You’ve just found the perfect new home for rent. It’s the right size, the right price, and the right location. Unfortunately, two words on the property’s ad keep you from renting: “No pets.”

When you’re looking for somewhere to move, it can seem like every rental property has a “no pets” policy. It makes sense that landlords cater to the worst case scenario: they don’t want their property to suffer damage by an untrained pet. But you’re a responsible pet owner.

Don’t despair. If you have a pet, there are still ways to find a pet-friendly place to live.

1. Look for Pet-Friendly Postings

As you search for places to live through online listings, newspaper ads, or through a real estate agent, look for properties that advertise they are pet friendly. If the advertisement doesn’t specify any pet policy, call and ask.

Keep in mind that some places may have specific pet requirements. Perhaps they only allow one cat, or maybe they prefer a certain size dog. Many places charge you a monthly fee to own a pet. This fee covers the cost of any damage your pet may cause. Make sure you’re familiar with all pet policies before signing a lease.

2. Turn to the Pet Community

Who would know better about locating pet-friendly properties than other pet owners and pet lovers? Ask your pet-owning friends if they know of any pet-friendly properties in the area. Also, contact the humane society in the city where you’ll be moving. They may have a list of nearby pet friendly properties.

Finally, consult websites such as PeoplewithPets.com that connect pet owners with pet-friendly properties.

3. Convince the Landlord of Your Responsibility

If you find a place you love that says “no pets,” you may not need to give up hope completely. Try some of the following steps:

  • Ask the landlord if he or she would be willing to meet your pet.
  • Send in a “resume” for your pet, which includes your pet’s picture and information about his or her personality and obedience training.
  • Send a letter from your pet’s vet saying he or she is up-to-date on vaccines.
  • Send the landlord a letter from your previous landlord that states you were a responsible renter.

Write an email to the landlord talking about how responsible you are as a pet owner. Talk about steps you take to prevent your pet from damaging the property.

If the landlord still says “no,” don’t push the issue.

4. Find Out If Your Pet Qualifies as an Assistance Animal

Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords should work to accommodate assistance animals. Assistance animals are pets that help people with mental or physical disabilities. Pets can train to:

  • Relieve depression and anxiety
  • Guide the blind
  • Detect seizures
  • Detect when blood sugar lowers for diabetics
  • Alert the deaf to sounds such as fire alarms, doorbells, and babies crying

To show your landlord you have an assistance animal, you’ll need a letter from your doctor or therapist that states how your pet helps you. Legally, your landlord must make a reasonable accommodation for your assistance animal.

5. Know Your Rights

If your lease does not have a pet policy, that should mean you are allowed to own pets. To make sure, ask your landlord about his or her pet policies before signing the lease.

If your lease doesn’t mention a “no pets” policy, your landlord can’t suddenly change his or her mind later on. Legally, your landlord cannot change the terms of your lease unless you agree. Your landlord also cannot evict you and your pet without going through the appropriate legal process. If you believe your landlord is doing something illegal, seek out community legal services for help.

As you prepare for your move, use these tips to find a pet-friendly rental property. Soon, you’ll find the perfect place for you and your pet.

Tagged in: lease, moving, Pet friendly, rental

When you decide to move, you give yourself a chance to start over in a new and exciting location. However, if you have a dog, you have to do a little extra work involved to make sure it enjoys the move, too. Most dogs are quite adaptable, but use the tips below to keep your furry friend as happy, healthy, safe, and secure as possible during your move.

1. Choose Pet-Friendly Housing

It might seem like a no-brainer to secure “pet-friendly” housing when you look for a new place to live. But just because a landlord allows dogs doesn’t mean your pooch will like the place. Look for a home or duplex with a well-constructed privacy fence. Especially after a big move, your dog might try to dig or break through a fence to return to familiar surroundings.

You should also see what kind of flooring the home has. Choose a home with mostly tile or wood flooring instead of carpet. Muddy paws have less of an effect on these surfaces. And lastly, ask your landlord if you can install a doggy door for easy access to late-night potty runs. Chances are good that a pet-friendly landlord will welcome the free upgrade, but double-check to make sure.

2. Update Pet ID Information

You do everything in your power to keep your pet from getting lost. You have microchips and ID tags to help it return safely home if it gets out for any reason. Remember to update these identifications to reflect your new address and home phone number.

