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My husband, youngest son, our dog, cat, and I recently packed our belongings and headed to our new home in Florida. The trip was mapped at approximately 3200 miles from Washington State to the Tampa Bay area. Although we were excited for our adventure, we had several concerns about the cross-country move: many revolving around the process of relocating with our pets.
Holly is our ‘spotted, dotted clown.’ She is an eleven-year old Dalmatian-mix who is always up for an adventure, especially when it involves a car ride! Fred is a different story. He is a sixteen-year old housecat who jumps at every noise, and hates riding in a carrier. Fred has become rather cranky in his old age.
We purchased a cat harness for Fred and a dog harness for Holly. Besides looking quite smashing, both animals were easy to lead on leashes. This assured us that neither would back out of their collar.
Some animals are easily spooked. Strange smells, new surroundings, and many other factors may incite the desire to run. If you do not have your pet microchipped, it is worth the effort and the cost to do so before heading out of town. To find a local vet who offers this service, click
www.localmicrochips.com.
Our Holly is an active old gal. If your pup needs some recreation time on your trip, you can plan to stop along the way. To map out dog parks, state by state, check out
http://www.ecoanimal.com/dogfun.
The trip was long, hot, and at times, boring, but our pets handled the adventure without a problem. Holly took every opportunity to stick her face into the wind when the window was down, and Fred was agitated, (but that is his nature).
Here is my list of things to consider when traveling long distances with your dog or cat:
- Take some ‘practice drives’ with your whiskered sweeties. If they are not used to riding, it might be easier for them if they have experienced a few quick trips before the big one.
- Have an identification tag made with your cell phone number and an emergency contact number, www.loveyourpets.com.
- Lay a blanket on the seat or carpet to protect your car’s interior from car-sick pets.
- Bring a reliable upholstery-cleaning product for unexpected problems.
- Keep small garbage bags and disposable litter boxes handy.
- Carry a gallon (or more) of water and a small bowl in case water is unavailable.
- Make sure you have enough food for the trip. Dry food can be easily portioned into plastic food storage bags.
- A small amount of shampoo and a towel can be taken in case your pooch finds a puddle, or worse!
Enjoy your travels and don't forget the camera!
Laura Kepner is a resident of Safety Harbor, Florida. She can be reached by e-mail at leksink@gmail.com
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