How does Pawscout work?

The Pawscout Tag does not have GPS capability. As a Bluetooth-enabled device, your Pawscout Tag sends out a beacon from its spot on your pet’s collar that travels up to 300 feet in all directions. When your pet is within 300 feet of you and their Tag’s battery is working.

Based on the strength of your Bluetooth signal, Pawscout provides an estimate about how far away from you your pet is. This estimate is represented both by a “cone of safety” that changes color and size, as well as numerically (ex: 7 ft away, 236 ft away).

Although your Tag does not use GPS, Pawscout does require both Bluetooth and GPS to function properly, since the map function in your phone relies on having Location Services enabled.

Coverage Map

In addition to showing you your pet, Pawscout’s map shows Pawscout coverage for your state, region, town, or even neighborhood, represented by the color blue. The bigger the blue, the more Pawscouters are around!

Lost Pets

If you mark your pet as lost, you will be notified when they pass within range of anyone with the Pawscout App. A 300-foot range may not sound like much, but many lost pets remain surprisingly close to home--particularly lost cats, who often hide in silence in nearby areas.

In addition, our Lost Pet Report feature helps you create a digital lost pet poster that you can share to your Pawscout social feed—and everywhere else.

To best protect your pet, ask friends, family members, neighbors, and caretakers to install the Pawscout App (Google Play Store or App Store).