Your pet’s microchip should have an online registration. Simply log in to your account and update your address. And you can pick up a new ID at a local pet store. Have your pooch wear both tags for a while just to be safe.

3. Travel Safety

When your moving van is all packed and you drive to your new home, follow these safety tips.

If possible, drive your dog in your personal car prior to the road trip to your new home to help get it used to the car. Dogs should sit in the back seat either in a crate or a harness. You can buy a backseat harness that clips to your dog’s collar. The collar allows your pet to freely move side to side, but your dog can’t fall backwards or forwards if you make a sudden move.

Remember to never leave your dog in a parked car while you pack or unload the moving van. Find a safe spot for your pooch, such as a bathroom or a bedroom. Keep your pet in the room with its bed, toys, food, and water so it doesn’t escape while you attend to other tasks.

4. Settle In

Once you get to your new house, take special measures to make your dog comfortable. Some dogs don’t adjust well to new places and need to be eased into them. Set up a dog area immediately and fill it with all the comforts of your old home, plus a new toy as a reward and distraction. Go on a long walk around the neighborhood to see where other dogs live and let your pooch sniff around.

5. Ask for Help

When you move with dogs, the process doesn’t have to be hard. Bring in a team of family and friends to help you relocate so you can save time and energy to care for your dog correctly. Talk to your vet about ways to ease your dog’s transition to a new home. Add a professional team of movers to your list of helpers to shorten the move time. Your dog will thank you later.

Tagged in: Dogs, Moving Tips, Pets, relocating, Travel

Moving internationally with children seems terrifying. Especially because your toddler bursts into blood-curdling shrieks with a simple drive to the grocery store. You imagine that sitting on a plane for 10+ hours with your child will be impossible, painful, and noisy. How can you entertain your children when you fly? What toys or other items should you bring on the plane with you?

Flying with children is much easier than you think. You have many different options available to you to make your flight as relaxed as possible.

Travel Documents for Your Children

Before you think about fun games and activities for your children to play, take care of the necessities first. Did you know that everyone, including your infant or toddler, requires a passport for international travel? Make sure to acquire the appropriate documents for your children. Keep their travel documents Travel Documentswith yours for easy access and a smooth trip.

Items to Ask the Airline for Before Flying

If you have small infants, ask the airline about their cot or bassinet options. Many airlines offer bassinets for families with newborns or infants. Your baby can sit or sleep in the bassinet so you don’t have to hold him or her during the entire flight.

If you want your child to sit in a car seat during the flight, ask the airline if you can bring one with you and if you’ll pay any additional fees to do so. If you need to use a stroller, ask the airline if they gate check it. If the airline does gate check strollers, they will place it in the cargo area as you enter the plane and have it ready for you at the end of your flight.

Items to Bring on the Plane

Sometimes you find it hard to entertain your child for an extended period of time. You might think that you can’t bring a lot of entertainment with you on the flight. You may also worry that some items aren’t allowed on the plane. However, you’d be surprised at how many things you can bring with you while traveling.

The items you bring with you are either necessary or for entertainment purposes. Always double check with airline policies so you know which items you can bring with you. Items to bring on the plane include:

  • A small blanket
  • Baby Tylenol and any other medication your child might need
  • Bibs
  • Bottled water from the airport (to mix with formula)plane
  • Child-friendly headphones
  • Coloring books and crayons
  • Extra diapers and wipes
  • Food, formula, and bottles for infants
  • Grocery bags for dirty clothes
  • iPad or other tablet (great for games and distracting your little one)
  • Legos
  • Lollipops to suck on during take-off (sucking on lollipops reduces any pain in your child’s ears)
  • Small puzzles
  • Small toy animals or cars
  • Snacks and empty sippy cups
  • Spare clothes (socks, underwear, shirts, etc.)
  • Spare clothes for yourself (messes happen anytime, anywhere)
  • Two or three small books

Games and Activities to Entertain Your KidsKids on plane

If the in-flight movie selection isn’t enough to entertain your children, have games and activities ready for them to dive into.

