Moving Without the Family Pet

Moving can be difficult on the whole family and pets are no exception. Whether you have a hamster or a Great Dane, changing their everyday routine can be really stressful on your pet. Traveling over long distances will only make things worse. Some families may choose to use a professional pet transportation service like Royal Paws to transport their pet. Although pet transportation services are designed to transport your pet with a minimum amount of stress, being in unfamiliar surroundings may still take some time to adjust to.

Pets in General

Most pets and particularly dogs do not like to be away from their owners for extended periods of time. The absence of a family pet can be just as stressful on the whole family, especially children. American Van Lines movers in Charlotte would like to offer you some useful tips to help your family and pets adjust to their new surroundings. The first thing that you need to understand is how different pets react differently to moving. It is a good idea to research the state laws for pets because they may differ from your current state and you can be held liable if you don’t abide by them, especially if you own an exotic animal.

Dogs

For dogs there are a few things that need to be done before the actual moving day to help make the transition easier. You should try and keep dogs away on moving day. Dogs can sense different emotions and seeing everything being packed and moved – especially if you are using the moving company Charlotte residents trust - it can really excite your dog to see new people. Consider taking a visit to the veterinarian for a routine checkup, to get a copy of health records and possibly get a referral for another vet near your new location. Ask a friend or neighbor who is familiar with your dog to look after it. If you cannot find anyone to look after your dog, you should put him in an empty room or in your back yard with a doggie bed and some chew toys until all of the packing and loading is complete. Once you are in your new home you should wait until all of your furniture is in place before bringing your dog inside. A doggie bed, water bowl and chew toys should be placed in the same location within your new home as it was in your last home. You should make sure to update dog tags to include your new phone number and address.

Cats

Cats are just as temperamental when it comes to moving. Just as with dogs you should consider leaving them with a friend or family member, this is all the more crucial when dealing with cats because they are naturally harder to keep track of. Much like dogs having something familiar to come home to like a scratching post or a familiar rug can help your cat adjust to his surroundings.

Smaller Pets – Birds, Fish & Hamsters

Birds are usually easy to move because they are just as happy in their cage as long as they have the proper ventilation and plenty of food and water. Fish should be removed from their tank and transported in proper travel containers. Small animals like hamsters are not really a problem as long as you use well ventilated metal or chew resistant plastic.

Children are a bit trickier when it comes to moving as you will be confronted with the task of having to explain where the family pet is during the move. Some kids may worry that the family pet was left behind. You should include kids in the whole process if you plan to use a pet transportation service. Allow them to come along when you choose who will transport your pet and allow them to ask questions when you do make a decision. Assign your kids the task of keeping track of your pet’s supplies, this will reassure them that your pet is in fact just traveling and will arrive shortly. By taking these precautions you will ensure that both your family and pets adjust to your relocation with minimum resistance.

Visit your preferred Charlotte movers regularly for more interesting facts and moving tips!