At Old Colony, we understand the stress that moving can bring. It can be even more stressful moving with pets. For many of us, pets are a part of our family and we want to make their transition as smooth and comfortable as possible. Here are a few suggestions for making your pet's experience better.

Before moving, make sure all information on your pet's tags is updated. When moving to a new address, it could happen that a pet could get lost or become frightened and run off. It is important to provide the most up to contact information so you can be reached immediately. 

Make sure to find a veterinarian in the area that you are moving to that comes with good recommendations. Also, it is a good idea to get copies of all of your vet records to take with you to your new area of residence. Try to find out if there are any issues/diseases in your new area that could affect your pet. 

Another good idea is to have your pet's medications and a first aid kit ready. No matter how much you plan and schedule out your move, things can and will go wrong. It is important to be prepared in the case of an illness so make sure you have any pet medications, extra food and water, gauze, towels, hydrogen peroxide and a blanket. Remember, the best defense is a good offense and your pet deserves no less! 

Once moved in, try and make your pet feel at ease as much as you can. Anything familiar such as a bed, toys, food dishes, etc. and make sure your pet knows where their area is located. It may be a good idea to limit opening windows and doors so there is likely a chance that your pet could escape.

Remember, as stressful as moving is it can be just as stressful on your pet so do all you can to make the transition smooth for them. 

Old Colony, REALTORS® is the region's largest independently owned real estate company.  Serving the Kanawha Valley, Raleigh County and southern West Virginia, Morgantown and North Central West Virginia, Cabell and Wayne Counties, Ashland and Southeastern Ohio.  Old Colony was founded in 1944 in Charleston, West Virginia.