Outrage has been ignited by an army veteran who tattooed his dog and shared the outcome on his Facebook page.
Last week, Ernesto Rodriguez tattooed his 5-month-old purebred American Pit Bull at his tattoo parlor.
On his pet’s stomach, Mr. Rodriguez inked the dog’s name, Duchess, along with an emblem symbolizing her bloodline.
Upon sharing an image of the tattoo on Facebook, a significant backlash from animal lovers ensued, prompting the local health department to be notified.
Defending his actions, Mr. Rodriguez from Pinnacle, North Carolina, asserted that tattooing was comparable to branding horses and cows.
‘You’re not abusing them. You’re just protecting them from getting lost,’ he stated, adding that Duchess was asleep during the tattooing process.
Nevertheless, the health department has issued Mr. Rodriguez a ‘cease and desist’ order, which requires him to halt tattooing individuals until he obtains the necessary permits.
As of now, no criminal charges have been brought against Mr. Rodriguez since it is not illegal to tattoo one’s pet unless deemed animal cruelty.
