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Sometimes, gadgets for pets are completely useless.
If you haven’t been in a pet store recently, you may be surprised to see the kinds of critter gadgets currently flooding the market. While some new pet inventions are actually nifty, other products might cut down on pet-owner interaction—never a good thing. The following is a list of some new pet products—the “useful,” the “potentially useful,” and the “not so useful.”
The Useful
Product Claim: This water-cooler unit automatically fills a pet bowl, located at the base, with the same cool, clean water that you drink.
Worth It: Finally: your dog can get in on the water-cooler gossip and chat about last night’s episode of Heroes. This pet-friendly refreshment stand will make it possible for you to take short trips away from home without worrying about whether your neighbor is refilling the water bowl.
Petmate Le Bistro Automatic Pet Feeder
Product Claim: Simple, programmable electronics prompt the feeder to dispense anywhere from 1/4 to 2 cups of food at 3 selected times per day.
Worth It: Along with the automatic water dispenser, this feeder lets you leave for business trips or brief vacations and feel relaxed about leaving your companion alone. By selecting the portion sizes and dispensing frequency, you can ensure that your pet will not starve or overeat. But remember: you should always ask someone to check in on your pet, even if it’s just for companionship and exercise.
Product Claim: Feel better about your pet’s safety by storing any message you like on this user-programmable digital pet tag.
Worth It: The Dog E Tag allows you to store up to forty lines of important information, making it an intelligent upgrade from the basic metallic ID tags. For example, you can program your contact details, your pet’s health conditions, and your veterinarian’s phone number, all of which might prove useful if your little friend gets lost or suffers a medical emergency.
PetSafe's Smart Pet Doorbell
Product Claim: Fasten a SmartKey to your pet’s collar, and the Smart Pet Doorbell chimes when your friend is at the door.
Worth It: If you let your dog play out back or your cat explore the neighbourhood, this might be the gizmo for you. Your pet won’t have to whine or scratch at the door, and you won’t have to wait around for her to come back inside. The Smart Pet Doorbell is also great for those with hearing difficulties, or those who listen to loud music or watch TV.
Super Bark Stop
Product Claim: Train your dog to stop barking using advanced microphone and ultrasonic technology.
Worth It: Whether it’s from your dog or your neighbour’s, being disturbed by furious barking isn’t exactly pleasant. The sound of a dog barking causes this device to sound an alarm at a frequency that only dogs can hear, deterring them from making noise. You and the whole neighbourhood can enjoy the sound of peace and quiet.
