Make Moving Easier Complete Guide - Make Moving with Pets Easier | Page 17

even the best pet owners sometimes make mistakes when moving with their
beloved animals. To help you have a successful move that works for the entire
family, here are common errors to avoid.
Mistake 1: Picking the Perfect Home... for a Pet-Free Family
Maybe you've been house hunting for ages, and a home you absolutely love
comes on the market. It's in your price range and in a perfect location, and,
now that you think about it, maybe you've actually always wanted to live in a
multi-level home with a big, sparkling pool! And living on that busy road will
actually be really convenient for your daily commute, right?
Hold up. Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you're choosing a home
that's appropriate for your pets, keeping in mind both their current needs and
potential future needs. Obviously, you'll want to make sure the home or
neighborhood is pet-friendly —a point that's particularly important if your
dog is a breed that's sometimes restricted, or banned, by certain associations
or communities.
But you should also consider things like stairs (because if your 200-pound
Mastiff develops mobility problems, will you be able to get him into the living
room?) and pools (which can present real hazards for pets, especially those
with vision problems or who are prone to seizures). Is there a fenced-in
backyard or a nearby park for walking your dog? Living on or near a busy
street might seem like no big deal if you only have indoor pets, but keep in
mind they could get loose, so you'll need to exercise extra caution if you end
up living on a road with loads of traffic.
Mistake 2: Letting Your Pet Run Loose While You're Packing and
Unpacking
Pets often become unpredictable when boxes start appearing and their
favorite spaces in the home are disrupted. And who can blame them? They
didn't ask for any of this!