Pets left hungry as feeder controlled by phone proves not so smart

SMART technology showed its limitations after pets were left hungry for up to 10 hours when feeding devices controlled by smartphones broke down.

The Petnet “smart” feeder, used mainly in California, contains pet food that an owner can release using an app on their smartphone, allowing them to feed their cats and dogs when they’re not at home. A malfunction in the server that connects the devices to the phones meant that food wasn’t released for some animals for a whole day.

Petnet urged its customers to feed their pets “manually” while the problem persisted. “We are experiencing some difficulties with one of our thirdparty servers,” a spokesman for Petnet said in an email to its customers. “You may experience a loss of scheduled feeds and failed remote feedings.”

The malfunction fuels concerns about the safety and reliability of smart technology in the home, as it is poised to become more common in the next few years. Less than five per cent of people in Europe and the US currently use automated technology in their home, but 35 per cent are interested in trying it, according to research from PwC.

By 2020 the industry is expected to grow to be worth over £100 billion.

The items of smart technology that are most likely to make it into people’s homes in the near future include internet-connected security cameras, thermostats that can be controlled using a smartphone app, and plugs that can automatically turn themselves off.

Such technology is designed to make the home safer, but it could take a few years before people fully trust it. The PwC research showed that 28 per cent of people know about smart security devices, but are hesitant to use them.

Up to 10 per cent of Petnet feeders, which cost $149 (£113) were affected.

One customer wrote on Twitter: “Spend $150 on a fancy pet feeder that doesn’t feed your cat when their servers are offline. What a great design.”