By Penny & Ed Cherubino
While we have not moved in many years, we think about how difficult it can be to move with companion animals. When animal-loving friends are planning a move, we’re happy to help by sharing the tips we’ve found over the years.
Finding a Pet-Friendly Home
Unless you’re shopping for a single-family home, you have to find a pet-friendly building or landlord. Even places that allow some animals may have weight restrictions, a limit on the number of animals you may have, require an interview process, or require you to obtain permission from the building owners.
Ask about these conditions when you work with a realtor and inquire about the details if a friend tells you about a possible listing. To aid in this process, you should be prepared to supply good references from former neighbors or landlords and, if needed, offer a pet deposit.
Planning Moving Day
People coming and going, open doors, things out of place, excitement, and a change of routine can add up to a very stressful day for you and your dogs or cats. While you’re busy coordinating the move and protecting your household goods, you may not pay as much attention to safeguarding your animals. You don’t want to add an escapee to the stress of moving day.
Your animal’s specific personality and behavior will help you determine the approach to take. It may be better to board highly excitable pets at a professional facility or with a trusted friend or pet sitter for the day.
If your cat or dog will be around for the move, consider keeping them in a room that can be closed off. Some people suggest a bathroom, but we say a bedroom. First, you and anyone else helping with the move will probably need to use the bathroom, and every time that door opens, it will give your cat or dog a way out.
A bedroom, on the other hand, can have a sign on the closed door alerting everyone that your pet is inside and they are not to open the door. When the rest of the home is empty, you can go in, put your animals in carriers or on leashes, and let the movers load the bedroom furniture last.
At the new location, your bedroom will be the first to come off the truck and be set up. You can then put the animals in that room while the rest of the new home is arranged.
Moving Tips
• Order new tags if the phone number or address on your pet’s tags will change.
• Change your contact information with the registry for your pet’s microchip and with the local dog license database.
• Update your veterinary records, or obtain copies of your pet’s medical records, if you will be changing animal hospitals.
• Leave your carrier or crate out in the weeks before the move if your pet is not used to it, and put some treats in it from time to time to make it a more attractive spot.
• Don’t forget medications, food, water, and relief breaks for your critters on moving day.
• Provide a litter box or puppy pads in the sanctuary room, or arrange regular relief walks for your dog.
• Plan meals around a long drive to a new home if your pet is a queasy traveler.
• Make certain the new home is pet-proofed before you allow a dog or cat to explore.
Do you have a question or topic for City Paws? Email [email protected] with your suggestion.