Spay/Neuter Tattoo Survey
ACC&D is committed to improving animal welfare through promoting responsible pet ownership and veterinary best practices. Tattooing cats and dogs at the time of sterilization is taught in many veterinary schools to provide a visible mark of sterilization that helps avoid an unnecessary second surgery if a pet ends up in a shelter. This survey aims to understand current tattooing practices in private veterinary clinics and shelters, and to gauge interest in a new, simplified tattoo system. PLEASE NOTE: If you work at both a shelter and a private clinic, please answer the questions from the perspective of the private clinic you work at. Otherwise, just fill it out for whatever type of clinic you do work at.
Veterinary Information:
What role do you hold in the veterinary field?
Veterinarian
Veterinary technician/nurse
Veterinary assistant
Hospital manager
Student
Other
Years of experience in the veterinary field:
Type of practice you currently work in (check all that apply):
Private practice
Shelter clinic
Subsidized clinic
Veterinary teaching hospital
Other
What geographic region do you consider yourself in?
Mid-Atlantic
Midwest
Northeast
Northwest
Southeast
Southwest
South Central
West
How many sterilizations does your team perform a week on average?
0
1-4
5-9
10-19
20 or more
Current Tattoo Practices:
In your veterinary training, was tattooing animals at the time of spay/neuter presented as a best practice?
No
Yes
N/A
Does your clinic currently tattoo cats and dogs after spaying and neutering?
No
Yes
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Do you tattoo all cats and dogs that you sterilize, or only certain ones (e.g. females or rescue patients only)?
What percentage of sterilized animals are tattooed at your clinic?
<25%
25-49%
50-74%
75-100%
What type of tattoo system does your clinic currently use?
Scalpel and ink
Syringe with needle and ink
Tattoo pen
Wireless tattoo pen
Other
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Please select the main reasons why your clinic may not tattoo every sterilized animal (check all that apply):
Concerns about animal discomfort during tattooing
Concerns about infection
Cost of tattoo supplies
Client resistance to tattooing their pet
Difficulty or messiness of the tattooing process
Lack of training or knowledge about tattooing
Tattooing has not been considered
Time required for tattooing
Veterinarian resistance to tattooing
We tattoo all animals
Other
How important do you personally consider tattooing sterilized animals to be?
Not important
Somewhat important
Very important
Have you ever started a spay/neuter surgery on an animal that turned out to be already sterilized?
Yes
No
I don't remember
How many times has this happened?
Interest in a New Tattoo System:
Would you be interested in a new tattoo system designed to be easy and fast to apply, mess free, and inexpensive?
No
Maybe
Yes
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What features would be most important to you in a new tattoo system (select all that apply)?
Affordability
Ease of use
Environmental friendliness
Pain minimization for the animal
Minimal training required
Speed of application
Visibility and permanence of the tattoo
Pricing and Implementation:
What is the estimated cost range per animal that your clinic would be willing to pay for a new, simplified tattoo system?
$1-5
$5-7
$8-10
$11-15
Other
How would your clinic likely recoup the cost of a new tattoo system (select all that apply)?
Absorb the cost
Pass on a portion of the cost to pet owners as a service fee
Pass the cost on with markup
Other
Would you make this tattoo optional for clients?
No
Not sure yet
Yes
Are you worried about client perception of having their pets tattooed, or that it might generate pushback?
No
A little
Yes
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Please share any additional comments or suggestions you may have regarding tattooing practices in veterinary clinics:
Please enter your full name and email address for potential follow-up and chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card (optional):
Thank you for your valuable feedback!
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