Consulting the Geek Oracle: QR Code Pet Tags
Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 2:20 pm
Anyone know much about these? I think the concept's great, but are there limitations or online security risks? I've never even read QR codes before; I have yet to get an app.
From my experience with my last cat, I'd want to be able to provide more than just name, address, phone #, and the other likely basics: Lester needed a damned personality profile. Seriously. Something like, "I'm not lost. I'm just insanely curious and social, and want to get to know ALL my neighbors. That's why I'm crying at your door: I just really, really want to see how you live. That's all. But if you don't want to let me in, my humans would actually prefer that. Obviously I don't agree with their philosophy, so it's up to you. If you have pets, so much the better: I'll especially want to play with them. Even dogs, if they can get over the shock. If you absolutely have to fold and let me in for a visit, please don't feed me; I'm on a special diet, so it's better that I go home to eat when I'm hungry. And when you think it's time for me to leave, just put me out, and I won't mind even if it's cold; trust me, I'm outside because I wanted to be, and I like it. Home is nearby, and my doting humans keep an eye out. You can bet I'll be back, because I make the rounds and like having a blast with all my friends. My humans think outdoors is better for that, but I'm a cat, so ... yeah, whatever. You can best participate in my welfare by keeping it light, whatever you do. I'll be totally happy with that; I'm not looking for a handout, just a visit, and some fun too, if I have anything to say about it."
You can see that I've been scarred for life. Now, it's unlikely that I'll have to explain my next cat in such intimate detail (I aim to get a new one within a few months), but if I'm fated for yet another adventure-needing hypersocial cat, I might want to be able to account for the critter and not leave the neighbors guessing and tying up my phone with their concerns like the last time. Eventually the whole neighborhood got on board with the abovementioned situation and Lester was fully embraced as local color, but it took far too long the old way. I figure that a QR code could be a real time-saver - for everyone.
I've briefly looked at a few QR code pet tag sites on the matter, but I'm not entirely clear on what it all means to me as a user. How does it work? Any background and arcana will be much appreciated, especially as regards my getting into it as a newbie, should I go there.
From my experience with my last cat, I'd want to be able to provide more than just name, address, phone #, and the other likely basics: Lester needed a damned personality profile. Seriously. Something like, "I'm not lost. I'm just insanely curious and social, and want to get to know ALL my neighbors. That's why I'm crying at your door: I just really, really want to see how you live. That's all. But if you don't want to let me in, my humans would actually prefer that. Obviously I don't agree with their philosophy, so it's up to you. If you have pets, so much the better: I'll especially want to play with them. Even dogs, if they can get over the shock. If you absolutely have to fold and let me in for a visit, please don't feed me; I'm on a special diet, so it's better that I go home to eat when I'm hungry. And when you think it's time for me to leave, just put me out, and I won't mind even if it's cold; trust me, I'm outside because I wanted to be, and I like it. Home is nearby, and my doting humans keep an eye out. You can bet I'll be back, because I make the rounds and like having a blast with all my friends. My humans think outdoors is better for that, but I'm a cat, so ... yeah, whatever. You can best participate in my welfare by keeping it light, whatever you do. I'll be totally happy with that; I'm not looking for a handout, just a visit, and some fun too, if I have anything to say about it."
You can see that I've been scarred for life. Now, it's unlikely that I'll have to explain my next cat in such intimate detail (I aim to get a new one within a few months), but if I'm fated for yet another adventure-needing hypersocial cat, I might want to be able to account for the critter and not leave the neighbors guessing and tying up my phone with their concerns like the last time. Eventually the whole neighborhood got on board with the abovementioned situation and Lester was fully embraced as local color, but it took far too long the old way. I figure that a QR code could be a real time-saver - for everyone.
I've briefly looked at a few QR code pet tag sites on the matter, but I'm not entirely clear on what it all means to me as a user. How does it work? Any background and arcana will be much appreciated, especially as regards my getting into it as a newbie, should I go there.