Worried about pets in hot cars? ThermalTag will keep an eye on Fluffy while you’re driving

By Andrew Hard Published August 2, 2016

Dog — damedeeso/123RF

When the sun comes out, it’s time to play for humans and dogs alike. You’ll struggle to find an activity more satisfying than romping about the outdoors with man’s best friend, but when the temperatures rise, there are concerns pet owners must take into account. Namely, cars can get incredibly hot if left in the sun, which makes things very dangerous for our four-legged companions.

According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, temperatures inside of a car on a 70-degree day can jump by 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes. In addition, dogs regulate heat much differently than humans do, so even if the windows are cracked, short trips to the store can be very risky. And as we all know, 10 minutes can easily turn into 20 if you get distracted.

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A new product called ThermalTag hopes to mitigate some of the danger. The device consists of a small, 2×2 temperature sensor that hooks onto a dog or cat collar, and it links to a smartphone app to keep the owner in the loop of the pet’s health. Or rather it will, as the product is currently being crowdfunded on Indiegogo.

ThermalTag — Otis wearing a ThermalTag Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Our dogs are part of our family,” the product website reads. “We would do anything for them and want them to be safe and healthy. We want to protect them, wherever we go.”

Read more: Satisfy your wanderlust (and Instagram) with the best vehicle rooftop tents

If funded, ThermalTag will allow busy pet owners to take their dogs, cats, or capybaras anywhere with the confidence that a second set of eyes is watching their furry friend. The temperature sensor is water resistant as well, and will also allow users to drop a “pin” at their parking spot so they can find their car as quickly as possible.

To reach its goal, ThermalTag needs to raise $51,500 by October.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

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