Where In the World Is?

by DANIEL ALLEN
Sun Columnist

About three years ago a friend of mine was visiting and accidentally left our front door slightly open after the pizza delivery arrived. I noticed it a few minutes later and just closed the door without any further thought.

That evening one of our two cats, Mudpie, wasn't atop the bed in her preferred slumber spot that forced me into yoga positions as I contorted myself around her comfortable position. However, the next morning when I awoke just our other cat, Pepper, was present. I knew something wasn't right.

For 15 years Mudpie had been a loving, faithful cat, but definitely maintained an insatiable curiosity for the world outside. She was self-sufficient without a doubt, but against predators and traffic it was a different scenario.

For days I combed Hawaii Kai, scouting sidewalks and tree stumps as I drove through town. I made posters, called local veterinarians and the humane society constantly.

I know everybody has the best pet(s), but our two girls were unique felines filled with souls that shone brightly. I know it's mushy, but these two, fifteen and sixteen years respectively, saw a lot of life - too much I reckon - as they grew up with me from twenty-one years of age when I first took them home.

The idea of her being out there really upset me. Yes, she had a microchip implant that provided my contact information should she be contained and taken to a vet, but most people probably wouldn't make that effort for an animal they don't recognize - especially a cat which can be very difficult to capture.

I prayed for days and after nearly two weeks, our vet gave us a call and shared that somebody had dropped off Mudpie at their office. Aside from some fleas and being scared, she was okay. I thank God - and whoever brought her there - to this day.

Still, what about those of us parents of pets - cats and dogs alike - that often wander abroad and are difficult to locate? In fact, what about our children or other relatives?

We parents face the challenge of maintaining safety for our children at all ages. Whether it's a young one walking home or a teenager beginning to drive, there are so many scenarios when it would be helpful to just know; "where in the world are they?" What if a relative has a disease such as dementia and often cannot find their way home?

I mean, if somebody had just included a GPS on Mudpie's microchip implant, I could have monitored her location, rushed over, called her name and she most certainly would have come right onto my lap as she had for years.

Well, it's a bit later than needed, but I'm glad to share that one company has worked at this very solution.

Zoombak (www.zoombak.com) offers their GPS Dog Locater (but there's nothing to prevent a cat from gracing it as well) and Universal GPS Locater which can fit into anything from a backpack or bicycle to just about any valuable you can think. They also make a module for automobiles as well.

The product differs from a standard GPS on your car in that rather than acting as a receiver to provide directions, it serves to allow you to locate the whereabouts of your pet, loved one, car or other item with "live" real-time mapping through their web site interface or by calling their customer care center.

You can set boundaries to automatically send an email or text message to your cell phone when the GPS locater is "out-of-bounds," the battery is low or the device is turned off. It uses A-GPS technology, which means it utilizes both GPS satellites and cellular phone towers to assimilate the most accurate position possible.

I recognize that for some this may seem like an invasive technology, but like most other [technologies], that is dictated by the user. Zoomback offers a great tool when used properly. I encourage you to visit their web site and view the testimonials.

For more information visit www.ZoomBak.com.

Daniel Allen is the Lead Support Specialist for Hawaii Kai Computer Guy. The company provides "LIVE" Technical Support for Any Operating System/Application, FREE On-Site Service and EXCEPTIONAL Customized Computer Education. For more information visit www.HawaiiKaiComputerGuy.com or call (808) 356-0672. For article suggestions, please email eos@hawaiikaicomputerguy.com.