Pet lovers will agree that if there’s a device to make their pets’ lives easier, safer or simply more fun, they would love to have it. With most people treating their pets like a person rather than an animal, it is not unusual for them to splurge on the latest technology, specially since there are electronic devices in the market designed just for pets. Here are a few useful, innovative pet gadgets:
Petmate Le Bistro portion-control automatic pet feeder
The Petmate Le Bistro is a programmable feeder that can dispense portion-controlled meals to your pet dog or cat while you are away. The stylishly designed feeder features a large LCD screen and built-in meal counter that can hold about holds 2.2 kg or 4.5 kg of food (depending on the model). The unit works on battery and that should last for about an year.
With three simple buttons, you can programme the feeder to dispense just the quantity of food at the right times throughout the day. The main food storage is conveniently transparent for monitoring food levels at a glance and has a handy twist-lock lid to keep food fresh and secure. Also the dispenser slides into place securely after feed and cannot be opened easily by pets for more food. Those who count themselves among frequent travellers or work long shifts can count on Le Bistro to ensure that your pets are properly fed even when you don’t always have the time.
Costs about $60 (Rs 3,000 plus shipping charges) and is available on Amazon and eBay.
Puppy tweets
Everyone seems to have a Twitter account nowadays. So, why leave your pet dog out of this social phenomenon? And for geeky dog owner’s, there’s nothing better than a tweeting dog. Puppy Tweets has been created by toy-maker, Mattel that sends tweets via a Twitter account (needs to be created by the owner). The device comes in a simple package and is available in the colours blue and pink for your boy or girl dog, along with a colour coordinated USB dongle, the Puppy Tweets tag, and battery for the tag.
The $30 (Rs 1,500) collar is equipped with a motion and sound sensor that help in selecting which of the 500 pre-recorded tweets best describes what your pup is doing at the moment. It then beams the tweet wirelessly to a USB receiver, which in turn updates the Twitter account. Each time your dog moves about, barks or just gets into some random activity, the Twitter account is updated via the tag that signals the action to the USB (needs to be plugged in to a PC or a laptop). You will have tweets that go, 'I bark because I miss you. Now, hurry home' Over time, your dog's tweets will eventually start to duplicate themselves as there’s a limited set of tweets Mattel has built in. But, at least it gets your dog in the social media scene and perhaps your dog may just end up getting more followers than you.
Costs around Rs 1,500 (shipping charges extra) and is available on Amazon.
Tagg, the Pet Tracker
If you have ever lost your dog, then you understand the importance of dog tracking collars. Even if your dog has never run away from home or strayed from their designated safe area, you never know what might provoke them.
The Tagg Pet Tracker system is marketed more towards dogs, but it can work with cats too. This device, which is about the size of a sportswatch, snaps itself onto your dog’s collar via a set of clips that are designed to remain on the collar (the box comes with four clips) and has an internal battery that can last up to 30 days per charge. The Tagg tracker is rated water resistant in up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. The main dock of the Tagg charges the tracker and also has a page button that will send an email notification of pet’s location within 10-15 minutes once pressed.
Users can define a geofence that is essentially home zone for the pet. When the device leaves this designated area, you are alerted by e-mail, text, or both within 10 minutes. After that, you are given updated locations every three-four minutes until the Tagg bearer is back home. Besides, keeping the owner in sync with pet’ location, Tagg will also beep out when the battery is charged, and when there is a software update. To update, just place the Tagg on the dock and the update will begin automatically.
Costs a little more than Rs 5,100 and is available across select pet stores as well as on www.tagg.com.
Pet pedometer
There are so many overweight pets out there now that owners are being advised to take them on walks regularly and keep a track of just how many little doggy steps they’re taking through the day. That’s when a pet pedometer comes handy.
It works in the same way a regular person pedometer does, just set it going at the start of walkies, attach it to your dog’s collar and make a note of the steps at the end. All it takes is a press press of a button, and it will be able to measure number of strides your dog clocks displaying the steps accurately, up to 99,999 steps, in fact.
Powered by a single button-cell battery, it is claimed to be waterproof and tough enough to withstand your pet’s rough and tumble lifestyle.
Costs about Rs 500, and can be bought from eBay and Amazon.
