GPS Devices May Help Track Down Lost Oklahoma Pets

In 2012, Oklahoma City animal welfare took in more than 27,000 animals and only about 1,500 of them were reunited with their owners. Now there's a new way to keep track of our four-legged friends, to make sure they're never too far out of sight.

In Oklahoma, we're no stranger to severe weather, but in the aftermath of devastating tornadoes, some people lose more than just their homes.

John Gary with the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter says they see many animals lost after severe weather passes through. While tornadoes often lead to large numbers of misplaced animals, Oklahoma winds can also provide an escape route for scared pets.

Maysea Ranier says losing her engergetic pup would be devastating

"I think of my dog as my child so if he were to get out I'd like to know where he's at. I'd like to be able to find him," Ranier said.

And she can with a GPS pet tracker. The devices attach to your pet's collar and allow you track their whereabouts using your smartphone

"I think that [would] be a great help for any pet owner really, I mean, any dog can get out so that's a real concern for any pet owner," John McFarland said.

McFarland says he could have used the device just a few days ago.

"Just the other day she got loose and I was getting a little bit worried about it so I was driving around looking for her," Ranier said.

Pet stores News 9 checked with do not stock the GPS devices yet, so your only option is to buy online and we found them for about $100.