A soft foam ball is attached to a tether which is in turn attached to a handle having a motor. A switch activates the motor which provides a rotary output to swing the ball in a circle. A dog walker holds the handle and allows the ball to swing in front of the dog walker. If the dog ventures in front of the dog walker, the ball gently strikes the dog, reminding the dog of the proper heel position. The ball can be swung in either direction to allow a dog to heel on either side of a dog walker.

A pet toy apparatus that includes a suction cup, a support apparatus and a toy apparatus that are configured to be selectively coupled to one another to form a structure which can be hung from a supporting surface such as a window pane, a wall, etc. to attract a pet into play. The suction cup is configured to maintain the support apparatus at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane in order to increase the strength of the selective connection between the suction cup and the support apparatus.

A poultry house sprinkler system comprises a temperature sensor for obtaining a temperature value based on a temperature of a poultry house, a controller in communication with the temperature sensor, an input/output module in communication with the controller, a valve in communication with the input/output module and connected to the fluid source for receiving a fluid, and at least one sprinkler nozzle connected to the valve for receiving the fluid from the valve and distributing the fluid in the poultry house when the valve is in an open position. The controller is configured to receive the temperature value from the temperature sensor, compare the temperature value to a threshold value, and instruct the input/out module to set the valve in the open position when the temperature value is above the threshold value, maintain the valve in the open position for a cooling interval duration, and subsequently set the valve in a closed position at the end of the cooling interval duration.

A system for increasing feed/drink attempts made by juvenile animals during an early period of life of the juvenile animals includes: at least one visual stimulus, the at least one visual stimulus including a neck member being attachable to a component of the system such that the neck member is movable with respect to the component, the neck member having an indicating portion for indicating a location of at least one feed/drink source. In operation, the indicating portion repeatedly alternates between a movement toward and a movement away from the location of the at least one feed/drink source.

A wireless location assisted zone guidance system incorporates dynamically variable intervals between sequential position requests. Variables used to influence the duration of a current interval between sequential position requests include: location within a current zone; displacement rate within a zone; and output from sensors such as secondary low power location sensors, inertial sensors, and biometric sensors. Preferably, the sensors are not being used to try to determine precise position, but instead to indicate a degree of uncertainty in the current position. When this degree of uncertainty is sufficient to merit added processing and associated energy consumption, a new wireless location determination will be made.

An unmanned aerial vehicle for determining geolocation exclusion zones of animals. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a processor-based monitoring device to track geolocation information associated with an animal from the unmanned aerial vehicle, an identification device mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle to identify the animal and to track a position of the animal over time, and a mapping device coupled to the monitoring device to determine locations where the animal has traversed and to identify where an encounter with the animal is reduced.

An unmanned aerial vehicle for determining geolocation exclusion zones of animals. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a processor-based monitoring device to track geolocation information associated with an animal from the unmanned aerial vehicle, an identification device mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle to identify the animal and to track a position of the animal over time, and a mapping device coupled to the monitoring device to determine locations where the animal has traversed and to identify where an encounter with the animal is reduced.

A control system for illuminating swine having one or more controllers configured to increase voltage supplied to a first plurality of lights to a first threshold voltage to illuminate the first plurality of lights to provide a first light having a first color characteristic that affects swine. The one or more controllers are also configured to increase the voltage supplied to a second plurality of lights to a second threshold voltage to illuminate the second plurality of lights to provide a second light with a second color characteristic different than the first color characteristic. The one or more controllers are also configured to increase the voltage supplied to a third plurality of lights to a third threshold voltage to illuminate the third plurality of lights to provide third light with a third color characteristic that stimulates the swine to have a predetermined behavior.

A control system for illuminating swine having one or more controllers configured to increase voltage supplied to a first plurality of lights to a first threshold voltage to illuminate the first plurality of lights to provide a first light having a first color characteristic that affects swine. The one or more controllers are also configured to increase the voltage supplied to a second plurality of lights to a second threshold voltage to illuminate the second plurality of lights to provide a second light with a second color characteristic different than the first color characteristic. The one or more controllers are also configured to increase the voltage supplied to a third plurality of lights to a third threshold voltage to illuminate the third plurality of lights to provide third light with a third color characteristic that stimulates the swine to have a predetermined behavior.

Disclosed is an apparatus for lifting and positioning four-legged animals, in particular dogs, comprising a main frame to be placed on the ground or floor, and a lifting device (2) supported by the main frame. The lifting device (2) comprises a vertically positioned or positionable column (3) that includes a vertically adjustable lifting cross-beam (4) and bars (5) which project from the lifting cross-beam (4), preferably in an orthogonal direction, and which support a mat, a cloth, a net or a plurality of straps acting as a holder for the animal.