Moving With Pets

Moving with pets can be a distressing and traumatic experience both for the pet and the owner. The key to moving as smoothly and painlessly as possible is to plan the entire operation meticulously and distribute the responsibilities among the various family members so that nothing gets overlooked. Discuss the moving of your pet in detail with your travel agent. He can suggest the best way to transport your pet and to handle the actual transportation arrangements. He may also be able recommend a pet handling agency.

If you are transporting your pet by air, make your arrangements well in advance. For many pets, airlines will recommend the kennels or travelling cages used by their own freight department and these are often available cheaply. Get these carriers well in advance of the departure date and let your pet get used to them gradually. It is often a good idea to start with nap time and to put a favorite toy into the carrier with them. Pets are generally loaded on the plane last so that they can be unloaded first.

When you are looking for a new home, make sure that you consult extensively with your realtor or your property management company like Glendale Property Management to find out where your pets would be most welcome. This way, there would be less trouble in settling them in. Dogs and cats have much the same problems as people in moving to a new house. They must get used to the house, the neighborhood and the surroundings and all the sights and smells. They may also need to get used to an unfamiliar climate. Keep them confined until they acclimatize themselves, otherwise they may wander off looking for their old home. Cats, in particular, can take several weeks to settle in so make sure that their favorite toys and playthings are spread around them.