Pet Gadgets

Koreans and Japanese certainly know how to spoil their pets, as the Korean-based Autoelex will be parading its Luxury Pet House at at New York’s Koreannovation show on May 14th and 15th, 2008. This is no ordinary pet home as it features PC-managed controls, temperature and humidity limits, infrared radiation and carbon heating walls to keep your pet warm, toasty and safe within its confines. Heck, it even comes with antibiotic air (to kill off whatever germs and unwanted lifeforms I guess), solenoid valve “medical treatment,” and carbon filter-based deodorizing. Dogs and cats from a few thousand years ago survived just fine without all this pampering - hopefully the pet who stays in the Luxury Pet House won’t turn out to be a sissy a few years down the road.

Source: Luxury Launches

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I still can’t believe my eyes after reading this news article over and over again, which is why I want to share this tech-related story with you guys. It is more of a science than anything else, featuring a penguin in a wetsuit. First of all, why would a penguin be wearing a wetsuit in the first place? Apparently, this is no laughing matter as biologists at the California Academy of Sciences had developed a wetsuit created for an African penguin in order to assist him get back in the swim of things. The penguin’s name is Pierre, ageing along pretty well at 25 years of age and is losing plenty of hair, rendering him the social embarrassment of an exposed, pale pink derierre.

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I have a mother who has three cats. Whenever I visit her, I usually take my laptop with me. Every time that I set up my laptop for work, one of her cats is waiting to use it as a bed. The last time one of her cats stretched out on my keyboard, I practically threw the cat to floor, yelling: “It’s a laptop, not a lap!”

Of course, the cat didn’t listen, and I was forced to live with the “Kitten on the Keys” effect again and again. I soon had that same annoyed look of the lady in the upper left hand corner of this photo.

It looks like she solved her problem with the Kit-In Box. This mini-bed attaches to the side of a desk, and can even swivel out so the tabby can rest near the owner without violating his or her personal space.

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As the owner of a Labrador Retriever, I have to give this product some credit. After all, what dog owner doesn’t want to know what his or her dog is trying to say?

Unfortunately, this device is just a concept, probably because perfection of this technology would change the world as we know it. This LED Dog Tail Communicator is designed by James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau, and is on display at the Modern Museum of Art in New York City for the Elastic Mind exhibition.

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Wish you could keep a close eye on your pooch, and at least have a good idea of where it is after being dog-napped? The GPS Dog Tracking System might be able to help you out.

This is the dog tracking system that employs a small GPS receiver attached to your dog’s collar that alerts you when he goes missing or leaves a defined area and notifies you via text message or e-mail. You can then instantly pinpoint your dog’s whereabouts through the manufacturer’s tracking service (12 month subscription required) that provides unlimited on-demand reports of your pet’s current location 24 hours a day via toll-free phone, web maps, e-mail, or cell phone text alerts. The Assisted GPS technology (the same used by emergency services) uses GPS signals and cellular networks to track your dog’s location to within 30′. You can also create up to 10 safety zones (5 active simultaneously); once your dog crosses the boundary, you are promptly notified of his current location via text message to your cell phone or by e-mail.

This water-resistant locator has a battery life of up to 5 days on a single 4-hour charge, and retails for $199.95. The monthly tracking subscription could drain your finances in the long run though at $14.99 per month, but weigh that against the knowledge of not being able to find your dog if it runs off on its own?

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I’ve always thought of cats as rather evil creatures, since they don’t seem to treat their masters right and always have a mind of their own. Whenever they’re in heat though, they tend to go nuts and enter and leave your home as they please via the catflap. Put your foot down and prevent your pussy from being the village bicycle with the RFID Catflap. Since it uses RFID tags that allow access to the flap at specific, pre-programmed times, you don’t have to worry about having your kitty having a whole lot more happening sex life than yours.

Source: Gearfuse

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Like kids, your little puppy grows up way too fast. And just like their human counterparts, instead of getting new shoes you have to buy larger and larger collars - or do you? The Cinch It Dog Collar makes it a “buy once, use a lifetime” mantra where your dog collar is concerned.

Cinch It is the only collar your dog will ever need – from puppyhood on up! It adjusts in 2 mm increments (just under 1/16 of an inch), so it always fits perfectly. It’s 100% waterproof, making it perfect for outdoor activities with your pet.

Depending on the size you choose, it retails anywhere from $17.95 to $19.95 a pop.

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Fancy this! A dog-powered recumbent trike from Mark Schuette, the very same person who delivered the dog-powered scooter. This unique trike uses the same “dog behind a steering wheel” configuration that provides the extra stability offered by a sit-down trike design. In addition, you get double the steering and braking power of a scooter. While the original scooter design allows a human to ride standing up while the dog is harnessed into a frame, being subject to steering and braking. Since the scooter forces the rider to remain standing upright while keeping the entire setup balanced, it certainly isn’t too appealing to certain user groups such as the elderly and physically handicapped. This new trike comes in the form of a tadpole design with a couple of wheels in front while a harness space for your dog is located on each side of the rear wheels.

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