Skip to main content

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

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.

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Hard
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…
Alpine sale: Up to $160 off speakers and subs for your car
alpine speaker sale crutchfield march 2024 car and amp setup on table

If you’re looking to kit your car out with some superior speakers or a subwoofer, Crutchfield is the place to go today. Right now, there’s a huge sale on Alpine subwoofers and speakers with nearly 50 different items forming the sale. As there are so many options, the best idea is to hit the button below to see what’s around. If you don’t know where to start though, read on while we take you through some great items in the sale.

What to shop for in the Alpine sale
Buying the best aftermarket car speakers are important for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road and is currently dealing with a mediocre sound system. One good starting point in the Alpine sale is the 2-way speakers for $104 instead of $130. You get two 2-way speakers with a polypropylene/glass fiber/mica woofer with a specialized rubber surround. There’s a one-inch silk dome tweeter with speakers able to handle up to 80 watts RMS with 240 watts peak power. The grilles aren’t included but the factor ones should be fine for most purposes.

Read more
Mercedes to trial humanoid robots for ‘low-skill, repetitive, demanding’ jobs
Apptronik's Apollo robot at work in an auto plant.

Humanoid robots have been coming on leaps and bounds in recent years, and some major companies are starting to take note.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has just entered into an agreement with Texas-based robotics specialist Apptronik to collaborate on identifying applications for highly advanced robots that the auto giant could deploy. The deal will involve a trial that will see Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot work alongside Mercedes' human workers on the factory floor.

Read more
Hyundai Ioniq 9: price, release date, range, and more
Hyundai Ioniq 9 Front

Hyundai has been at the forefront of EV development for a while now, largely thanks to the success of the crossover-sized Hyundai Ioniq 5. But the company is readying another new EV that could be even more popular than the Ioniq 5 -- or at least more desirable in the U.S., the land of big cars.

The upcoming Ioniq 9, previously set to be called the Ioniq 7, will be Hyundai's take on an electric SUV. It will be to Hyundai what the Kia EV9 is to Kia. It will have three rows and carry over design elements from the Ioniq 5.

Read more