ARC IT lets lost pets phone home

Not ready to
chip your dog? If you live in Japan, a less permanent (and less effective) way to find a lost pet is the ARC IT device that clips onto a collar, and, when inserted into a compatible cellphone, will dial a pre-defined number and let you know that the beast has been found. Sounds a little dodgy to us, given that it assumes a certain level of technical sophistication, not to mention ownership of a specific phone model, on the part of the finder. What ever happened to just putting your phone number on the dog tag —
or using a frackin' leash so you don't lose your dog in the first place.

[Via the Red Ferret]