Nearly a quarter of dog owners use pet trackers as safety concerns grow

Research from pet insurance provider Insure Your Paws shows that nearly one in four dog owners in the UK now use tracking devices to help locate their pets if they go missing. Among cat owners, the figure stands at nearly one in five.

The study, carried out by Opinium with a sample of 1,000 UK dog and cat owners, also highlights rising concern over pet safety. Around 31% of respondents said they worry their pet could be involved in a road accident, and 17% are concerned about theft.

Thirty-eight per cent of owners said they would be unable to sleep or eat if their pet went missing, rising to 50% among women. Nineteen per cent said they would take time off work to search.

Fourteen per cent of respondents have spent hours searching for a lost pet, while 12% said their pet has previously escaped from their house or garden. When asked what they would do if their pet went missing, 34% said they would post on social media or distribute flyers, and 27% said they would offer a reward of at least £100. Sixteen per cent said they would consider using a drone or pet detective.

Andrew Simpson, Head of Pet at Insure Your Paws, said, “Losing a beloved pet is incredibly distressing, and it’s important to act quickly. We encourage owners to contact local vets, rescue centres, and animal shelters, as these are often the first places a lost pet may be taken.

“It’s also a good idea to check your policy documents – some policies may include cover for things like advertising costs or rewards – and to see what steps you need to take to make a claim or access support.”