Have your child draw a picture or tell a story about the country you’re moving to. Read the books you brought along. If you can’t distract your child with pictures or stories, try some other games or activities. Plane-friendly games and activities include:

  • The alphabet game
  • Card games (Uno, Old Maid, Go Fish, etc.)
  • Gameboys or other handheld gaming devices
  • iPad games (My Little Pony, Fruit Ninja, Tsum Tsum, Super Why, etc.)
  • I-Spy
  • Make puppets out of barf bags
  • Paper toss (using cups and napkins from the flight)
  • Rock Paper Scissors
  • Storytelling
  • Tic Tac Toe
  • Travel Bingo
  • Travel Scrabble
  • Word searches

International travel with your child is easier than ever. Try out a few of these games and activities with your children before you travel. Adjust any activities to better fit your children’s likes and interests.

Tagged in: International, relocation, Traveling with Kids

While childcare is convenient for moving day, hiring a babysitter is not always an option. Some parents may prefer to keep babies and toddlers close for stability during this transitional time.

On moving day, you may find yourself juggling the responsibilities of parenthood with managing belongings and directing movers.

Moving day doesn’t need to be stressful when you have young children. With a little extra preparation, you can orchestrate a successful move while keeping little ones comfortable and out of the way.

Prepare in Advance

First, have as much of the furniture and boxes as possible in easy-to-access locations-the closer to the front of the home, the better. This will prevent movers from having to wade through your belongings or trip over children to get things loaded into the truck.

Pack and load your child’s things last. This way, they will be easily accessed longer before the move, and will be among the first things unloaded and ready to set up in your new place.

Organize a Child Moving Day PackMoving with a baby 2

While you finish up those last day-before packing jobs, set aside one or two days’ worth of essentials in a small bag that’s easily carried and tossed in the car.

The moving pack for your baby or toddler might include:

  • Food or snacks
  • A bottle or cup
  • Formula, water, or other drinks
  • 1 or 2 changes of clothes
  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • A familiar toy or book

Having these items ready in one go-to location will make meeting baby’s needs easier at this busy time.

Pick a Central Location with Activities

With things and people coming and going, you’ll want your little one in an easily supervised, yet safe location.

A playpen is a great choice, especially for older infants and toddlers. Many playpens are compact, include wheels for easy transportation, and are quickly packed away.

For younger babies, a blanket on the floor or a bouncer may be a great place. For little ones needing more attention, try hanging toys nearby or putting on some fun relaxing music for your baby to listen to.

If your child is in Baby Relocatinganother room napping during the loading process, you might want to consider an audio or video baby monitor so you can hear (or see) when your little one needs you.

Find Balance in Stimulation

Each child needs different levels of stimulation. Some are content to watch people and look around. Others, especially once past the newborn stage, need more interaction from people and things.

Small, age-appropriate activities and toys in a playpen can help entertain older babies and toddlers while mom or dad is busy.

If your television is packed away, a tablet or laptop on a chair or table makes a great option for your child to watch favorite shows.

Choose Carrying Options

There are times when children, especially infants, need to be held. For those moments, you may want to think about one of the following options:

  • Wraps
  • Front carriers
  • Slings
  • Backpack carriers

These options make multitasking easier by allowing parents to use their hands for other tasks while keeping their baby close and secure. However, they aren’t recommended if you need to lift and carry heavy objects.

Many department stores carry these options. Online tutorials also teach how to make and use these different carrying aids.

Simplify Mealtime

Food is an important routine that often comforts us. Meals with small children, however, can be messy. To minimize cleanup during and after the moving process, consider these suggestions for easier feeding:

  • Set your baby’s food aside in advance where it won’t accidentally get packed or thrown away.
  • Choose normal foods your child enjoys to increase security.
  • Select foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking.
  • Keep plenty of easy snacks handy.
  • Consider a treat to make the day special.
  • Use disposable dishes, utensils, and bibs.
  • Have a pack of baby wipes ready for easy cleanup.

If your table is already packed and moved, you may want to lay an old sheet on the floor and eat there. With a quick shake outside, the sheet can be rolled up and stashed in the car.

Plan Ahead for Peace of Mind

With a few extra steps, moving day will pass smoothly for both you and your children. Follow these tips and reduce the stress in your family’s move.

Tagged in: Infant, moving, relocating, Toddler

You’ve packed up your belongings, said your final goodbyes to your neighbors, handed your keys to the new owner, and piled into your van. It’s time to trek across the country to your new home.

If you’re traveling with kids, here are a few ideas to keep your children entertained and happy during every leg of your trip.

