The Move

How many times do you hear about people rehoming a pet because of a move? Or simply leaving them behind, and animal control having to be called. Life events and changes that don’t include the family member with paws.

As I decluttered, sorted and donated the majority of my belongings these past two months, never once did I consider parting with my pets. There was a big move ahead, and we had every intention of taking our entire family along.

No one left behind.

The year 2025 started out like any other. My husband and I enjoyed the holiday time off and then dragged ourselves back to work like everyone else. But this year had other plans for us.

In late January I slipped on ice at work and ended up breaking my foot. That put me out of commission until mid May. My husband meanwhile was yearning for change in his field of work and considering other departments. Over Christmas we had visited my sister and brother in law in Florida. It was that visit which planted the seed that now began to grow into a full blown life change.

My brother in law, also a police officer, was talking my husband into joining him at the department in Florida. Although we had always toyed with the idea of moving out of cold Michigan, this seemed like an impossible idea…at the time. Then 2025 threw a wrench in both our plans and we started to seriously consider this life altering move.

While I sat in snowy Michigan, nursing my broken foot, my husband began the process of becoming a certified police officer in Florida. Several flights to the sunshine state, a week long training and passing the state exam procured him the certification.

Then began the lengthy process of applying and interviewing for the position there. After several more flights back and forth and many more tests and interviews to pass, he secured a position. Now it all sped up!

I had just returned to work while he was simultaneously resigning his position in Michigan, and making plans to relocate to Florida to start the new job. We still had to list and sell our home and pack up. Everything seemed to happen at once suddenly.

While he packed up the car and headed south, I stayed in Michigan, working and keeping the house clean for showings. Our German Shepherd and two cats stayed with me.

I spent the next few weeks organizing, packing, decluttering, selling and donating. It became my new full times job. The two cats continued their indoor/outdoor existence in blissful ignorance of what was to come. Ruger was happy to have me home every day, but not so happy that I was too busy to play ball all day long. There were plenty of video chats with dad in Florida that left him tilting his head side to side while trying to find the familiar voice coming from my phone.

A big part of my planning process included getting everyone up to date on all vaccines, and have those records printed out for travel. I ordered a new plug-in cat pheromone to the new address in anticipation of our arrival. Since these two had spent their whole lives at one address, and enjoyed the great outdoors at will, I was not sure how they would do with two days of traveling in the car and then being forced to resume life as indoor cats in Florida. I consulted their vet who prescribed me some medication for the travel days.

It piqued their curiosity as the house slowly turned into box city. The day I removed their cat window their little world changed. Giving them inordinate amounts of canned food kept them from being too angry with me. Then the moving company came and suddenly our whole house was empty. They wandered through the empty rooms confused. They attempted to jump on the window sill that once allowed them access to the cat window outside. More treats and canned food were provided to appease my confused little family members.

I had packed pet food, bowls, a one time use litterbox, leashes, treats, extra towels and anything else that I would possibly need on the trip and immediately upon arrival. I booked a pet friendly hotel room in Chattanooga Tennessee that I planned to stop at on the drive down. The cats were not fans of the medication they received before we started the drive. But each one in their carriers in the back of the car seemed to be content and quiet on our first 10 hour leg of the trip. The dog of course happily traveled in the back seat, excited to sniff every rest stop area we visited.

Our night at the hotel was interesting. I had never taken all of my pets on a road trip, and overnight accommodations before. I was pleasantly surprised that everyone seemed happy and relaxed in our small room for the night. The cats used their box and ate and settled on the bed with me just like they’re used to at home. Poor George always had a reaction to the medication that left him drooling uncontrollably right after I squirted in his mouth. I decided for the last leg of our trip we would try it without medication for both cats. Luckily both remained happily quiet for the whole day, and no more meds were needed. Sharing that small hotel room, just me and my pets, somehow found us bonding on another level. It sounds strange to explain. They relied on me to be the constant, the familiar, the protector. I made every effort to keep the whole experience as stress free as possible. Having worked with animals I am all too familiar with stress levels changing an animals demeanor and health. I was so thankful that my pets trusted me to keep them safe, and not only tolerated what I was putting them through, but also made me feel like a good mom as they relaxed and loved on me.

Ruger was overjoyed to see Jon waiting for us in the driveway of our new Florida home. That night the cats explored the new home, still void of furniture, save for the air mattress. The new litter boxes Jon had readied for them were immediately used, and they seemed happy after receiving yet another heaping bowl of canned food. The home we are renting has a nice fenced in yard for Ruger to play in, and a pool that he was very curious about, and to this day has slipped into twice while running after his toy ball. I take him for walks every morning. We have explored several parks and our own neighborhood. While he had a large yard to roam in Michigan, and deer to bark at, this city life has its own perks. He is constantly exploring new places and smells.

Once our belongings were delivered, and the animals had their familiar furniture and smells of home again, they seemed to settle right into their new life and routine. And while the cats curiously peek out of the windows here, they seem very content being indoor cats for now. I invested in some new toys, since catching chipmunks and birds outside is no longer an option for them, and they regularly zen out to some cat nip to pass the day.

All of my worries and doubts dissipated that first week. Making a big move and life altering change can be done with pets. It doesn’t have to be a disaster, or a burden.

I realize this is just my experience. Not everyone may have the options we did. But I have also worked in animal control long enough to know that so many people don’t bother to even make an effort at keeping their pets. Making any sort of plan to take them. They simply leave the dog or cat behind and eventually get a new one later on. Discarded like an old couch. On the other hand I have responded to calls about people living in their car with pets. They find themselves homeless but refused to leave their pets behind, sharing space in a crowded car rather than abandoning their family member. There is always a choice. There are always options.