mobiPET

 

 

If you want to learn more about the mobiPET photo amber alert system, you can either check out my review or check out mobiPET's website.

 

I'm also doing a giveaway! Enter to win 1 free mobiPET kit!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Microchip Alternative: mobiPET Review

On Sunday, I talked about why you might not want to microchip your pet. I also mentioned that I found an alternative. Well, here it is.

Disclaimer: I was given this product for free in exchange for a review. The opinions here are mine, and mine alone.

mobiPET Kit

This is mobiPET.

It's a photo amber alert system for your pets. It lets pet parents activate an immediate search for their lost pet from any cell phone or computer. Cool, huh?

Unlike microchips, it starts working as soon as Fido or Mr. Whiskers goes missing.

Let me share a possible scenario that can play out with mobiPET.

Princess: Mom, can I go to the dog party my friend Spot is having? She's going to have dog treats and squeaky toys and dog beer!

Me: Dog beer? Aren't you a little young for dog beer?

Princess: O-M-G Mom! *Exaggerated eye roll* Everyone drinks dog beer. It doesn't even have alcohol.

Me: Will Spot's parents be there?


Princess: Well....

Me: The answer's no. I'm not letting you go to a party that lacks proper supervision. If you are quiet while I take a bubble bath, I'll take you to the dog park.

I soak in the tub until my fingers are all wrinkly. After emerging from the bathroom nice and relaxed, I look around for Princess. She isn't in her kennel, nor in the bathroom, nor in the kitchen.

Me: Nessie, where's Princess?

Nessie: I don't know. I took a nap while you were in the tub.

I panic. Where did Princess go? Where has my fur baby gone!? I check every room and race outside. Princess has disappeared.

mobiPET Key Tags

I grab my car keys so I can search for her when I notice my mobiPET key tag. With mobiPET, I can have an email with Princess' information sent to every vet, animal shelter, and boarder within 30 miles of me. It also sends out a text message to every registered pet finder within 2 miles of me. That's one less thing to worry about.

I follow the direction on the key tag and then hop in my car to continue the search.

What I didn't know was Princess decided to sneak off to the party. If she was going to maintain her status as one of the popular dogs at the bark park, she had to make an appearance. Otherwise she'd have to hear everyone talk about the party and she'd be the odd canine out.

Princess decides to go party.

But Princess forgot that she doesn't know how to get to Spot's house. We only see Spot at the dog park. After a few blocks, Princess is hopelessly lost.

Mrs. Jones is watering her petunias when she sees Princess wandering the streets. It's unusual to see a dog without a human, so she goes over to see what's up.

Mrs. Jones checks out Princess' tags. One of them is a mobiPET tag. She has no idea what mobiPET is, but that doesn't matter because all she needs is her cell phone. It doesn't matter what kind of phone, as long as she can take pictures and text on it. She follows the directions on the tag.

mobiPET ID Tag

Long story short, Princess is returned safe and sound and we all live happily ever after.

This imaginary story covers most of the facts about mobiPET, but there are a few more that might interest you.

mobiPET Facts

Microchips are invasive and can pose a health risk to your pet. mobiPET is attached to a collar, and even if the collar comes off you can still activate a search for your pet. All animal shelters, veterinarians, and boarders within 30 miles will receive an email with your pet's information and picture, along with a way to contact you if the dog is brought in.

If you preorder your mobiPET now, you only pay a onetime, lifetime fee of $24.95. You also get to update your information for free. After the national launch, it will cost $24.94 + a monthly fee of $9.95.

If you are on vacation and your pet gets lost, you still can use mobiPET. You will be asked to confirm your location, and you can input the correct one if you are out of town.

mobiPET doesn't require a special scanner. It doesn't require a special app, either. It works with any cell phone that has texting and can take pictures. Carrier doesn't matter. Or you can use their website.

If your dog already has a microchip, you may still find mobiPET useful. Microchips work after the dog is found. mobiPET helps you search for your pet. It's an extra layer of protection and peace of mind.

Dog tags are great, but if you move or change your phone number, you'll have to get a new ID tag for Fido. You can change your information with mobiPET and keep your original tag.

Currently mobiPET is only available in the United States.

