Tips for Moving with Your Pet
Moving to a new home is stressful enough for humans, who understand what is happening. Pets can only sense that a change to their comfortable life is on the horizon, and they can actually be more anxious about a move than we are. Here are a few tips to make the transition to a new home as smooth and safe as possible for your pet, whether you are moving just across town, out of or into a new Bucks County home, or all the way across the globe.
Vet check – Before the big day, get a complete vet check for your pet. Having your regular vet examine your pet will be more comfortable for your pet, and assure that you can have the safest trip possible. Consider talking to your vet about the potential need for medication for pets who don’t like to travel, or have motion sickness. Be sure to find a vet in your new location before the move, and bring all records with you for a seamless transition.
Travel bag – Like an easy access carry on for yourself, be sure to bring necessities for your pet, including extra food, medications, first aid items, litter and familiar toys. Some pets do well to travel with a shirt worn by their owner the day before, to give them a “scents” of security. Be sure to keep a recent photo of your pet, in case you are separated for any reason on your trip.
New Laws & Regulations – Pet laws and ordinances vary by state, city and even neighborhood. Talk to local police, animal control, humane organizations or your homeowners’ association to learn about leash laws, vaccine requirements, restrictive breed laws, noise ordinances or other regulations that may affect your pet.
Air travel – Air travel with your pet can be an extra stressful way to move with your pet, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. Plan any air travel with your pet as far in advance as possible. Ask the airline about approved carriers and extra costs for your pet. You will need to determine with the airline if your pet can travel with you in the cabin, in the baggage area, or in a temperature-controlled hold area. (In the winter months, it is very important to confirm the temperature of the travel area for your pet.) If you are traveling out of the country with your pet, visit the USDA’s website for any further requirements.
Car travel – Invest in a safe restraint for your pet during your move by car, to ensure a great move day. Cats, who especially dislike car travel, do best in a carrier. You can try a seat harness or restraint for your dog. Give your pet a while to get accustomed to the new restraint, but trying it on short trips around town. Be sure to make advance reservations at pet-friendly accommodations if your move into your new home will take more than one day. You can search online for pet friendly lodging at sites like PetsWelcome.com, but be sure to confirm that your choice of accommodation has not changed its pet policy.
Moving day safety – On the day you move out of one house or into another, try to keep your pet in a safe, quiet location. A crate in the bathroom may be the safest and coziest for your pet. Put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, and keep a regular feeding and walking schedule to reduce any extra stress of the day.
Get pet used to new home – At your new home, it’s best to keep your pet on leash and watch them when outside. If not moving far from home, pet may try to return to old house. Let new owners know your new contact info and a picture of pet in case. Keep cats in one or two rooms to start out with, with their food, water, toys and litter box with them. Be sure to complete a pet-proofing check of your new home for any potential means of escape or injury.
Update contact info – Get a new Pet ID tag with your new contact information as soon as possible. If your dog is microchipped, make sure to inform the company of your new address and phone number.
Your move can be smooth and exciting for you, your family and your pets. Contact me if you would like more moving day information, including checklists.
Continue Reading > Add a Comment |Unique Pet Furniture Design for Your Home – Bucks County, Yardley, Newtown, PA
Huntsman Architectural Group’s 2012 Petchitecture donation. Photography: Michael Tedesco Photography.
To homeowners in Yardley, Newtown and all of Bucks County, PA: Having a pet in the home doesn’t mean that you have to hide unattractive dog beds and cat jungle gyms when guests come to visit. Fashionable and chic pet furniture that adds to the décor of your home is becoming popular. Some is so beautiful that you might wish that you could use it yourself.
Inman News provided some useful ideas for pet friendly designs that will add to the aesthetic value of your home. Say goodbye to ugly scratching posts and metal dog crates!
Pet owners, contact me if you are looking to put your Bucks County home on the market. I will help you stage and market your pet-friendly home to sell quickly.
Continue Reading > Add a Comment |Dog Trouble in Yardley
For as long as I can remember, we have owned dogs.
