( CNN ) -- A North Carolina man 's decision to put tattoos on his two dogs is drawing yelps of criticism and wagging tails of support across social media . Ernesto Rodriguez , a tattoo artist , said he put the intricate tattoos on the bellies of his two dogs so they could be easily identified if they were lost . `` They both have their tattoos on them just in case anything happens to them , '' Rodriguez told CNN affiliate WGHP-TV . In fact , tattooing is an acceptable form of identification for animals and even is one method advocated by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals . `` Have dogs microchipped or tattooed through the National Dog Registry , '' PETA says on its website , pointing out that unidentified animals can fall into the wrong hands . `` It is a crime in some states to perform experiments on animals with tattoos , '' PETA says . The National Dog Registry recommends on its website that a number of the owner 's choice be tattooed on the pet in an easily visible spot . But on social media , some of Rodriguez 's critics say he took the identification idea too far . `` My opinion is that if you want to mark your dog you do n't have to do it so large . The skin on a dog 's stomach is thin and will be more painful for the healing process . Nothing wrong with a small marking but a large one is a little much , '' Jennifer L. Ward wrote in a post on Rodriguez 's Facebook page . And on Twitter , Kristine Lacoste , managing editor and Buzz editor of Pets Adviser.com , posted , `` It 's a pretty big tattoo ; seems overboard for just identification purposes , does n't it ? '' Rodriguez , who said the animals were sedated when the tattoos were applied , disagrees . `` It 's just art ; I 'm an artist , I want to put art on my dogs , '' he said . And he certainly has his supporters . Writing on the Facebook page of CNN affiliate WXII-TV , Cheri Iverson said her pets have tattoos applied at local spay-and-neuter clinics . `` I wish their tattoos were this creative , '' Iverson wrote .
North Carolina man put intricate tattoos on his two dogs . Man says tattoos are for identification purposes . Critics say tattoos went too far and are cruel to animals . Tattoos are accepted form of animal ID .