Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

A Spotlight On Tracking Your Furry Friend With GPS

May 21st, 2013

More and more, pet owners are turning to GPS tracking devices to keep their furry friends safe in the event they wander away from their home.

One such dog, a stray named Lightning who was living in the woods of New Hampshire, was rescued with the help of GPS tracking technology. He was not fond of humans and would bolt whenever those attempting to capture him would get close. He spent a year on the loose.

When rescuers did capture Lightning, they placed a GPS tracking collar on him so that his new owner, Linda Copson of Sugar Hill, can track him down in the event he goes missing on her 13 acre property.

How They Work

Each GPS tracking tool works a bit differently, but the principles are the same. It relies on GPS satellites to obtain the exact GPS location of the animal which is visible online via the GPS tracking site, and some have smartphone apps associated with them to search on the go.

You can set up a geo-fence, a predetermined area the animal is allowed to roam, and receive an alert via email or text message when the animal leaves this area. Most allow you to customize how often the system pings the GPS device as well.

You can usually track the life left in the battery, as well as see the path the animal travels on any given day.

Tracking Pets: Becoming More Common

Just how many are relying on this important tool? Bob Vetere, president of the American Pets Products Association, said that although the data is not yet available as to the sales of GPS monitoring tools for pets, electronics sales related to pets in general is a $56 billion industry. He expects these numbers to climb over time.

He said, “We are helicopter parents and we hover over our kids all the time and now we are hovering over our dogs and cats.”

Chips vs. GPS Trackers

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates 7 million pets are brought to animal shelters each year, a small percentage of which have microchips implanted or tags that identify the pet and its owners. The shelters and veterinarians offices can scan the chips to obtain this ownership information.

However, the chips cannot be used to determine a pet’s specific location. The tracking systems help the pet owners before the animal is turned in to the shelters, reuniting them sooner.

Copson is allowing Lightning out on a leash for now, as he is still adjusting to life with an owner. When an animal lives on its own for so long, it can become leery of any human contact. When the time comes for him to roam free on her property, the GPS tracking collar she relies on will become crucial to his safety. She said, “It’s all about having peace of mind.”

Protect Your Pet From Bad Weather With GPS

April 26th, 2013

Oklahoma City is known for some disastrous weather. Strong winds and tornadoes have devastated homes and families. In severe weather, people not only lose their property, sometimes family members (including pets) can go missing as well. Pets can get swept up by intense winds, or simply run away to find some safe shelter. In 2012, Oklahoma City animal welfare found more than 27,000 lost pets and only around 1,500 of them were reunited with their families. Animal shelters are encouraging pet owners to invest in a GPS tracking device to better the chances of finding a pet if it gets lost.

Pet owners living in areas vulnerable to severe weather would do well to put some extra thought into investing in a GPS device for their pets. Animal shelters report that they see a lot of lost pets when bad storms pass through their area. However, even if you live in a mild climate, equipping your pet with a GPS device could save you some real heartache should your pet go missing. “I think that [would] be a great help for any pet owner really, I mean, any dog can get out so that’s a real concern for any pet owner,” said John McFarland.

Many pet owners see their pets as members of the family. When a pet goes missing, it can be incredibly stressful. “I think of my dog as my child so if he were to get out I’d like to know where he’s at. I’d like to be able to find him,” said Maysea Ranier. “Just the other day she got loose and I was getting a little bit worried about it so I was driving around looking for her.”

Despite the clear benefit GPS technology provides to pet owners, most pet stores still do not offer tracking devices. You can find a GPS tracking device right here at RMTracking.com for around $100. Most pets will get away from their owners from time to time. With GPS tracking, finding your pets is easier than ever!

Protecting, Training, and Containing Your Pet with GPS Tracking Technology

April 13th, 2013

GPS technology has been utilized in many ways, and the possible application of the technology is an ever growing list. But can it apply even to domestic animal care and control?

GPS & Pet Tracking

How important is it that a dog owner be able to protect their pet from the outside world, to contain their pet within a secure perimeter, and to be able to safely train their pet to obedience? Dog lovers everywhere can attest to the very great importance of acquiring a reliable means of achieving all these goals.

Now, there have been shock collars for training your dog, and there have been collars for establishing a perimeter within your yard; we sometimes call these devices a wireless electric fence. And there have also been GPS tracking collars for tracing the movements of a lost dog. Each of these features of pet guidance and protection have varying value from pet to pet and owner to owner, but the majority of dog owners will, at one time or another, find that the need arises for one or all of these types of devices.

