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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2018)
12 Wednesday, February 21, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Paw Prints Jodi Schneider McNamee Columnist Taking dogs hi-tech Down through the ages, our furry friends have remained pretty much the same — loving, loyal and a best friend to humans. Though dogs and cats haven’t changed much, modern tech- nology has gone gaga for them, making our interactions even more fun and practical. We love to pamper our pets, but what often isn’t talked about is just how much pet parents are willing to spend on their furry friends. The pet industry exceeded $66 billion last year, accord- ing to data from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), which is the leading not-for-profit trade associa- tion serving the interests of pet product manufacturers and importers. Tierra Bonaldi, an APPA spokeswoman, said, “What started out as simple gadgets like light-up collars have now evolved to high-quality GPS collars and wearable health- monitoring devices.” And a growing chunk of that market came from emerging pet technology. The pet toy market is booming, and like most things these days, those toys are increas- ingly going high-tech. These are some of the most innovative dog gadgets on the planet, and any one of them is sure to enhance your dog or cat’s lifestyle and improve your relationship with them. There have been many advances in high-tech dog products, linking up your smartphone to many of your dog’s daily routines. So, if you’re the parent of a furry friend looking to get him something special, here are a few new options to con- sider now: If your dog is prone to Houdini-like feats of escape, and you spend a lot of time wandering the neighborhood yelling his name while look- ing for him, try the wire- less, waterproof device that attaches to your pet’s collar and acts as a GPS beacon. It seems simple enough. Just press “locate” on your com- puter or mobile device and the system will show you your pet’s current location! The collar, by different brand names, lets you drive right up to your dog when they get loose. No more lost dog wor- ries and stress. You can even get test and email alerts, so you know right away when they’re off the grid. There are several new and fun pet cameras on the mar- ket that allow you to keep an eye on your dog or cat and even send him treats or allow him to see you wherever you are. The Petzi Treat Cam allows you to check in on your pets and, as it can be filled with treats, you can use the Petzi app to dispense treats at the press of a virtual button. A tone will sound before the goodies fall, which teaches your furry friend to stand in front of the camera when you want to see him! Can you imagine having your pooch being able to play with a toy bone when you’re not available? GoBone auto- matically entertains your dog while you’re busy. This bone can play all day, and you can control it all through an app. The GoBone doubles as the world’s first gaming device made specifically for you and your dog. Dog behaviorist Laura Young said, “GoBone is effective for playing with and exercising animals.” For people who hate bend- ing over to clean the litter box, the Scoop Free Original Self-Cleaning Litter Box is the perfect tech item for Kitty. A mechanical rake and disposable trays do all the work. Then with the Hoohi Pet Feeder, you can schedule The Sweetest Gift of All…A Beautiful Smile! Call now to schedule your complimentary consultation $300 discount for the month of February when you start a comprehensive treatment program. New patients only. Flexible fi nancing. Smile by Grace & The Brace Place! 541-382-0410 410 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters CentralOregonBracePlace.com exact feeding times for your cat or dog when your away, watch them with the built in 1.0-megapixel camera and speak to them with the inte- grated loudspeaker! The weirdest, wackiest and most innovative products recently made their debut at The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas where thousands of people were drooling over new futur- istic tech toys coming into the pet product space. Here are a couple of the latest inventions that you can look for in the marketplace next year: A user-friendly camera that allows you to check in on your pet, chat with them in real time and also give them some play time with the built-in laser toy which you control using your finger on your screen. Then the all-new fully f u n c t i o n i n g p e t d o o r, PetWALK, is making its debut with stylish high-end doors, and aside from the unique designs, you’ll be able to control the pet door using a remote, your smart phone, or your web browser. You can open and close the door at the touch of a button. Does your dog like to play ball? If he does, the Pebby ball is like no other ball your pet has come in contact with. The super-sophisticated ball works with a smart collar to deliver your cat or dog end- less hours of playtime via the autoplay function or manu- ally by using your cell phone. You can also change the LED color and speed of the ball, all the while watching your pet have hours of fun with the built-in wide-angle camera. Sisters salutes... Sisters Park & Recreation a district decision-making District won recognition process, and outstanding from the Special Districts achievement. Association of Oregon Sisters Park & Recreation (SDAO). SPRD was among District was honored for out- three Oregon special dis- standing accomplishments in tricts and five individuals the six- to-25 employees recognized on Saturday, category. February 10, at the SDAO Awards Banquet in Seaside, Oregon. Each year, the SDAO Awards Program hon- ors member districts for accomplishments which allow them to provide better service to the public and gives rec- ognition to individu- als who have greatly contributed to the success of their spe- cial district. Special districts are recognized for innovative projects and programs, outstanding safety, PHOTO PROVIDED public information, public involvement in SPRD earned honors. • Locally owned and operated • Large natural & organic selection • Meat cut & ground fresh daily • Huge bulk-foods department • Only 20 minutes from Sisters Located in the Cascade Village Shopping Center, Bend Open every day, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
