An apparatus (device) and system, an animal safety collar, is disclosed; safety collar with built-in emergency leash and automatic tension control or (in alternative embodiments) an animal safety collar to remotely track and communicate with a loose animal that has broken its primary leash and has roamed to an unknown distant location. Also disclosed is an accessory pouch disposed on the collar and at least one item placed in or on said accessory pouch selected from the group consisting of battery, solar photovoltaic cell, video camera, audio microphone, Global Positioning Satellite device, radio frequency identification chip, video recorder, audio recorder, cell phone, information card/chip/microfiche, radio, remote-activated clicker, peripheral components and other user-defined means for and types of communication, identification and tracking. The device may also be used as a primary leash/collar for animals.