How To Get mobiPET Now for $24.95

Until the launch, the preorder price will be $24.95. All you have to do is go to http://www.getmobipet.com/ Go ahead! Click, click, click!

On Sunday, You Mentioned A Giveaway

Yes. I do have a giveaway. I am giving away one (1) free mobiPET kit to someone in the United States. Will it will be you?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Should You Microchip Your Dog?

On March 9th, I wrote a response to an article in the L.A. Times about a dog that got lost and the crazy situation that ensued. In the comments of every article I read, people were waving their pitchforks at the original owner for not having the dog microchipped. But other comments brought up a good point. What if you don't think microchipping is good for your dog?

Arguments Against Microchipping

First, microchips don't always stay where they've been implanted. They sometimes migrate to other locations in the dogs' body. This poses a couple of problems. The implant can move to a location that causes a lot of pain. Or, if it isn't in the normal location when a dog is found, they might not check elsewhere on the dog to see if it migrated.

Also, just like humans, when a dog gets a microchip implanted their body sometimes rejects it. Tumors have sometimes been found around the injection site of dogs that have been microchipped.

One of the other problems with microchips is they use different frequencies. Many places have universal readers just for this reason, but not all places have them.

For some people, these are good enough reasons not to get their dog microchipped. But what if you didn't have to use microchips? What if there was an alternative?

Come Back Tuesday

Make sure you bookmark this site, add it to your favorites, whatever you need to do to remind yourself to come back on Tuesday. I've been given a chance to review a product that ISN'T EVEN ON THE MARKET, YET!!!! On Tuesday I will have a review of this awesome product and a giveaway. Here's a hint: it's an alternative to microchips.

So while you eagerly await this product review (and amazing giveaway), subscribe to us, add us to your list of favorites, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, whatever it takes for you to come back on Tuesday.

Princess Is Patriotic

Princess sometimes howls during the National Anthem. I finally was able to capture it on tape. It has become my favorite part of the day, just to hear her howl. If she feels like doing it.

New Toys

Princess sleeping with her new toys

My husband got Princess a couple of new toys. Here she is at bedtime cuddling up with her new best friends.

Response To L.A. Times Article

I was surfing the net when I came across an article that definitely brought up a lot of emotions. I'd like to share the article with you along with my thoughts.

The Stir and the L.A. Times

I came across an article on The Stir about a mother and her 4-year-old son who lost their dog. You can read the article here. You can read the original L.A. Times article here. Also, there's another piece by Sandy Banks, author of the L.A. Times article that explores the topic more, which you can read by clicking here.

To summarize both, a woman lost her 8-month-old puppy named Rafiki and after checking her local animal shelter, posting on Craigslist, and posting on a Facebook group for lost dogs, she could not locate poor Raffiki.

What she didn't know was Raffiki was taken to a different animal shelter 10 miles away on the other side of town, and then was taken by Karma Rescue. Karma then sold the dog to another family.

The Drama

Things get complicated when the owner discovers Rafiki is at Karma. She calls to try and get her dog back, but no one answers. She leaves a voicemail, but no one heard it until after the dog was adopted by another family. Raffiki's owner fills out an application online and tries to get her dog back, but not only has the dog already been adopted, but she doesn't even qualify for her own dog.

Raffiki's new owners refuse to give the dog back, and while Karma still hasn't taken responsibility for what has happened, they at least seem to be trying to make sure it doesn't happen again.

One thing that still bothers me after reading the first article, though, is a comment from Karma's lawyer.

"Had she been a little more diligent, we would have spoken with her."

Ouch! That is a slap in the face if I ever read one.

I'll admit, there are three sides to every story and I would like to hear more from Karma's side and the new owners. I'm curious to see why they don't want to give the dog back.

Some Questions I Have

1. Why do we judge owners so harshly when a dog escapes? It's not always the owners' fault, and it isn't always completely preventable, either. Especially if the dog has never tried anything like that before. We should just be glad the owners care enough to go looking for the dog.

2. Is an owner negligent for not micro chipping their dog?

3. Should microchipping be enforced?

What do you think?

Princess Loves to Cause Trouble

Happy Wordless Wednesday, everyone!

 

Princess did something on Monday that I just had to share with you all, and it isn't quite wordless. I think it's close enough, though.