Move My Senior Pet

How do I relocate with my senior pet? www.preciouspetstransport.com

Is it safe to move my senior pet?

Should I move my senior pet?

Controversial Subject: Age and moving your pet.

Move My Senior Pet. What you need to know before moveing a senior pets. What do you need to know to move your senior. Moving a senior pet goes beyond putting them in a vehicle and waving goodbye. Your taking a position in another state or country. You and your family have to relocate. Now comes the task of your senior pet. Should they travel?

Through the years I have found people handle the aging of their precious beloved family members differently and I have my own firm beliefs about the responsibility of being owned by a senior pet.

When we get our first cute puppy or rescue at a young age, all we can think about is the years of love and devotion that pet will give us. We never think about or even plan for the day our pets pass away. Then that day happens. Sometimes, we see the cracks starting to form within our own pet. Their step is a little slower, the grey creeps into their muzzle, they just cannot make that jump that came so easily, and their sleeping a few more hours a day. The realization our ball of energy and excitement has transitioned into their golden years. Instead of the excitement to meet the world every day, life continues to move forward almost around our pet instead of with our pet. This includes when its time to move the family.

Perspective: Were we Professional Enough!

I will never forget the first time we were faced with a senior pet as newly ordained professional pet transporters. Driving pets from their old homes to their new homes. 20 years ago there were few that did the driving around the country with animals. Back then that term had yet to solidify what being a professional pet transporter meant if you were driving pets. We were thought of as homeless, dirty, unemployed, mostly useless individuals that couldn’t get a job any place else. Those were hard days trying to distinguished ourselves as professionals, with a caring heart, carving out a niche within the realm of moving pets. Dispelling the myths when people asked if we were homeless, or were we going to steal their pets. A lot has changed since then.

Looking back!

That trip our business took a turn in a different direction, and we realized our job was more than cute puppies and excited dogs traveling. We had taken a last minute booking from Maryland to California. At the time we did not ask the same type of questions we do now. Call it learning by fire. We arrived at the prescribed location, out walks the owner, carrying an aussie dog. We should have known then we were told less than was true. Looking back with the knowledge and fortitude we have now, we should have stopped the transport right then and there, refunded the monies and said, NO! But, we learned a lot that trip. Learned to ask more questions. Learned what really happens when a senior pet is outside of their pet parents eyes, when the light goes out of their eyes, when a pet has had enough.

Most important for us is the understanding not all senior pets should be transported by any means. Its about taking an honest serious stock in what is happening in the senior pet’s mind. The will to fight to see another day. And when they have just decided enough is enough.

Absolute Nightmare

This particular dog was not ambulatory at all. A dog that should have weight 55 lb. actual weighted more like 25 lbs. The owner placed the dog in the kennel, food given were cans and cans of wet food. We knew that wet food as a sole diet was never good for dogs traveling. It usually resulted in “Delhi Belly”, Not enough solid to keep their stool solid.

The first two days were pretty normal except I was picking the dog up and carrying him outside for each potty stop. Every trip out the door resulted in the dog looking around for his pet parent. I cooed and chatted with the dog trying to keep his spirits up as well as holding him up as he wobbled along. I think it was the third day in things started take a turn. Having been up every hour all night taking the dog out or cleaning his pen as he had developed diarrhea.

By morning we had contacted the owners and they said” just keep going, he will be fine”. By the time we hit the upper northwest the dog was having a melt down looking for his owner. The frantic look in his eyes every time we went outside was one I know now is one to understand. Its that last ditch effort to locate the person they love. The look that says dad, mom did you leave me? Its one of fear, shock, unbelief, and abandonment!

What we just didn’t know

I watched that day as the light went out in his eyes. His hope had finally given out. We drove the better part through the night. Stopping long enough to take him out for potty, cleaning and caring for him the best we knew how. By morning enough was enough, I had been up for three days with a smattering of sleep. The rest of the time was spent holding and caring for the pet. The only upside was there were two of us, one to drive, one to care for the pet.

When the sun came up, we were in the parking lot of a vets office awaiting for them to open. I smelled like dog feces, and was emotionally completely exhausted. Torn from feeling like it was my fault the dog had gone downhill and upset with owner for ever thinking we were “gods that could keep his dog alive no matter what”. I made the phone call back to the owner that morning, getting them out of bed. What did I hear. “What did you do to my dog? Angry was not the right term to use, as I exploded on the other end of the line.