The fact that a separate device is needed per feature desired is an unfortunate drawback to the necessity for these products. A dog owner can’t be expected to force three cumbersome collars onto the neck of their furry friend. But technological advancements have made it possible for all three features and more to be able to be contained in one device. A GPS tracking collar can provide dog owners with the means to train, contain, and protect their animal.

GPS tracking collars are a rather new product on the market. This variety of pet collar is capable of shock training, GPS tracking for identification of a dog’s location, and of establishing a wireless, portable electronic fence. The benefit of the GPS-guided electronic fence is its ability to travel. Not only will the collar work for pets and their owners while at home, but the collar and hand held units are fully portable, making travel nearly hassle-free as concerns the owner’s dog. Because the unit is GPS tracking system-guided, it is truly able to go and do its job anywhere.

So whether it be at home or on the road, a collar with a GPS tracking system is a worthwhile investment for a pet owner. And their dog, of course.

From the Great to the Small, GPS Tracks Them All

March 19th, 2013

We live in an age of grand technology, don’t we? We have flying machines and diving vehicles. With the internet, we can exchange information around the globe with lightning speed. We have satellites in orbit around our planet serving dozens of purposes, from weather prediction and observation, to GPS tracking and navigation, to military communications.

There are some other, still remarkable, technologies which work closer to home; we have touch-screen computers and mobile phones, incredibly vast quantities of digital storage and memory space available to us, and even GPS tracking capabilities for our automobiles and… our pets? Yes, indeed; with GPS tracking technologies, we’re working to recover everything from stolen cars to missing animals.

It may seem an odd use of the tool, but pet owners everywhere can sympathize with the anxiety that comes with losing a pet. Locating a missing animal can be difficult at best, as pet are wont to wander and don’t often stop to ask directions home. Add to that the possibility that a pet can drop its identification tags, and you’ve got another nightmare altogether. How many thousands of pets, do you suppose, have been lost forever due to their meandering or to their missing tags?

More than 600,000 pets have been restored to their owners thanks to a microchip implant which contains their owner’s contact information. Small as a grain of rice, this chip is installed easily between a pet’s shoulder blades. But, while there certainly is permanency in this form of identification, a microchip cannot locate or track an animal.

That is where GPS tracking would come in, and likely save the day. Current GPS tracking devices for pets are crafted within pet collars, running off of towers like those used for cell phone signals. But towers sometimes go down or are out of range and collars are not always on the animal when they go missing. That is why the technology is being worked out for a GPS tracking microchip.

With a GPS tracking microchip implanted in much the same way as identification chips, pet could be located quickly and effectively by their owners at any time. If the devices ran on satellite signal, rather than tower, there would be far less chance of the signal being lost or of the device going out of range. Pet owners could truly rest at ease, knowing that their animal was sure to be found if lost.

What amazing abilities we have with our gadgets and gizmos.

GPS Pet Tracking

March 7th, 2013

For many pet owners, the possibility of losing their pet is a real concern. GPS pet tracking can help to alleviate the worry of being unable to find a beloved animal.

Past Methods

In the past, the main defense against a lost pet was a collar or tag containing the owner’s contact information. Although this method worked well in some cases, other times the collar was lost or stolen, rendering it useless. More recently, many animals have a small microchip implanted in the back of their neck. When a stray animal is discovered, the chip can be scanned to determine to whom the animal belongs. Unfortunately, this method also has problems as someone must find the animal and take it to a facility where the chip can be scanned. Meanwhile, there is nothing the worried pet owner can do except wait.

A New Approach

GPS tracking seems to be the solution to the problems of the earlier methods. A company called Love My Pets GPS has developed a safety collar with a built-in GPS tracking device. If a pet wearing this collar wanders away, the owner can simply log in to the company’s website, click the “find my pet” link, enter their log-in information, and receive the GPS location of their animal. This system enables the pet owner to quickly locate a missing pet and eliminates the need to wait for someone else to find it and contact the owner. If the individual does not have access to a computer, they can contact the company by phone and receive location information for their lost animal. In addition to locating a lost pet, the device allows for the set up of a geofence. This feature enables the pet owner to set a virtual boundary or “fence” ranging in size from 100 yards to 10 city blocks. If the pet wearing the device leaves this area, the owner will receive an email or text alert.

The collar and a year of service come in at a cost of $129.95, with a monthly fee of $14.95 after the initial year. This price tag may put it beyond the reach of some pet owners, especially those with multiple animals. But for many animal lovers, this GPS pet tracking device may be exactly what they have needed to help them best care for their four-legged companions.

