Moving to a new home is both an exhilarating and stressful experience, regardless of how many people are involved and how far you are moving. When you add kids into the equation (as we discussed a couple of weeks back) or pets, the situation can become even more overwhelming. This is especially true during the hot summer months, as this time of year can be particularly tough on animals in general. As a responsible pet owner it is important that you do everything you can to ease your pet’s anxiety and help them get acclimated to their new environment as quickly as possible.
In order to ensure your move goes off without a hitch and everyone gets to the new place happy and healthy, take these tips for moving with pets into consideration:
- Make sure your new home is ‘pet-proofed’. Before you bring your dog or cat to your new home, it is important that you do a once over and make sure that the space is ready for animals. It is recommended that you allow your pet to adjust to one room (which will serve as their home base) before letting them have free reign of the house.
- Fill their space with their favorite toys, treats, water, and food bowls. As soon as you get to your new home, make sure you help your pet acclimate by filling their space with some of their favorite and most comforting items. Moving to a brand new home can be overwhelming, which is why it is important that you do everything you can to help them adjust and not get too stressed out.
- Keep them in a quiet area during the actual move. If possible, it is a good idea to keep your pet in a quiet space during the actual move. If you can’t leave them with a friend or boarding facility for the day, try to remove them from all the frantic action of packing and moving. Whether this means emptying a bedroom on a separate floor and closing the door or putting them in the backyard, take extra care to ensure they are not exposed to a stressful and worrisome situation.
These three tips should give you a good place to start when it comes to moving with your pets during the summer. Remember, animals experience many of the same emotions as us humans do, so it is important to make sure they feel safe and secure come moving day.