1. Audiobooks

If your kids are prone to dizziness or car sickness, purchase a book on tape or CD. You can also stock your smartphone music store with a wide assortment of books so your children can sit back, relax, and let their imaginations run wild. Popular children’s audiobooks include the following:

  • “The Twits” by Roald Dahl
  • “Fortunately, the Milk” by Neil Gaiman
  • “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling
  • “The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe’s Very First Case” by Alexander McCall Smith
  • “How to Eat Fried Worms” by Thomas Rockwellkids watching movies

Audiobook narrators have a way of instantly drawing readers in, leaving readers captivated throughout the entire book.

Special note: Don’t forget to bring an auxiliary cord. Without one, you won’t be able to plug the audiobook into your car’s speaker system.

2. Movies

Lights, camera, action. If your car doesn’t have a DVD player, don’t worry. You can purchase a portable DVD player for under 50 dollars and set it up between the driver and passenger seat so every child can see the screen. Popular movies include:

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid
  • Princess Diaries
  • Chicken Run
  • Enchanted
  • Fantastic Mr. Fox
  • My Neighbor Totoro

If your children aren’t close in age, ask your older kids to occupy themselves with different types of media. You might consider allowing your older kids to use your smartphone or tablet for movies, games, and other fun apps.

www.pbs.com

www.pbs.com

3. Games

If your kids tire of movies and books, play one of these road trip games to keep them happy between states.

  • Restaurant game – Find fast food restaurants along the way. Pick one fast food restaurant (Taco Bell, Burger King, McDonalds, Arby’s, or Wendy’s) and have each player choose a different fast food restaurant. You earn a point every time you spot the restaurant on the side of the road, on exit markers, or on billboards. Set a time frame and when the clock runs out, the player with the most points wins.
  • Telephone – Have one child think of a line or story and whisper it into another child’s ear. Pass the line or story along until everyone in the car hears it. When the last person hears the line or story, let them repeat it out loud and see how much it varies from the original line.
  • Twenty questions – Ask one child to think of a noun-person, place, or thing-and invite other players to ask that child one yes or no question (“Does it bite?”). After 20 questions, each player gets to make a final guess. The person who guesses correctly wins. If no one guesses correctly, the person who thought of the noun wins.

4. Snacks

To make travel time a breeze, bring a cooler with plenty of snacks and beverages for the entire family. If you constantly have to deal with one son whining because another son stole his cookie, make a special snack case for each child and set ground rules. Here are a list of things you might want to include in the personal snack case:

www.healthyfamilymatters.com

www.healthyfamilymatters.com

  • Pretzels
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Granola
  • Dried apples
  • Nuts
  • Marshmallows
  • Popcorn
  • Crackers
  • Chocolate chips

Make sure to stop for meals every few hours so you and your kids can consume something more filling than snacks. Although the prospect of a cross-country drive might seem daunting, keep your kids happy (and keep yourself sane) with a combination of the audiobooks, movies, games, and snacks listed above.

Moving when pregnant isn’t ideal. The packing and walking involved in the moving process may lead to painful back aches and swollen ankles.

Although it won’t be a walk in the park, you can still move while pregnant. If you plan for the moving day thoroughly, you can avoid the stress and body pains. Use these tips below to plan for a smooth, stress-free move for you and the baby.

Find a New Doctor

You may find that your new home is too far away to continue visiting your current doctor. A few weeks before you move, find a new doctor in your new area. Do your best to find a new healthcare provider similar to your previous doctor. You can ask your doctor for healthcare providers that they would recommend.

Once you find your new doctor, call his or her office to book your first appointment. You will need to take copies of your prenatal file and medical records to your new doctor, so make sure you get these from your old hospital before you move away.

Organize Important Documents

You should know where your important documents are at all times and have them available in case of an emergency. Pack them in an overnight bag that you plan to keep with you. These documents may include:

  • Birth certificates
  • Social Security cards
  • Homeowners insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Closing papers
  • Immunization records
  • Pack a 3-Day Bag

Many pregnant women find they have a few items they can’t live without. Whether you prefer a body pillow or a specific snack, keep a few needed objects with you during the move. You may also want to include lotion, food, and comfort items in your bag.

Pack enough items to last you at least three days.

You will find these items will bring comfort and reduce stress while you’re between houses. Having needed items on-hand will also save you from frantically searching through boxes to try and find your favorite lotion at the last second.

