| GPS pet tracking is becoming a very popular item | | | | Range on this type of system is normally for the |
| in the pet community. With prices starting at less | | | | entire United States. Battery life is usually 3 to 5 |
| than $100, they have become within reach of | | | | days depending on how many times the collar is |
| almost everyone's budget. | | | | queried. The device will also normally alert you |
| Although chip implants have been around for | | | | when the battery is running low. |
| some time now, they still require a trip to the vet. | | | | Cost for this type of service varies greatly and |
| When the pet is lost you must depend on | | | | you will want to check the various payment plans |
| someone to find your stray pet, take the time to | | | | available. You can probably plan on somewhere |
| take the pet to a facility that has a chip scanner | | | | between $10 to $20 per month with an annual |
| and finally the facility much contact you to enable | | | | contract required. Check the "early termination" |
| you to retrieve your lost pet. A very time | | | | clause as many providers have a substantial |
| consuming process and in many cases tragedy | | | | penalty for early termination. Make sure you also |
| befalls your pet before being found. | | | | check the coverage map for the service. Most |
| With the GPS pet tracking system, you are | | | | services advertise that they cover the entire |
| notified if your pet leaves the area and you can | | | | United States however they normally have |
| get directions to your pets current location. Little | | | | several blank areas where service is not available. |
| time passes and the ending is a happy one. | | | | The second type of system involves a hand held |
| There are basically two types of GPS pet | | | | GPS device which will communicate with the pet's |
| tracking systems. Both types of system involve | | | | electronically enhanced collar. With this type of |
| placing a electronically enhanced collar on your pet. | | | | system the collar in normally always on and |
| The collar contains a GPS receiver and a some | | | | transmitting. |
| type of transmitter. | | | | Many of these systems also let you set up a |
| The first type of pet tracking system involves a | | | | "geo fence" in which your pet may roam without |
| fee based subscription which, when you access | | | | sending an alert. Should the pet roam outside the |
| their web site, will allow you to either track the | | | | electronic fence, the unit will give an audible sound |
| pet's position in real time or query the system | | | | alerting the owner to the situation. The hand held |
| which will show the pets current location. | | | | device will then show either the location of the |
| This type of tracker allows the user to set up | | | | pet or the direction and distance to the pet |
| what is normally referred to as a "geo fence or | | | | allowing the owner to retrieve their pet. |
| virtual fence". This is an area, in which, the pet is | | | | The range of this type of system is limited and |
| allowed to roam. Should the pet leave this | | | | most operate within a 1 to 3 mile range. Battery |
| electronic area, the service is automatically alerted | | | | life will vary, however some systems advertise |
| and they in turn notify the owner either by text | | | | battery life up to 30 hours. Most units come with |
| message, email, phone or all three methods. The | | | | rechargeable batteries. |
| owner may then log on to the web site and track | | | | The obvious advantage to this type of system is |
| their pet's location enabling them to retrieve the | | | | that there are NO Fee's. If you can live with the |
| lost pet. As these geo fence areas are electronic | | | | range restriction you can save a lot of money |
| and stored in memory, they may be erased and | | | | over the life of your pet. |
| recreated as often as needed. | | | | |