If your family includes a pet or two, making sure that they are safe and secure during your move can often be just as important as making sure your household goods arrive in one piece. Our family has moved around the world with pets and I know how difficult it can be find good care for your pet in a new surrounding.
The first thing to remember if you are moving with a pet is to make sure as you set aside your personal information that you also include a copy of your pets health history and medications that they may need while in transit. Since most pets are lost during move-in day making sure that your pet is secure while the movers are unloading your furniture is critical. The best way to ensure that your pet is safe and secure is to find another place for your pet for the day. For families relocating to Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon or any of the Northern Virginia military installations you might consider the Olde Town Pet Resort located in Springfield VA.
Quite frankly when you check out the facilities you may want to also stay yourself. With 27,000 square feet the resort is state of the art. For dogs there are 183 suites with automatic drinking fountains and top of the line beds. If you have more than one dog they can bunk together and if you really want to have luxury for your pet you can reserve a luxury suite complete with cable TV or movies.
Olde Town Pet Resort can accommodate up to 75 cats. With the same level of
luxury that the dogs enjoy, cats have a central TV, double decked cages for exercise and litter boxes that are hidden out of sight. With plenty of sunshine for the cats to enjoy and a view of the woods the accommodations would please even the most finicky cat.
With friendly trained staff and state of the art systems, it is nice to have a facility that you know you can securely house your pet while you wait for the movers to finish at your house. The only problem is that your pet may not want to come.
Trust me after a recent trip our pets gave us the look that seemed to say “you’re going to make me leave?” What ever happened to unconditional love?
For more information or to schedule a stay for your pet you can check out the Olde Towne Pet Resort website.
Additional tips from The Humane Society of the US for moving with pets.
If you need assistance with finding your own housing when you transfer to Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon or any of the Military District of Washington locations give me a call. Let my knowledge of Northern Virginia and experience with military moves help both you, your family and your pet settle in our area. Call the Cindy Jones team at 703-346-2213.
Cindy, great information. Many military families have pets. It gets real interesting in coming from an overseas area to CONUS.
We moved to Japan with a cat and a dog. They both survived a very long trip together in the same crate! I think the companionship made it a little less stressful for them.
So many pet people don't really get that their pets need really special TLC during a move.
Patricia-I've had more than one client who had an animal go into hiding during a move. They can't be found and panic sets as if no one knows whether they got out or not. Now I recommend a day at the "spa" while the movers are there.
Great Information Cindy. Moving with pets does present a very unique set of circumstances.
James I've helped plenty of military families try to find pet friendly neighborhood and homes while they are stationed in our area. It can sometimes be a bigger challenge than schools.
Hi Cindy,
Terrific information for people moving with pets! Great post!
Rita
Rita-thank you. Having moved around the world with pets I know how important they are to the families that own them.