The moving van is on its way, the boxes are packed and Grandma is going to help keep the kids occupied while you move. You think you’ve thought of everything, until you realize poor Scruffy is anxiously looking for his chew toys, that you just packed away. What are you going to do with your dog? Moving with your pets has its own challenges but Apartments.com wants to make sure you—and the animal members of your family—get to your new home safely and happily.

Knowing the Laws

There are some laws you should be aware of when you move with your pet. First, if you are traveling across state lines with a dog (or horse), you will most likely need a health certificate to verify that your animal does not carry any diseases. Every state has its own laws pertaining to pets, so make sure you check with the state before you move to make sure you are prepared. Some states do have border patrols and will check your pets as you enter, so be sure you inquire before leaving as to whether you will need an entry permit or documentation from a veterinarian. In addition, all but four states require rabies inoculations and some require a tag proving this on an animal’s collar. Local regulations in your city or town may require you to leash your pet at all times or limit the number of animals you can have in one home. Call your city department prior to moving and be sure to check with your new landlord as well (this information should also be in your lease).

Traveling with Your Pet

If you know your pet is prone to motion sickness or is excitable, ask your veterinarian if there is medication that can be prescribed for your pet for the trip. If you’re moving a good distance away from your vet, this also might be a good time to ask for a recommendation for a vet in your new town.

You probably won’t want to pack your pet and have him/her carried with your other belongings on the moving van, you don’t want to treat your animal this way in the first place. If you are flying to your new home, you may be able to fly with your pet in an overhead carrier or have it sent it by air freight. If you send your pet by air freight, you will be responsible for the air container, health documents, delivery time, shipping papers, destination pick-up and advance payment of shipping charges. Make sure you arrive at least two hours early so that you can give your pet food, water and exercise before taking off on the long journey.

Many people prefer to travel by car with their pet. If you will need to stay overnight on your way to your new home, make sure to call the hotels or campground that you will be staying at to make sure that they allow pets. Visit www.tripswithpets.com to find locations for accommodations that accept pets. Some dogs and cats can easily be transported in a portable carrier. This is a much safer method of transporting your pet versus letting him/her loose in the car as you drive. If your pet is too large to be transported in a carrier, make sure to properly restrain your pet in the seat. Believe it or not, you can find safety belts and harnesses specifically designed for pets. Prepare your pet ahead of time by taking him/her on short trips. Make sure you bring ample pet food, a blanket, toys, treats, grooming brushes, paper towels, a scooper and deodorant or air freshener if you are going to be staying in a hotel.

Birds, hamsters, gerbils and others small animals can travel in their home cages. Remove water dishes and provide plenty of ventilation. When you make stops, give your pet fresh water. Birds often don’t do well when travelling; keep their cages covered to prevent them from becoming frightened. Tropical fish can be transported in a small tank (5 gallons or less). They can go up to a week without food but should never be overcrowded or subjected to abrupt changes in temperature.

Keeping Your Pet Happy

Your pet may feel confused, scared or excited about the trip and it’s important to know and understand how your pet feels. Keep your pet away from strangers until it realizes it is in a new home and has time to adjust. Keep your pet surrounded with familiar belongings and food. Contact a new veterinarian as soon as possible and have records on file in case of an emergency or illness. Keep your pet on a leash when outside and allow it to adjust to the new neighborhood. Always be respectful of your neighbors’ space and property and realize that even the gentlest pet can become angry when loneliness or fear strikes. With some loving care and attention, your pet will soon adjust to your new home!

You’ve made the first step, you’re out on your own for the first time.  You’ve had to listen to all the reasons why you couldn’t have a pet your entire life, now it’s your time and you’re going to do what you want to do!  You’re finally going to get that puppy you’ve always wanted or that kitty that your sibling was allergic to.  You’re going to go to the nearest pet store and find your forever friend.  You’re going to hug ‘em and kiss ‘em and buy lots of pet toys and… 

STOP RIGHT THERE!

Before you charge full steam ahead, there are many things to think about before you get that pet.  Too many animals end up homeless and in shelters because their purchase was not thoroughly thought out…

Part 1 – Things You Need to Know about Living in an Apartment with a Pet
 
If you’ve already moved into your apartment, before you get an animal, any kind of animal, talk to your landlord.  There are many pet friendly apartments, but equally as many that frown upon any type of animal at all.  If you have your heart set on getting a pet, make sure that before you sign your lease, you let management know what you’re planning to do.  It would be a terrible thing to have to choose between your new best friend and the costs associated with breaking a lease.  Just make sure to communicate your plans in advance.
 
