One feature includes a mobile device being used as a mobile beacon and proxy for a tracking device that may track an object, such as a pet. The mobile device may act as a beacon that transmits messages over a short range communications link to the tracking device. If the tracking device fails to receive the messages transmitted by the mobile device, it may be assumed that the pet has gone missing, and in response the tracking device may contact a tracking server with its location information via a wireless wide area network (WWAN). Additionally, the mobile device may act as a proxy of the tracking device by transmitting and receiving data to/from the tracking server using its own communication interface on behalf of the tracking device. This helps conserve the battery power of the tracking device because the tracking device does not use its own WWAN interface.