Arrange Childcare

If you have children and you’re pregnant, arrange childcare for the days while you’re moving. Once you start packing for the move, life will get even more hectic, and you may not have time to call someone. You can save yourself a fair amount of stress by having a babysitter come watch your kids while you focus on packing and organizing.

A babysitter ready may also come in handy if your baby comes before his or her due date. Make sure you start researching babysitters in that area well before the move. Arranging childcare in advance will reduce stress and give you enough time to interview plenty of babysitters.

Take Care of Yourself

If your family or friends oMoving Pregnantffer to help during your move, don’t hesitate to say yes. Although you may not ask for help very often, moving while pregnant should be your one exception. Your main goal should be to take care of yourself and the baby. Stay as relaxed and stress-free as possible. Your physical and emotional state can have a huge impact on your pregnancy, so take care of yourself during the moving period.

Get plenty of sleep and stay out of extreme temperatures. Take breaks from packing and drink plenty of water. Never exhaust yourself. You may also want to try eating citrus fruits to enhance your strength and energy. Schedule naps and go for relaxing walks. Plan extra time to regain your physical and mental energy.

Hire Out

No matter how much rest you get or how well you take care of yourself, you should never lift heavy objects during pregnancy.

For a safe pregnancy, consider hiring a moving company to pack and take away your home items. A moving company will keep your baby safe and reduce pressure.

These tips will help you and your baby have a stress-free move. If you feel well enough, you can try to help with the move more, but always pay attention to your body and never overwork yourself.

When you finally get into the car to start the drive to your new home, you may think you’re done with the hard part. You packed up every inch of your home, labeled boxes, and lifted everything into an enormous truck. You’re all ready for your new home—you just have to get there.

But did you think about what to do once you got in the car? Long drives can be hard with small children. And children who are nervous about moving to a new location can be even more difficult, especially in an enclosed space like a car.

To keep your long-distance drive free from incident, try playing some of these road trip games to keep your kids (and yourself) entertained.

The Animal Spying Game

If your kids are motivated by competition, let them compete by promising a quarter to the first child who can spot a particular animal on your drive. Choose an animal that you are likely to see on your trip. If you’re going through the mountains, you may try to spot a deer or fox. If you only drive through residential neighborhoods, maybe you can find a certain breed or color of dog. Once a child finds one animal, change the challenge to finding a different one.

The License Platlicense_plates_1025e Game

If you’re traveling across state lines, you have a greater chance of seeing license plates from a variety of states. Have your kids write down the different states they see on a piece of paper. Set different challenges, like declaring a winner for the first child who sees 10 different states or who finds a state with a certain letter in its name.

The Alphabet Hunt

Find various letters written on the road around you, from A to Z. Start with A and work your way through the alphabet until you and your kids have found every letter in order. You can see the letters on billboards, road signs, license plates, or even store signs as you pass through cities. Teach your kids tricks to find all the letters, especially hard ones like X, Q, and Z (Hint: these hard letters are more common on license plates than any road sign).

“I’m Going on a Picnic”

Use the alphabet to play a memory game that will challenge your kids to pay attention to the game. The first person should say “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing. . .” and then name an item that starts with the letter A, like an anteater. The second player repeats the same phrase, but adds something that starts with B to the sentence. You might say “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing an anteater and bubbles.” For even more fun, try to think of zany things to bring that will be easy to remember. If a player forgets an item in the list, they’re out. Keep playing until only one person can say the whole list without hesitating.

The Animal Name Game

This game involves spelling, so it’s best to play with children who can read. The first player names an animal, and the second player has to name another animal that starts with the last letter of the first animal. For example, if the first player says “fish,” the second player could say “hyena,” and so on. This game has no winners or losers, so no one will feel left out.

20 Questions

This classic guessing game is perfect for kids who are always asking questions. Choose one player to be “it.” This player should think of a person, place, or thing, that the others have to guess. Let’s say one player chooses “lion” for the others to guess. The other players must ask yes or no questions to figure out what the first player is thinking of. Whoever guesses correctly gets to be “it” and think of a new word.

Make Moving Fun

Moving doesn’t have to be a hassle. For more tips and tricks on how to keep moving fun for you, your kids, and everyone involved in the process, see our blog for regular updates.