If you haven’t selected an apartment yet, searching for a building that allows pets is easy on Apartments.com.  When you’re searching apartments, simply select the type of pet that you have, or that you’re planning to get, and you’ll be able to find buildings that will allow cats, small dogs or even large dogs.
 
Some apartment properties charge an additional deposit for renters with dogs, or may even ask for a monthly fee for rent for your pet.  When you’re visiting your potential new place, make sure to ask if this is the case and how much those fees will be.  Also find out if the deposit is refundable or non-refundable. 
 
Ask your potential landlord if there are any size or weight limitations on animals.  Some buildings may even prohibit specific breeds.  You’ll have a much easier time finding a place that will allow cats, small dogs or other animals versus a large dog.  (See our article “Selecting an Animal” for some helpful tips on finding the right kind of pet for you.)
 
When you’re signing your lease, make sure you read it thoroughly.  Some properties may even list your pet as a “tenant” on the lease and there may be clauses to prevent you from getting additional animals. 
 
Regardless what kind of pet you have, as the pet “parent” you are responsible for the health and safety of the pet and you must insure that other tenants, visitors and neighborhood residents are protected from your animal (and sometimes vice versa).  This means you must take proper health precautions for your animal including spaying/neutering and vaccinations. 
 
If you haven’t figured it out yet, owning a pet is more like being a parent than like buying a new car.  There are emotional, time and financial commitments needed in this “relationship”.  You’ll need to clean up an occasional mess, be prepared to lose at least one pair of shoes and you won’t be able to stay away from home for long periods of time without a “babysitter”.  There will be significant changes in your daily routine.  But, even with all these drawbacks, owning an animal can be one of the most rewarding experiences.  There’s no other feeling than the unconditional love of an animal greeting you at home after a long day of work.  And animals don’t grow up to talk back, get tattoos or come home drunk.   If you’re fully aware and ready for this type of obligation, read on for tips on selecting the right kind of animal for you! 

Selecting an Animal

Are you a dog person or cat person? Or another kind of pet person? Let’s face it; you probably already have your mind set on the type of animal you want. But take a step back and look at your lifestyle before you make that decision. Although you may have always wanted a Saint Bernard, your studio apartment probably isn’t the best fit for an animal with that kind of space requirement. It’s really important to do your homework about the animals and breeds that you are considering. The decision you’re about to make is a BIG one. Make sure you research thoroughly and avoid the painful realization that it’s just not going to work out and another shelter will soon have another unnecessary guest.

What type of animal is right for you? Before you run out to the pet store, there are a few things that you should ask yourself before purchasing a pet. Animals require time; training and companionship, the type of animal you get should be based in part on how much time you will have available for your animal. When examining your lifestyle, you need to be realistic and consider all the factors in your current situation.

The Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago offers the following basic guidelines when selecting an animal:

• Single person or couple, working more than 8 hours – Cat or other small animal (Fish, rodent, reptile, etc.)
• Single person or couple, working 8 hours – Dog, Cat or other small animal
• Single person or couple, home all day – Puppy, Kitten, Dog, Cat or other small animal
• Single person or couple, expecting a child – Other small animal
• Single person or couple with young children – Dog, Cat or other small animal
• Single person or couple with older children, home all day – Puppy, Kitten, Dog, Cat or other small animal

It goes without saying that a baby or young cat or dog has needs that an older animal does not; housebreaking, teething, behavioral training, etc. Although there is the cuteness factor of a baby animal, there are thousands of adult animals in shelters looking for homes.

Again, from the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago, the following is a basic needs assessment of animals by age:

• Puppy – needs to be fed 3-4 times per day, eliminates every few hours, needs close supervision, needs extensive training and socialization, frequent vet care
• Kitten – needs to be fed 3-4 times per day, needs close supervision, needs extensive training and socialization, frequent vet care
• Adult Dog – needs to be fed 1-2 times per day, eliminates every 8 hours, needs average training and socialization, regular vet care
• Adult Cat – needs to be fed 1-2 times per day, needs average training and socialization, regular vet care

Once you’ve figured out what type of animal you want, and if it’s a dog, what breed you think would suit your lifestyle best, now, where do you go to find your friend? There’s always the neighborhood pet shop.. but before you drop down major cash, take a look at all the options. Again, this is yet another step that needs to be researched very carefully.