By now the vet had done her assessment of the dog and determined we really should never have transported the dog in the first place. She shamed on us for not realizing this in advance. Shamed the owner for insisting we do this. The entire trip was us vs them as to what to do with their dog. Realizing at this point that this was a part of the job, I had to take really determine if I wanted to continue doing this job.

Time for Change

After a lengthy discussion and a look at our handling of the situation, we had determined we needed to set some serious parameters for us to move senior pets as well as asking the pet parents to seriously look at what is needed to safely move a senior pet.

Other than age of the pet, we started asking the disposition of the pet. Habits of their everyday life. Could the pet move around ok. How was it around strangers? What medications is the pet on? There are clues we can hear when we speak with the pet parent. Sometimes trying to hide a true illness or conditions. Illnesses and conditions can often hide or mask itself under happy homelife. But become more prevalent under stressful conditions. Other times the pet parent doesn’t know until a vet visit or the pet experiences the stress of a move.

Ask Yourself

Determine how far you have to move. Are you moving across the state, country, or boarding a flight to another country. Start asking hard honest questions about your pet. Understand that senior can be different for different pets. A Great Dane will advance more quickly into the golden years then lets say a small terrier. Life expectancy for breeds is the first place to start when your accessing your pet. Take an honest look at your pet. Have a discussion with the transport company of your choice about the condition of your pet’s health. Senior pets require, more potty stops, special diets, maybe medication.

Go over the types of medications. Some medications are for incontinence, may not be a big deal to some but a dog not taking incontinence meds will pee everywhere. Medication for epileptic seizures, this may not always work when a pet travels. Pets having seizures in transit requires vet visits if they have a seizure. Pets that get severe diarrhea may become dehydrated, again requiring a vet visit.

Understanding

Even if your pet is not on medication the stress of traveling is an excess stress for your pet. For whatever reason the larger the dog the larger the risk. Just something we have noticed over the years. Picture or imagine an invisible cord between you and your pet. Time and distance stretches that line. The longer the time and distance you are from your pet the thinner it becomes in their mind. At some point that line snaps and the pet gives up hope. Sometimes the age alone like us is just too much. I have seen dogs that start to give up, depressed, but the minute they hear their human the excitement will rush back to their eyes.

As a professional company we have learned what questions to ask. With the hope the pet parent is honest with themselves as well as with us. Sometimes a senior pet can go on a private ride with extra help to assist with the extra needs.

Sometimes the answer has to be NO!

Some years back we had been moving two dogs on a shared ride for about six years back and forth from Michigan to Florida twice a year, Roxy and Charlie. As with any pet these dogs finally go to the point where a private ride was the only means to get them up and back as quickly as possible. As one of our favorite snow birds traveling we had yearly discussions of their well being while traveling. One such trip we had to have that horrible conversation with our client about the health and well being of his one dog, Charlie. It was to be the last trip we would be able to take him on. Ugh! such a hard conversation to have. These pets knew us when we arrive, and we have such fun over the years.

November rolled around and plans were being made to take his Roxy back to Florida but this year Charlie would not be making the trip. The pet parent understood and would be making the necessary arrangements needed for Charlie, I arrived that morning to pickup Roxy as expected. When I walked into the house there laying on his bed was Charlie. Charlie could not hear me or see me. Charlie knew my smell and started crawling in my direction. Instant tears sprang to my eyes. I had not realized he was still alive. I ran over and knelt down and scooped Charlie into my arms. It was the first time I cried in front of a client.

Heartbroken

Charlie was all bone by then. Long past his prime. Blind, deaf, could not walk and laying on his bed filled with pee. Charlie was soaking wet and smelled so bad. The client and I talked about me possibly taking Charlie with me. I have to admit I got a bit heated with the client. I explained that Charlie was holding on for him and him only. The minute I got out the door and out of town Charlie would just give up. I was not taking responsibility for keeping Charlie alive clear to FL and I wasn’t willing to put Charlie through that kind of ordeal. Dying is hard enough. I don’t know if the client expected me to keep Charlie alive or whether it was a means to let Charlie pass away without having to make the difficult choice.

Saying Goodbye!

Either way, when it’s time to pass to the next life, pets want their human around not a stranger! As hard as it is to say good bye to our beloved pets.

As transporters we are not gods or miracle workers. Sometimes we have to say no. No, is for what is best for the well being of your pet.