Moving takes a toll on you and your kids. One of the hardest parts of moving for children is the first day of school. They have to make new friends, get to know their new teacher, and find their way around the buildings. Whether your kids are in high school or in elementary school, the transition can cause anxiety. Last year we wrote a blog about moving with kids that offered suggestions from recently moved families and what they did to create a smooth transition.

This blog goes further in-depth on how to help kids transition, specifically on their first day of school. Here are a few ways you can help your children beat the first-day jitters.

Practice the Route to School

To give your child an idea of what to expect on the first day of school, walk them through their morning routine. Go to the bus stop, then drive them to the school. Point out basic geographic locations on the way to prepare them if they ever get lost. Point out colorful billboards, shopping centers, or parks that they may remember later.

Talk with the new school to see if you and your child can come for a school tour. Most schools encourage tours to ensure new students have a smooth transition. As you walk through the school, locate homerooms, gyms, and the cafeteria. For high school students, you may want to find their locker and walk through their class schedule.

Occasionally schools assign new students a “buddy” for their first few weeks. Ask your child’s school administrators if they have a similar program. Having a buddy may help your child feel less anxiety if they know a classmate is there to help them.

Establish a Calm Morning Routine

Kids need plenty of sleep and food to deal with the stress and emotions accompanied with moving. Set early bedtimes and make breakfast in the morning to make sure they have the nutrition they need to handle the rigor of the day.

The more relaxing you can make the morning, the more your kids will feel prepared and confident about the day. Organize clothes and lunches the night before to avoid rushing in the morning. You should also wake everyone early enough so they have plenty of time to get ready. This time allows them to calmly prepare for the day and leave the house on time.

And remember to go to bed early yourself. This will help you be happier and more alert.

Make Friends with Other Families

Throughout the move, your kids will watch you as a model on how to socialize. Join a community center for a stress-free way to meet families. Or find a family in your neighborhood who has kids the same age as your own and invite them over for dinner or dessert. A dinner event will allow your kids to make friends in the comfort of your home and give them a familiar face in their new classroom.

You may also find activities for children in the community, such as summer camps or story time at a library. Look for outgoing, friendly children that will help your child adjust. You can also talk with a teacher or another parent to help bridge the gap for your child. As you socialize, don’t expect your child to talk very much. Most children assume their parents will take the lead during the socializing process.

Keep Contact with Old Friends

Help your child stay connected with old friends by throwing a going-away party. Have friends write their addresses and phone numbers down. This will give your child a way to stay connected once you move. You can also have their friends stay over for a weekend to keep your child’s spirits up after the move.iStock_000006597027Small

Consider visiting your old community if your child seems lonely. Remind your child that even though they moved, they don’t have to break ties with their old life.

Expect Changes

Don’t be surprised if you initially see a change in your child’s grades. The change may result from different curriculum requirements, teaching styles, or the emotional impact from moving. Instead of reprimanding your child for lower grades, consider a more helpful approach. Talk with them and ask what you can do to support them. Taking time to help with homework can make a big difference on their stress and anxiety levels.

Make Your Home Their Refuge

Your kids need a place to go that doesn’t intensify anxiety levels. If they come home to stressed-out parents, they won’t feel comfortable in their own home. Instead, make your home a place where they can laugh and play. Laughing helps children relax and relieve stress from an unfamiliar school environment.

Play games with your kids and help them have fun at home. This interaction will give them something to look forward to if they have a rough day at school.

Use these tips to help your child transition to a new school and help your family grow closer together during this experience.

Your pets are part of the family. So when you move, you want to make sure that your new location becomes a home to both you and your animal.

Work your pets into the details of your big day so they don’t feel uncomfortable or get left behind. We’ve already provided some tips on how to move with your pets, but now we have a checklist for every stage of your move.

Before the Move

Consider your pet from the start to ensure an easier move.

Keep your pet in mind when choosing a location.

Wherever you go, remember that your pet needs space and security. Is the location close to somewhere where it could exercise?

Are there other animals in the neighborhood that could intimidate your dog or cat?

If you will move into an apartment or condo instead of a house, make sure that the landlord allows animals. And if you move into a house, research the neighborhood to make sure your pets will be safe there. If the neighborhood sits next to an industrial park or major highway, your pets have a higher risk of injury if they leave the house.

Prepare your pet for the trip.

