Published on Saturday, 21 July 2012
Relocation basically means to move the entire family plus their belongings to a new place. And to the family members often happen to belong one or more pets. Here are some guidelines on how to handle the beloved pet during relocation.
A relocation is stressful for people as well as for pets. In most of the time chaos and noise rule the house. Pets perceive that quickly and get nervous.
You could solve the problem with ease by just letting the pets stay at a friend's while you move out. Accommodate it there on the night before you move out and don't take it back until you have moved in and settled at the new place. So your pet is having a few peaceful days and can familiarize with its new home after most of the chaos is over.
If you aren't so lucky to have a suitable place to keep the pet away, stop worrying. There are transportation boxes specially for small pets. Cover the bottom of the box with hey or some soft fabric. Put some water and food in a bowl and the favourite toy of your pet in inside too. Take this transportation box, together with its precious inhabitant, in the car with you.
Also in the car you are using to get to your new home should be placed the boxes with the rest of the pet's stuff. So you shall have with you the entire time:
- the telephone number of the previous vet
- the telephone number of a vet near your new home
- a reasonable supply of pet food and a big bottle of water
- a sleeping cover, basket or box
- a brush, dog's shampoo or other items needed to wash or calm down your pet.
If you have a dog, that is too big to go in a transportation box, have it on the leash the entire day. You really don't need the extra trouble of finding it, if runs away or hides, or the extra reordering or cleaning if it makes some mess. Moving day is stressful enough as it is. Always take the dog in your car. Never let it travel in the back of a truck or with people it doesn't know.
An advise I have from a vet: never give your pet sedatives to make them calm! If you find yourselves in an impossible situation, call your vet and let him handle the situation.
As soon as you get to the new place, take the transportation box with the out, or get the dog out of the car. Let the box or bind the dog on a relatively quiet place inside or in the yard. Don't forget to check if it has enough food, water and some toys. After all the strangers have left, let the pet free to explore the new home. Take your time while it snuffles and gets familiar with the environment. Arrange the corner where the pet is going to sleep now and make sure the pet is aware of that.
On the next day find the time to take your dog for a long walk in the area. Keep it on the leash the first couple of times you go out with it. Introduce yourself and your dog to neighbors who also have dogs.
Another advise from a vet: if you have a cat, don't let it leave the new residence at least three weeks! Cats need time to attach to a place. Only afterwards they can go out and come back in.
