  We address the subject of chiral anomalies in two and four dimensional
theories. Ambiguities associated with the $\gamma_5$ algebra within divergent
integrals are identified, even though the physical dimension is not altered in
the process of regularization. We present a minimal prescription that leads to
unique results and apply it to a series of examples. For the particular case of
abelian theories with effective chiral vertices, we show: 1- Its implication on
the way to display the anomalies democratically in the Ward identities. 2- The
possibility to fix an arbitrary surface term in such a way that a momentum
routing independent result emerges. This leads to a reinterpretation of the
role of momentum routing in the process of choosing the Ward identity to be
satisfied in an anomalous process. 3- Momentum Routing Invariance (MRI) is a
necessary and sufficient condition to assure vectorial gauge invariance of
effective chiral Abelian gauge theories. We also briefly discuss the case of
complete chiral theories, using the Chiral Schwinger Model as an example.
