Anyone missing a BMC with brand on right hip.

I got really peeved at the mentality of the "rescuer" (not to be confused with the great bunch of folks who actually sprung the dog). She was adamantly opposed to the practice of branding dogs, and mentioned that if the dog wasn't wearing a tag and wasn't chipped that she didn't consider anything else a form of ID. Of course, she was also peeved at me for having the mentality that freeze marking was acceptable for a dog - nevermind that it isn't near as hard on the dogs as say NEUTERING or SPAYING.

At any rate, there are so many variables that can happen when in the woods and there is also a real possibility that a pound or shelter could be called to pick up a hog dog once it has been captured by folks who believe it to be running loose. For this reason, I really am thinking about paying the $10 each to have a couple of my dogs chipped in addition to their brands. I guess you could say that it's a little extra added protection that doesn't cost much. To me, a brand is identification you can't pull or wash off. To do gooding city folks who aren't necessarily keyed into our agricultural lifestyle it just doesn't constitute identification.

My thought is that we should continue freeze marking our dogs because it is a highly visible and outward sign of ownership. However, if the local pound won't call the sheriff to report a branded dog it may be that the chip might someday get your dog home. An extra $10 on my vet bill isn't going to hurt me much.

cheers
m