K9s Get Tested with New GPS Tracking Units
2 Oct 2014K9 dogs in Arizona test out new GPS tracking units to track their location and health status.
Three dogs that work for the Arizona Department of Public Safety department are testing out brand new GPS tracking devices. The devices utilize global positioning system (GPS) technology that is constantly being upgraded for more advanced data tracking abilities. What was previously used for mainly for mapping and navigational properties is now helping organizations all over the world get up-to-date data analysis, including police departments.
The GPS trackers will keep track of where the police dogs are and how they are doing, health-wise. It uses various data to gather and analyze this information, including the temperature and behavior of the dogs, and mapping technology to look at their movements and find their location.
In addition, the GPS tracking device are helping the Arizona police department with K9 training and for learning the searching patterns the dogs use to search for a missing item or person.
Especially in the summer, heat is a concern for police dogs that work long days out in the sun. The core temperature of the dogs is consistently tracked to protect their health and safety when Arizona heat gets up to 100 or more.
The three dogs currently being tracked are GoGo, Nico, and Clif, all of which have been working for the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). They each have a tracking implant that is connected to a smartphone app. This app runs on Android with the dogs’ handlers having the smartphone to keep track of the information. They can check in at any time or get alerted to certain conditions, such as if the dog has wandered off too far or if their temperature has risen to an alarming degree.
The GPS tracking technology for the K9s has its origins in technology that was made to track down dogs who are let off the leash so their handlers know where they are. For the K9s, the tracking device monitors the dog’s temperature and health when they are in a squad car, which is crucial in the Arizona heat.
The K9 dogs working for the DPS in Arizona have a high amount of energy and desire to work, but they can often work too hard. They want to keep their dogs’ health in check and the GPS tracking device will help them do that. Officer Brian Greene told USA Today:
“With the high drive of the dog, he doesn’t want to stop. We need to pay attention so we don’t run him into the ground.”
Their vehicles are air conditioned, so if a dog is working outdoors and the GPS unit lets them know its temperature is too high, they can get into the cooled vehicle and take a break.
Approximately 15-18 police dogs die each year from heat exhaustion and the Arizona DPS is hoping to prevent this from happening.
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