When I took my dogs in to have them neutered they all came out with that mark on them. Can't remember whey they put that on them. Only thing I can think of is that if they ever get lost and get picked up and taken to the pound that mark or tatoo lets them know that it has been neutered.

Except if they were neutered they will be "Missing" some very important "things" unless they got implants... :D

It would make a little (very little I might add) if it was on a female.

You know what - I think he was terribly wrong and by losing 9 patients, you are hurting him, but it sounds kind of like you're not confrontational. Maybe in a day or so, you'll just take a deep breath and let it go.

I'm not telling you that I think you should, but I'm just getting those vibes from your posts. Whatever you decide, you know you have our support.

I have seen that type of tatoo on dogs that I have groomed that came from the shelter. It was inside their ears, girls had the girl sign and boys had the boy sign.

You are right! I am not confrontational at all. I would cry if I had to confront someone. My husband said he will figure something out and handle it for me

I'm the same way, I have trouble dealing with conflict and would rather go to the dentist or OB than to confront someone. But that's not such a bad thing. If you can let something "go" you won't worry yourself sick over it.

Vets have to train such a looooong time to get licensed, there are bound to be mistakes -- it's just so sad if it was a mistake that the vet didn't "man up" and admit it.

I wouldn't put Buttercup thru getting it done into a proper id tattoo, though.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm not a confrontational person either, so I totally understand your position. Yay for having a husband thats taking over for you! :D

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe you didn't notice it earlier b/c there was hair on his tummy? :confused:

Asking you to leave sounds like a guilty man to me! Also, another poster wrote this but I want to say it too. :) .... if there WAS a tattoo before, it should be noted in his files, right? :confused:

I'd DEFINITELY file a complaint with the BBB, and write a letter to the vet and his office staff about your disappointment in their clinic and their practice. Explain in your letter that if indeed Buttercup already had this tattoo, it would have been noted in his medical file prior to the neuter. Also, I'd include something about what you want to happen to remedy the situation, such as that you'd like them to admit fault, or refund your money for the neuter, or pay to have it removed at another clinic of your choice in the future (Maybe at the same time as another procedure, like teeth cleaning.)

If he grants the remedy you're asking for, then this whole ordeal can be put to rest for the time being.

My husband is an attorney, so I asked him if there was any legal action you could take against the vet. He said you can sue the vet, but not for "marking your precious Buttercup" and not admitting to doing the tattoo, but under a "trespass to personal property". Since you are Buttercup's owner, and the vet did something that resulted in permanent "damage" to your dog, he is liable for the damage done. An attorney could make a demand that he pay your damages to cover the costs of getting the tattoo removed, the time you've spent worrying and trying to figure this thing out, the neuter, and time you'd have to take off work to stay home with Buttercup while he once again had to recover from surgery. Personally, I'd not put him through the procedure again to remove the tattoo, but I might do it if he had to go under anesthesia again for another procedure later on.

This is absolutely bizzare!! What vet tattoos dogs and for what purpose would it serve for a pet dog to be tattooed if it wasnt asked for? I would be ALL over this!! I hope your hubby will stand up to him for you!! And yes I would do as a previous poster mentioned...ask for ALL of his records for your lawyer to see..your going to need them anyhow for your new vet...by the way I love the way you used baseballs to cover his ummmmm manhood hehe..

Dawn

strangest thing happened last night ... I saw this post and it was like a mystery.
Then coincidentally, I watched the movie, "CONSTANTINE" and they showed a picture from a book that reminded me of this thread ...
I paused the TV and took a picture ... do these look similar?

I do not know the significance of this picture but the movie was weird ... check it out.

That is similar to what it is. How weird?!?

Here is an update on the situation: my husband threatened to sue the vet and will no longer go through him (the vet) for questioning. All questions would go through our attorney (which we don't have one :p ). The vet called and called and he practically blew up our phone. We answered, finally, and he stated that he wanted to talk, in person, about the situation. I was thinking he would pay me to not sue him. I was wrong. So wrong. HE ADMITTED HE MADE A MISTAKE. He offered to pay me back for the neutering, which I refused but my husband took it anyway. That's all I wanted him to do was admit, admit and admit.

Wow! I hope he learned his lesson and has put new procedures into place to prevent this from happening to other animals. I am glad you pursued this.

I'm sure you've already done this, but I would change vets. If he lies to you about something like that, what else is he lying to you about?

