GPS device tracks lost dogs
Globalpetfinder
The product: Dog collars have gone sky-high-tech with a new GPS device called Globalpetfinder that tracks wayward dogs by sending location alerts to your cell phone, pager, or e-mail and IM accounts.

The 5-ounce wireless device--which houses a GPS satellite transceiver and a cell phone radio--straps onto the dog's collar (it's designed to fit medium and large breeds). Pet owners define a boundary by registering at the company's Web site and typing in an address. The service then "draws" a boundary of any size. If the pet exceeds the boundary, Globalpetfinder begins sending alerts describing the dog's coordinates in easy-to-recognize terms (at the corner of Main and First, for example).

You can track the pet's movements on a Web site, if you happen to be online at the time. The service enables users to set up to five boundaries for commonly visited locations such as the park or a summer home.

• Globalpetfinder works only in areas where a GSM cell phone network is available.
• It attaches to collars or harnesses of all sizes.
• It operates on three rechargeable AAA batteries.
• Location alerts are transmitted every 15 seconds when the dog strays.
• The device will be available by March.

The price: The Globalpetfinder collar costs a steep $349.99. The tracking service starts at $17.95 a month.

The prospects: Affluent pet owners with repeat-offender runaways and those who travel with their dogs might find Globalpetfinder very useful.

It's pretty bulky, though, so the device is best for larger breeds, leaving the toy set free to roam (ditto for cats). Globalpetfinder is expensive, but considering the hefty rewards dog owners are willing to pay to find missing pets, it could be good insurance.

By Rik Fairlie, editor, Computer Shopper