The sweet pit-bull mix who was tattooed by her owner while sedated from surgery was released on Friday from the Brooklyn veterinary clinic that allowed the body art.
An exhausted-looking Zion was wearing a neck cone and had the ink covered up with a coat as she was carried out by a Brooklyn Cares staffer and dumped into a minivan owned by tattoo artist Alexander Avgerakis’ father.
The vet clinic, at Fulton Street and St. James Place in Clinton Hill, promises pet owners, “Our approach is holistic, which involves using traditional and conventional methods . . . to keep your pets looking and feeling their best.”
But allowing the dog tattoo was an ethical flub, the American Veterinary Medical Association said.
“We have policies against cosmetic procedures because, ultimately, the animal doesn’t benefit. It’s not for the good of dog, even if owner might enjoy it,” said Emily Patterson-Kane, an AVMA animal-welfare scientist.
She added, “When a vet has them under his or her care and control, they are responsible for the animal — so they are implicated. We expect vets to know what’s happening on their premises.”
The Brooklyn Cares clinic has a spotty track record with pet owners, who have complained online about the services and called staffers unfriendly.
A spokesman for the state said the clinic hadn’t broken any laws.
“There is nothing in law or regents rules that speaks to or restricts the act of applying tattoos. We simply can’t say whether professional misconduct has occurred in this case without knowing more details,” said Jonathan Burman, a spokesman for the state Department of Education.
Head vets Timothy Mann and Stephanie Liff have valid licenses, according to the agency.
Avgerakis, who goes by the moniker “Mistah Metro,” bragged about tattooing his pooch after her surgery on Wednesday.
“My dog is cooler than yours! She had her spleen removed yesterday, and the vet let me tattoo her while she was under,” he posted on Instagram, making animal lovers roaring mad.
Workers at the animal hospital declined to comment on Friday.
The driver of the van that picked up the pup, also declined to comment.
Additional reporting by Dana Sauchelli