Comforting thoughts for pets

There are some things you can do to ease the stress of moving the family pets to your new home.

• Before leaving, schedule a veterinary examination to check your pet's health, obtain copies of vaccination records and a health certificate (if required), update identification tags, and discuss a tranquilizer or precautionary measures for the trip.
• If traveling to your new home by car, make sure to get your pet comfortable to auto travel by taking it on short trips around the neighborhood.
  • Don't feed your pet for seven hours prior to your trip, pack a container of fresh, cool water, and stop frequently for walks
  • If stopping at a hotel overnight, make sure the hotel allows pets
  • Never leave your pet in the car alone
  • Birds and small pets such as hamsters can travel in their cages if the cage can be placed in a stable, well ventilated area free of drafts (covering the cage while the car is moving often calms an animal)
• If shipping your pet by air, contact the airline well in advance to check regulations and services:
  • Consider direct flights to minimize the amount of time your pet will be confined
  • Select a portable air-transport kennel that's large enough for your pet to stand and move around a bit
  • Let your pet get accustomed to the kennel well in advance of the trip
  • Don't forget to mark the kennel with "Live Animal", your pet's name, your new address and phone number, and any special handling instructions
  • After boarding your plane, ask the flight attendant to confirm your pet has been loaded on the plane