Moving with Pets
Most pet owners feel their pet is a
member of the family. Remember
that your pet can feel your anxiety
and may show unusual personality
traits at this time. Try to keep
your routine as normal as possible.
Remember, a long trip can be even
tougher for an animal than a human.
Take this into consideration
when moving your pet, and everyone should
arrive on the other end
safe and happy.
Tips
- Cats and Dogs
may be shipped by air or taken along
in the family car. If you are
flying to your new destination, check with
airlines regarding size
requirements to take a cat or dog into the
passenger cabin with you.
If you are transporting your pet in the
baggage department, talk to
your veterinarian about up-to-date shots and
a health certificate.
You may want to ask for tranquilizers to give
your pet just before
heading to the airport. Make sure to put a piece of
clothing with
your scent on it in the animals box so it will feel more
at home
during transportation. If you're driving, be sure to precheck
with
hotels and motels along the route to make certain your dog or cat
will
be welcome.
- Hamsters,
birds and other small animals
can be
easily transported in your car. Make sure they have enough
food and
water in their cages and are out of drafts or extreme
temperatures. It
is a good idea to cover their cages with a cloth to
keep them quiet and
restful.
- Fish are very difficult to transport.
In general,
it is impractical to move an aquarium with fish in it. A
gallon of water
weights 8 pounds, so a small ten-gallon aquarium
will weight almost a
hundred pounds when filled. Plan on giving the
fish away with a promise
to restock the aquarium when you arrive at
your new home.