided at the clinic. and you can visit the websites of several tattoo registry services using the links below.
My pets wear collars with ID tags. Why would they need tattoos? That's great, and they should continue to wear them even with tattoos. But tags and collars can be removed, temporarily forgotten, and damaged or even destroyed, while tattoos last for your pet's lifetime. Since many people assume that any stray animal without ID has been abandoned by its owners, a tattoo lets people know that maybe, just maybe, your pet was legitimately lost. Read poetry written based on these assumptions, which are so often false: A Dog Sits Waiting . . . I Found Your Dog Today. And read this actual newsgroup posting exchange - it's eye-opening.
Now, is it better to have my pet tattooed, or microchipped? To increase your chances of having your pet returned to you in the event of separation, it makes sense to have your pets BOTH tattooed AND microchipped for identification. Each of these 2 permanent pet identification methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. Read more about pet tattooing by visiting some of the web pages linked below (see the bottom of this page) Tattooing and microchipping are 2 permanent ID methods that complement each other, so that it is only if your pet is BOTH microchipped AND tattooed, AND ALSO wears a visual collar tag, that you know you've provided it with the best identification protection possible.
What will be tattooed on my pet? You will choose the numbers (and/or letters) that will make up your pet's tattoo.
In the end, it doesn't matter what the alpha-numeric combination is; what matters is that it is registered with a reliable pet tattoo registry service.
Can my puppy or kitten be tattooed? The Mantlos will tattoo puppies and kittens as young as 8 weeks old. Pets should be free of any skin diseases or irritations. If the tattoo stretches as your pet grows, the Mantlos will touch it up for free at a future clinic. For the general well-being of everyone concerned, it is advisable that all dogs be vaccinated for Parvo Virus, and they should have the DHLP updated (if necessary) prior to the clinic.
What can I do to prepare, and what paperwork will I be required to complete? There will be a form to be completed at the clinic, which the Mantlos require. It takes very little time to complete, but your signature will be required. There will be SPCA of Northern Virginia volunteers on hand to hold your pet, or its leash, as you fill out the form, and the more pets they are asked to watch after, the happier our volunteers are! You can also complete the registration form for the pet tattoo registry of your choice, and leave it (and payment for it) to be mailed in right after the tattoo clinic. The information you want to have on hand for the registry includes the following:
Owner Info: Name; Full Address; Home, Work, Mobile and Fax Phones; Pager; Email; also Emergency Contact Name and Home & Work Telephones
Pet Info (for each pet): Tattoo Number; Call Name; Species/Breed; Sex; Spay/Neuter Y/N; Color; Age; Special Markings; Medication Reqts/Emergency Data; Prescriptions and exact dosage; Allergies; Veterinarian Name and Telephone.
Payment Info: cash or pay by check; we cannot accept credit cards
Can I show up without an appointment? You can if you need to, but it will be helpful to us in several ways if you sign up ahead of time. For one thing, if fewer than 25 appointments are scheduled, the clinic will be cancelled. Also, if there are any changes (such as if the clinic must be cancelled or postponed due to an emergency situation), we can contact you ahead of time. If you are unsure you will be available on the day of the clinic, you can sign up just in case you are, and cancel right up until the evening before the clinic; a waiting list will be maintained if the schedule fills up, and we can contact those on the list if you need to cancel.
So, how do I sign up? The next clinic is scheduled for Sat, Nov 5, 2005 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. For more information or to make a reservation, click here.
How do I get to the clinic? It's at the Webers Pet Supermarket in Chantilly, at 14508-G Lee Rd. From Route 50 at Route 28: take Route 50 west, and Lee Road is the first left (at the traffic signal; you can't turn right). Once you're on Lee Rd, turn right at your first opportunity, into a cluster of business buildings. Follow the parking lot first right and then around the buildings to the left, to the businesses facing Route 50. Webers is towards the end of the row of businesses, and there's plenty of parking. Their phone number is (703) 631-2738 if you need directions. From inside the Beltway: take 66 West to the exit to Route 50 West. When you reach Route 28, follow the directions above.
LOST
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The gate was left open one bright sunny day |
| Learn About Tattooing | Tattoo Registry Web Pages | Pet Tattoo Success Stories |
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Moka, a Samoyed | ||
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National Dog Registry stories | ||
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