What Are the Benefits of a GPS Tracker
Having a cat or dog can be one of life's most rewarding experiences. We cherish our pets and will do anything to keep them safe. Every year, thousands of pet owners experience feelings of panic when their beloved cat or dog disappears. For those pet owners, it is too late to put forth the necessary safeguards to properly monitor their location. It is important to put safeguards into place before there is even a risk. One option to keep track of your cat or dog is to use a GPS cat or dog tracker.
What Do GPS Trackers Do?
GPS trackers are small devices you can attach to your pet. Often they can be clipped onto a collar or harness for small dogs. When you purchase a dog tracker or cat tracker the company that sells you the device will also track the location of your pet. Most often you can view the position on a map using your smartphone. Each tracking system will offer different services and features so it's important to select the one that best meets your needs.
Most of the tracking systems allow you to set a normal safety zone. The normal safety zone is the area your pet is normally within. Include nearby parks and places you take your pet frequently to prevent false alerts. When a pet travels outside the normal safety zone you will be notified that your pet has left the zone. The tracking device company will often send emails or text messages to your phone.
A nightmare situation is when your pet is outside of the normal safety zone. Having a tracking system with a smartphone application lets you search. You can refresh location data while searching to get updated information. An active dog can travel long distances in a short time. Having a dog tracker with a smartphone application will be very helpful to locate them. For small dogs, seconds count as predators can easily hurt a small dog at night.
Are GPS Trackers Safe For Dogs and Cats?
When using a GPS device, it is important to take into consideration concerns about the safety of using the technology. These cat tracker devices emit a radio frequency that is used to pinpoint the location of your pet. Like all wearable technology devices, pet trackers emit electric and magnetic fields. Another name is radio-frequency radiation. The type of radiation that is emitted from radio-frequency is non-ionizing. Researches have not been able to link any type of long-term damages from this specific type of radiation. In fact, there has been a significant amount of scientific studies looking at the relationship between radio frequency and cancer. As of today, there remains to be no clear link to an increase in risk in health concerns.
Many pet owners still are concerned about using a tracking system. They often mention fears putting their pet at an increased chance of getting cancer or causing damage to their DNA. Sometimes they even claim other risks to their pets long term health as a reason for not using a cat tracker. Yet, doing nothing can put their pet safety more at risk if they become lost. The risk of losing track of a missing pet's location is far more hazardous to a pet's welfare than any unfounded concerns about the device.
How Does a GPS Tracker work for a Dog or Cat?
GPS trackers work by using a network of the worldwide radio-navigation system of satellites and ground stations to pinpoint the location. The US Department of Defense funded and continues to control the system. At first, the technology was only used by the US military. Today many private citizens around the world take advantage of the technology. Currently, anyone can use the global positioning service without any fees or restrictions.
When it comes to a dog or cat tracker the device emits a radio signal. The signal from the device is used to pinpoint the location. It is able to do this by using the global positioning system. From there that information is sent to an application the tracking system uses. Often an app that you can download to your smartphone to get live updates. Depending on the provider of the device, they may charge a monthly subscription to maintain your pet's device in their database of tracked devices. Other useful information can be obtained as well. A dog tracker may even notify you if the dog is barking. The GPS system can even use tracking information to identify if the dog is currently moving and in which direction.
How Much Does a Dog or Cat Tracker Cost?
When it comes to a dog tracker the cost can range quite significantly. Each tracker system brand offers different features that need to be taken into consideration. Having the ability to track if your dog is barking is going to make the dog tracker much more valuable. No two trackers are ever the same. Overall the average price for a tracker device is about $100. Another important factor to consider is the monthly subscription price. If they have a reoccurring fee every month then the price over time is going to far outweigh the initial price of the product. Yet, if the tracker device has far superior features that meet your specific needs then the price can be well worth the investment. When a beloved family pet goes missing, having the tools you need to bring them back home can be well worth the cost.