10 million pets get lost every year, and it?s alarming to think that yours could be one of them.
What?s more frightening is the fact that only 90% of these lost pets end up in shelters. Many others continue to roam the streets and become stray animals having to fend for themselves.
The good news is that there are various technologies available in both physical and virtual markets that can aid in identifying and location tracking your pet.
These applications and gadgets are indeed redefining responsible pet ownership as there are no more alibis accepted for when your pet goes missing.
But the real question is, which best suits your pet? This article will walk you through the differences, as well as the pros and cons of each technology to help you decide on what to purchase.
Microchip Technology for Pets
Pros
- Permanent
- Affordable
- No batteries needed
- Water and weather resistant
Cons
- Can?t be easily scanned
- Needs registration
- Some say it is unsafe
The microchip is a tiny circuit that is put in an animal?s skin that has all the information about that animal. This includes the ID of the chip, description, breed, vaccination, owner?s details, etc.
Microchips utilize radio frequency identification technology instead of a GPS tracker which means there is no need to worry about charging it every day.
Although the procedure is very easy and reasonably priced, it has its fair shares of disadvantages such as the inconvenience of reading the information and its safeness.
On the bright side, it never falls off due to rain or mud until it is removed surgically. However, if for example a dog gets lost, it can only be returned through a special scanner used by authorities. Also, if the pet?s microchip is not registered, then the tracking device is useless.
GPS Tracking Technology
Pros
- Provides exact location
- Monitors fitness, etc.
- Geofence
Cons
- May fall off
- Needs to be charged
- More expensive
On the other hand, GPS trackers are larger devices that use global positioning system to provide information about the exact location of your dog through SMS or email. Moreover, it can monitor your pet?s vitals, quality of sleep, and distance traveled.
It also features geofence which allows owners to set virtual fences on the map which will alert you when your dog enters that area.
However, unlike the microchip, this gadget can fall off your dog?s collar and it also needs charging from time to time depending on the brand. It also requires a service plan so it is more costly.
Verdict
Both offer their own advantages and imperfections, yet we think that the GPS wins for dogs, while microchips are designed for cats because they are less heavy.
It also depends on whether you value identification or monitoring more. If you prefer the former, go for the microchip. But if you would rather focus on tracking location and health details, opt for the GPS.
