WHY SHOULD I BUY AN AURORALITES SAFETY COLLAR FOR MY PET?

AURORALITES SAFETY SYSTEMS Inc. has focused on creating a piece of useful equipment for professional working dogs and their handlers. The AURORALITES safety collar has proven itself to be not only useful, but invaluable as an essential piece of night safety equipment. It is THE choice of professional dog handlers around the world. (click here to view a partial list of users) Pet owners who are concerned about their dog's safety, and who are looking for a quality lighted dog collar, are now able to purchase an AURORALITES Safety Collar for their own dogs.

I'VE SEEN LIT COLLARS IN SOME OF THE BIG PET CHAINS FOR LESS MONEY. WHY THE COST DIFFERENCE?

Let¹s be honest, there are cheaper lighted collars on the market but that¹s exactly what they are - cheaper. The old adage,"You get what you pay for!", is so true. The number one difference is we don't bring our collars in from overseas for $4 (Cdn) a piece. They are ALL North American made, manufactured and assembled. They use superior components. They are reinforced, water-proofed, tested and warranted by a company that knows many of you have entrusted us with the lives and safety of your very best friends and working partners. By purchasing an AURORALITES Safety Collar you are buying the best....the best components, the most durable construction and a reputation amongst K9 handlers that can ONLY be earned.

WHY WOULD I NEED A COLLAR TO HELP KEEP TRACK OF MY DOG AT NIGHT? HE ALWAYS COMES WHEN HE'S CALLED AND/OR IS NEVER OFF LEASH.

That's GREAT that your dog is so well trained! However, having a lighted collar not only affords your dog safety in the event of unforseen dangers, it also makes YOU more visible when he is with you. We all know that the number one factor for staying safe at night is BEING SEEN. With your pet at your side, YOUR safety and visibility increases dramatically when your pet is wearing an AURORALITES Safety Collar!

AREN'T REFLECTIVE COLLARS JUST AS GOOD AND WHY ISN'T THERE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON AURORALITES COLLARS?

Reflective collars are better than nothing however a reflective collar or vest doesn't work at all unless and until they are hit by a vehicle's headlights. We think it's a bit of an oxymoron to describe something as a "safety device" when it doesn't work until you're in the kill zone of a set of headlights. Many of the agencies and handlers who use our collars do NOT want any reflective materials on their partners. When the collar is off there is nothing to give the dog's position away. "Nuff said.

ALL THE OTHER COLLARS I'VE SEEN STROBE OR FLASH. ISN'T THAT BETTER FOR SAFETY?

Absolutely NOT! First of all a strobing or flashing light does not provide enough information to the brain of an oncoming driver to determine speed, direction or distance. Without being able to determine those factors how can a driver react? Many dogs are susceptible to epileptic seizures or other neurological "events". It is known that strobing or flashing lights can initiate such neural activities both in people and dogs, so that is one more reason our collars do NOT flash.

THEN WHY DO THE POLICE USE STROBE LIGHTS ON THEIR DOGS?

For the exact same reason we gave, a strobing or flashing light does not provide enough information to the brain of an oncoming driver (in this case, "bad guy") to determine speed, direction or distance. Police dogs only wear strobes on their tracking harnesses, in the middle of their back. There, the light will not reflect off the ground, so as not to affect the dog. These Police dog handlers spend 1000s of hours (+!) training their dogs, and are acutely aware of how their dogs move. By using the strobe, it enables the k-9 handler to know where their dog is, without giving the dog's exact position away to the "bad guys". When used properly, it can be a very effective tool for a professional K-9 Officer and his handler. However, unless you actually INTEND to confuse an oncoming vehicle as to your dog's whereabouts, strobes are not for you.

POLICE DOGS OFTEN CHASE BAD GUYS. ISN'T IT DANGEROUS FOR A POLICE K9 TO BE LIT UP?

