Just as how bratty children are sired from parents’ who just can’t seem to NOT give in to a child’s ever-evolving whims, pets are also subjected into to becoming brats (or as bratty as they can be), with certain “enhancements” or “body modifications” as end results.
Though it has to be said that pets don’t exactly ask their owners for face lifts or collagen injections, a number of pet owners just can’t stay away from getting body enhancements for their pets.
The reasons why is varied, but the end results remain to leave many questioning the logic behind the move. Here are five of the most prevalent and commonly encountered “pet body modifications”.
Body Piercing - Given the “relatively easy” nature of fitting body piercings, different pets sport different bling and metal items on their bodies.
From pit bulls having solid gold nose studs, to cats with pure diamond earrings, body piercings are even known to happen on pet reptiles, like on turtles, iguanas, geckoes and chameleons. Even cases of goldfish having a nose rings is known to exist. Pet birds are also known to have rings pierced on their bodies.
Tattoos - Tattoos are nearly as common as body piercing in pets, the difference being in the aspect of price and practicality of having ink done on pets. For furry mammals, tattoos tend to be a let down. But for non-furred or less-furry pets, they’re quite common.
Take the hairless breed of cats, the Sphinx, for example. Pet reptiles are also often tattooed, snakes being the most popular for ink jobs. At times, less venomous snakes are tattooed to the tune of their more deadly cousins, done mostly to reinforce the danger aspect often associated with snakes.
Body Paint - Of all the forms of body modifications, body painting pets is the most common, least costly, and least dangerous or inhibiting for pets. Most body painting on pets are done with non-toxic paints, with food coloring paints being the most popular.
Pet owners often body paint pets for special occasions or seasons like Halloween or Christmas. Events-related body painting is also prevalent, with football season and world cup season being popular venues for pets to sport their owners’ teams and colors.
Body modifications, as opposed to cosmetic enhancements, are identified as medium of human expression. At times, pet owners extend their interest to pets, leaving the question as to who exactly gets to make the call.
After all, if body modification is a method of self-expression, shouldn’t the pets themselves have a say in the matter?
