Now Available: PetSafe Launches the Industry's First Social Sharing and Remote Treating System for Pets

According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), more than 54 percent of pets are left at home during the day while owners are at work or involved in extra-curricular activities. However, one company is now offering an innovative way for busy pet owners and their Facebook friends to check in with their pet from wherever they are.

PetSafe , an industry brand leader in the development of innovative pet behavioral, containment, lifestyle product solutions and services, has officially launched its SocialPet Camera & Treat Dispenser. Now available online, SocialPet is the only complete system that allows pet owners to remotely treat and socially share photos and videos of their pet via the SocialPet Facebook App.

According to Randy Boyd, CEO and founder of Radio Systems Corporation, makers of the PetSafe brand, the popularity of social networking and pet owners' desire to interact with their pets while away from home were the foundation for developing the innovative SocialPet system.

"Visiting social network sites is the No. 1 activity on the web," Boyd said. "As the leader in innovative pet products, we saw the opportunity to make busy pet owners' lives easier by developing the SocialPet system. We're excited for SocialPet to hit the market and can't wait to see how it improves the pet ownership experience."

SocialPet enables pet owners to see, treat and share their pet's best moments from anywhere. The SocialPet system includes a camera and treat dispenser that can be accessed anytime via a computer or smartphone through the SocialPet Facebook App. Pet owners and their friends can watch a live video stream of the pet, take and share photos with others, and give the pet his or her favorite treats all through the SocialPet Facebook App. SocialPet also allows pet parents to set certain permissions for friends and family, as well as a feeding schedule through the SocialPet Facebook App, so that their pet can only be treated during the times (or users) they select.

In addition to remote treating and sharing photos and videos of their pet through the SocialPet Facebook App, pet owners can also use SocialPet's live video stream feature to monitor their pet's behavior when they're not around. Pet owners may learn that their pet isn't truly housetrained or suffers from separation anxiety. The SocialPet system is also great for multiple pet households where pet owners may not know which pet is responsible for each action when they're not at home.

To coincide with the launch of SocialPet, PetSafe held a Facebook contest where fans were asked to submit a picture of something cute or funny their pet did while they were home alone. Carol Franczak of Carmel, N.Y. won the "PetSafe Best Moments: Someone to Watch over Me Photo Contest" and was awarded the first officially released SocialPet system.

The SocialPet Camera & Treat Dispenser can be purchased online for $199 at http://store.petsafe.net/socialpet. Learn more about SocialPet and the results of initial product testing on PetSafe's blog, The Paw Print.