Our lovable American Eskimo, Quincy
We have had Goldens, Burmese Mountain Dogs, and currently have an American Eskimo, Quincy. We are very fortunate in the Yardley area to have a wonderful array of very qualified, and caring vets to choose from.
We have recently been dealing with very troubling, and confusin,g symptoms with Quincy. Unfortunately, we learned firsthand about a local emergency care service, that does an absolutely amazing job caring for all sorts of pet emergencies and diseases.
Quincy had Lyme disease a number of months ago, and was treated without further incident. He looked and acted normally, until about 10 days ago. He suddenly became very lethargic and wasn’t eating the way he normally does. Our local Vet ran several tests, but we could not find a cause. We ended up taking him to a place called Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center. I can’t say enough good things about how caring they are, and how amazing their service is.
Quincy had to stay there for a couple of nights, while they ran additional tests. All of the staff at VSEC are incredibly caring and respectful. We were able to visit Quincy whenever it was convenient, and they are wonderful about following up, and keeping owners informed about what is happening. VESC is a wonderful resource for pet owners in the Yardley, Langhorne, Newtown area, and for anyone owning pets in Bucks County and beyond. It is a place that you would like to avoid, but when necessary, it is just a fabulous resource.
At this point, Quincy is doing better, but we are still searching for a final diagnosis, although it is possible that his symptoms will resolve, and we will not know what caused his symptoms. We are hoping for that.
Continue Reading > Add a Comment |10 Steps to Make Moving Easier for Your Pet
I am a dog lover. My family has virtually always had dogs. Over the years, we have had Golden Retrievers, Burmese Mountain dogs, and we currently own an American Eskimo, Quincy. That is Quincy in the picture.
I subscribe to a magazine called Your Dog, which is a wonderful newsletter published by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. The current issue had a very helpful article, called “10 Steps to Tame the Chaos of a Move.” Considering what I do, this could not be more appropriate to share with people.
So, here are the ten steps to tame the chaos of moving with your pet:
1. Prepare for home invaders. The article suggests asking your realtor, or friends, to actually do a test run of showings. Put your dog in a place that you feel would be the best for showings, leave the house, and have your realtor or a friend actually come to the house as though they were a prospective buyer. If the dog was fine, you are probably good to go. If not, try and develop a Plan B. Perhaps a dog walker for showings, or something of that sort.
2. Secure your dog in a safe place. If workers are coming to the house, put your dog in a safe, secure place, while the work is being done. Exercise him/her well, before the workers arrive, and consider leaving a radio on.
3. Condition your dog to the presence of moving boxes. The article suggests conditioning your dog to the fact that good things happen when boxes are around. For instance, if UPS delivers a box, offer the dog treats. You can actually move boxes around, along with providing treats, to get your dog used to being around moving boxes.
4. Take advantage of the dog’s crate. If used properly, crates provide a sanctuary for dogs. Don’t forget to take advantage of this when moving.
5. Introduce your dog to his new home gradually. This works if you are moving locally, and have access to the house, before actually moving in.
6. Introduce your dog to new family members. It is helpful to introduce your pet to new family members, human or otherwise, so that they are allowed to develop a positive relationship before the move, if at all possible.
7. Let your dog play the packing game with you. Although packing for a move is stressful for you, it can also be stressful for your dog. You can make a game of packing by tossing a toy for him/her to fetch while you are packing, and using treats to reward the dog. It will create a more positive environment for your dog.
8. Practice car trips. This definitely makes sense, and it is something we did not do a very good job of with Quincy. About the only time Quincy gets in the car is for a trip to the vet. As a result, he doesn’t like getting in the car at all! Get the dog used to the car before you move.
9. Plan your trip. If you are doing a fairly long distance move, make sure you plan for regular stops, and keep your driving times reasonable, so you can take the dog on walks each evening.
10. Consider medication. According to the article, if your dog is particularly stressed and reacts badly to change, it is perfectly acceptable to speak with your vet about medication.
If you would like a copy of the actual article, please contact me by phone or email, and I will email you a copy of the full article.
Continue Reading > Add a Comment |Chat With Marty