Whether you’ve moved once or a hundred times, you’ll know all of the planning and coordinating that goes into pulling off a successful relocation. Whether it’s a local, cross-country or out-of-state move, or even an international move, you need to stay proactive and put a lot of planning into your relocation to make sure you’ve chosen the right new place, right movers (or self-moving strategy), as well as the right time to move! On top of that, packing isn’t exactly anyone’s favorite experience.
Now, since your last move, you may have found yourself adding a new dog or cat (or other animal!) to your family. Hooray! A new best friend!
We all love our pets, but coordinating a move and making sure they’re properly taken care of during the entire process can be another complicated detail to take care of. However, moving with a pet doesn’t have to be an arduous or stressful process. With our latest tips for moving with pets, you’ll be in the best shape possible to make sure your pet gets to your new location safely and without too much stress.
- Make Sure Their Collar ID Information is Current
Before your moving day, make sure your pet(s)’ tags and identification information on their collar(s) is up to date and accurate. Moving can be really chaotic, and can involve a lot of people moving into, out of, and around your home.
Ideally, you would put your pet in a separate room to keep them away from the chaos, but if that’s not possible, make sure their information is up to date just in case they get scared and make a dash for the door. There’s nothing worse than having your pet get out and having to chase after them or track them down, but it would be even worse if they didn’t have your current information on their collar in order to make sure they get home safely.
Additionally, make sure to microchip your pet to make sure they can be located and returned to you if their collar is lost.
- Keep Your Movers Informed
If you’re using a moving company for your relocation, make sure they know that you have a pet(s), and to be mindful of them. Make sure they know what sort of pet/pets you have, and if there are any special instructions they’ll need to follow as far as their conduct around your animals.
- Moving Day
On the day of your move, it’s ideal to either bring your pet to a friend’s or family member’s house to keep them out of the way and less stressed during moving day. Alternatively, try to house them in their crate, or in a separate room where they’ll be able to be out of the way and not in any danger. They’re probably going to be as stressed as you are on moving day, so make sure they’re attended to and don’t have any chance to get spooked and bolt.
- Transportation
Make sure you’re transporting your smaller animals in proper well-ventilated carriers that are the proper size for them, and that are comfortable. If you have a larger dog, make sure they’re on a leash at all times and cannot run away if they get frightened.
Make sure to keep your pet with you during all steps of the transportation itself – NEVER put any pet in any sort of enclosed space like a trunk or moving truck.
- Long Distance Moving with Pets
Our points from the last tip apply even more so to this one. Make sure your pets are comfortable and kept with you at all times during the transportation process. If you’re moving long distance with a pet, plan out your trip to make sure any hotels you’re staying in are pet-friendly.
If your pet has anxiety or gets car-sick easily, also make sure to plan ahead to keep them comfortable. Talk to your veterinarian to see of any treatments or recommendations they might have, as well as any possible medications to keep your pet comfortable over the long distances you’ll cover together.
With both short and long distances, make sure to take frequent breaks to get out of the car and let your pet stretch their legs, as well as to give them frequent bathroom breaks. If you’re at a rest stop or really any outside area, make sure to keep your pet leashed or otherwise contained to ensure their safety.
Now that you’re ready to start on the moving process, make sure to give your pet a little extra love, care, and attention during this time. If you’re stressed, they’ll be stressed. Worse than that, they won’t know why you’re stressed! Take time to reassure them and make sure they know they’re not going anywhere without you!
Once you’re in your new home, make sure to also take the time to safely introduce them to the space and let them take it all in. After all, it’s their home too! Good luck and happy moving.