Preparing for Moving Day with Your Pet

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. If you're moving out of the area, contact your vet so you can take records and any prescription medications with you. Ask for a vet recommendation in your new neighborhood.
3. During the move itself, leave your pet with a friend or family member or kennel for the day. Try to feed or walk them at the time you usually would; having some sense of a routine in the midst of all the changes will help a lot.
4. Take your pet to the new house in your own vehicle. Cats and dogs can be put in a carrier or kennel. Some animals feel more comfortable if you throw a blanket over their carrier during the car ride so they can't see the environment changing outside.
5. Don’t let your pet out of the carrier or kennel until you’re inside your new home. If they accidentally get out, they might get easily lost in the new neighborhood.
6. Make sure to update collar name tags. If your pet has a chip, be sure to contact the company that services the chip to give them your new address in case your pet gets lost.
7. Have a photograph on hand of your pet to show the neighbors should your pet get lost,
8. Set up as much as you can in your new home, even just in a room, before you introduce the animal to the new home. Confine them to a section of the house while they slowly adjust to their surroundings. Give your pet lots of attention and introduce familiar objects like toys or blankets as soon as possible. Make them feel as at home as you do.

 To learn more, please call Robyn Porter at 301-320-8349 or email [email protected].