FitBark GPS launches with embedded sim card for tracking lost pups via cell service

FitBark’s latest treat for pet lovers: A four-legged friend finder.

FitBark GPS recently launched in the Kansas City-based startup’s U.S. market, said Davide Rossi, co-founder and CEO, detailing new features that allow owners to pinpoint their dogs’ locations in case of emergency via embedded Verizon cell service.

“We send all of the owners an alert that says an enter and exit time and location from a safe place. When you feel that there is an emergency … you can track your dog’s FitBark via a cellular data plan,” said Rossi. “There’s a sim card in the product that can tell the pet’s location within a couple of minutes.”

Click here to learn more about the product’s new features.

The small FitBark device is placed at the collar and primarily functions to measure such health factors as heart rate, activity and sleeping patterns. All of the results are displayed on the FitBark app dashboard.

“We realized that no one has been able to map what health looks like for dogs. We wanted to be the first company to be able to describe what health looks like for every type of dog,” said Rossi, who moved with co-founder and sister Sara Rossi to Kansas City five years ago after their acceptance into the Sprint Accelerator powered by Techstars.

FitBark’s usage goes beyond dog-loving customers, he added. The technology has been used throughout numerous scientific studies, Rossi said. 

“The product is a breakthrough within the scientific community because it gave so many researchers the opportunity to see whether a treatment was working, or a procedure or drug,” he said. “Two or three veterinary schools use this product right now.” 

FitBark also partners with the well-known fitness tracker brand Fitbit. 

“They reached out to us last year and asked us to work together in creating [the watch faces and other fitness benefits],” Rossi said. “It is a very good alignment because they are interested in finding ways to motivate people to be active and use their watches more.”

Click here to read more about FitBark’s collaboration with FitBit.

Studies have shown that the new interface for the watch, along with other statistics provided to customers, yields previously unexpected health benefits, he said. 

“[Customers] thought that they were purchasing a product for their dog, but they saw their own activity improve by using the product. It was really cool. It gives validation to what we are doing.”

Click here to view all of FitBark’s products or to place an order.

“That’s where the [slogan] ‘healthy together’ came from,” added Sara Rossi. “Sometimes people care about the health of their pets more than themselves, so motivating them and exercising them will also help you to get more active.”

“I am sure that there are other platforms where you open the app just when your dog is lost, but we motivate the owners,” she added.