Is a $499 satellite-connected collar the price of true pet love?

After my cat finally came home after two weeks of unlimited roaming, I got him an Apple AirTag. I paid around $40 for what was the smallest possible tracking device at the time. This is certainly the most expensive piece of anything my beloved cat has.

Nearly every pet owner has some scare story where their furry friends try to escape their humans. And while you want to protect them, you also want them to live their best lives, which sometimes means simply letting them roam free.

No wonder people like me are intrigued by various announcements regarding pet technology.

This recent announcement should pique dog owners’ interest. Satellai, a company specializing in pet technology, has revealed a new dog collar with “unmatched connectivity.” I bet you don’t have many devices that could do the following for you, let alone your dog:

• Satellite tracking

• AI-powered health monitoring

• Real-time behavior analysis

With the device, pet owners can create virtual fences to “roam safely.” If a pet escapes the territory, the owner would get an instant alert.

Built-in AI features are supposed to monitor dog’s activity, stress, and overall health, and help manage weight, among others.

“Our mission is to give pet owners peace of mind, knowing their dogs are safe and connected, no matter where they roam," Mark Mao, the company’s CEO, said.

Priced at $499, like many other devices these days, it comes with a subscription, too.