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Pet Gizmos
Drink No More: stop your pets from drinking toilet water
By Jude Garvey
19:55 October 19, 2009 PDT
Household pets like to drink water from the toilet because it is cool and readily available. However, it's also full of bacteria and toilet cleaner residue, both of which can make your pet ill. And you don’t really want them near your face when you know where their head has just been! Drink No More is an alarm that is on alert when the toilet lid is up and sounds warning beeps when a pet or person approaches the bowl. Read More
A pet collar that talks and keeps fleas at bay?
By Jude Garvey
21:58 September 23, 2009 PDT
It’s common knowledge that owning a pet can have many health benefits. A pet can reduce stress and anxiety, help to combat loneliness and even encourage you to exercise. So it’s no wonder that we want to keep them safe from harm. This pet collar from Riddex apparently protects your furry friend in two ways – if your pet goes missing, it literally “tells” people how to contact you and it also uses safe ultrasonic pulses to repel fleas. Read More
Top 10 pet-safe vehicles
By Jeff Salton
17:07 August 20, 2009 PDT
Ever thought how dangerous an unrestrained pet is in a moving vehicle? Did you know that a 35lb dog can become a 2700lb projectile in a 35mph crash? It’s alarming to think of the damage that poor animal could do to itself and other passengers within the vehicle. As increasing numbers of pet-owners take to the roads with animals in tow, safe pet travel advisers Bark Buckle Up and web-based automotive information company, Edmunds, have joined forces to release their Top Ten Pet Safe Vehicles in the hopes that their advice may avert some tragedies. Read More
RoamEO GPS dog collar keeps track of wayward pets
By Jeff Salton
19:15 August 18, 2009 PDT
If you’ve ever owned a recalcitrant retriever, a cat-crazy collie or an overly playful poodle, you’ll know the anxiety of watching them run out of view in search of new adventures, oblivious to your shouts of anguish (and anger). A GPS-enabled collar could be handy for tracking down wayward canines and keep them out of harm’s way … or the clutches of dog-nappers or an over-zealous ranger lurking in the neighborhood. The RoamEO is the latest GPS device for owners who worry about their dogs’ disappearing acts or who are sick of spending valuable time searching for that ‘duck-hunter’ who’s too dog-tired to return with the catch. Read More
Pet's Eye View Camera - see what your furry companions get up to during the day
By Jude Garvey
19:14 July 12, 2009 PDT
Some people are so fond of their pets they want to know what they are up to every minute of the day. Maybe it’s because of those guilty looks you get when you arrive home unexpectedly… you know that wide-eyed, “I wasn’t doing anything wrong” look? The Pet’s Eye View Camera could help solve these little mysteries - it's a lightweight digital camera that attaches to your cat or dog’s collar and takes 640 x 480 photos at five, ten or 15 minute intervals. Read More
OdorBox eliminates kitty litter odor and keeps bacteria at bay
By Jude Garvey
23:04 June 14, 2009 PDT
There is nothing pleasant about cat litter or “kitty litter”. Although the product has certainly evolved from the days where sand, ashes or dirt would be used in the litter box, it's really little more than an open indoor sewer. There are all sorts of deodorizers and sprays that claim to eliminate cat litter smells but often they just mask the odor short-term, and while options such as biodegradable litter which can be safely composted or silica gel litter which is highly absorbent do improve matters, there is no getting away from the fact - cat litter smells. Here's another approach designed to stop you gagging when near the litter tray - the OdorBox uses air purification technology that removes the odor and keeps the litter bacteria-free. Read More
Neater Feeder stops mealtime mess
By David Greig
16:32 June 4, 2009 PDT
The household pet provides a constant source of companionship, healthy activity for the whole family and even helps reduce anxiety - but the mess at meal times is something that pet owners everywhere would gladly do a way with. The Neater Feeder is designed to keep your pets' uncivilized table manners on a leash by containing spills, splashes, and splatter that would otherwise end up on your floor . Read More