Purchase a roomy crate or carrier, with enough room for food and water, and get your pet accustomed to the crate. You can use the carrier as a bed or a spot for eating for a few days before the move.

Find a veterinarian.

An emergency could happen at any time, so find the location of the nearest vet before you arrive at your new home.

During the Move

Moving day might be stressful for you, but it’s equally stressful for a pet has never traveled before. Try not to transport your pet by air. If you travel across or out of the country, contact the airline and make arrangements. Otherwise, use these suggestions for a pleasant car trip.

Plan pit stops along the way and keep treats on hand.

If you plan to keep your pet in a carrier for the trip, stop on occasion to let your animal walk around and do its business. Assign one person to keep track of your pets and their needs. A treat now and then or a fun chew toy can reassure your pet through the long drive.

Find a pet-friendly hotel or kennel if you are staying overnight.

Ideally, you will be able to keep your pet with you in the hotel, but you might need to arrange other boarding for your pet overnight. Remember that you shouldn’t leave your dog alone in the car due to theft or uncomfortable weather conditions.

What about my fish?

Fish present fewer issues than furry companions when it comes to planning your move. You don’t have let them out or keep them entertained during the drive. If you keep the same tank, you don’t need to acclimate fish to a new home. You only have to worry about transporting them.

To keep your fish safe, you should:

  • Stop feeding your fish a day or two before traveling so they do not produce as much waste and use up oxygen too fast.
  • Buy an insulated cooler, durable foam container, or fish bag. You can even set up your filter system if you have a solid container. Whatever you choose, your container needs a tight lid to keep water from spilling.
  • Line the container to further prevent spills, but smooth out the lining so your fish do not get trapped.
  • Keep your bag or container with a ratio of 1/3 water and 2/3 air.
  • Bring bags of hot or cold water to keep the temperature steady.

After the MoDog Movingve

You’ve finally made it to your new location, and your pet wants to roam around. Not so fast. Before you let your furry friend settle in, follow these tips.

Make your new home or apartment safe and comfortable for your pet.

As you move in, you’re going to have boxes and objects everywhere. Clear out a spot for your pet, in the backyard or in a spot inside blocked off from your other items. Put out food, bedding, and favorite toys so the surroundings become friendly and familiar.

Check that area for:

  • Choking hazards
  • Strong cleaners or pesticides
  • Plugged-in appliances or worn electrical cords
  • Access to trash cans or elevated areas
  • Loose screens or fences

If you will allow your pets in, out of, and around the house, let your animals roam around as soon as it’s safe. You can also try introducing them to one spot at a time.

Give your pet some attention.

Moving is a long process, and you’ve likely neglected this loved member of your family. Take your dog on a walk around your new surroundings. Buy your cat a new toy. They deserve it.

Try these suggestions and make a personalized plan of your own so moving day goes off without a hitch.

Relocating is challenging for the whole family, but it can be particularly difficult for children who are forced to cope with a changing environment, especially at a new school. Rochester, N.Y. high school guidance counselor, Lindsay Tuschong gives her advice on how to ease the transition to a new school after relocating.

It is important to work through the new school year as a family effort and talk over the expectations and goals for the new year. Go over the class schedule and map of the school.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for a tour of school before the first day. If it is during the summer time, take advantage of school offered orientations,” Tuschong said. “It is always helpful for your child to have an understanding of the building layout before starting on his/her first day!”

Making friends in a new school can be an intimidating task. Many schools offer activities and sports that boost socialization as well as enhance interests.

“Parents should encourage the child to try new clubs, sports, and activities at school,” Tuschong said. “If they already enjoy something, be sure to help get them signed up to partake sooner than later.”

Tuschong continued, “Encourage your child as much as you can to use their resources at school. School counselors can help by suggesting different school based activities, and even with connecting students to community activities.”

Despite all the resources, the change may present some difficulties for the child to endure. It is important to monitor changes in the child’s attitude and keep in touch with teachers and counselors to ensure any adjustments that might need to be made.

“Change can be hard for the entire family when it comes to adjusting to a new school. Don’t be afraid to reach out to teachers and counselors at school if you fear your child is not adjusting,” stated Tuschong. “Because the school is only getting to know the child, they may need to recognize some of the struggles he or she is having. By advocating for your child early, actions can be taken at school, whether academic or personal intervention, to help them transition.”