Moving to a new house can be stressful for you and you understand what s going on. If you have a pet, imagine what is going through their head. They may have lived in the same house their entire life, they don t understand what you are doing and they don t know why they have to leave. They are going to a completely new environment and sometimes it can affect them greatly. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will keep your pet happy on moving day.
1. Make plans before the day comes The biggest mistake you can make is just thinking about your pet the day of the move. Just throwing them in the car and driving away might not be to your advantage. Instead of just packing everything up the night before, take it slow. Don t disturb your pets normal routine if you can avoid it.
2. Get a new ID tag If your pet has an ID tag now, there s a good chance that it has your old information on it. It might have your old address or phone number on the tag. If your pet got lost during the move, they might not be able to get a hold of you. Therefore, it is a good idea to go ahead and get the tag done before you move with the correct information.
3. Get a pet carrier Putting some money into a sturdy pet carrier is a good idea before you go on a long move. Do not try and save on one of the flimsy pet carriers that may or may not keep your pet inside. Get a nicer one that will be comfortable for your pet. It is a good idea to get them accustomed to the pet carrier before your trip. Bring it in the house and put them in it a few times a day. Let them sleep in it if they want to. This will get them used to it and when the move comes they will look at it as a source of comfort. The farther in advance you can implement this strategy the better.
4. Keep them safe During the move, the safety of your pet should be at the forefront of your mind. If they are going to ride in the car, you might want to get a harness for them. This is kind of like a seatbelt for dogs and the safety of your dog should be important enough to get one. When you get to the new house, you will want to put them in a safe place out of the way of the move. If your pet is running around the house unattended, they might get in the way of the moving crew and end up getting hurt.
5. Make reservations If you are traveling a great distance, you may have to stay in a hotel overnight. You will want to plan your trip out in advance and find hotels that allow pets as guests. The last thing you want to do is drive around some strange town looking for a pet friendly hotel once you get there.