Tattoo identification for rabbits

[SuperCheesetastic]

 

Today, I was on the porch examining a few of my guinep seedlings and I left the door open a crack, because Penelope loves to run in and out running through the walkway. I thought I saw her go back inside. I went back in a few minutes later and couldn’t find her. She had me walking all over the apartment lot, when she was hiding in my room the entire time.

This makes me think that she could be easily taken by someone because she will really walk up to strangers (and bicycles, skateboarders, stray cats… basically anything) and most people around here know I have a rabbit… A friendly rabbit that I take outdoors pretty often. Gosh, i’m so paranoid.

Are ear tattoos common and okay for rabbits? I know most high-kill pounds wouldn’t even think to look for a microchip in a rabbit and oftentimes the chip won’t show up as scanned. 

I know collars are out of the question because I asked years ago and got an overwhelming ‘no’.

[JackRabbit]

I would be more afraid of her being injured by bicycles, skateboards, cars, and stray/loose animals than being stolen. If you have to take her outside, can you put her in an xpen and make sure she’s supervised?

[Eepster]

Ear tattoos are standard for show bunnies.

[Sarita]

No one would know what the tattoos mean so it’s not effective.

[LBJ10]

Unless you tattooed your name and address on there. LOL

[Deleted User]

Is that Penelope in your avatar? If so, I’d get her ear pierced – those ears are just asking for some major bling! Ha ha ha….
And you’d know she’s yours – I’ve never known a bunny to have a piercing??? Just jokes of course, but how cool would that be, lol!

Being serious, I know my dog’s got an ear tattoo when they were de-sexed, I never thought to ask if Henry got one when he was neutered? I doubt it.
I couldn’t imagine that someone would check for a tattoo if they wouldn’t check for a microchip??? I don’t even have my dog’s microchipped, they can’t get out of my yard and can say with all confidence, either could Henry (not that he’d dare take a step outside – tooooo scary for him! And his food and treats are located inside, he’d never leave, ha ha ha….). And if anyone stole Henry, after a few hours they would return him – he’s so naughty! Ha ha!

I know what you are trying to achieve, and it’s a great idea, but don’t bother…. if your bunny is so cute and super friendly, no one will return her – I wouldn’t!!!

PS – If your bunny goes missing and you find Henry on your door step, there’s a good chance (not that I’m admitting to theft) that I’ve got her!

[MeketatenBun]

I had a tattoo in my show rabbit’s ear. Just her nickname, Nefi, since it was required that show rabbits have a tattoo

Thing is, not many people will realize to check the ears for identification, but at the same time, if they’re close enough to read a collar or capture it to test a microchip, they’d probably notice the black writing in the ears.

I’ve known a few people in shows I did who would write their phone number with a felt-tip pen in the opposite ear as their tattoo. Tattooing a bunny can hurt, and phone numbers could take a while, but if you’re really nervous about your bunny getting out and you need it to have a permanent identification where microchipping isn’t available, you could always tattoo the name in one ear and the phone number in the other. Just be sure it’s a phone number you will have active for your bunny’s lifetime!

[Author]

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