We understand that your pets are part of the family, which is why we want to make sure they stay safe on moving day. Whether you have a pet hamster or labrador retriever, it’s important you take extra precautions so they arrive safely at their new home.
Otherwise, you run the risk of your pet getting loose or lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Follow our tips below and make sure you let our professional movers know if you have pets.
To learn more about our moving services or to request an in-home moving estimate, don’t hesitate to call.
Our professional movers have plenty of experience helping customers make fresh starts in new homes.
Keep Your Pets Safe
Designate a Pet Room
The best way to keep your pets safe is to designate a room for them to stay during the move. Whether that room is at your old or new home will be up to you and what makes sense for your move. The room should be kept closed at all times and have a taped sign on the door warning house movers not to open it. Something simple like, “DO NOT OPEN! Cats will try to escape!” will get the point across to our professional movers.
Inside the room, you’ll want to make sure your pet has everything they need to stay comfortable such as bedding, food, water, and a litter box. We also recommend putting their favorite toys inside the room so they feel more at ease. Since moving house can be stressful for pets, it’s important to help them feel as safe as possible.
Keep Pets in Carriers
If you absolutely need to move furniture into the designated pet room, make sure your pet is first safely inside their crate or carrier so they can’t escape. The carrier should have enough room for your pet to stand up, turn, and move around comfortably.
We recommend holding off on putting them inside their carrier until it’s absolutely necessary to move in furniture. That way, you’re cutting down how much time they’re in a confined space. Let our house movers know what your plan is ahead of time so we can make sure your pets stay safe.
Use Harnesses for Dogs
Are you planning on moving out of state? If so, we recommend using a harness so your dog stays safe during the trip. While driving, you’ll probably be stopping at gas stations and rest stops. The harness helps prevent your dog from bolting if they get spooked by a loud noise.
It’s important to understand that your dog will already be stressed by the change to their routine, as well as having furniture movers in the house. No matter how well trained your dog is, we recommend using a harness to keep them safe on moving day.
Secure Pets in Car
It’s just as important to keep your pets safe in your car as it is to keep them safe in your new home, especially if you need to travel a long distance. If you own a cat or small dog, you’ll want to keep them inside their carrier during the drive. If you own a large dog, you should have them wear a car harness. Our local movers want to make sure that your pet stays safe during the journey to their new home.
Share Your Plan with Movers
Make sure our professional movers know how you plan on keeping pets safe. That way, we can do our best to accommodate your needs. Big changes to your pet’s routine can stress them out, which is why it’s important to have a plan and share it with our house movers. For example, let your moving help know that the door to the designated pet room should not be opened. For good measure, tape a sign to the door so your local movers don’t forget.
We work hard to make sure our customers have the moving help they need to start life in a new home. To request your in-home moving estimate from Big Lake Movers, call either of our locations in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. We look forward to hearing from you!
