TIPS FOR MOVING WITH PETS
Take Your Time When Packing Stretch out your moving prepara on me over several weeks. Avoid panic in the last days. Take steps to ensure that moving day is as relaxed as possible for you and your pets. Make Travel Arrangements For Your Pets If your move involves air travel, contact airline carriers one month in advance. Ask about their pet regula ons, and make reserva ons. Choose a nonstop flight to avoid extra handling and climate and air-pressure changes. Visit Your Pet's Veterinarian Before Moving A couple weeks before moving, request a copy of veterinary records, a rabies vaccina on cer ficate, and a health cer ficate. Be sure your pets are up to date with their shots. If your pet is a senior or has health problems, ask whether a mild seda ve would be advisable before travel. Can your vet recommend another in your new loca on? For out-of-state moves, contact the State Department of Animal Husbandry or the state veterinarian about entry regula ons—almost all states have entry laws for most animals except tropical fish.
Get Tags And Leashes For Your Pets If you have a dog or an indoor/outdoor cat, buy or create iden fica on tags with your new address and phone number. Be sure your pets are wearing them during travel. While you're at it, pick up a cat leash—you'll need it if you're taking a long road trip or an airplane.
TRAVEL CHECKLIST WHEN MOVING WITH PETS
Veterinary records, cer ficates, and recent photos Medica ons Beds (pillows, towels, or other crate liners) Plas c bags and scoops for dogs Your pets' usual foods and plenty of water from the home you're leaving (changing their water source can be disorien ng and upset their stomachs)
Food and water bowls, a can opener, and resealable lids
Don't Change - Maintain Your Pet's Rou ne Keep your pets' rou nes, such as feedings and walks, as normal as possible in the week before moving. Because dogs and cats need to feel in control, they might exhibit behavioral changes or even become ill when stressed. Treat them with the same level of a@en on you would ordinarily give them.
Leashes for cats and dogs
Li%erbox for cats
Cage covers for birds and rodents
Make A Special Room For Your Pet A few days before moving, choose a small room to be the "pet room." Tape a sign to the door that says "Pets: Do Not Open." Make the sign large enough that friends or movers can see it easily. Move food and water bowls, as well as toys, into this room. Provide dogs and cats with sturdy carriers equipped with li@er box (for cats), chew toys, or favorite objects that have a familiar smell. Leave carrier doors open so pets can adapt to them before travel day. On moving day, keep animals in their carriers. As an alterna ve, consider boarding dogs and cats, or ask a friend to care take your dogs during the last few days.
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Paper towels for messes
Toys, chew bones, and treats
Provisions for the first day at the new home
