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A veterinarian is your best source of professional advice. Consult them for answers to specific questions. Planning the move Regulations prevent household goods carriers from transporting live animals on moving vans, and none of the major bus lines accept pets with the exception of Guide Dogs. You will be limited to train, plane family car or companies that specialize in moving pets. Your Highland representative can make arrangements for one of these companies to move your pet at a reasonable charge. 5 or 6 weeks before the move
2 or 3 weeks before the move If you plan to use hotels or motels during the move, ensure they accept pets. If your pet will be boarded on the busy days (packing and moving days) make all the arrangements now. A week before the move Prepare identification tags; double-sided luggage tags are convenient. They should include: the pet's name; your name; destination address and phone number; and the name, address and phone number of the person responsible for the pet at origin and/or destination. Prepare adhesive tags marked “Live Animal” for the travel container. Assemble a travel kit containing:
The day of the trip
At Destination Segregate your pet in its cage or a fenced backyard until unloading is complete. You might board your dog or cat at a local kennel for the day. Arrangements for this will have to be made in advance. Keep your pet confined for a few weeks until it is used to its new environment. This is particularly important for cats who are more likely than any other pets to try to return to the old house. Try to recreate your pet's old habitat by placing its bowls and sleeping quarters in places similar to the old ones. Keep to regular times and keep some favourite toys handy. Birds are easily frightened and should be left undisturbed in a quiet area until they are used to the sound of the new house. If you have moved fish, replace the aquarium aerator as soon as possible. To allow them to adjust gradually, use as much of the old water as possible. Fish can easily bruise during transportation. You may wish to add some healing agents to the water. Consult your tropical fish store for advice. Small pets such as hamsters and guinea pigs will generally have no problem adapting to the new home, except for some stomach upset due to the change in the water supply. This is a normal reaction. Consult a veterinarian if this lasts more than a day or two. Visit a veterinarian at destination and take your pet's health records with you. Obtain any new pet licenses that are required. The transportation of pets from one province or territory to another is generally not governed by any regulation. Since new laws come into effect from time to time, however, check with the animal health authorities before you travel. Travelling by car If your pet is not used to car travel, take it on short, frequent trips. Allow pets to find their own place in the car, away from the driver's feet or in a special carrier. Prepare your itinerary and plan stops for exercise and water at regular intervals. In warmer weather, stops should be more frequent. When outside the car, keep the pet on a leash at all times. If you have to leave the vehicle, leave the windows slightly open, If it is warm, park in the shade; if it is cold, park in a sunny spot. Check your pet regularly. Don't forget to give it extra water in hot weather. Keep your pet away from strangers and children; it might become nervous and snappish even if it is usually even-tempered. Travelling by air In general, airlines accept most species of animals for transportation, either accompanied or as air freight. Accompanied A number of airlines allow their customers to bring animals in the passenger cabins, if they can fit into a carrying case small enough to be placed under a seat; most pets, however, ride in the cargo compartment. Reserve airline space for your pet early, as airlines limit the number of pets allowed on each flight. Most carriers have restrictions regarding the transportation of warm-blooded animals in cold weather. At the time of booking, enquire about shipping containers, health documents required, feeding of pets, etc. Find out if the airline provides identification tags, sells shipping containers and offers pet insurance. If the route requires changing flights or airlines, and/or transferring from one airport to another, find out whether “through-checking” of your pet will be your responsibility. If your pet is travelling in the cabin, take it with you when you check in. Otherwise, it should be checked in not less than one hour before departure time. Pets are usually loaded last and unloaded first. Pick up your pet as soon as possible. If it is not picked up within a reasonable time, it will be boarded at your expense. Exercise, feed and water the pet at your first opportunity. Unaccompanied Dogs, cats and other medium and large sized animals should be shipped via air-freight, while smaller pets should travel by air-express. Ask about insurance, payment of charges and feeding. Give all the flight details to the person who will be taking care of your pet in your absence. Call the person who will be shipping or picking up your pet to confirm all the travel arrangements. Give him/her the waybill number assigned to the shipment. Feeding on most trips is not advisable. Water, however, should frequently be made available in small amounts. Pets Requiring Special Attention Birds If you cannot move your bird in the family car, shipping it by air is the next best thing. Refer to the airline's container specifications. A regular bird cage will not be sufficient. If your bird is travelling in the family car, keep it in a covered cage for the length of the trip to keep it calm. The cage should be secured to prevent any risk of tipping and to keep the perches and dishes firmly attached. Give the bird fresh water a t every stop and keep a supply of seeds in the cage. Make sure the cage is kept out of drafts but receives enough ventilation. Avoid prolonged high temperatures. Fish The transportation of fish can be taken care of by specialized companies. Your Highland representative can arrange this service for you. Should you decide to ship your fish yourself, check the airline regulations and ask a veterinarian or pet store about acclimatizing the fish to the shipping container. If you are moving fish in your personal vehicle, for a small aquarium, empty half the water and remove everything that might shift during the trip. Cover with a plastic film and make little holes in the cover. Place the aquarium in a carton, pad carefully all around and leave the top of the carton open to facilitate air exchange. For a larger aquarium, place the fish in an unbreakable container such as a bait bucket or lead proof double plastic bag, securely closed by a rubber band and placed in a Styrofoam cooler. This will stabilize the water temperature for at least 24 hours. Pack the aquarium and ornaments in a separate carton. Whichever method you select; keep in mind:
Hamsters, rabbits and other rodents These pets can be flown to destination in the proper container. Give them water and food in spill-proof containers. Ship them air-express rather than air-freight. In the family car, keep the cage secured and well ventilated but away from drafts. Leave a supply of food in the cage and water them frequently. Horses and ponies Horses and ponies can be transported by horse transport company, by air or by trailer. Look in the yellow pages under “Horse Transporting”. Most airlines will accommodate your horse. Make all arrangements well ahead of time and inquire about insurance and required documents. Horse transport companies can usually arrange air shipment for a fee. Horse trailers can be rented from trailer rental agencies. |
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