Take the Stress out of Moving with Pets

When you’re planning a move, don’t forget about the other members of the family that – like young children – can’t understand why they’re being uprooted from their familiar home and confined for hours, only to find themselves in strange new surroundings when the journey ends. You need to plan in advance to ensure that the relocation of your pets goes smoothly too.

At the same time, don’t make the mistake of thinking of them as humans. You may be tempted to ply them with treats as you would a child, but the change in diet, together with the stress of moving, may result in digestive problems. Rather, adhere to their regular food and routines to make the move less disruptive.

Although regular moving companies aren't allowed to transport pets, a professional moving company like All Jersey Moving & Storage is committed to making your whole move as stress-free as possible.

Here are some of the things to keep in mind when moving with your pet:

It's a good idea to book a veterinarian appointment to ensure that your pet is healthy and that all immunizations are up to date. If you're moving to another state, make sure that you have an Interstate Health Certificate issued no earlier than 7 days before the animal’s travel date. Also, bring copies of your pet's health records to pass along to the new vet.

We’ve all heard the stories of pets travelling hundreds of miles to return to their old home. Hopefully this won’t happen to you, but it’s a good idea to:

• have recent photos of your pet
• note unusual identifying markings
• implant an ID chip
• put a tag with your new address on his or her collar.

Even though All Jersey Moving & Storage will take care of all your moving needs on the big day, you may want to board your pet overnight or ask a friend to pet sit so you can focus on other aspects of the move.  In addition, the unusual activity and unfamiliar people on moving day could upset your animals.

It's also important to keep your pets in mind when you're packing. Take a look at our insider packing tips. If you’re doing it yourself, ensure that you mark the containers clearly so pets have their familiar items available as soon as possible. All Jersey Moving & Storage specializes in commercial moving or residential moving within a 500-mile radius with same day or next day service. Even so, remember to have plenty of food and toys available throughout the moving process and be sure that they are easily accessible upon arrival.

There are also time sensitive issues when moving fish. The aerobic bacteria in the tank start to die when the flow of oxygen is cut off so for a move of over two hours, you’ll need to restart the colony. Remember too that you’ll need to allot yourself time to disassemble and reassemble the tank as your fish can’t be transported in it. You will also need an alternative container to house the fish in the interim. Unfortunately, despite taking all precautions, it’s common to lose several fish as they don’t travel well.

Birds are also affected by the stress of a move.  For a shorter journey, you can transport them in their regular cage but make sure that there are no swings or mirrors in the cage that could fall on them. Obviously leaving food and water in the cage will create a mess but make sure to hydrate your birds throughout the trip. If the journey is a long one, you can rent a special bird carrier. As with all pets, make sure that you try carriers out beforehand to reduce anxiety.

If implementing these measures for your pets seems overwhelming, you may want to consider using a professional moving company like All Jersey Moving and Storage to handle some or all of your packing.  This ensures that pet owners arrive at the new destination more organized, relaxed and better able to help settle in their pets.