We love and adore our pets.  And in the middle of all the moving parts of a move, sometimes they can get easily forgotten.  But they need your attention too.  Here are some easy ways to give Fido and friends some love during this transition.

1)       Our pets mirror our emotions.  Remember the less stressed you are, the less stressed they are – so make sure to take plenty of deep breaths and reality checks for both you and your pet.

2)      Keep all of your pet’s “necessities” easily accessible throughout your move.  Pack all of your pet’s “non-immediate” items in one box, label the box clearly and ask the movers to have it easily accessible upon arrival to your new home.

3)      Have a Pet Plan for move day.  You don’t want them to get underfoot or dash out the front door as the movers carry your sleeper sofa.  Ideally they could stay somewhere they are used to – for example with a friend, relative or neighbor they know.  Or perhaps at the local kennel where they stay when you are on vacation.   Another option is to keep them in a specific room of the home – remembering that you will need to switch rooms when items need to be removed.  Of course let the movers know that your pet is in that room.

4)      Planes, trains and automobiles.  The Humane Society highly recommends transporting your animals via car.  Unfortunately airlines are notorious for treating your pet as “mere baggage.”  However there is a website called www.petflight.com that can give you the more “pet-friendly” airlines.  If you are traveling by car, and you know this stresses your pet, ask your vet what you can do to keep them as calm as possible.  Also keep in mind that if you are going to need to stay in a hotel, that not all hotels are pet-friendly – so make sure you find one that is.  Also bring along your pet’s favorite toy/blanket etc. so that they have something that smells and feels familiar along the route.  As far as trains, it would appear that none of the national carriers allow pets as passengers.

5)      Familiarity breeds comfort.  Don’t change their food.  This can wreak havoc on their stomach when they can least handle it. Try to keep everything as similar as possible – food, toys, bed, kitty litter, leash etc.

6)      Get your ducks in a row (especially if your pet is a duck! Quack. Sorry couldn’t help myself.)  Make sure you have your animal’s vet records with you.  Also make sure their vaccines and check-ups are up-to-date.  As soon as you have a new phone number, make sure to get your pet a new tag with the correct info.   You also may need to get a pet license in your new location.