Most of our animals are given a painless tattoo when they are under anesthesia for spay/neuter surgery and/or dental at our veterinarian's office. These are to identify them as being altered as well as originating from Umbrella of Hope rescue. Many shelters and rescues identify their animals this way (albeit usually it is a green, black or purple line or "X"). They are much different than a tattoo given to a person for cosmetic reasons on many different levels!