Baltimore-Area Pets’ Lives Less Secret Thanks to New Home Technology

For animal lovers, pets can be among our best friends and family members. From enjoying our latest binge-watch on the couch with our lap cat to getting some fresh air at the park with our energetic dog, there’s nothing like spending time with a pet. Many of our Beltway Region Comcast employees are animal lovers — as you can see in the photos below — and our animal-related Comcast Cares Day sites like shelters and farms are often the most popular among employee volunteers.

Sometimes we have to leave or four-legged friends behind at home while we head to work, social events or vacation destinations and in times like these, it’s natural to check in on our pets. We were curious about how people in the Baltimore area used technology to stay connected to their furry friends, so we surveyed customers in conjunction with the launch of a new Xfinity Home ‘pet filter’ camera feature and the release of ‘The Secret Life of Pets 2’ movie.

The survey, commissioned by Comcast and conducted by Wakefield Research, showed that in the Baltimore area, 40% of people check in on their pets four times a day or more, 42% take a peek at their pets during work and 88% say checking in on their pet is one of the best parts of their day.

And, here are some other Baltimore-area survey results:

Pet owners love furry distractions. More than 3 in 4 (76%) Baltimore pet owners who check their cameras do so while on vacation to sneak a peek of their pet(s), whenever possible. More than half (53%) have checked while at a party or social event; nearly 2 in 5 (36%) have checked during a workout; during a meeting (42%); while talking on the phone (41%); and while out on a date (32%).

Pets are more entertaining than family and friends.  Three-in-five respondents reported checking in on their pet(s) more than they check social media to see what their family and friends are up to.  Nearly 2 in 3 (66%) surveyed also reported they have shared video clips of their pet(s) on social media platforms.

Pets’ lives are not so secret. Eighty-seven percent of respondents have checked in on their pets and caught them doing something naughty, such as sitting in a forbidden place (36%); making excessive noise (40%); eating human food that has been left out (32%); damaging furniture or accessories (32%); hiding or moving objects around the home (31%); relieving him/herself on the floor or on the furniture (23%); vomiting (21%); or getting stuck somewhere (18%).

Pet owners want ways to find videos of their pets quickly. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents reported it is a bigger hassle to search hours of video clips of their pet(s) with no way to filter them, than to not have any clips of pets because their camera only has live feed, and they would like a filter feature to help them find clips faster.

To make it easier for Xfinity customers to keep tabs on their pets, Comcast has launched a new ‘pet filter’ feature for the Xfinity Home Camera. The filter uses artificial intelligence technology to quickly sort through hours of footage to identify just those with pets in them out of the more than 100 motion-triggered video clips a typical camera can generate each day. Xfinity Internet or Xfinity Home customers can purchase the high-definition Xfinity Camera and opt-in for continuous video recording, which provides access to up to seven to 10 days (depending on market) of video history.

Whether you’re checking in on a pet for their comfort and safety, or just taking a peek to see a friendly face, we’re here to provide the technology to help you do it. Check out the ways you can stay connected to your pet with Xfinity Home. And starting this weekend, experience ‘The Secret Life of Pets 2’ in the theater or at home with Xfinity and the X1 Voice Remote features.


We think you may also like…