Know Before You Go
Do your research well before you move to see what the pet laws and regulations are for your particular state. Go to your state’s agricultural or veterinary office websites to learn more about special permits for animals like monkeys, big cats, iguanas, and exotic animals. Next up: call the City Clerk’s office in your new home town to learn all about local ordinances pertaining to leash laws and licenses. There are usually limits as to how many pets you can have in your house. In addition, zoning laws may come into play that restrict farm animals like goats, pigs and chickens from being contained within residential areas. Then, a call to your apartment or condo association is in order, as many do not allow animals of any kind, from simple cats and dogs to exotics like tarantulas and snakes.Gather all Paperwork
Here’s a general overview of what you’ll need for your pet before moving, especially across state lines:- Health Records: Call your existing veterinarian to get all health records and have them sent to your new veterinarian.
- Health Certificate: Get a health certificate issued from your existing licensed veterinarian that states your pet is in good general health. Don’t do this too soon, as this paperwork can’t be more than 10 days old from the time of your time in many cases. Be sure to get a copy of your pet’s inoculation records that are up to date.
- Permit: if you have an exotic pet, you’ll likely new a permit from your the state you’ll be moving to.