Sadly, there are many shops that purchase animals through puppy mills. Although, you may fall in love with those droopy eyes or that adorable wagging tail, any animal that has been sourced from a puppy mill may display serious health problems, both physical and behavioral, that can manifest at any point in the animal’s lifetime. Purchasing animals from a shop that works with puppy mills is only supporting the negative behavior.

The estimated number of animals that enter shelters each year in the US is between 6 and 8 million. Sadly, the majority of these animals are euthanized because of health or behavioral problems, and even sadder, many just because there is no where for them to go. Petfinder.com offers a National search tool for all types and ages of animals and is a great way to locate your new “forever friend”. There are no kill animal shelters for dogs and cats (and some even for horses) across the country. These shelters will usually retain an animal until a home is found for them, unlike city pounds, these shelters will not euthanize an animal when a certain time limit has been reached. These shelters operate mostly on donations and have no government funding. Shelters usually house mixed breeds, even though you may have your heart set on a pure breed, take a look at your local animal shelter. Unless you’re planning to be a breeder or show your animal, mixed breeds are just as cute, cuddly and loving as a pure breed. If you can’t be swayed to a mix, there are still many shelters in the United States that work to find homes for specific breeds, including Staffordshire Terriers, Great Pyrenees, St. Bernards and more. If you’re worried about getting an animal from a shelter because of the risk of it having severe behavioral or health problems, rest assured that animals that go through shelters are examined carefully and are not approved for adoption if they are ill. You may be required to complete more paperwork when adopting a pet through a shelter than you would if purchasing at a pet store. The staff at the animal shelters truly want to make sure that the animal is being placed in a good home, with a care giver that is aware of the responsibilities that go into owning a pet. The last thing they want to see is that animal coming back to them. Adopting a pet through a shelter is also much more affordable that purchasing a pet through a shop or breeder. The cost for an adoption can be as low as a $50 donation and often includes doctor exams, spaying/neutering, micro-chipping, obedience classes, training classes and someone to help answer any questions you may have about your pet, regardless of whether this is your first animal, or your 101^st! By adopting through a shelter, you will not only find your best friend but also support the important work that the shelter does in the community.

(One last thing to mention about adopting an animal from a shelter…. If you take home a young or adult dog, versus a puppy, you will save yourself from the oft nightmarish task of housebreaking!)

Dear Apartments.com,
I am so upset about my recent attempt at throwing my roommate a surprise birthday party. People came that weren’t invited and some brought three guests instead of one. Our apartment is a pretty good size so I wasn’t concerned about space until people started walking in by the dozens! People were stuffed into every nook and cranny and I’m glad the fire department didn’t show up because we were surely causing a major fire hazard. How can I avoid having so many people jammed into my apartment in the future? Isn’t there some sort of RSVP etiquette that should be followed?

Thanks,
Stuffed in San Antonio, Texas

Dear Stuffed,
Of course there is an RSVP etiquette for parties but that all depends on what you put on your invitations, IF you had invitations…. With years of party planning under my belt, I’ve made many, many mistakes. To help you avoid some of my boo boos, here’s a couple of rules to follow to make inviting less stressful:

• ALWAYS send invitations.
• Indicate who the party is for.
• Be clear on the invitation where the party is being held and include directions.
• Include the time the party is starting and if you don’t want people staying all night, indicate an end time.
• Be specific with your RSVP instructions. Do NOT say something like “regrets only, call (333)333-3333”. Tell your invitees the exact date they need to RSVP by and give yourself a week or more before the party for that date. Since people usually wait until the last minute to RSVP, if you request “regets only” or don’t give yourself enough time before the party, you’ll be running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to figure out how much food and beverages you should have ready. Traditionally, when an invitation is sent out, it is intended for the invitee only. (If you have a party again and invite the same group of people that busted your surprise party, you may want to consider adding on your invite, “invitation extends to addressee only”.) If you don’t mind the invitee bringing a guest or two, address the invitation “John Doe & guest”. Provide your invitees a way to contact you regarding their intentions. If you provide a phone number, make sure there is an answering message on that line. If you only provide an email address, you better make sure that everyone that you invite has an email account.

If you find yourself with more guests than expected again, and you’ve followed the invitation guidelines above, you’ll really need to stand up and take control of the situation. Approach the party-goer that has brought all the additional people and tell him/her that you did not expect that he/she would bring this amount of people. Explain that you will be running out of food and beverages as a result and kindly ask the guest if he would be able to run to the store and pick up some additional items. If you want to take it a step further, ask the person to leave. After all, it is your home, your party and it is rude to not follow invitation protocol. Don’t let this problem guest take advantage of your hospitality!