Moving And Your Pet
Moving your pet safely during a household move should be one of your most important concerns.
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One great way to insure their safety is to board them for the time that you will be moving so that they will be out of harms way and you will be free to concentrate on the actual move itself.
But what if you don’t want to board your pet cat or dog during the move?
Here’s a few tips that might help lessen the stress on both you and your pet on moving day.
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You can’t have your dog or cat running around loose while you are loading up the truck for your move. They could get injured or be scared by all the activity and run off.
It’s best to keep them secured in a room in the house. Make sure you empty the room first and tell your helpers or mover not to open the door to the room! You don’t want your pet to escape and then have to send a search party in the middle of the move.
For cats, it’s not a bad idea to put them in a cat carrier for extra safety during this time. A dog can be kept in his crate if that is what he is used to. He’ll probably feel safer anyway.
Moving Your Pet
When it comes time for the actual driving part of the move, make sure your pet has his collar and tags on (did you get new tags with your new address and phone number? Put them on before the move just in case!)
If you are too busy orchestrating the movers to watch your pet then entrust him to a good friend that you know will make sure your animal is safe. Don’t give them any other tasks to do, just watching your pet will be enough!
Make sure your pet is secure in the car - cats should be in a cat carrier, dogs strapped in or in a crate or at least with a leash. You don’t want them to dart out into an unfamiliar neighborhood and get lost when you first arrive at your new house.
Upon arrival, make sure you restrain the pet, if you have a dog, take him for a little walk around the yard, but get them inside into a secured room as soon as you can so that you can get on with the business of moving in.
Moving In
Just like when you were loading the stuff up, keep your pet in a secured room when unloading. Make sure no one will open the door - maybe an extra room that not much furniture goes in. Or if you do need to put stuff in the room, save it all up until last and then move your pet into another room that is already loaded up and can be secured while you load the last room.
After The Move
Once the moving is over, let your pet explore the house but make sure they cannot get outside unattended. If you have cats that go outdoors, don’t let them out for the first couple of days. Let them get used to the house and surroundings first, then if they are crying at the door let them out after a couple of days.
Most places do not allow dogs out wandering alone, but if you have a fenced in yard, inspect the fence on the bottom and corners to make sure there are no holes that he can use to get out. Always keep a tag with your new name and address on your pet.
Find out more about moving your pet and some tips for an interstate move.
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