Dr. Coates is a veterinarian based in the other “Sunshine State” – that's Colorado to the rest of you – where she lives and plays with a varied range of animals. She shares her professional and personal experiences, Monday through Friday, here on petMD's blog, the Fully Vetted. Log in for your daily dose of her insight and wisdom.

 

Would you Lojack your dog?

November 04, 2009 / (5) comments


I would. In a heartbeat. A GPS device is a great solution for those of us whose pets have a way of breaking loose and getting themselves into trouble. 

 

Though it’ll never replace the lowly ID tag or the now-standard microchip, a collar with a GPS locator can now be had for a reasonable fee. But then, I guess that all depends on what you consider reasonable. For example, if it were significantly more reasonable than the $300 most of these devices currently cost, I’d have bought a couple by now.

 

Nevertheless, these devices are attractive. After all, we all want to keep our dogs safe and secure. And should they roam, we want to know where to find them. 

 

But that’s not all the modern doggie GPS’s can do. Some can also tell you when "Bruno" has broken out of his enclosure. You can program it for an enclosure as small as eleven square feet, or for a huge yard. And as soon as he breaks through the gate, you will be alerted by cell phone directly to let you know.

 

Cool, right?

 

I guess that’s why FastCompany Magazine included the PAW SpotLight GPS Pet Locator on a top ten cool products for pets list. Here’s what they say about this fantabulous device: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Your cell phone can be a tracking device with this service ($250 plus $20 a month). If your dog -- who has to wear a business-card-size device -- exits one of the zones you've designated, a text message is sent to your phone. Live-updating turn-by-turn directions for finding the pooch will then be available on the phone. Or you can call AKC CAR, a 24/7 recovery service that has teamed with PAW."

 

It’s kind of neat … but still too rich for my homebody dogs' blood. But, if they were the roaming type, I’d be coughing up the cash. Promise. 

 

 

Dr. Patty Khuly

 

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COMMENTS (5)
1
Me Too!
by Barb on 11/04/2009 02:14pm

I too am just waiting for the cost to come down. This sounds like a FABULOUS idea! Especially since we travel with our dogs a lot - losing a pet in an unfamiliar area is a particular nightmare of mine.

2
Yeah, but...
by PJBoosinger on 11/04/2009 04:10pm

Non-lethal electro shock devices sounded good on paper to many but... Lojacking cars sounded good until the government decided to use them and the ancillary ability to "kill" engines for law enforcement purposes (and not always so legal purposes either). Microchips, lojack, electronic devices generally open the door for enforcement and abuses by governments. I think I'll stick to good fencing and better training for the foreseeable future.

3
If my dog WERE the roaming type, then maybe I'd get it.
by Storm Dogs on 11/05/2009 11:02am

My dog never tries to get out. But if he did, this would be very useful. I think it's a good idea. But I'm going to stick to training and good fencing. :)

4
Want this for cats
by Annette on 12/05/2009 05:28pm

I am just waiting for them to become smaller so I can use it for my cats !!
Cats often have a tendency to get lost - plus i am such a control freak that I'd love a cell phone alert if they leave my (or my neighbors;) yard....

5
The Cost of Being Respsonsible for Your Pet's Life
by BellaJ2000 on 02/03/2010 01:26pm

A friend mine had her dog get out of her yard a couple of weeks ago. The dog only had the standard collar. Two days later she saw that a dog matching her dog's description was killed about a block or two from where she lived. Sadly, the shelter cremated the dog so quickly that she couldn't confirm 100% it was her dog but in all likelihood, it was. I know she would give anything right now to have her dog back. Yes the price is high. My dog is a cherished member of my family and I would most certainly pay it if my dog was prone to roam. She's chipped and I have pet insurance. Costly? Sure. But I feel these things are the least I do for her to thank her for being such a wonderful part of my life.

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About fully vetted

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Photo of Dr Coates

Image credit: Jim Piraino

...graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado. She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian. Dr. Coates also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond, and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics. Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and various species of pets.

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