Track Your Cat, Dog, or Even Horse With Tractive

February 26th, 2013

Move over, Tagg. There’s a new GPS tracker on the block for pet owners looking for an easy way to know where they are at all times. Tractive, an Austrian company, unveiled its GPS tracking device at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which gives pet owners peace of mind with real-time tracking and location information.

Yes, Tagg has been around for a while. However, it is very limited in its application. The Tagg GPS tracking device is quite large, and this means it is only suitable for medium to large sized dogs. The location tracking itself is far from real-time: the Tagg device will not display the route your dog has taken. Instead, the hardware pings the system on the Web every 10 minutes.

Tractive felt a GPS device could do so much more for pet owners, who are oftentimes just as worried about their precious furry friends as a mother would be about her children. Their solution: a GPS tracking device small enough to be worn by cats and small dogs. This allows more pet owners to keep an eye on their pets, even farm animals such as cows, horses, sheep, and donkeys. The company has conducted successful testing on these animals.

Tractive also relies on a SIM card, which is the key to its real-time tracking. Simply download an app or log on to a website to view your animal’s whereabouts on a map. The hardware and app communicate constantly rather than relying on pings every so often. You can set a “Safe Zone,” and each time your pet leaves this zone, you will be notified instantly.

If you install the app on your smartphone (iOS only, $4.49), you are able to store vital information in one place, such as vaccination records and appointments, vet information, and chip ID number to name a few. The tracking service itself will cost about $6.50 each month.

Tractive is expected to be available to US customers by the end of the month. An Android version of the app is expected to follow at some point in March.

GIBI GPS Tracker Makes Finding Pets Easy

February 7th, 2013

GIBI, inventor of a new technology to GPS track pets, is one of the latest companies to make finding a furry family member easier than ever for owners. Developed by pet lovers for pet owners, GIBI features a GPS tracked attachment that slides easily over any normal dog collar; it can withstand heavy play and is water resistant.

Finding Lost Pets with GPS Technology

Creators at GIBI were inspired to design the technology after citing statistics like a third of pets disappear at some point, and even pet tags and microchips aren’t enough to protect at least 4 million pets from being put to sleep because the owners could not be found or contacted. Therefore, they set out to make a device that’s convenient, easy-to-use, and doesn’t look like just another collar attachment.

Tracking Down Runaway Pets with GPS Tracking

The GIBI device features a battery with a lifetime of up to 7 days. When charging is necessary, the battery will give the owner a 2 hour warning alert via text or email message. The device is easily removable and takes 2 hours to completely charge.

Should a pet get lost, it’s simple for the owner to find his or her animal. Thanks to GPS tracking, the runaway can be found by pet parents’ logging onto the GIBI account via their computer or smart phone app; once there, they’ll receive not only precise GPS coordinates from Google maps of the exact location their pet currently is but also step by step driving directions to follow when picking up their furry Houdini. The GIBI GPS pet tracking device also contains a feature allowing owners to predetermine a safety zone. If the pet breaks out of the zone (for instance, the backyard), a text or email alert will be sent to the owner as notification. No more secret great escapes!

Keeping a Watch When Owners Can’t Be Present

GIBI also has added pet health benefits. If pet owners want to make sure their furry friend is getting enough exercise, they can track their pet’s activity trail. Should pet parents want to know what their dog’s most typically favorite route is, all they need to do is log into their GIBI account to view their pet’s path history.

GPS Tracking Keeps Pets Safe and Healthy

December 19th, 2012

Any fitness buff who has incorporated the FitBit tracker or Nike + iPod sports kit will tell you how indispensable the technology is to his or her routine. GPS tracking has revolutionized the fitness world by allowing users to record their pace, total time (and individual lap) length, personal bests, and similar statistics. Now thanks to companies like Snaptracs, with their invention of the Tagg collar attachment device, pet owners can now have the same type of data recorded about their furry family members.

GPS Tracking Finds Furry Escape Artists

GPS tracking enables owners to follow their pet’s every move. With devices like Tagg attached to the dog’s or cat’s collar, there’s no way a pet can leave or be taken from a pre-determined area—a yard, fence, or similar boundary—without the owner’s being notified of the great escape.

By checking your pet’s GPS tracking account on the company website or, for more immediate response, alerts sent via text message and smart phone app, Tagg will not only tell you where your pet is right now but can also give driving directions to his exact location.

