An animal tattoo or pet tattoo is a tattoo that a person has placed on an animal, which may be for animal identification, aesthetics, or artistic purposes. Animal identification via tattoo is a practice within the agricultural industry, at breeding farms, in scientific laboratories, and in the identification of domesticated pets. Anaesthetic or other methods of sedation are commonly administered for this type of procedure, with the aim to provide minimal harm and pain to the animal. Pets may also be tattooed with a small mark to permanently indicate that they have been neutered. Tattooing animals for aesthetic or artistic purposes is controversial due to concerns about animal welfare.