Tips for Moving with Pets to the Boca Raton area

Adjusting to a new home can often times be stressful.  This can be particularly true when it comes to your family pets.  Your animals will need time to adjust to their new environments just like you will. While many of our luxury condo communities are pet friendly, We’ve put together a helpful  cat & dog blog, that may enlighten you while relocating to Boca Raton with your furry friends. 

Boca Raton is one of the most sought after communities in the Southern Florida region, part of which is because of the common love of animals.  When you live in a pet friendly community like Townsend Place or City Walk, you need to be aware of your building's pet policies.  We’ve got people moving here, daily from around the globe, many of whom are animal lovers.  Our international residents need to have the knowledge and resources for their pets before moving to the U.S.A. We want to ensure that our newest residents are prepared for their move and keeping their animals happy.

Before you book your pet's flight, review the policies for moving overseas.  Things like pet carriers and live animals as excess baggage are important to understand.  We’ve provided a link for you to research further. This material comes from the U.S. Department of State. Be sure to have your pet’s health certificate with you at all times, while traveling. That certificate must be updated and less than ten days old in order for the pet to be cleared while becoming a United States registered animal.  For more information on this subject manner check www.state.gov.

Due to the high risk of human health hazards, dogs need to be properly vaccinated before bringing them to this country. The Centers for Disease Control will require that your dog is tested for canine rabies.  In most cases except that your pet will need to be quarantined and monitored for a short amount of time to ensure everyone’s safety.  Of course you want to move into your new home and can’t wait to share the experience with your loved pooch, but safety has to be first in this case.

In an article found last year, regarding ten dogs being delivered from Aruba to Canada reminds us how crucial it is to have healthy pets. Officials found the dogs to be unhealthy and carrying treatable diseases. These pets were turned away from entering the U.S. after being examined by a veterinarian for the airlines. We want all of our new residents to take the necessary precautions to avoid this type of thing happening to them personally.

When moving to Boca Raton, keep in mind that the state of Florida insists that a dog must be on a leash.  That is the law.  If your dog bites or scratches someone legal issues can occur.  Be sure to have your pet in a carrier or on a leash at all times, unless you visit one of Boca’s pet friendly parks, where pets can run free in a gated area.

There are several dog parks in the area. Some of them require that you pay a yearly fee, others if you are a resident of Boca Raton, you don’t have to pay any fees to enter these parks. Mizner Bark, located off Banyan Trail and East of the I-95 overpass, is a large park with sections for small, medium and large dogs.  The park is kept clean and offers a great way for you to meet some people with a common interest of pets.

Don’t forget the dog friendly beaches.  If you enjoy the surf and the sand, your pup may like it too. Just North of Boca Raton, Delray Beach offers a spot far away from the road, no leash zone and plenty of wide open space where the dogs romp and play in the water or the sandy shores of the beach.  Other than parking, there is no charge and it is open to the public.  No need for a pass or to register your pet at this location either. Be sure to check this location out. 

Many of our luxury condominium communities allow small dogs and cats. Be sure to check with the building concierge for the rules, quantity, size requirements and regulated areas where these pets are allowed. Cats typically aren’t a problem, it’s mostly dogs. But, be sure to check with the management.

For our friends with disabilities, service animals are allowed to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where the public can go. This includes emotional support dogs in most cases.  Each community is different and can have a separate set of rules.  At any time, our offices can help find out what your needs and concerns are and help you find a home that suits you and your pet family.

When living in this area, keep in mind that all dogs and cats must be vaccinated and registered.  The cost of vaccination is minimal and will run less than $50 in most cases.  Contact Palm Beach County for renewing or registering your pets.

During hurricane season, it’s important to know and understand what can happen to keep you and your pets safe. In the event that you should have to go to a shelter, there are specific requirements when bringing animals. For instance, your pets info must be updated when it changes. Things like tags must stay current and the pet must have updated their shots, in order for them to be accepted in a storm shelter of any kind. Your pets are your responsibility and keeping their license and tags is a requirement in all states around the country. This is something that everyone needs to be aware.

Microchipping your dog is a great idea.  You can find out from any American Human Society where to get this done.  If you’re unfamiliar with this service, you’ll find it’s safe and very effective, if your favorite pal comes up missing. This would be a good procedure to have done prior to your moving day.

During your move, contact your pet’s veterinarian and ask to prescribe medication that would be acceptable for them to help keep them calm.  As the house becomes more settled and stable so will your felines and Pomeranian along with any other pet.

If traveling to your new home includes an overnight stay, don’t forget to book your hotels ahead of time.  Just a friendly reminder, often times hotels can accommodate but they will need to know where to put your pets.  Any specific instructions, should be given to the hotel management ahead of time, to avoid a hassle.  They can also make specific arrangements for you and your pet babies if needed.

The day that you move into your new residence may be frightening with the noise of movers, boxes, and anything else your purebred isn’t used to. Secure them in their crate or a closed room to help reduce the stress.  Your pet will also need to get potty breaks on a regular basis.  Sometimes the move can be busy and it’s hard to remember everything but they usually remind us, when we're needed. 

Birds, horses, livestock and exotic pets are a bunch of topics we'll save for another time.  In most states there are strict rules and regulations. In particular counties exotic animals like tigers may not be allowed. There is a long list of animals, not permitted in Boca Raton that would fall under this category.  For instance, the Nambi, which is an African cat, is not allowed.

Before you know it, you and your pets will be well on your way to enjoying your new home together!

In closing, our customer care doesn’t only support our clients. We believe it’s important to give great service to the whole family, including their pets.  We want to ensure that your move be as safe and exciting as we can make it.  By giving our clients the necessary information, will enable them to make the best decisions for a smooth transformation.

For more information on moving to the Boca Raton area, please contact our offices for a luxury specialist to assist.