Sparkling Mineral Water for Dogs at $8 a bottle
By Mike Hanlon
18:01 May 17, 2009 PDT
Australian premium pet products company, Pets Palace, is launching a range of natural mineral water for dogs. Even more remarkably, the top-of-the-line sparkling natural mineral water named Bellaqua comes in handmade crystal bottles, encrusted with jewels no less, and costs AUD $42.50 (USD $32) for a box of four, plus delivery. For cheapskates who don't really love their faux children, there are four cheaper, non-sparkling varieties of Pet Pop, coloured, flavoured still mineral water which sell for AUD22.95 (USD $16.90) for a box of four. Read More
Drinkwell Hydro-Go portable water bowl for pets
18:00 March 12, 2009 PDT
Anyone who has ever embarked upon a road trip with their four-legged friend will appreciate this clever, simple invention. Drinkwell Hydro-Go is a two-in-one canteen and drink bowl designed to cut down on mess and water wastage. The integrated bowl is connected to the top of the bottle neck, flip out the bowl and pour water through the connecting funnel and you have a simple solution to re-hydrating your pet on the go without having to share your own water supply. Read More
First commercially cloned dog DELIVERED
By Mike Hanlon
19:25 January 29, 2009 PST
It’s official – the first commercially cloned dog, a 10-week old Labrador pup named Lancey (main pic), was delivered by BioArts International on January 26 to Florida residents Edgar and Nina Otto. With a bid of US$155,000, the Ottos were the highest bidder in an auction held last July to be the first to clone their family dog. Lancey’s genetic donor, Sir Lancelot, died in January, 2008, and the Ottos had his DNA stored. Samples of the DNA were sent to the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation in South Korea in October, and Lancey was born on November 18, and flown to the U.S. on January 25. Read More
ChatterBowl talks to your dog
By Emily Clark
19:28 December 11, 2008 PST
The ChatterBowl from Contech provides a novel way to keep in touch your dog or cat while you’re out of the house. The bowl allows you to record a personal message for your pet and automatically plays it back whenever they approach the bowl. Read More
SNIF Tag: pet tracking meets four-legged Facebook
19:02 November 10, 2008 PST
Using RFID technology to track the whereabouts of your pet isn't a new idea, but the SNIF Tag takes the process a step further by incorporating an accelerometer and motion analysis software, meaning that not only can you locate your canine companion, but you can also determine how active they've been and even who they've met while you're stuck in the office. Read More
CatCam documents pet adventures
By Emily Clark
23:28 October 12, 2008 PDT
“Mr Lee” became the internet’s most popular feline when his owner attached a matchbook camera to his collar in order to document the secret life of a cat. Now pet owners can buy their own Mr Lee CatCam to see what their furry friend gets up to when humans aren’t around. Read More
Come in Rover: the Pet sensing doorbell
By Emily Clark
23:53 October 5, 2008 PDT
Pets don't have knuckles with which to rap on the door, but technology can help when your furry friend wants to come in. The Pet Sensing Doorbell uses a smart key attached to your cat or dog’s collar to activate a cordless doorbell and alert you to their presence - no barking or scratching required. Read More
Better bowls curb canine gluttony
By Emily Clark
01:00 June 23, 2008 PDT
The team at Contech has come up with two bowl designs to stop pets from gulping down food and water too fast. Eating and drinking quickly can cause a range of health problems for pets, but these simple and cost-effective bowls can help alleviate these issues. Read More
Halo Pet Safety System for cars
By Emily Clark
20:44 June 19, 2008 PDT
Designed in response to a tragic story of two much-loved dogs that died in a car due to heat stroke, the Halo Pet Safety System from Sisters of Invention uses sensor technology and an alarm to keep animals safe. Read More
Online dog cloning auction
By Emily Clark
23:27 June 9, 2008 PDT
