Suggestions for Successfully Moving with Pets
Take a minute and think about how stressful moving your household is for you. You have hundreds of little tasks to take care of even before the movers show up to take all of your belongings to your new house. Not to mention all of the chores you will have to do after the movers leave. Your stress level is likely to be at its highest point of the year when you are in the middle of the move, and you understand what's going on, completely.
Now, take another minute and think about your pets. They have absolutely no understanding of what is going on. They only understand that you are putting everything in boxes, including their toys and other meaningful things. They don't understand that you are taking them with you. They just wonder if they are safe and the more you take away their familiar surroundings, the more nervous they get. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to make the move easier on your pets.
First, make sure you request your pets' veterinary records well in advance of moving day. You never know when you might need to take them to the vet in your new area and if they already have the records, this will be much easier than if your new vet has to redo the exams or request the records later on. You will also want to have all records of rabies and other vaccinations with you when you move.
Next, you can arrange for private transportation for your pets so that they are not simply crated and moved like any other box you've packed. Moving companies are generally not allowed to move pets in their trucks, so it's better for them to either ride with you or in a vehicle where they can see out and know where they are going.
On moving day, have someone you trust watch your pets so that they do not try to run away when the door is open for the movers. You can also crate them in a separate room, but this tends to put more stress on the pets since they can hear what is happening in the other rooms but can't see it. In addition, this will keep both the pets and the movers safe from injury in case the pets get underfoot during the move.
As soon as you can, get back into a familiar routine at your new house. The sooner your pets understand that the move was just a temporary interruption, the sooner their stress levels will go down.
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