Wow that is fantastic! I'm glad you took the refund- you deserved it. Any explanation for what the tatto was supposed to be?

No idea! He doesn't know himself so how would I know? That lying dog (the vet, that is)

GREAT!! I knew he was guilty!!!!!!!!!!!! Did he tell you what the symbol was? A "male" sign maybe?

I think it is a symbol for males. He didn't tell me because he had no idea what it was. Who wouldn't know what a male looks like? why would they need that? LOL

What a strange situation. I'm glad he finally admitted it. I can't believe he denied it when he knew it was true. He should have told you about it as soon as he realized his mistake. He could have appologized at the time and not charged you for neutering. I'm sure you still wouldn't have been happy about the tatoo but I'm sure you'd be a lot less mad than you are now, and now you know you can't trust this vet. I'd still report him for bad ethics - lying to a client about their dog. That's wrong

I am glad you got to that resolved. However I would never trust that vet again. Ever. I would never take my pet back to him no matter how wonderful
he was. He certainly wasn't truthfull to you. Someone made a big bo-bo
and it's a shame he didn't fess up to it like he should have.
They must have tatooed the wrong dog. Glad you got your money back.

I'm not stepping foot in his office again nor is he going to ever see or touch my pets again. I really didn't want the money back (strange, I know) because he did get the little booger neutered and of course have to be given credit for that. My husband thinks that if money is given to you, take it while you can, so that's why he took it (and didn't bother to say thank you to the man)

Hi. I was just reading this thread. The refund end is great but you really need to report him. That tatoo is some kind of satanic symbol and the fact not only that the vet tattood him with it but tattood him at all is CRAZY. I'd be concerned about 1. How he treats his animal patients and 2. If he'd go farther next time. Why in the world would an SANE vet tattoo an animal not to mention the fact with such a symbol. He admitted he made a mistake - but what kind of mistake? A mistake in tatooing? Tattooing is not a mistake - it's a deliberate act and the only reason he's admitted to it or is so called sorry is because he got caught and it can be proven. Plain and simple. REPORT HIM to whoever licenses vets in your state. Elaine

Sorry I didn't see this thread before, just read the whole thing...A tattoo is intentional, not a mistake. The fact remains that he intentionally tattooed your dog when you never gave permission to do so. How can he not know what the symbol is...if he's admitting he put it there? Glad you're changing vets...and got the money back, but it still doesn't make any sense. I would wait until your baby goes in for a dental or something similar and have it, the tattoo, removed or at least fixed to resemble something that you could possibly use in the future, if lost or stolen, to prove ownership. And yes, word of mouth travels fast among the medical community...tell people about this, and have them pass it on...so as to avoid this happening to anyone elses baby.

I'm so glad that he finally admitted that he did this. But I dont' believe that he doesn't know what it is. :confused: I would probably still report him just so that this doesn't happen to anyone else's baby in the future.

I googled "tattooing neutered dogs," and there is an article about doing this so they won't be reneutered or respayed. I can't figure out how to find the article, but I think it's about farm animals anyway. I can understand the spaying tattoo, but if you need a tattoo to figure out that your animal was neutered, I'm not sure you should be a farmer.

He probably was going to tattoo another dog and started on yours until he realized, woops - this one is going to be neutered, not tattooed.

I'm so glad it's behind you now. You have a great hubby.

I hope you find a vet who's not so scattered. Your baby is okay, which is really all that matters.

You can always take a blue sharpie and make it into a different picture everyday to match your mood. Just kidding!!!

Write an editorial and put it in the local newspaper. I would also RENT one of those huge outdoor signs and "advertise" what this vet did. Use the $$ he refunded for the surgery :lol tears

I also wanted to say how very sorry I am that this happened. I know you are heartbroken as well as being madder than a wet hen. I am afraid that I would alternate between tears of rage and tears of sorrow. I wonder if this is come type of "cult" symbol and the vet is just a wacko.....

I would report him to the police as well. You never know when and if others have complained.

I've heard that too. But, why do it to a male? If their parts are missing, they're fixed! :lol tears

This was a very interesting thread. Very odd! I would definitely report him, but I'm glad you got your money back!:)

You guys are so silly LOL. Who wouldn't know if a male dog is neutered (with the exception of implants)? I mean someone has to be dumb enough to not know. As far as this symbol goes, I'm just not going to let it bother me and by doing so, my husband will do all the bathing from now on. I think I'll loosen up to it as time goes by.