New York Bans Tattoos and Piercings for Pets

A Brooklyn tattoo artist who posted a photo of his sedated, tattooed Pitbull-mix sparked outrage in New York, prompting the city to ban tattoos and piercings on pets.

The legislation to ban body modification on animals for aesthetic purposes was signed on Monday and will take effect in 120 days.

Alexander Avgerakis, aka 'Mistah Metro,' the Brooklyn artist who triggered the movement to have the law passed in New York, said that his dog, Zion, was put under sedation for a procedure with the vet to have its spleen removed. While the dog was under the anesthetic, the vet allowed him to tattoo his pet with a heart and arrow, and the names "Alex" and "Mel" on banners.