We Americans are well-known for our willingness to share our homes with other species. So if you're moving, there's a good chance you'll be traveling with something that barks, purrs, chirps or hisses.
Relocation can be stressful for pets.
Dogs and reptiles will fare pretty well, says Dr. Tate Posey, veterinarian at Promenade Animal Hospital in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., but cats and birds can get stressed out easily. The first thing to do is take the animal to a veterinarian certified by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for a complete checkup. This should be done no more than a week before moving. Sometimes a health certificate is necessary for transporting certain animals across state lines and all airlines require it. The certificate must be no more than 10 days old at the time of travel.