Hey, give us some credit. The LAST thing we are suggesting is to use our collar on a Police K9 who is tracking an armed felony suspect. In fact don't even put it on the dog in that kind of tracking. Sadly many of police dogs killed in the line of duty are hit by vehicles or die in falls. Hopefully the AURORALITES Safety Collar can help reduce both.

RED HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED FOR SAFETY. WHY BLUE AND NOT RED?

RED has traditionally been used in safety applications. It is however a poor choice when safety requires maximum visual range and often in less than ideal weather. RED light is diffused or scattered much easier in conditions of snow, rain, dust or fog. Blue is a far more penetrating light frequency so it makes far more sense using that as a safety light. This is one of the main reasons many Police departments are now using blue lights on their vehicles.

SOME MANUFACTURERS CLAIM THEIR COLLARS WILL RUN FOR UP TO 600 HOURS ON A WATCH BATTERY. AURORALITES ARE CLAIMING BETWEEN 14 AND 35 HOURS DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF BATTERY AND SIZE OF COLLAR. WHY SUCH A DIFFERENCE?

Battery life depends on area or size of lamp and how long it is ON. There are collars that use a tiny red flashing LED and they work great - providing the dog is standing on your chest. There are collars where the EL (lamp) is the width of a PIN and for a tenth of a second, every other second, it flashes. Of course the battery is going to last longer... there's almost no lamp area being driven and it's hardly ever on. Battery technology is consistent. Take a look at the picture and let common sense guide you. Which one looks like it holds more "juice"? A 30m/A/hr 3Volt watch battery or a 1500m/A/hr 9Volt?

IS THERE EVIDENCE THAT FLASHING LIGHTS CAN AFFECT SOME DOGS?

Epilepsy hard to define in dogs

EPILEPSY is caused by abnormal and repetitive electrical activity in the brain neurons. It is more than just convulsions, and seizures may be caused by a number of different factors. Thus it is difficult to diagnose and manage without lengthy and expensive evaluation of the canine sufferer.

The condition is the most common neurological illness suffered by the dog, but even though the electroencephalography (EEG) test for humans was introduced in 1929, it has never become a routine test for canine patients.

Epilepsy seizures result from abnormal discharge by specific neurons in the brain. The physical result may be an altered state of consciousness, or muscular, sensory or autonomic effects, noticed by the dog's owner or family members. Symptoms are usually repetitive, and may number from many events daily to one or two a year. However, environmental conditions have been observed to initiate both human and dog seizures. Known triggers include flashing lights, stress and sleep deprivation.

http://www.k9magazinefree.com/cgi-bin/preview.pl?p=iss11p7

For dogs that are seizure-prone, try to avoid stimulation such as flashing television pictures, flashing lights, excessive and strange noises (such as sirens or kids' toys). You can't avoid thunder,but you can take the dog into a closet or any place where you can administer TLC.

http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/seizures.html

Most seizures seem to occur spontaneously, however, some of our members feel that certain chemicals and emotional stress factors can trigger a seizure in their pups. We have put together a list of things that may trigger seizures in some dogs. In order for something to be considered a seizure trigger the time between the trigger and the seizure is short.

Stress Factors:

*Changes in routine caused by construction, visitors, new family members etc.
*Being left alone
*Car Rides
*Visits to the vet
*Thunder storms
*Changes in barometric pressure
*Flashing lights from television, cameras or lightning

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/SeizureTriggers.htm
http://www.support-dogs.org.uk/seizure.htm
http://www.elisheba.thefays.com/seizuredog.html
http://www.hsc.ufl.edu/hscc/storiesdec/dogseizure.html

Seizure Dogs: Predicting Seizures
vs. Assistance During a Seizure
by Michael Sapp, Sr.
Chief Operating Officer
PAWS With A Cause
4646 South Division
Wayland, MI 49348
616-877-PAWS (TDD/V)
800-253-PAWS (TDD/V)

http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum/EpilepsyMenu.html

If you have any other questions that have not been answered in the above FAQ, please feel free to contact us at auroralites@auroralites.com. We'll be happy to answer your questions!