If the thought of parting with your four-legged friend is too much to bear then perhaps BioArts International could save you some heartache with its “Best Friends Again” dog cloning program. The US-based biotech company says it will offer five dog cloning service slots to the general public via a worldwide, online auction on 18 June. Read More
DogPause dog bowl - nothing to scoff at
By Emily Clark
00:23 May 15, 2008 PDT
May 15, 2008 Anyone with a dog knows that when you put food in front of them, it disappears pretty quickly. The DogPause dog bowl is being marketed as a “healthy way to feed your dog” as it slows them down to make sure they digest their food properly. Read More
PupSTEP pet stairs for your pooch
19:49 April 28, 2008 PDT
If your pampered pooch or elderly cat struggles to get on the couch, the bed, or into the car, pet stairs could be the solution. This example from Solvit - the PupSTEP Stairs - features a lightweight, portable design made from durable plastic in neutral colors that won't clash heavily with your home décor. Read More
Fit fur life doggy treadmill
By Emily Clark
21:01 February 27, 2008 PST
No matter how big a backyard you have, the reality is that your dogs will not walk itself. Dogs need to be encouraged and stimulated to pound the pavement. Inspired by a human fitness regimes, dogs can now work the treadmill in order to stay fit, thanks to Fit Fur Life Treadmills. Read More
The dog-powered recumbent trike
By Emily Clark
15:53 February 11, 2008 PST
February 12, 2008 First came the dog-powered scooter, now inventor Mark Schuette has developed a dog-powered recumbent trike that employs the same "dog behind a steering wheel" configuration with the added stability offered by a sit-down trike design and twice the steering power and braking power of the scooter. Read More
Relationship matching for dog and cat adopters
By Mike Hanlon
14:56 January 19, 2008 PST
January 20, 2008 Formalized personality testing is a relatively new method of determining abilities and suitability for a wide range of pursuits, careers and personal and teams relationships – the first such test was administered in 1919 and development over the last half century has been rapid with numerous such tests now available online. So it makes sense that sooner or later, these techniques would be applied to owners and their pets. Now the resourceful and innovative ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ) has come up with a better way of finding a dog or cat that will best meet your needs and lifestyle as part of its adoption and selection process - the Canine-ality and Feline-ality Adoption Program is a simple but comprehensive assessment that helps to properly meet the expectations of new pet owners with the behavioural characteristics of available shelter dogs and cats to create the perfect fit between adopter and dog. Read More
Zoombak Assisted GPS Locators hit the market
By Mike Hanlon
22:07 December 22, 2007 PST
December 23, 2007 Anyone who has used a GPS system in a foreign country will know how much this relatively low-cost device can make to one’s state-of-mind. Now a new Assisted GPS (A-GPS) device has hit the market which could make a huge difference in other ways. Zoombak’s advanced A-GPS system uses both GPS and mobile phone networks to track your pets, cars and other assets. You can locate your belongings in real time, set ‘safety zones’ around any location and be alerted of their whereabouts by email, SMS/text message or track them via the web. So now you can know where your cat, dog, child car are, for USD$10 a month. Read More
Doggy Java: man’s best friend joins the latte set
By Emily Clark
17:17 November 15, 2007 PST
November 16, 2007 Next time you go out for gourmet coffee with your pampered pooch, fido won’t need to sit miserably under the table lapping at a tasteless bowl of water. Doggy Java is caffeine free, beef flavored “coffee” for dogs served in a Canine Cappuccino Cup with a Bonescotti Biscuit. Read More
petFINDER ID system improves on traditional tags
By Emily Clark
01:44 October 19, 2007 PDT
October 19, 2007 Pet owners would appreciate the trauma associated with losing a four-legged member of your family. Standard ID tags can be unreliable and often contain outdated contact information, so petFINDER has developed a new ID system linked to a message service aimed at helping reunite U.S. pet owners with their lost animals much sooner. Read More
Terotech
- November 21, 2009 @ 19:38 UTC
