If you are traveling or moving with pets, a veterinarian is your best source of professional advice. Please consult one for answers to specific questions.

Moving Pets

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.

Pet Moving Countdown Calendar

5 or 6 weeks before the move

Having one person handle all of the details reduces the likelihood of anything being overlooked.
Consult the municipal office in your new city about pet regulations and licenses.
Obtain your pet’s veterinary records and ask the vet about any medical problems in your new community.
Also ask for a flea collar or spray.
Obtain a sturdy pet-travel container with good locks and open ventilation meeting the carrier’s regulations. A water dish should be fastened securely and you should be able to fill it from the outside.
Molded plastic and wire cages are most easily cleaned.
The container should not restrict the animal’s movement. The pet should be able to stand up and turn around in it. Remove anything that might hurt or entangle your pet, such as a leash and collar.
Help your pet get used to its container. Make a habit of feeding it treats there, cushion the container with the pet’s blanket and have the pet use it as a bed until moving day.

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 coming busy days (packing and moving days) make all of the pet-boarding arrangements 

A week before the move

Prepare your pet 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 pet travel kit containing:

• food and water dishes
• a supply of food in a sturdy cloth bag for dry food
• a few treats and toys
• a scooper and plastic bags
• paper towels in case of an “accident”
• leash or harness
• a sedative from your vet if appropriate
• collar

The day of the trip

• Place absorbent material (a diaper is better than newspaper) at the bottom of the cage.
• Water and feed your pet as usual, no later than four hours before the trip.
• Administer sedative medication.
• Exercise your pet before confining it to the car or travel container. Comfort it. Remove its leash and collar once it is inside the car or cage.
• Include a few of its favourite toys.

At Your Moving 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. Moving small animals and 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.

Tips on Traveling With Pets by Car

If your pet is not used to car travel, take it on short, frequent trips leading up to your move. Allow pets to find their own place in the car, away from the driver’s feet or in a special carrier. For the move, 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.

Tips on Pet Travel by Air

In general, airlines accept most species of animals for transportation, either accompanied or as air freight.

Accompanied pets

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, and so on. 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 traveling 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 pets

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 pet travel arrangements. Give him/her the waybill number assigned to the shipment. Feeding on most trips is not advisable. Water, however, should be made available frequently in small amounts.

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 as a regular bird cage will not be sufficient.

If you are moving birds in the family car, keep them in a covered cage or a special bird-travel case for the length of the trip to keep them calm. The bird’s cage should be secured to prevent any risk of tipping and to keep the perches and dishes firmly attached. Give your bird fresh water at 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.

Moving fish can be taken care of by specialized pet travel 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 fish tank, 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 leak-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 fish tank and ornaments in a separate carton.

Whichever method you select for transporting your pet fish keep in mind:

• Fish need air and the bag or container should contain air space over the water. Open the bag regularly and bring a supply of extra elastics.
• Fish are adversely affected by overcrowding. Use two containers if necessary.
• When filling the container, use water from the aquarium. If possible, take the rest of the water from the aquarium with you in a separate container.

Horses and ponies can be transported by horse transportation companies, by air or by trailer. Look online or in the Yellow Pages under “Horse Transporting” or “Moving Horses”. Most airlines will also transport 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 and haulers can be rented from trailer-rental agencies.

Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other small animals can be transported easily by air to your destination in proper animal shipping containers. Give them water and food in spill-proof containers. When moving small animals, shipping them air-express rather than air-freight is better for them. If your pet is traveling in the family car, keep the cage secured and well ventilated but away from drafts. Leave a supply of food in the cage and provide water frequently.

Modes of Transporting Plants

A long-distance move in a van involves difficulties for plants, including heat, cold or dryness. Plants moved by van are shipped entirely at your risk. Airline companies accept plants as air freight but they do not provide any service other than the transportation itself. Plants may suffer from temperature extremes, lack of water, and restricted space within a container. It is your responsibility to ensure that the plants are properly packaged and labeled, and that they are delivered and picked up on time. In a car, you may be able to regulate the temperature, water the plants, and reduce their transit time by loading them as late as possible and unloading them as soon as you arrive.

How to Prevent Shock When Moving Plants

Most plants are prone to shock when moved. Shock can be minimized by creating a comfortable microenvironment for the plants to weather the trip.

Watering Your Plants

Cold-and-wet or hot-and-dry are the two most disastrous combinations for plants. If you are moving in the winter, ensure that all plants are on the dry side on moving day by watering them for the last time two or three days before the move. If you are moving in summer, water the plants well on the morning of the packing day and let excess water drain away.

Temperature

It is easier to insulate plants from cold than to protect them from heat. If you are taking them with you in the car, transport them in the passenger area. If you have to use the trunk, cover the tops of the boxes with blankets to insulate them from heat or cold. If you leave the car, park in a sunny spot and close the windows in winter; park in the shade and leave the windows slightly open in the summer. If you are staying in a motel, bring the plants into your room at night.

Light

Being plunged into a dark box may shock your plants. A week or two before the move, pull a sheer curtain over the window to reduce the light.

Parasites

Place plants in a dark plastic bag with a bug strip and leave the bag in a cool shady place for a few hours, two or three weeks before the move. If this does not get rid of the insects, consider leaving the plant behind since the problem quickly gets out of hand in the confinement of moving boxes.

