Living here in Silicon Valley, we're more inclined to enjoy our pets using high-tech tools.
Here are some recent gadgets I've stumbled across.
Pet’s Eye View Camera
Have you ever wondered what your pet does all day? I have, and now there’s a pet’s eye view camera that attaches to your dog or cat’s collar and takes digital snapshots at regular intervals. You then load the USB into your computer and you can see whether Fido and Fluffy have been behaving while you’re away.
It costs around $50 and comes with a rechargeable battery.
Laser Cat Toy
Every Silicon Valley feline wants a laser toy to attack. FroliCat has several laser toy models that you can place on a flat surface and watch your cat chase and pounce at the laser patterns, or you can hold it in your hand. The device shuts off automatically after 15 minutes.
Models range from $20-$35 and are available at the FroliCat website.
Dog Groomer
As parents of furries, we all deal with dog and cat hair in the house. Dyson has a new solution to this problem—why not vacuum your dog. The Dyson dog groomer is a vacuum tool that you use to brush your dog, sucking the hair from the dog before hitting the floor.
The promotional videos show very calm dogs enjoying this treatment; however, knowing how much my dog hates the vacuum cleaner and hair dryers, and seeing the $70 price tag, I’ll have to pass on this gadget.
Pet GPS
Here’s a very useful high-tech gadget for pet parents: the Tag-Pet Tracker. It’s a GPS tracking system that attaches to your dog or cat’s collar and can be worn at all times. When your pet wanders out of its geographic zone that you’ve set-up, you will receive a text or email alert.
One Tagg device and a year’s service costs $200. For more information, visit the Pet Tracker website.
Discover Your Dog’s Pedigree
Are you curious about what breeds your mutt is made of? The Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) offers a DNA testing service by Mars Veterinary to decipher your dog’s lineage.
The test is $135 and requires a small blood sample from your dog, which is then sent to the laboratory for analysis. You receive the results in two or three weeks. The HSSV offers a $25 rebate on this service now through March 2012.
Pet of the Week
Meet Bob, a lovable 7-year-old Catahoula and Australian shepherd mix. He may also have some pointer in his lineage, because he likes to point at birds.
Bob is a healthy, active and intelligent dog, who needs to be in an active home where he’ll get a lot of attention and exercise. He’s housebroken, travels well in the car and knows commands like “sit,” “down,” “wait” and “shake.”
Bob would do best in a home without cats and small children, where he would get plenty of exercise. For more information about Bob, visit the Pet Network website.
