The Wheaton Blog
Moving with Pets
Pets have an instinctive fear of new surroundings, and pet owners want to help them adjust quickly. The following are tips we compiled that will help you do just that.
Transportation of Pets
- Pets cannot be shipped on moving vans.
- Pets often become frightened and may try to run away. Keep your pet on a leash when outside.
- Your pet should wear a special identification tag with its name, your name and where you can be reached.
- Consider sending smaller pets by air express.
- Consult with your veterinarian concerning mild sedation of your pet during the trip.
Entry Requirements
- If your move is across state lines, check with your new State Veterinarian or State Department of Animal Husbandry. A good place to start is the U.S. State and Territory Animal Import Regulations website.
- Interstate health certificates must be obtained for dogs and horses prior to entering most states.
- States require a rabies vaccine for dogs and many require it for cats. Hawaii requires that cats and dogs be quarantined for 120 days.
- Some pets must have an entry permit issued by the destination state’s regulatory agency.
- A few states have border inspection of all animals being transported; others have random inspections.
Local Laws
- Be sure to check your local community laws. Some communities have pet control and licensing ordinances. In some cases, the number of pets is limited.