AirTags make it easy to detect and find lost items: keys, wallet, bags and much more. But is it a good idea to use an AirTag to track your dog or cat's wanderings? SFR News carried out the investigation.
It's every pet owner's worst nightmare: being unable to find your beloved cat or dog after it has escaped. This is also the reason why there is a whole host of different and varied GPS collars on the market. But most of these collars are expensive, and the autonomy is not always there. Two factors that could push pet owners to opt for a new option: Apple's AirTag. Affordable, with significant autonomy, this accessory produced by the brand with the bitten apple is most attractive. But can we really use it to track our beloved little balls of fur? We take stock.
Why Apple recommends against using an AirTag to track your dog or cat
When turning to the AirTag, pet owners consider its favorable price and the practicality of this small GPS device that does not need to be recharged regularly. Moreover, we have already mentioned the case of a person who managed to find their dog swept away by the water thanks to the AirTag. But although the idea is tempting, it is better not to use it to track your dog or cat. And it’s Apple that says it! The Cuppertino company does not recommend the use of its AirTags on pets, for several reasons.
When Apple launched the AirTag in 2021, it was primarily a small accessory intended to help track easily misplaced items like keys, wallets, purses and even mobile phones. remote controls. When you place an AirTag on one of these objects and lose it, you can use the Find My app to find the object using a compass that vibrates when you approach it. However, Apple has repeatedly reiterated that the AirTag is intended to only track objects, not people or animals. For now, tracking your pet using an AirTag is therefore considered an improper use of this accessory.
There are a few theories floating around about why Apple doesn't support using AirTag to track dogs and cats. The most plausible is that the brand does not wish to be held responsible in the event of the “permanent” loss of an animal despite the use of an AirTag. And it makes sense: this product was not designed for the purpose of tracking pets. So if you still decide to track your dog with an AirTag, keep in mind that it might not work as you hoped.
The risks of using an AirTag to track your dog or cat
If you want to use an AirTag to track your dog or cat somewhere other than a city, the little tracker might not work as well as you imagined. Because AirTags work via a network that links them to other Apple devices located nearby. Therefore, if there is no iOS device around, the location of your AirTag will not be discoverable. In other words, if your dog or cat escapes into an area where there are no other Apple devices, you shouldn't rely on the AirTag to find your four-legged friend.
But that's not the only risk: AirTags can easily be damaged or even swallowed by your dear four-legged friend. THE Wall Street Journal published an article warning about the risks of ingestion in which we can read the testimony of a man who lost the AirTag that he had previously attached to the collar of his dog Sophie. When he triggered the AirTag's sound alert, he followed the beep…and discovered that it was actually coming from his other dog Sassy's stomach. A quick trip to the vet was necessary.
In the same article, we discover the misadventure of another couple who had attached an AirTag to the collar of their dog Rose. One day when she was home alone, Rose began chewing on the device and ingested pieces of metal and plastic. Again, a visit to the veterinarian was necessary.
In both cases, everything ended well, but the consequences could have been much more dramatic. The AirTag contains a CR2032 battery which, if damaged, can release a caustic substance that can cause serious damage to your pet's stomach, or mouth if the battery is chewed. The ASPCA website also states that if a dog eats an AirTag, it must be removed.as quickly as possible“.
AirTags are not GPS trackers for dogs and cats
Finally, let's say it bluntly: no, using the AirTag to track your animals is not a good idea. Because the AirTag was designed to track objects, not living things, it lacks many of the pet-friendly features that GPS trackers for dogs do well. Additionally, while Apple's tracker is water-resistant, it's not completely waterproof, and if you're a dog owner, you definitely know that can be a problem.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, ASPCA, Apple
