Now that there’s a sonar-based drinking system for dogs, all we’re waiting for are the robots to walk our pets for us

Digital Din-Dins

Just like everything else, pet care is going high-tech

The effects of technology on our lives are virtually inescapable. While debate about whether new developments bring more good than bad rage on, companies continue to come up with products that aspire to make our lives easier—and that includes our pets’ lives, too.

For example, it is now possible for pet owners to record a 10-second personal message on their dog or cat’s food dish; the idea being that, during the working day, their pets can hear the comforting sound of their caretaker’s voice each time they chow down. The aptly-named ChatterBowl comes from Contech Inc., a Victoria-based company that has been around for over 20 years.

“Generally, we’re concerned with pet safety and wellness,” says company spokesperson Tracey Robertson. Rather than developing chew toys or robotic mice, the company has instead focused on incorporating human innovations to improve the daily lives and health of pets—and they’ve been getting a lot of attention.

Two of Contech’s products were recently featured on Good Morning America Now’s “Best Pet Products of 2008” and one received an Editor’s Choice Award from Dog Fancy magazine. The EatBetter and DrinkBetter bowls are designed to pace animals as they are eating and drinking, which improves their intestinal health. Dogs are particularly vulnerable, as they can develop bloat (also called gastric dilatation and volvulus) which is fatal to around one-third of dogs affected.

The EatBetter bowl prevents dogs from gulping down huge amounts of food, because they have to eat around a smooth plastic obstacle, shaped like a wishbone, which divides their bowl into smaller sections. To achieve the same effect, the DrinkBetter bowl uses a small floating piece of plastic to limit the amount of water pets can down in one sitting.

“You don’t have to refill it, but they can only access a little bit at a time,” explains Robertson. Both products retail for $24.99 and make it easier for pet owners to control their pets’ consumption while not having to feed their pets smaller amounts throughout the day, which isn’t always possible.

And how about this high-tech replacement for an outdoor waterbowl? The WaterDog dispenser connects to an outdoor tap and the sonar-based proximity sensor turns the water on when a backyard dog comes within one meter and turns it off when the dog leaves. Not only does the $84 tap prevent dogs from becoming ill from stagnant and possibly contaminated water sources, it also provides exactly how much water the dog needs.

Contech, which has recently expanded into Vancouver, continues to research new ideas in pet care, as well as natural and cruelty-free garden products to keep undomesticated animals safe and at bay. The company has plenty more pet inventions in development at their Dallas Road headquarters, including a pet tracking device called the PetCompass. For any cat or dog owner who has spent a long night walking their neighbourhood with a flashlight and a bag of treats, the PetCompass will be a welcome help.

Debuting this fall, the compass allows pet owners to track their pets on a locator which tells them how far away and in which direction they can find their pet, within a range of just under one kilometre. The PetCompass uses a radio tracking system rather than GPS, which allows it to remind affordable. Contech expects the final product to be sold for less than $100, which in our current economic times might be a great relief to concerned animal lovers and pet owners.

“The pet industry continues to grow, despite the economy,” says Robertson. “People spend money on their pets even when they don’t have money for themselves.”

The bright-looking future of the pet industry bodes well for the Victoria company, as does their recent expansion into a new pest-control method using pheromones. The company recently merged with Phero Tech International, a company from Vancouver that created apheromone-based repellent for the Mountain Pine Beetle that is safe for all animals, insects and people.

“Everything we do is non-toxic and environmentally friendly,” says Robertson. “It’s a different way of thinking about products.” M