# Forbidden ink **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 17, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487 "2014-12-17T12:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/1 "2014-12-17T12:43:03Z")
As of now, in the state of New York, it is illegal to get a tattoo on your … … … … … … [[dog]](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/exclusive-cuomo-sign-ban-pets-tattoos-piercings-article-1.2045423). I have to say, Google Images turned up a somewhat disturbing number of these. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/2 "2014-12-17T12:47:11Z")
I tattooing your dog! …Who knew that was a thing? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/3 "2014-12-17T13:07:33Z")
Well, tattooing is one (now not so common, since the advent of microchips) way of[identifiying](http://cfhs.ca/athome/identification/)your dog. If the dog is being anesthetized for a legitimate reason, such as in the linked to article, I don’t see it as “animal abuse.” Stupid, yes. Abuse, no. I’ve had many stray and feral cats TNR’d (Trap-Neuter-Release) and the non-profit who does that neutering and vaccinating both ear-tips (removes a third of the left ear) and tattoos the cat’s inner thigh with a green stripe. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/4 "2014-12-17T13:23:55Z")
Mouseover spoiler space fail. If you want to put something in the OP and have it invisible on mouseover, just put [square brackets] around it. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/5 "2014-12-17T15:05:53Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Mouseover spoiler space fail. If you want to put something in the OP and have it invisible on mouseover, just put [square brackets] around it. Ha! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/6 "2014-12-17T15:21:47Z")
OK I hid the dog. \*\* go Ellen, go Ellen \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/7 "2014-12-17T15:29:17Z")
As long as the dog is anesthetized, I don’t see the harm in putting a tramp stamp on your chihuahua. Of course, the dog will have trouble finding a decent job, but all the other dogs will think he’s cool and edgy. As long as this is not the beginning of a trend. > [@](#): > > Terriers make lovely fish. > > Legs off, fins on, simple metal tube thru the back of his neck so he can breathe, bits of gold paint, make good… Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/8 "2014-12-17T15:37:03Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > OK I hid the dog. \*\* go Ellen, go Ellen \*\* Waldo? Waldo! :💏: :💏: C’mere Waldo! **Has anyone seen Waldo?** ::shakes fist at **Ellen Cherry** :: ---
**Author:** ![Zorkmid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e68b1a/32.png) [@Zorkmid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zorkmid)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/9 "2014-12-17T16:52:08Z")
(squints) He’s waaaaaaaaay over there, between the palm tree and the kid with the inner tube and green shorts. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/10 "2014-12-17T18:32:00Z")
No that I see this I want to get a Marine bulldog tattooed on my chihuahua. Or at least get a chihuahua. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/11 "2014-12-17T18:45:09Z")
I tatooed many a dog back in the day before microchips. It was rather nerve wracking because there was really no way to practice but I did get pretty good at numbers. Yes, it was a means of identification and it was done while they were under for neutering. The Social Security number was commonly used, so I suppose someone could steal your dog and your identity. As mentioned it is still done (the green stripe) to show an animal has been spayed so I hope the law excludes this usage. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/12 "2014-12-17T18:59:45Z")
I can see a regulation that only vets could tattoo dogs, but I’m not seeing any reason for an outright ban. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/13 "2014-12-17T19:41:20Z")
I believe dogs that are official military dogs had at one time, at least, serial numbers tattooed on their ears. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/14 "2014-12-17T19:51:59Z")
Is it still legal to wok your dog? ---
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/15 "2014-12-17T20:35:34Z")
You can still tattoo your pet for the purposes of identification, and also if they have a medical procedure a tattoo can be used to indicate that they had the procedure. Cosmetic piercings are also banned, although you can still put ear tags on rabbits and guinea pigs. [http://www.loweringthebar.net/2014/12/pet-piercing.html](http://www.loweringthebar.net/2014/12/pet-piercing.html) The law is maybe a little heavy handed, but it seems that any “legitimate” reason you’d have to do these procedures is still allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/16 "2014-12-17T22:17:46Z")
Isn’t this the same city that tried banning large soft drinks last year? It sounds like there are some severe air quality problems there, possibly something causing a decreased oxygen level. ETA: Though I suppose spending so much time on nanny legislation keeps them from getting into too much real trouble, ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/17 "2014-12-17T22:20:36Z")
Is this the new trend? Clickbait threads? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/18 "2014-12-18T01:48:13Z")
I wonder what the ruling would be on neuticles? Technically they aren’t adornment so much as medical but ---------- ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/19 "2014-12-19T00:44:21Z")
They should ban them from humans too. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-ink/707487/20 "2014-12-19T04:50:33Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > They should ban them from humans too. The tattoos, or the neuticles?