GPStraq

by Greg Bartlett / guest author

According to statistics, over 60,000 pets are lost or stolen in the United States each year. Of the 5-7 million animals that end up in animal shelters, 3-4 million are euthanized, according to ASPCA. Also according to ASPCA, only 2% of cats and 15-20 % of dogs make it back to their owners.

It is probably safe to say that every pet owner, at some time in his or her life, has (or will) experience the emotional anxiety produced by a runaway pet. Sometimes it is a gate or door that is accidentally left open, sometimes pets will hop the fence or dig a hole—these are common ways that pets get loose. Not only is endlessly chasing or searching for a pet exhausting, nobody wants to find their dog injured (or worse) on the side of the road after he has escaped the confines of the back yard. It is sometimes true that a missing pet will come home for dinner, but it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. And while the happy endings of adventures of missing animals has been memorialized in movies such as The Incredible Journey, prevention is far easier and less emotionally draining for owners, because all too often in real life, these kinds of happy endings don’t come true.

There is, however, a new way to prevent the missing pet syndrome. Thanks to GPS-based technology, pet tracking—whether it be dog, cat, rabbit, or turtle—has never been easier. Gone are the days of posting pictures and phone numbers on telephone poles around town. Gone are the days of checking every pound in the city and the strain and stress that accompany these types of searches.

GPS tracking technology is based on a system of satellites positioned throughout space. These satellites can track the latitude and longitude of any person—or pet, in this case—wearing the receiver on earth. This information can either download constantly to the internet or a mobile device (active system) or keep an accurate log of events (passive system). Most GPS systems use at least three satellites to correctly determine the location of the receiver. GPS pet tracking systems are generally placed in the collar and sends the information to you on a hand-held device of some kind. While it may seem silly to some to invest in this type of pet tracking device, the peace of mind and the safety of your pet will be worth the investment.