Originally published June 22nd, 2007

We’ve all heard about the microchip that you can have placed in your pet to help identify them should they turn up at a shelter. The latest twist? GPS tracking microchips. According to the New York Daily News, “The idea was born five years ago while dog owner Jennifer Durst was on an all-out search for Hank and Chewbacca, her 140-pound German shepherds, which fled her Syosset home on a rainy school night. As the single mom scooped up her sleeping kids and drove around the neighborhood, she asked herself, “Why can’t there be a LoJack – an electronic device that can track a car it’s installed in – for dogs?”

“It was an invention of necessity,” Durst said. Keeping tabs on your pooch doesn’t come cheap. The device costs $350, and there’s a $18 monthly fee. There’s also a startup fee of $35. So far, it only works on dogs over 30 pounds, which means cats and toy breeds will have to wait for the next generation.”

While this is an interesting idea, animal control experts are still advising clients to stick to the basics: dog tags and collars with phone numbers on them. According the article “A large number of cats and dogs that come into shelters have no identification. “It’s the No. 1 reason dogs are dying in shelters,” said Ed Boks, executive director of NYC Animal Care and Control. Last year, 42,000 dogs and cats landed in AC&C’s shelters, and only 1,187 were reunited with their owners, Boks said. A dog with either a tag or up-to-date license has a good chance of being reunited with its owner. Unfortunately, 99% of the animals that land in the shelter are not wearing identification, Boks said, and never go home.”

For safety reasons, we also highly recommend the Illuminated Dog Safety Collar and the Spot My Dog Reflective Collar.