From Tinder for dogs to muzzle biometrics: technology enters the pet economy

How many Italians have decided to share their home with an animal? According to Eurispes 2021 data: “19.6% say they have an animal, 10.9% have two. Since 2020, thanks to the pandemic still underway, the number of those who give up having an animal at home has decreased to 60.5% (-5.9% compared to the previous year), decreasing again to 59.8% in the ‘current year”. And, with the growth in the number of pets, the pet economy grows, a sector that does not seem to show any slowdown. Again according to Eurispes 2021: “How much are Italians willing to spend on pet care? A third of the sample (33%) spends on average from 31 to 50 euros over a month, 30.4% spends from 51 to 100 euros, 21.6% less than 30 euros, 10.5 % from 101 to 200 euros, 2.7% from 201 to 300 euros and 1.8% over 300 euros per month “. The world of insurance has noticed this, which in addition to the already widespread RC, to protect itself in case of damage caused by your animal, now offers increasingly varied packages, with health insurance in the first place. They mimic those for humans, and cover veterinary expenses, which often, in the case of complex interventions, chronic diseases or exotic animals, easily reach several thousand euros a year. But the encounter with blockchain technology is just around the corner, with projects being launched such as that of the Australian Petcoin. It is an ERC20 token that works as a store of value, and can be spent on veterinary treatments and purchases for your pet. The app will also allow you to store all your pet’s health data via blockchain in order to make them immediately available in case you change veterinarian or need to access an emergency room. facial recognition to provide a non-falsifiable identity to the pet, integrating playful elements (photo albums along the lines of those created independently by the iOS photo app) and secure tracking. Among the advantages: the possibility of associating a verifiable pedigree to each animal identified through the software, recording the transfer of ownership, archiving all health and genealogical documents, intervening in the event of loss or contention on a specimen. advanced is the Italian Kpet, which in just 8 months from its launch has raised over 1 million euros. Basically a booking app that brings together the best of the human experience: Airbnb meets Uber meets The Fork. In fact, through the app you can instantly book and pay online services related to petcare, from the most essential ones such as the veterinarian, the toilet or the pet-friendly facilities for those planning a holiday, up to dedicated taxis and photographers. With a section dedicated to would-be owners, which connects with breeders and shelters. And part of the proceeds go to a dedicated charity, but to help your pet (currently only cats and dogs) find company, whether it’s for a playdate at the park or to plan a litter, the Milanese Pedigreender made her debut this year. , which moves the mechanics of the Tinder dating app to the animal world. The owner’s data never appears: you just act as intermediaries by creating your pet’s portfolio, with photos, breed, geolocation, pedigree and any prizes. The preferences are expressed with the swipes and if the match is triggered then you can agree on a match.