In all the excitement and confusion of moving, a pet can easily be ignored. Even though the animal may be the least of your worries, some extra consideration would be beneficial to both of you.
Moving dogs and cats
For a dog or cat, a carrier or portable kennel is very useful for travel. Be sure to bring along plenty or fresh drinking water, a blanket, and a favorite toy or two. Don't feed or give water to the pet before starting out, a few treats will do for snacks during the day if needed. Also remember to bring either a leash or harness and be prepared to stop at regular intervals to give your pet a drink and a short run. Take care during these times: an excited pet may bolt and become lost in spite of identification tags.
Moving birds and small caged pets
For birds and other small caged pets, the cage they usually live in is probably fine for travel. Remove the water container from the cage to avoid spills, but give the pet fresh water at every stop - small pets become dehydrated very quickly. Place the cage in the car out of drafts but with plenty of ventilation, and be sure it will not tip over. Birds, especially, are easily frightened and susceptible to drafts. For this reason, it is best to keep bird cages covered while on the road.
Moving fish
Tropical fish are a little more difficult to transport. They are susceptible to an abrupt change in water temperature, and their condition is directly affected by overcrowding. An unbreakable container such as a bucket makes a handy carrier. Or, use a leak-proof plastic bag closed with a rubber band, place it in an outer bag of similar size to avoid leakage, then into a sturdy container, such as a Styrofoam picnic cooler. It is VERY important to remember that fish need air! For this reason, fill the container or bag only one-third full of water. USE THE WATER FROM THE AQUARIUM. If using a plastic bag, open the top every four or five hours to freshen the air supply. It probably won't be necessary to feed the fish; many species can go without food for as long as a week. At the destination, replace water and fish in the aquarium as soon as possible. Add tap water a little at a time to fill the aquarium to the proper level, letting the fish adjust gradually to the new water.
