Just because you’re ready to move doesn’t mean your pets share the same sentiment. Pets have an instinctive fear of new surroundings and may react to residential moving in a variety of ways. For a successful relocation of your pets, Desert Moving Company & Storage’s local movers offer these insights:
Relocating with Pets
- Pets cannot be shipped on moving vans. Don’t even think about letting the local movers relocate them in such condition.
- Keep your pets on a leash when they’re outside, as they may become frightened or run away.
- Make sure your pet wears an identification tag with its name, your name, and contact number.
- Consider shipping smaller pets by air express.
- Consult with your veterinarian about using mild sedation on your pet during the trip.
Entry requirements
- If you’re moving across state lines, check with your new State Veterinarian or State Department of Animal Husbandry. A good place to start is the U.S. State and Territory Animal Import Regulations website.
- Interstate health certificates must be obtained for dogs and horses prior to entering most states.
- States require a rabies vaccine for dogs and many require it for cats. Hawaii requires that cats and dogs be quarantined for 120 days.
- Some pets must have an entry permit issued by the destination state’s regulatory agency.
- A few states have border inspection of all animals being transported; others have random inspections.
Local community laws
Check your local community laws. Some neighborhoods have pet control and licensing ordinances. In some cases, the number of pets is limited.
Air travel checklist
- Make reservations well in advance and follow airline instructions.
- Get a shipping container a week or two in advance. Allow your pet time to familiarize with it by placing him/her in it a few times each day. Gradually lengthen the time until the pet seems to be at ease with it.
- Carefully schedule boarding and shipping arrangements for your pet to assure that the pet is well cared for until you are able to receive it at your new home.
- Feed your pet no less than five or six hours before flight time. Give the pet a drink of water no less than two hours before the flight.
- If your pet is accompanying you, arrive at the terminal 45 minutes before normal check-in time.
- If shipping the pet, get to the freight terminal two hours in advance of the flight.
- Make sure that names, addresses, and telephone numbers of people responsible for the pet both at origin and destination are clearly marked on the container and on the pet’s identification tag.
- Notify the person receiving the pet that it is on the way. Give them the flight and waybill number.
- Pets can usually be picked up within 90 minutes of flight arrival.
Car travel checklist
- If your dog or cat is not used to traveling by car, make short trips with the pet a week or two in advance to familiarize them with such environment.
- Dogs should be taught to lie quietly. Don’t let your dog put its head in the wind as that can irritate its eyes and cause problems.
- Use folding kennels or crates designed for minivans.
- Always put your pet on a leash when outside your vehicle or hotel.
- If you must stop overnight, check in advance for hotels that allow pets.
- Be sure that your pet is properly tagged and its rabies tag is firmly attached.
- Pet travel kits should include the following: food, water, dishes, leash, treats, favorite toy, some type of bedding, a can opener (if needed), a scooper, and plastic bags for clean up.
- To be on the safe side, ask your veterinarian if using a sedative would be appropriate.