Prepping Pets for a Move
By Jessica Marie If you are preparing for a long-distance move, say 2,200 miles across the United States and you are planning on driving, there are a few things that you may need to have ready for your pets. Our family moved from Colorado to Maine the first week of February. We drove straight through, no stopping at hotels or campgrounds, only stopping and staying in our vehicles at rest stops. We made this trek with 3 dogs, 1 cat, 3 Zebra finches, 1 Betta fish, 1 bearded dragon, and 6 chickens. So, I have a bit of a varied approach on how to care for your pets before the move and what you may need to get everything from point A to point B alive. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before you leave as they may have tips, medications, or other useful information to help this process be as smooth as possible. The following are simply my personal experiences that worked for me, I am not a veterinarian. Please consult your veterinarian or other animal expert before traveling to ensure the best safety and health for your pets. Be Prepared First thing to keep in mind is, your pets will get stressed out. No matter what you do, unless your pet loves traveling, they will get stressed on this trip. If you’re like me and seeing pets stressed stresses you out, then you are going to want to find ways to limit their stress. The best way to do that is to be as prepared as possible. Buy anything you may need for your pet at least 1 month before the move. This gives the item time to ship (if ordered, it doesn’t do you any good to have it arrive after you leave) and you can make sure it is what you want/need. Make sure you order any pet medications you may need as well, so that you are not desperately searching for some as soon as you arrive to a new location. Moving is stressful for you as things just keep popping up, it never seems to end, and goodness you just need some rest. To save yourself and your pet, be prepared. Do not wait until the day of or the day before to think about your pet, this will not only add to your stress, but it will stress out your pets too. Dogs You will need: Dog bed and Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets We had 3 dogs, two of which do not mind traveling and are relatively stress free when it comes to car rides. But my little one is not a fan of car rides at all, he shakes, shivers, can’t rest, is fearful and stressed the entire time. I was told about Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets from multiple Facebook friends, so I bought it off Amazon. It is safe for all your pets and really does work. I put 3 little drops on my 7-pound Chihuahua-Yorkie mix’s head and within about 40 minutes he was napping. My friend had also graciously made the perfect little dog bed for him before I left, so he had a place that he knew was dedicated for him to sleep. Disclaimer: Consult your veterinarian before providing Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets as they may have a better option for your pet or situation. We also had dog bowls and water bowls for the dogs. Every time we stopped for fuel we would take the dogs out for a potty break and offer them food and water. I used canned food for my little one to encourage him to eat. I used rest stop bathroom sinks to wash out the dog bowls or fill them with water. Anything new, dog beds, comfort toys, or blankets, give your pet a chance to get used to the item before the trip. Let them know it is theirs and is a safe thing for them, so that they can recognize it on the trip as something familiar. Cat You will need: Kennel and litter pan The cat we kept in a kennel for portions of the trip as she has been motion sick in the past. She was not prone to leash walking as we tried for several weeks to train her, but at 17 years old she didn’t want to learn new tricks. For sleeping, we kept her in the kennel. When we stopped at rest stops we would provide her a littler box inside the mini van and simply leave her alone. She would potty in the litter box and wander around the car, exploring the dash and stretching her legs. Again, if they are not used to a kennel or a specific litter box, give them a few weeks of keeping the object near them so that they can get used to it. To associate the kennel and the littler box as theirs and as a place for them to feel safe and comfortable. Bearded Dragon You will need: Electric heat pad, hand warmers, cage blanket We kept the bearded dragon in the back of the mini van where we had a power adapter, it could be plugged into a cigarette lighter in a vehicle and convert that energy into a normal 110 outlet. We used a heating pad under his tank to keep him warm, as well as hand warmers inside the tank. Then we put a blanket over his cage to keep the heat in. It was extremely cold the entire time we traveled so heat was a concern for us. We kept most all of the animals in the mini van. Other than to fill the gas tank, we never turned the van off so as to keep the heat running and the animals comfortable. Zebra Finches You will need: Travel cage and cage blanket For the finches we downsized them to a small travel sized cage and also placed a blanket over the cage to keep the heat in. We also kept them close to the bearded dragon cage, so that if any heat was escaping from there it would help keep them warm. I would simply feed and water them as I normally do. Surprisingly, the food and water didn’t splash out of the feeders. Betta Fish You will need: Pop-top Tupperware and insulated lunch box The Betta fish I had a rather unique set up. I had purchased a BPA free Tupperware with a pop-top lid. I filled the Tupperware with the water that was in his tank, put him inside the Tupperware, then popped the little steam release top to allow fresh air inside. Then I put that inside an insulated lunchbox. I would open the entire lid once a day to feed him. But we also kept the lunchbox close to the bearded dragon tank to help