January 9, 2008

NATION – To meet the demand of pet owners who don't want to risk losing their beloved pets, some companies have innovated ways to safeguard our animals. We've chosen two, GPS and microchipping, which we've noticed are becoming the trend.

Microchip technology has been in use for about 15 years, and has gained popularity among animal shelters and rescues worldwide. Many shelters require animals they adopt out to have the technology.

The device is uploaded with information about the animal and is injected just below the surface of the skin. Breed, ID number, name, medical issues, home address, phone numbers, owners' names and more can be accessed via a simple scanning device.

A downside is that the microchip is only effective when the animal has been found, and then only if someone scans it. However, it's better than a just traditional collar because there's really no way the chip can come off.

GPS, or Global Positioning System, allows the user to track his or her animal from a cell phone or computer. The device is attached to a collar and runs on batteries. On average, battery life is up to five days.

Each company does GPS differently. Some offer updates on battery life, temperature of the dog's environment and exact location. Others alert you when the animal has passed a certain radius from where it's supposed to be.

A downside to GPS is that it's too big for small breeds, and the batteries may die before you find your animal. But on the other hand it provides active locating if your pet gets lost – and having an idea of where Fido is better than nothing.

Many think every pet should have a microchip. If you can afford it and are diligent with battery recharging, we recommend GPS as a secondary tool. They're effective, but only to a point. Many cost hundreds of dollars plus cell phone fees. Although, most companies offer free tracking through their Web Sites.

Have you had experience with either of these technologies?

Tell us what you think under this story. Post your favorite pet videos at the zootooTV tab. E-mail us your story ideas at news@zootoo.com or call us at 877-777-4204.