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By Greg Bartlett

Our family has three dogs, and we’re going to get another one this summer. We live in the country, and sometimes we have to go out and find our dogs when they’re not in the immediate vicinity. Thankfully we’ve never really had a problem with our dogs getting lost, but there are a lot of people who have. Hundreds of thousands of dogs wander away from their homes each year, but only about 16% are returned to their owners.

Lost posters and physically hunting for dogs are some of the ways owners try to track down their beloved but wayward pet. A more effective way is with GPS devices, which allow owners to locate a lost pet almost instantly.

GPS devices can be small enough to fit onto a dog’s collar and be worn comfortably by your pet. The devices are usually waterproof and very durable, which allow dogs the freedom to engage in normal activities and not destroy the GPS tracking device. Many of the pet GPS monitoring systems allow owners to set up geo-fences, or boundaries where the pet is allowed to go. If the pet crosses over the line and exits the area, the owner is alerted by phone, email, or text message – whichever is preferred – and can go retrieve the pet. Furthermore, owners can watch their pet’s activities in real time, following every move as they track down the wandering dog.

Pet Tracking Collar

Some GPS devices have additional features, such as an LED light which you can activate through a text message when you get close to your pet. That way if your dog is lost at night, you can use the light to guide you in when you know the general area of your lost pet but not precisely where it is. Other systems allow owners to be notified if a pet’s speed gets too high, such as it would if it is stolen and put into a vehicle.

One family recently located their dog when it escaped out of their yard and got lost in the neighborhood. A look at the GPS tracking device told them right where the dog was, and the pet was safely recovered within an hour.

People who own dogs don’t want their dogs to get lost, but if they do get lost, the owners don’t want to be one of the people whose lost dogs are never returned. But with GPS devices, owners can ensure the safe return of their beloved pet.