keep the water from getting cool. Chickens You will need: Very large dog kennels and anti-flip food bowls I am aware that it’s weird we took our chickens with us. But they are our buddies just as much as the other pets. They were all adult hens so they could handle more extremes in temperature. We had an enclosed, insulated trailer we were towing on our way across that we kept the hens inside. The hens were in very large dog kennels that were filled with straw. I found the only way to feed and water them was to use a square, anti-flip bowl. One that no matter how you press on it or how a bird may stand on it, it will not flip over. Any other sort of feeder they will spill and knock over immediately. I bought the bowl in the pet section at Wal-Mart as I broke rule number one on this list and didn’t test my food and water bowl plans before we left, so I bought this system on the go. Chickens are notoriously messy, so you will be refilling these bowls every time you stop. Fair warning, even the friendliest chickens will get irritated and may peck at you. Just understand that they don’t’ know what is going on, their routine is broken, and they are stressed and afraid. Give them grace just like you would any stressed and afraid pet/animal. That is my list of what you will need to take your pet on a multi-day car ride for a move or trip. Prepare in advance, test your systems if possible, and have everything ready to go one month before you leave. These tips are born out of winter, so if it is summer or warm when you are traveling, adjust as necessary. Give the animals time to become used to their travel system(s), kennels, cages, food, bowls, beds, litter pans, etc. Not just a day or two, try to give them 2-4 weeks to become familiar with the item to help decrease stress. Remember you can use Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets on most all pets. We used it on a dog, the cat, the birds, and the chickens. Consult your veterinarian before providing this as they may have a better option for your pet or situation, I am not a veterinarian. Bonus tip: Remember that the process of you packing and things disappearing from your home can be stressful for your pets. My dog gets very concerned when I pack, especially when things that are his get packed. Don’t forget to comfort your pets during this packing and moving process, they don’t know what is going on and need you to comfort them. Remind them that you love them, that they are coming with you, and that they are safe. As an added bonus, giving them comfort will give you a much-needed stress release and some comfort as well. Don’t get flustered, relax, and take time for them too. Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian or other animal expert. All above advice is from personal experience only. Consult your local vet or other animal care provider before moving or implementing any of the above advice. Much Love, Jessica Marie
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I didn’t know there was a Dinosaur National Monument until I drove through Dinosaur, Colorado on my way to Utah to do my check-in dive. My obsession with Dinosaurs kicked into full gear and I knew I needed to go. The following summer I finally made it to the land of Dinosaurs, and it did not disappoint! It’s not a huge park like Rocky Mountain National Park or Yellowstone, but it still has a lot to offer. Dinosaur National Monument has a bit of everything. It has camping, rafting, swimming, hiking, dinosaur fossils, petroglyphs, a museum, and more. We stayed in the on-site campground. It’s what is called dry-camping, which means no facilities at each camp site, such as water, sewer, or electricity. The bathrooms do have running water, but no shower facilities. If you have a camper you would need to fill your tanks and empty them at the dump station and run a generator or solar for power. We stayed in a tent, made use of their nearby water spikets, the public bathroom, and just lounged in the Green River at the end of every day. The campground had lots of trees, a good amount of space and privacy between each camp site, and friendly staff. We went in the middle of summer so it was extremely hot. Bring as much water as you can, I used a camel back and two water bottles on every hike. You’ll either want shorts, tank tops, and a ton of sunscreen, or very light and breathable long sleeves and pants to protect you from the sun without overheating you. Don’t forget a hat! We lived in baseball caps the entire time we were there. We also took water breaks under trees or behind large rock faces. There is a museum in the Park as well as fossil hikes and petroglyph hikes. It isn’t far from Dinosaur, Colorado and Vernal, Utah where there are grocery stores, more museums, restaurants and just civilization things. We elected to visit the museums before we did a lot of hiking. Since we knew we wouldn’t have access to a shower for about a week, we didn’t want our lovely odors to disturb the other visitors. However, towards the end we went to the King Tut & Dinosaur Café (yes, this is a real place and it was pretty good too!) in Vernal, Utah. The poor waitress stood quite far away from our table, we felt bad for her poor nose. We ended every day with a dip in the Green River, which runs right beside the campground. It was the perfect temperature and the perfect place to watch the sun set. Then we would then walk back to camp, hang our clothes to dry, and start up a campfire to cook dinner on. If you’re looking for a fun summer camping spot to explore, I would highly recommend Dinosaur National Monument. With paleontology, archaeology, natural science and history museums, hiking, biking, rafting, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, stargazing, and more, this is the perfect place to go. Since it isn’t one of the huge national parks it isn’t as crowded with tourists. There were times when we were out hiking that we didn’t see or hear any sounds