New product:

KoogaPet system offers safety

THE new KoogaPet Information System offers a first-of-its-kind ID tag providing critical care and medical data for lost pets and everyday use
USB tags and online data storage aids owners, veterinarians, kennels and pet sitters.

Only about three to five percent of cats and 25 to 30 percent of dogs lost in the USA return home safely, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Now KoogaPet has developed a system designed to improve the odds by combining USB pet tags containing critical medical information and care instructions, 24x7 staff assistance in recovering missing pets, and online data storage for printing and emailing lost pet alerts. The tags and associated information can also be used by pet owners, kennels and pet sitters in non-emergency situations.

The cornerstone of the program is the KoogaTag, a first-of-its-kind, dime-sized, waterproof USB tag that clips to the pet’s collar and serves two purposes in missing pet scenarios. First, when plugged into a computer USB port, it offers immediate access to medical background and care information that can decrease the risk of allergic reactions and potentially fatal medication errors in a lost pet being treated by an unfamiliar veterinarian. Second, a unique ID number and the KoogaPet phone number are printed on the tag’s face.

Anyone who finds a pet with a KoogaTag can call the KoogaPet number (888-898-LOST) and supply the ID number to trained staff members who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. KoogaPet personnel will retrieve the pet’s information from the company’s database, contact the owner, and send immediate alerts with pictures to shelters and veterinarians within a 10-mile radius of the pet’s home. Owners can also instantly print “Missing Pet” flyers with photos and vital statistics from the secure KoogaPet website.

No information that will identify the pet owner is stored or printed on the KoogaTags, offering a key privacy advantage over traditional pet tags. In addition, the tags can be used by kennels and pet sitters to learn about pets’ behavior habits, food preferences and health history, and the service can issue automatic reminders of pet appointments and vaccination expirations.

“KoogaPet was created by veterinarians and animal health care professionals to meet the need for a portable pet information system that can be used for both emergency and non-emergency situations, and particularly to provide instant access to medical and pet care information that is not usually available in today’s embedded microchips,” said Forrest Monk, KoogaPet CEO. “This gives pet owners peace of mind, saves time and money, and most importantly can help protect the pet from treatment mistakes made out of sheer ignorance of his or her medical history.”

To add a pet to the system, pet owners simply plug the KoogaTag into any computer USB port and visit www.KoogaPet.com to input their name, address, telephone number, pet name, breed, identifying color and marks, care information, special food requirements, behavioral information and pet photos. The KoogaTag sells for $29.95, plus a service charge of $1.99 month to provide permanent data storage, 24x7 lost pet service, automatic reminders of appointments and vaccination expirations and other data and pet recovery services. For more information, visit www.KoogaPet.com or call (877) 444-EPET (3738).

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If you want to take your pet with you on holiday, take your choice from the wide range offered in motels, lodges, B&B, private holiday homes, camping and caravan parks which will accept pets by arrangement.

There is also a range of facilities available for horses (including some horse treks), cats, birds and sheep as well as some dog-friendly walks and exercise areas all over the country. Visit www.pettravel.netaccess.co.nz to purchase, or for more information.