I thought I would share some tips from my personal and professional experience regarding making a move with a pet. This is probably intended more for someone making a long distance move, but should be helpful to anyone with one or more pets and if you are moving a short distance.

My experience extends only to moving dogs and cats, so if you need help with turtle, snakes, rabbits, horses, hamsters, etc. this advice may or may not be applicable. A call to your veterinarian is ALWYAS a good starting point, as well as to other friends you know who have experience.

1. Have a discussion with your vet about his/her suggestions for moving your pet. Let your vet know when you are traveling (summer months vs. winter) and for how long a distance (a few hours, overnight, several days).

2. Find out if your vet has any special concerns about your pet's ability to travel (pet is sickly, very old, has special dietary needs).

3. Make sure you get a copy of your pet's records (or at a minimum get permission from your vet to release them). Ask if your vet has a recommendation for a vet in your new location and can provide an introductory call. If not, once you locate a new vet yourself you can put the new vet in touch with your old vet if there are issues to discuss, as well as to sign the necessary release forms for records (I have found that in general vets are pretty helpful and willing to share information with another professional, but they all operate differently and use different treatment procedures/drugs/technology so don't expect your new vet to treat you and your pet exactly the same as the former one).

4. In your new location (if you don't have a recommendation) ask any new acquaintances or neighbors who have pets who THEY recommend. Feel free to ask how they like their vet and to share about concerns they have. You want to make sure you can readily find a vet to treat your pet if there are issues that arise (which can happen easily with a long trip and to a new climate).

5. If you are traveling to a new state you may want to ask if there are any special requirements you need to provide regarding your pet, such as a clean bill of health, when you enter the state. I don't know if this is an issue in any particular state (we had no issues with CA, MN, MA).

NOTE: If you are traveling overseas, however, you will find that a number of countries have quarantine requirements which can be up to 6 months. Don't get surprised by not checking into this first.

That's it for now - more on relocating with pets later.

Here's the newest addition to the house (as of July 2005) - Berkeley, who is now a bit over 1 year old. Climbed the bamboo screen one day and found a great napping spot on the Grandfather Clock. Berkeley, when he was about 5 weeks old, was a rescue cat from Tijuana, Mexico that had been abandonned along with 4 siblings..

re: Relocating with Pets

re: Relocating with Pets