By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
As professional movers in Little Rock, we know that moving your household can be a tough process, and it only gets tougher if you have four-legged friends who are coming with you to Little Rock. If you have dogs, felines, or both, then here are a few, basic tasks you can do to make the moving process easier on them, and on yourself to Little Rock.
Have One, Final Vet Visit
Some pets do not like visits to the vet, but if you are relocating it's imperative to be sure your animals get one, final checkup. This is very important if you're moving out of state so that you'll need to get a new vet, or if a plane trip will be required to get to your new home state. Make sure you get the pet’s vaccine records, prescriptions, and any other paperwork you are going to need. If you procrastinate until you're too far from your vet to accomplish this, it can be a huge, unnecessary stressor to add on top of your move.
Board Your Pets for Moving Day
Boarding might be stressful for furry family members who have separation anxiety, but it is lots of times a feasible answer in the long-run if you are moving to a new house. If you board your furry friends for loading day and unloading day then you don't have to fret about them being underfoot, there's not a chance of them running out of the house, and you aren't constantly looking to see where they are. It saves time, frustration, and risk, which can help your move go with less worry.
Preserve as Much Routine as Possible
Our pets like routine, and they can be nervous when it is different from normal. Changes in routine could be viewed as a threat, so it tends to create all kinds of extra stress on your pet’s part. As such, you might try to plan your move to Little Rock so that it disturbs your furry family members’ routines (as well as your own) as little as possible. Allow them to get acclimated to what's taking place gradually, and they will adjust much better. Additionally, when you move them, make sure you bring familiarity with them when you can. Favorite treats and blankets can act like a security blanket, and help your pets be calmer throughout the move.
Make Sure Your Pets Are Comfortable With Their Traveling Accommodations
Whether you own dogs or cats, you don't want to scoop them up, toss them in the car, and begin driving one day. You need to allow the time to get your cats and dogs familiarized with traveling. For example, if you have a cat, put their crate on the floor with the door open. Let them get used to it being there, and give them a little while to explore it. If you own a dog, get them familiarized with a crate, or a kennel. Take them on progressively longer car rides and get them familiarized with being passengers if possible. The more time you can allow getting your pets on-board with moving (even if they are never really going to like it), the simpler things are going to be.
Identification
Make certain and keep identification on your animals always. If the unthinkable occurs and your pet gets lost in the chaos of the move, how else will they find their way back to you? Make sure that their collar is sized correctly and that their tag includes a phone number that won’t be disconnected during the move. Getting your pet microchipped is a good idea, as well
Chill Out... Your Pets Are Watching
Moving is full of stress, there is no two-ways about that. Even if everything goes swimmingly (which it rarely does), you are going to have times where you just want to lay on the floor and pitch a good, old-fashioned temper tantrum. No matter how insane things get, though, it's vital for you to remember that little eyes are taking it all in, and that you could be scaring them.
Your furry friends are most likely under a lot of stress from the whole process of moving. New things are appearing without explanation, familiar things are going out the door, and there are new people showing up all the time. So, take a moment, take a breath, and remember that your pets need you to be calm and reassuring for them. Otherwise it might tip them over the edge of the stress meter.
If you are looking for a professional moving company in Little Rock to aid with your upcoming move, call us today!
Request a free quote
