PHONE GPS TRACKING SYSTEMS FOR YOUR PET-ARE THEY A GOOD IDEA?

Each year, almost half of the animals entering animal shelters around th country are strays or lost pets.  Pets can’t tell anyone who their owner is and where they live so how do you find your beloved family member should you become separated?

There are about three different solutions to locating lost pets.  One is the little metal or plastic tag that hangs from the pet’s collar.  The tag has the name of the pet, the home address and, maybe, a phone number of the owner.  The microchip is another solution.  They’re inexpensive, passive implants that are injected under the pet’s skin and can be scanned with a specialized wand when the missing pet is brought to a veterinarian.  Another solution is a pet GPS tracking system.  These GPS locators attach to your pet’s collar and can remotely locate your pet at almost any time however; pet GPS tracking devices are  more expensive than the microchip.  Even so, there is a large populace of empty-nesters who are filling those nests with pets, and young couples are raising pets before committing to the bigger responsibility of raising children and they are more focused on their four-legged family members than ever.  Pet owners today are willing to spend or splurge when consumers in other arenas are cutting back.

Besides being more expensive than microchips, GPS tracking devices can come off with collars.  Some GPS tracking units are effective in areas where there isn’t consistent cell phone or Internet connection.  If pet owners relocate, the new location will not be on the chip, resulting in loss of time and more stress trying to trace where the lost pet’s family is currently living.  But the advantages of a GPS tracking system far outweigh the little tag and the microchip solutions.  The American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) was developed to help lower the number of missing pets in the United States which is beneficial to society by reducing the number of strays and lost pets.  In turn, this relieves the overcrowding of animal shelters and humane societies.  Many hunters use some type of pet GPS tracking system to keep from losing their dogs in the field or woods.  GPS tracking systems utilize 20 satellites or more to track the actual location of your pet but if your’re in an area without good satellite connection, you may want to use GPS tracking systems in addition to other locators like a microchip.

Know what your needs are before you buy GPS tracking equipment for protecting your pet.  GPS locators can be monitored by handset, cell phones, or computers and can be designed to work within a certain range so  look for a dog tracking device with long battery life, and make sure the range is suitable for your area.  Good GPS tracking systems will go through floors, walls or other objects that can reduce range.  Some pet GPS models can give a history of your dog’s movement over the last seven days and lets you create visual safety zones for your pet.  Also, consider the weight of the dog tracker device and keep your pet’s size in mind.  Very small dogs may find wearing GPS tracking systems uncomfortable and may suffer neck or back injuries if forced to wear a heavy pet tracker unit for a long period of time.

GPS tracking systems can locate missing pets in all situations such as after a car accident, natural disaster or when they are lost while being shipped by plane.  Other advantages to consider when deciding on a pet GPS tracking system:

• A GPS tracking device can give the owner directions to a pet’s current location.

• Pet can be tracked anywhere in the world with Internet and/or mobile phone coverage.

• Unlike the microchip, a GPS tracking devise is noninvasive.

• You don’t have to wait for your pet to be found and scanned to be located.

With a pet phone GPS tracking system, you locate your pet with speed and accuracy in real time.  It’s proactive because you control your pet’s location by establishing geographical areas where your pet is allowed to roam.  The information of his location can be sent to you or whomever you choose.  A phone GPS tracking system will locate your pet the moment you suspect he is lost or stolen which increases the likelihood of getting him back quickly and safely.

Replace the worry and fear of searching for your pet with the confidence and ease of locating them quickly and safely with a pet phone.