GPS Tracking Aids Pudgy Pets

GPS tracking technology enables owners to monitor their pet’s health. Breed specifics, personal temperament (some animals can be just plain lazy), and individual pet size determine how much poundage is considered unhealthy and how much exercise each cat or dog needs. GPS trackers like Tagg can measure the pet’s normal physical behavior—the smallest movement is detected—so owners (and consulting veterinarians) can make sure it’s enough to maintain their animal’s good health. Whether the cat or dog naps, roams the yard, chases the ball (or cars!), or engages in any other activity, the collar-attached GPS tracker records all data including speed, duration, and overall daily habits for up to 90 days.

The tracker then stores the information and consolidates it into easy-to-read charts transmitted onto the pet owner’s online account (viewable by computer and mobile app). The activity charts give owners a clearer idea of their animal’s long-term health. Pet parents can better judge whether Fido’s daily walk is sufficient in helping him reach tip-top shape and, along with vets, recognize developing mobility problems.

GPS tracking, thanks to Tagg and like technology, might just render those “Have you seen my pet?” posters obsolete and will help pets enjoy a long, happy, healthy life with their beloved humans.

CSU Student Studies Domestic Cats with GPS Tracking Devices

October 24th, 2012

We’ve reported dozens of stories here at RMT involving researchers studying wildlife with GPS tracking devices. This technology gives scientists a rare look into the movements of animals in their natural habitat, away from human eye-sight. More recently, a student at Colorado State University (CSU) began tracking felines in the Boulder area. Stephanie Ashley has attached GPS devices to several dozen domesticated, but “outdoor” cats and is monitoring their activity. In addition to gathering information about the cats’ whereabouts, she is also tracking how many animals are killed and brought home by the cats. In the last you months, the cats have brought home 25 small mammals and 11 birds.

“My main goal is to better inform cat owners of the risks their cats may incur and impose on the landscape,” Ashley explained. “We know that cats wreak havoc on island ecosystems.” She plans to educate cat owners of the dangers their cats are exposed to, as well as the dangers their cats pose to the local environment. The data provided by the tracking devices will hopefully help cat owners consider the benefits of laws like the one in Fort Collins, CO. In Fort Collins, all cats must wear a leash and collar when outside the house. The Larimer Humane Society is charged with enforcing this law, the consequence of which is a $100 fine, the same as having a dog without a leash.

Stephanie Ashley is all for a similar law in her area. “It protects the animal and protects other animals. It minimizes the chance they’ll come into contact with other wildlife and minimizes their chances of getting lost,” she said. “They’re hunters by nature.” One interesting piece of information gathered from the GPS tracking devices is how far the cats are wandering from home. Surprisingly, the felines are staying fairly close to home during their nightly hunts. “They’re not wandering that far. They’re definitely sticking close to home,” Ashley said. “My goal is to learn what the risk might be, and inform cat owners with as much information as possible to minimize these risks, if there are any.”

Karma Missing Pet Network: Combining Social Media and GPS to Find Missing Pets

October 15th, 2012

Ryan Vinson, software developer, was inspired to create an app after volunteering with his local animal rescue center in Los Angeles. He watched as countless missing pet signs covered the streets each day, and decided he wanted to find a way to help owners find their missing furry friends. An iPhone app was launched a few months ago and has gained a host of users due mostly to the GPS functionality and free price tag, and its success has pushed Vinson a step further into developing a website to enhance his app.

KarmaMissingPetNetwork.com is live, although it is still being tweaked here and there to assure users the best experience possible. Upload your missing pet’s information, or information on a pet you may have found. After inputting basic information, you can browse the pets listed on the site if you are looking for your lost animal using powerful filters. GPS location tracking allows you to attach crucial location information, whether you are posting a missing pet you found, or looking for your lost pet. It is the images that set the site apart from others, helping users find their pet faster. The GPS location information is included for each picture.

Another key feature not on other sites is the back-end of the application, which searches pet listings on other sites, taking data from social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. This makes KarmaMissingPetNetwork.com the only site you need to go to when dealing with a lost pet. The site also gives users the option to report posts as irrelevant, assuring the service remains reliable.

KarmaMissingPetNetwork.com and its associated app give both those who have lost a furry companion and those who are harboring a lost animal in the hopes of reuniting them with their family a greater chance at success. In some cases, the missing animal requires important life saving medication. In any situation where a lost pet is concerned the app and website offer users a one-stop-shop that makes the search a little easier, and the fact they rely on GPS tracking makes the service more relevant to the area you live in. Download the app today for iPhone for free, and head to http://www.KarmaMissingPetNetwork.com/ for more information.