When Pets PCS

• Stop frequently and take your dog for a nice long walk, keep the food and water dish out for a while. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for your pet to adjust and settle down before it
  can eat.

• If your cat has been introduced to a harness this could be a great way to get your cat some exercise. You might also want to bring the cat's litter box and see if the animal will use it.

• Consider crate training prior to your departure date. Call airlines to find out if they allow pets to travel (not all airlines do) what the requirements are andhow much this will cost you (I hear good things from Alaskan Airlines). Otherwise you can call a pet-relocation service, though charges can be rather high.
  

• Try to find a direct flight route in order to expose your pet to as little stress as possible. If you have small pets ask your airline if you'll be able to bring your pet into the cabin.

• Wait for a while before letting your cat roam outside. You want to make sure your cat has accepted the new home as her/his home.

• Rub a towel on your cat to pick up his scent and rub it on walls, corners and windowsills in the new house to transfer your cat's scent to his new territory, and reduce spraying.

If you're a dog owner, you may have an easier time helping him adjust:

• Unpack the food and water bowl as soon as you get to your new house and show them to your dog. A dog will orient himself relative to his food and water bowl. Having their bowls on the floor say 'permanency' to a newly relocated dog.

• Place your dog's crate or bed in a calm but not out of the way corner and show it to your dog - this will be his safe zone to go when everything else is in such a commotion.

Sometimes it is so difficult for us to relocate, we can forget our pets are going through the transition too! However, if you prepare your pets for the relocation and know how to help them settle at their new destination, you find yourself with one less PCS puzzle piece to worry about in the long run!

If you want to learn more here are resources:

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/pets/

http://blog.petrelocation.com/blog/petrelocationcom

Have you relocated with your pet? Tell us about it...the good, the bad, and the ugly! Write your comments below.