CPA Practice Advisor - 28

APPS WE LOVE

By Gail Perry, CPA, Editor-in-Chief

Pets
WE ALL LOVE our furry friends - so are there apps that can help us take care of
our pets and share our lives with our pets? You bet! Here are some apps that
are destined to be your next best friend.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new
tricks? The Puppr app helps you, the person,
teach your dog a variety of tricks and skills with
step-by-step examples and a built-in clicker you
can use for reinforcement. There are basic tricks
like sit, stay, down, and then there are silly tricks,
circus tricks, agility tricks, and useful tricks like
teaching your dog to fetch a leash or ring a bell
to go outside. Some of the more advanced tricks
are locked behind a paywall, but most of the app
can be accessed for free.
Pups aren't the only animals that can
be trained. The Cat Training Tips app
provides practical tips for training
your cat to come when called,
accept medications, and get
comfortable with a cat carrier.
If you've ever worried about
the things your pet is eating,
you'll want to download the APCC
(Animal Poison Control Center) app
from the ASPCA (American Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The app helps with medical problems for dogs, cats, birds, and horses. From
there you can look up foods, plants, medications,
outdoor hazards and household hazards which
your animal may have consumed. You can find

OCTOBER 2019 ■

out the toxicity level and recommended
treatment for ingestion. The list is not
exhaustive, but there's quite a bit of
useful information here.
The American Red Cross also provides an app called Pet First Aid
which provides veterinary advice
for dogs and cats including steps
to take in the event of emergencies. And for those who like to be
proactive, there is an early warning
sign checker for preventative care. There
are even instructions and videos on
how to perform CPR in the event
your pet is not breathing.
I use Strava to track my dog's
walks. There are other GPS walking apps specifically created for
animals (such as Dog Walk), but
I was using Strava for my own
exercising anyway, so I just set up
an account for my dog. I can track
the exact route of the walks we take,
upload pictures from the walk, and
add comments. I can share Strava with my
dog-walking friends so we can see each other's
progress.
Another app I recommend is Next Door -

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again, not a pet-specific app, but if there is a
Next Door app active in your neighborhood, you
can post information about lost or found pets
and get alerts on your phone. The neighborhood
where I live is very engaged
with the app, especially
if there is a pet that
has wandered off.
Work i ng
p et
parents can arrange
for dog walkers to step in
when they are away from
home with the Wag app.
Wag dog walkers are bonded,
and GPS tracking lets you see
where your dog is at all times. The
most recent rates I've seen are $20 for a
30-minute walk and $30 for a 60-minute walk.
You can also sign up for boarding, pet sitting,
and daycare through Wag. Wag operates in all 50
states, but not necessarily in every locale.
There are apps that show you where to find
dog parks and dog-friendly trails and rest stops.
Paw Parks is user-generated, so if your nearby
park isn't on the app, you can add it.
Finally, the BringFido app is a must-have
when traveling with your pets - find pet friendly
hotels including information on deposit amounts
for renting a hotel room with your pet. The app
also provides information on pet-friendly restaurants, dog parks, and other attractions. ■

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