Pets thrive on routine, and with a big change like a move, your pet could begin to show behavioral problems, stop eating, or even try to escape to get back to his old ‘home.’ By following these tips, you can make the move less stressful for both you and your pet.
1. Make the Transition Slowly
If you have been planning your move, you know to call the moving company, get armloads of boxes, and stock up on newspaper and packing tape, but waiting to pack and have everything moved right before moving day can wreck your pet’s nerves. By bringing in boxes slowly and packing each room up one by one, your pet will have time to adjust to the changes. By keeping a ‘safe room’ for your pet that you pack up last, your pet can have a retreat where he can hide away if things get to stressful.
2. Maintain Your Pet’s Schedule
As moving day approaches, your schedule can become hectic. Between packing, hiring local movers, remembering to change your address, switching your utilities, and cleaning both your old and new place, giving Scruffy his daily walk can fall on the back burner. By maintaining your pet’s schedule, whether it is feeding in a specific location of the house, morning walks, or one-on-one time with you after work, your pet will ease into the transition of things in his environment changing.
3. Pack Your Pet’s Overnight Bag
In the process of moving, don’t forget the things your dog needs daily! On the day of the move, having your pet’s food, medicine, bedding, and toys all in one spot can serve as both a convenience and a lifesaver if you need quick access to your pet’s leash or other belongings. If your pet takes medication, make sure you have enough on hand so you don’t have to drive across College Station to your old vet in the middle of your move!
4. Change Your Pet’s ID tag
One of the most important things you can do is to change your pet’s ID tag as soon as you can make the move. Even the most careful of pet owners can accidentally leave a window or door open, and pets are known for escaping their new homes, getting lost, and going in search of their old ones. By changing your pet’s ID tag, you add an extra measure of security in case the worst happens.
5. Consider Boarding Your Pet
If your pet has a high-level of anxiety, tends to bolt towards open doors, or is fearful of strangers or groups of people, consider boarding your dog during your move. Although you may not like your pet being away from you, keeping your pet in a safe location where he cannot be scared by loud trucks or escape open doors will give you peace of mind. There are many boarding facilities in College Station and the surrounding areas that would be happy to give Scruffy a day full of playing with other dogs or cats while you are busy during your move.
If you have any questions regarding moving, need tips or help, or want to schedule a move in College Station, Plano, Bryan, and beyond with your local moving company, visit our contact page! We’ll be glad to help!