of humanity or civilization for the entire hike, save for a plane that may fly overhead. I’ve been dying to go back ever since I left. Here is a link to their site so you can plan your visit! https://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm Much Love, Jess For October 31st’s Halloween celebration this year I decided to stay in Estes Park, Colorado. My first choice was Salem, MA buuut I decided to book the trip too last minute and there weren’t any hotels or AirBnB’s available in the area. Sad and disappointed I was forced to nix that plan and come up with something different. It dawned on me that I live less than an hour from the infamous Stanley Hotel, yes the one that inspired Stephen King to write the Shining, and I had never been inside before. I booked a room for Halloween Night and all my sorrows were gone! The Stanley is on the expensive side, I paid about $250 a night, but it is a historic hotel with a lot of history and conveniently placed close to town and all the major attractions of Estes Park, Colorado. Not far from Rocky Mountain National Park, a mere 5 minute drive to downtown, and the hotel itself having several attractions, I would certainly recommend it. The Stanley has a historic tour and a ghost tour, a restaurant, a café, a bar, in-house performances, two mazes on the front lawn, and more. The Stanley Hotel’s main building opened in 1909 but is in great condition, mixing its history with the modern necessities of your everyday hotel needs. I stayed in a single Queen room. It had a large closet, a dresser, a bathroom with all the amenities (the shower was certainly made for shorter people however), free cable and Wi-Fi, a Keurig and complementary coffee. I found the room to be very nice and spacious and exactly what I needed. I was only one person, more than 1 or even 2 would feel a bit crowded. For instance, you wouldn’t have space for a roll-away bed in that size room. I found the room and the hotel to be absolutely beautiful, charming, historic and would gladly stay there again! I took The Stanley’s Ghost Tour and found it to be a wonderful mixture of history and spooks. The ghosts at The Stanley are friendly and not malicious or creepy, just quirky, playful, and unique. We were shown the infamous room 217 that Stephen King stayed in, as well as given a tour of one of the larger rooms in The Stanley. This tour would be fine for kids or adults, there are only so many spaces available each night so be sure to book your tickets in advance. What else is there to do in Estes Park for Halloween? Well, all the downtown shops stay open until 5pm so you can browse and shop the day away! There are also lots of candy shops, restaurants, café’s and more. In the Old Church Shops there is a fantastic coffee shop called Raven’s Roast and I simply adore this place! It has a lovely atmosphere and aesthetic that you don’t want to miss! I went there twice while in Estes Park, the second time I sat on the couch and read while drinking my latte and was happy as could be. At 5pm on Halloween night all the shops on main street close down and Halloween begins! All the shops put out bowls of candy and decorations as people and animals come dressed for trick-or-treating. People of all ages are encouraged to participate and to get in on the treats. Several times the shop owners insisted that we take some candy. And at least one candy shop was handing out caramel apples! Afterwards you could grab some dinner, catch a show at the Stanley, or get a drink at a local bar or pub. It’s a great family-friendly place to spend Halloween! Review and Tips for Estes on Halloween?
I hope you get a chance to see Estes Park, Colorado someday! Better yet, try to visit during Halloween to have a fun and memorable experience at this unexpected but noteworthy Halloween destination. Much Love, Jess In this post I’m going to talk about Cuchara, Colorado and The Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. I took this trip in May of 2019 with 2 friends, but this trip had just about every set-back that the travel gods could throw at it. However, we preserved, made some major adjustments and detours and made it to Cuchara! We planned to take two cars down (as one member of the group was staying longer than the other two then coming back with their S.O.), stay in the dry camping area off Urraca Road in our tent with our dogs, then spend a few days in the National Park, in the surrounding area, and maybe shoot down to Cuchara for a day. This, however, is not what happened. We made it about an hour south when one of the cars gave out. As it was a holiday weekend, most of the mechanics shops were closed. We managed to limp the car back to a nearby city and (luckily) spend the night with one of the trekkers mom’s. We tossed all but the bare bones of our gear and managed to fit all of our gear, food, 3 people and 2 dogs into 1 car and then proceeded to go to our camping location. Upon arrival the wind was a constant 7ish MPH with 10-15 MPH gusts. No matter how hard we tried, we could not manage to set up our tent as it was a large multi-person tent that simply acted as a sail in the wind. After 2+ hours of trying we admitted defeat, the wind claiming its victory as it continued to batter us in mockery. The member that was staying in Cuchara was able to contact their AirBnB host, who was luckily available, and let us extend our stay. So, we packed the CR-V once again and drove another couple of hours south to Cuchara. We spent one night in the Cuchara Inn and the remaining time in an AirBnB. From there things finally smoothed out. Tips and reviews from this trip?
Thank you for reading and for sticking around through the crazy long hiatus! Hope this review was helpful. Add any tips or experiences you’ve had at Cuchara, Colorado or The Great Sand Dunes National Park below! Much Love, Jess |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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