Eliminate dog-sitters from your vacation budget with the Smarthome remote pet feeding system. Just $300 for the large-size feeder.

How does it feed Fido? The feeder is equipped with a video camera, so you can view your pet from an Internet cafe in Bangkok.

The feeder connects to your PC, where you've installed its special timer software. Once connected, the feeder will dispense chow at a slow rate, and it's completely "tongue-safe." It'll also e-mail images of your pet at feeding time, so you can see exactly how Fido got into the pantry and ate all the Oreos.

Does it take care of the, er, "post-production"? Unfortunately, the feeder won't take care of Fido's waste, so you either need to train your dog to use the toilet (supposedly you can train your kitty to do it), or teach the Roomba how to operate a pooper-scooper.

You'll also have to make sure that your home computer has a constant power supply and a remote desktop connection, or you'll come home to a skinny pup.