Children’s Anti-Drowning Device Finds Market With Pooches

Children’s Anti-Drowning Device Finds Market With Pooches



LOS ANGELES (Wireless Flash) – Dog owners are lapping up a device originally designed to save children from drowning in swimming pools. The so-called Safety Turtle is a wristwatch-sized device that looks like a turtle and when submerged in water, triggers an alarm at a nearby receiver to warn parents that the child has fallen into the water. Although the device was designed for tots, Safety Turtle retailer Todd Appleman says he realized it would be great for pets after his own Jack Russell terrier nearly drowned in his swimming pool. He says dogs can paddle in the pool, but small pooches can’t climb out once they fall in, so they usually tucker out and drown. Appleman has been marketing the $160 device to dog owners ever since and claims it has saved dozens of dogs – including two of his own.

Fri 05-17-02