Runaway Pup
If you know me, you know how much I adore my pup, Pretzel. She is my pride and joy. So, you can imagine how I felt when she ran away… twice. She is a rescue and got a little taste of the good life, so now I’m pretty sure she thinks there is an even better life out there for her. I have to stop letting her watch Beverly Hills Housewives.
When Pretzel ran away after her extravagant first birthday party, I completely froze. I didn’t want to run after her because I’ve always heard that makes them run even faster. Thankfully a couple of the party attendees ran from both directions and were able to catch her. The second time she ran away, we were at a backyard event. She managed to open the driveway gate in her tutu dress and make a run for it. I only noticed she was gone when I heard her bark and it seemed too far away. Yep, I know my baby’s bark. Thankfully, she was running around in circles on a neighbor’s front lawn and the neighbor sat with her knowing someone would be looking for a tiny pup in a tutu. Talk about being grateful!
Although these incidents happened when Pretz was a puppy (she’s 5 now), we are always nervous that she’s going to make a run for it. I’d like to believe she has settled into her life by now, but she occasionally gets that itch to explore. Pretzel is chipped from her foster mom, but the process of finding her with a chip would take hours. I was blown away when I found Huan, a smart tag that slips directly onto her collar or harness and founded by Gilad Rom, a pet lover who experienced a similar scary situation.
This amazing small device keeps my anxiety at bay. The Tag uses low-energy bluetooth technology to alert users when their missing pet is nearby. If I’m at home, it detects that Pretzel is too far from me and may have gone on another adventure. It actually tracks Pretzel and I can pinpoint her exact location with the help of the Huan community. Huan’s community includes users who have the tag and the app and if they see your dog, they can notify you of her exact location.
Last summer I was working extremely late hours. One night, I was at work until midnight. The only thing on my mind was Pretzel and if she was scared, hungry, or had to go outside to handle business. Huan has a Home Alone Mode which sends an automated text to your emergency contacts if your pet is home alone for over 24 hours. The text asks the contacts to make sure your pet is OK. This is such an incredible tool if *knock-on-wood* the pet’s caretaker is in an accident, hospitalized, or has to handle any sort of emergency or natural disaster.
The Smart Tags are so cute and come in various colors. They are waterproof and I love the silicone sleeve. The best part is, it doesn’t require any battery recharging and no radiation emissions.
Pretzel came from Carson Animal Shelter, so rescues and shelters hold a special place in my heart. Huan donates smart tags to animal rescues across Los Angeles, including AGWC Rockin’ Rescue in Woodland Hills. What an awesome concept with an even bigger heart.
