The emotional stress associated with moving can be difficult enough for adults and children to get through, but what about our pets, with whom we cannot communicate to explain what is happening?
Owners of pets often find themselves mystified by their pets’ behavior both during and following a move. It can be a regression in housebreaking habits, a sudden illness or even a strange personality change, but even if nothing this dramatic occurs then I don’t think you should harbor any illusions that your pet is not experiencing stress during this time. The only question is what can you do during relocation to keep the strain on your pet to an absolute minimum?
If you are intending to move by air cross-country then contact the airlines before making any reservations to find out which will allow pets onboard as ‘animal passengers’. Around 750,000 pets per annum make airline trips and the great majority of the major airlines, including Delta, Continental, Northwest and American, will all allow animal passengers so long as temperatures outdoors are within a particular range. Owners can carry pets onboard as ‘carry-on baggage’, or they can be placed as ‘checked baggage’ within the cargo section of the plane, weather permitting of course. Airlines have a number of established regulations as to the number of animals allowed on board per flight, as well as size and weight limitations.
If you are thinking about having your pet travel as checked baggage, you should consider that the experience could be traumatic given that the area is not lit and that the safety of tranquilizers has been questioned.
Lance Grooms