You will be moving soon, but it will not just be you and your human family that will be making the journey if you have pets. Whether they have fins, scales, features, or fur, it is very important that you think about the logistics that will go into moving pets from one house to another, or even from one city to another. It can be more difficult than you might imagine, and you can’t simply wrap your dog and fish tank in bubble wrap, toss them into a moving truck, and call it a day. You have to do it right to ensure the safety and comfort of your pets. The following are some tips that will help.
Different pets will have different needs, and they certainly have different personalities. These are the type of things that you need to consider when you are moving them. If you have a pet that needs to take medication, it is essential that they are able to take that medication at the right time during the move, even if you are busy. If you have a dog that doesn’t like strangers, you will need to make sure that they are in a location where they don’t have to deal with the stress of people coming into and out of their home with boxes and the like.
In fact, it is always a good idea to keep the pets away from the action of moving for their own safety and the safety of those who are doing the moving. It also ensures that they aren’t underfoot. You don’t want your cat getting tangled up with someone’s feet as they are coming down the stairs.
If you are moving reptiles, fish, or birds, you will have to be very careful about moving them. Often, they will need to have certain temperatures and conditions to thrive, and this is not always easy to maintain on the move. Consider your pet’s specific needs and find ways that you can make sure that the pet is safe during the move. It is difficult to get into the specifics for each type of animal because they will all have their own requirements.
In some cases, such as with dogs and cats, you can simply use your own vehicle to move them. They can ride in the vehicle with you and the family, belted in as they normally are, or in a kennel carrier. Get the pet accustomed to riding in the car before the actual move. Take them out into the vehicle starting with short trips and then having those trips get incrementally longer.
If you will be traveling with your pet across Canada, make sure you plan your route accordingly. You will need to make sure you can find plenty of places where you can stop each day along the way for the pet to relieve themselves. You also want to find locations that are pet-friendly if you are going to be staying at hotels or motels during the trip.
An important note to keep in mind when you are traveling is that your dog or cat is quite likely to be nervous. They aren’t quite sure what is happening. This means that there is a chance that they could make a break for it as soon as you open the door to the car. Always have a leash on the pet before you open the door. Keep the pet calm on the trip and make them feel as if everything is normal.
You want to make sure that your pet feels at home in their new location as soon as possible. If you are dealing with a bird, fish, a hamster or a reptile, for example, this tends to be relatively easy. As long as you have their home set up properly for them, they should be fine. With dogs and cats, things can be a little more difficult. They want to feel as though they are at home, so having their bedding, toys, and other items that they had in their old home available will help them to feel better.
Even though you might be tempted to wash these items before you bring them into your new home, don’t. It tends to be a good idea if they have a nice and strong scent of the pet, the family, and the old place. It can give them a sense of being at home while they are adjusting to the new location.
In all of the excitement and work of moving and getting the pets ready for the move, you might forget about the needs of the pet after you have made the move. Namely, you will want to know who the vets are in the new area that will treat your type of pet. Take the time to look up some vets now, so you know where to go with your pet in the new location. In addition, you should take the time to look up stores in the area that have the types of pet food, treats, toys, etc. that you are accustomed to buying. While you are at it, you might want to look at some of the pet-friendly locations in the new city, such as dog parks or dog-friendly restaurants.
If you will be moving to Vancouver, Toronto, or anywhere else sometime soon, always try to make things as easy on yourself as possible. We can provide help when it comes to finding and comparing moving estimates, and even help you find cleaners, painters, help for junk removal, and more. When you find the right people to help, it will be much easier for you and your beloved pets to have a nice, smooth trip and get settled into your new home.