Moving Plants – Other Helpful Tips

• Excessive moisture causes rot. Ensure adequate air flow in the moving cartons.
• Stake vines and plants that have weak stems.
• Place hanging plants in individual cartons and gather foliage gently on top.
• If you must fasten large plants, do this with soft bands in the direction of the growth to prevent breakage.
• Cacti and other desert plants do not require much watering. Allow good ventilation to reduce humidity.
• Seedlings, ferns, tropicals and other delicate plants should be moved in the car’s passenger area, not in the trunk.
• Terraria should be packed in ventilated cartons with lots of cushioning. Remove ornaments for the trip.

Place cuttings in damp sphagnum moss and wrap them in plastic bags.

Preparing Your Plants for Moving

Two or three weeks before the move

Consult your local florist or a reputable plant book for information on pruning your plants. They will be more manageable and easier to pack. Also, treat them against pests.

Two or three days before the move

• Water plants for the last time if you are moving in the winter.
• Line packing boxes with plastic bags so moisture will not seep through and weaken cartons.
• Cut several holes about the size of a quarter in the lid and sides of the carton to ensure good ventilation and avoid excessive moisture.
• Mark the carton “This Side Up” and “Plants-Fragile”.

The day before the move

• In summer, water plants well in the morning.
• If they are in clay pots, wrap each pot in damp newspaper, then in several layers of dry paper. Wrap plastic pots in dry paper only.
• Construct protective funnel-shaped sleeves out of heavy paper. They should be the height of the plant and the diameter of its pot.
• Place the sleeve around the plant, making sure the foliage is gently folded, and tape it firmly.
• Stake larger plants carefully and tie their foliage if necessary.
• Wrap the pots and cover foliage with a paper funnel. Wrapping larger plants and interweaving their foliage makes them more susceptible to damage if they tip over.
• Place plants of similar size into the carton. Leave enough space between the lid and the top of the highest plant.
• Pad the pots well so they won’t jar against each other. Pack them closely for stability. Use a lot of cushioning paper.

On moving day

• Place newspaper (damp in summer, dry in winter) loosely around the tops of the plants.
• Close the lids and fasten with tape.
• If your plants are to travel as part of your household shipment and certification documents are required, give these to the Van Operator when he arrives.
• If you are taking the plants in the car, make sure the movers know they are not to be loaded into the van or container.
• Load the plants into the car at the last minute. Make sure they won’t be crushed or tipped over.

At destination

• Move the plants into the house as soon as possible and open the boxes.
• Leave the plants inside the boxes for a few hours to minimize shock.
• Later in the day, unpack and water them. To avoid breaking branches, cut around the base of the carton and lift it off the plants by its lid.
• Place plants in locations similar to the ones they were used to at origin, but do not place in direct sunlight until one or two weeks after the move. If you have moved from a warm sunny region to a colder area, cool white fluorescent lights might be needed.
• If you have taken cuttings, remove them from their plastic wrapper and root them without delay.
• Ethylene accumulation in the vehicle or simple shock can cause leaves to yellow and drop. Do not be alarmed; this is normal and should not last.
• Altitude, air and water quality, moisture content, and so on may be quite different in your new home, and some plants may have to be repotted in to a heavier or lighter mix of soil. A local horticulturist will be able to advise you.

As a matter of public safety, governments at all levels have passed legislation restricting the transportation of dangerous goods. Some commodities may be included in your shipment under controlled conditions; others are prohibited by law. In either case, you must disclose to the van operator every item which poses a hazard and which you intend to include with your shipment.

Carriers such as moving companies van lines are required by the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act to accept responsibility for the final decision whether any particular item can be safely included in your shipment. If your van operator feels it presents a danger to himself, his personnel, his vehicle or is contents, the law requires him to refuse to ship the item.

In order to prepare you in advance; we have developed the following lists of dangerous household commodities; some may be shipped and some may not. The items that are allowed to be included in your shipment must be handled according to the instructions listed under Allowable Dangerous Goods.

For those items which we cannot ship, it will be your responsibility to dispose of them before you move. Your van operator cannot do this for you. Most municipal landfill sites have the facilities to handle dangerous goods. Please do not attempt to conceal them within your shipment; this could place the van and its contents in serious danger; and also invalidate your liability protection.

Allowable Dangerous Goods

• Household cleaners such as Ajax , Mr. Clean, Spic’n’Span
• Nail polish, polish remover and perfume
• Art supplies except those that are flammable, chemicals for photographic hobby

These allowable items must be packed in a carton clearly marked “Consumer Commodity – Dangerous Goods Exempt”. The carton must be pointed out to the van operator at the time of loading. You must declare that these are the only dangerous goods (as defined in the Act) that are included in your shipment; this declaration is included on your bill of lading.

Prohibited Dangerous Goods

Gases & Propellants

• Gasoline, propane, kerosene, naphtha, lighter fluid
• Liquefied petroleum gases of all types
• Aerosol cans not classified as personal toiletries
• Barbecue tanks, oxygen, helium, acetylene
• Butane lighters
• Fire extinguishers

Explosives

• Ammunition
• Fireworks
• Flares
• Blasting caps
• Industrial explosives
• Detonation devices

Flammable Solids

• Matches
• Solid fuel & BBQ starter tablets
• Sterno
• Hay, straw, wood chips
• Oily rags

Yard & Gardening Supplies

• Pesticides containing a base of arsenic, strychnine or cyanide
• Fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate
• Pool chemicals
• Chlorine
• Wood preservatives

Corrosives

• Battery alkaline or acid (except car battery installed in a car being shipped)

Household Chemicals

• Bleach & peroxide
• Disinfectants
• Cleaning fluids such as ammonia, verso, turpentine
• Pesticides, herbicides & fumigants
• Oven cleaner, lye or acids
• Oil-based paints & thinners
• Chemistry sets
• Any flammable items