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

By Andrew Hard August 1, 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.

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

Clever new A.I. system promises to train your dog while you’re away from home

Topics

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…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.