- TailSafe introduced a pet safety app focused on emergency preparedness for pet owners.
- Users complete daily check-ins through the app to confirm their wellbeing.
- Missed check-ins trigger notifications to designated emergency caregivers.
- The platform is designed for unexpected situations such as accidents, hospitalization, or sudden incapacitation.
- Founder Shannon Smithers created the app after recognizing a gap in emergency planning for pets.
For many pet owners, emergency preparedness focuses on natural disasters, travel arrangements, or veterinary care. TailSafe is targeting a different concern: what happens to pets when their owner suddenly becomes unreachable.
The newly launched mobile app is designed to provide an emergency backup system that alerts designated caregivers if a pet owner fails to complete a scheduled daily check-in. According to the company, the goal is to help prevent pets from being left without food, water, medication, or human care during unforeseen emergencies.
Addressing an Overlooked Risk
TailSafe was founded by Shannon Smithers, an operations and strategy professional who said the idea emerged from concerns about her own pets’ wellbeing in the event of a personal emergency.
As a pet owner with multiple animals, Smithers realized she lacked a formal system to ensure someone would be notified if she were suddenly unable to return home.
The company says the platform was created to address situations including vehicle accidents, hospitalization, detainment, or other circumstances that could leave an owner temporarily incapacitated or unreachable.
How the System Works
Users establish a daily check-in schedule through the app and identify an emergency caregiver who can respond if assistance is needed.
If a user fails to check in within a predetermined timeframe, TailSafe automatically sends an alert to the designated contact. The caregiver can then access relevant pet care information and determine whether intervention is required.
According to the company, the system is intended to supplement traditional emergency contacts by focusing specifically on the immediate welfare of companion animals.
Growing Focus on Pet Emergency Planning
The launch comes as pet owners increasingly view companion animals as family members and seek more comprehensive approaches to emergency preparedness.
While many pet-focused technologies emphasize activity monitoring, wellness tracking, or travel-related services, TailSafe positions itself as a solution specifically designed for unplanned human emergencies.
Smithers, who continues to work in health technology while leading the company, said the platform was built to provide reassurance for pet owners who worry about what could happen to their animals if they become unexpectedly unavailable.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
