My dogs are microchipped. I can't imagine people noticing a tattoo under fur any easier then a microchip. BUT if there were no such things as collars or microchips and a tattoo was my only option, I would make it decorative while I was at it. I'd figure if my pet was going to have to have an identifying tattoo, it'd better be pretty. But just a design would be pointless. It'd be the pet's information in pretty letters or something.