Interstate moving can be potentially stressful and challenging for both neophytes and veterans.
Whether you have to move because of work, marriage, or other circumstances, getting
everything prepped for moving can be a stressful endeavor. This is all the more confusing and
stressful for pets, as they see the familiar place they call home become devoid of items they
normally see. They may not be familiar with what’s happening, and as such interstate moving
can be a potentially extremely stressful thing for them to experience. You have the means to help
them avoid getting this much stress, however, especially with this article.
If you’ve decided to move, you’re not exactly alone – in fact, around 35.5-million Americans
actually move every year. Of these numbers, around 34-percent actually choose to relocate to a
different county or a different state. Why people move generally vary, and there’s no
overwhelming statistic. A lot, however, do move to relocate, to establish a household, for other
personal “family” affairs, and others due to job transfers and even to find cheaper housing. A lot
of people who move also tend to be renters, with 21.7-percent of registered renters moving to
new locations in 2017.
Now that you’re becoming part of this huge demographic, here are ways for you to help your pet have a comfortable time moving with you:
● Get them a new toy when you move: Try to introduce new changes to your pet slowly
as you begin your preparations to move. While you pack away your things, introduce a
new toy to your pet that they could keep anywhere. Try to make sure the new toy is with
them throughout the entire trip so they get distracted as well. This allows them to have a
new distraction or something to at least get their attention when you feel they’re
becoming anxious.
● Bring old toys: In the same token, try to retain a semblance of “normality” in the pet’s
life by bringing some of their old toys with you when you move. This at least gives them
a sense of peace that while their environment may have changed, they still have their
oldest companions with them.
● Keep them with treats and entertainment: Throughout the moving process, try to give
more treats to your pets and give them a bit more attention than usual. This can help
distract them from the things that are slowly “disappearing” from where they were used
to. Praise them more, teach them newer tricks, and just spend more time with them so
they feel as though they’re also part of the moving process and they’ll be moving with you.
● If they have a shelter or a “house,” ask the moving company if they can also bring it
with them: Companies you can find in the list of top interstate movers at 9kilo.com more
or less specialize in various things, so do ask if you can bring your pet’s shelter with you
when you go to your new home. This allows you to at least give your pets their usual
“residence” even in a new environment. This also allows them to have a safe space to
“retreat” to whenever they’re uncomfortable with their new home.
● Take them to their new home: Try to visit the new home you’re moving to with your
pet every now and then. Try to stay somewhere nearby for a few nights with your pet and
take them near the home during the day. Get them acquainted with the neighborhood
slowly, and maybe meeting another dog (perhaps the neighbor’s?) could help decrease
their stress when they do arrive in the destination. This also helps them get used to the
travel time needed to get to your new home once the move starts.
The Takeaway:
Interstate moving can be stressful especially when you’ve just decided to do it, and during the
entire packing and unpacking process. If it weren’t for your mover, you may even have to drive
everything to your new place. However, if you have a pet, you have to make sure you allot just
as much attention to them as you do in making sure everything is in tip top shape, as you also
have to make sure your pet will get acquainted with the entire moving process or else they’ll find
it hard to adapt to their new environment.
Steve Acker
Steve Acker has been writing as a frustrated novelist for the past 15 years, and he's got into blog writing very recently thanks to the suggestion of a friend. As a contributor to sites such as 9kilo, Steve has applied his creative flair to his pieces, making them entertaining and informative at the same time. He loves reading books and talking with his friends in the nearby coffee shop if he has the time.
