How To Make Moving Easier For Your Furry Friends

We all know that moving can be stressful for people, and it is the same with animals. If you're a buyer who's planning to move into your new home soon or a seller who needs to move out and you have pets, here are some tips to make the move easier for you and your pets.

1. Prepare an easily-accessible 'overnight kit' that has enough dog food, kitty litter, toys and grooming tools to sustain your pet and keep them comfortable during the first few days of unpacking.
2. Become familiar with pet rules and regulations. Landlords and homeowners’ associations may have specific pet rules. Your pet may need additional vaccinations, medications or certain certificates depending on where you are moving.
3. If you're moving out of the area, inform your vet so you can take records and any prescription medications with you.
4. Find a new vet. Find a new veterinarian in your new area before moving day. Your current vet may be able to make recommendations for colleagues he or she knows in your new area.
5. Update your address. Don’t forget to have new identification tags with your new address and phone number made for your pet’s collar, and if your pet has an identification microchip, remember to update your contact information in the database.
6. During the move itself, the best way to reduce stress on an animal is to keep them in the quietest area possible. If you don't want to leave them with a friend or a kennel for the day (which is recommended), at least remove them from the action.
7. Be careful when transporting the animal to your new neighborhood because if they get out they can easily get lost. Once they're in the car, it's important to not open the kennel until the pet is in the new home, even if the pet is usually well-behaved or docile. Give them a few days in the new home to adjust.
8. After moving day, don’t let pets roam around the neighborhood until they are acclimated. Take them out on a leash to explore their new territory and show them how to get home. If you let them out in a new place right away, they might get lost or run away due to stress.
9. Be patient. Allow your pets to take their time sniffing around their new digs. Let them explore — and if they decide to hide for a while, that's OK as long as they know where the doggy door or litter box is. Allow them to come out when they are ready.