How to Control the Costs of a Pet Move

Four Ways to Make Pet Transport Cheaper

In the past we've discussed how moving pets isn't exactly cheap. Once you break down the process it's easy to see how the costs of moving your most precious cargo can add up, but a pet move shouldn't have to amount to a completely overwhelming expense.

For the budget-conscious traveler, here are a few ways to keep the costs associated with a pet move under control.

Handle the airport transportation yourself

Perhaps you've hired a relocation company to help you with your move, but check to see if you can be the one to transport your pet to and from the airport. It's not always possible to arrange this (some countries require a broker to clear customs) but absorbing some of the costs where you can (think gas money, time spent in traffic, etc.) will make this expenditure a little easier to bear.

Buy a used travel crate

Travel crates are important (they must be the proper size for your pet and also airline-approved), but most people never need them again once a move is complete. This means there are plenty of perfectly good shipping containers floating around out there, so check eBay or craigslist to find pre-owned pet crates and you can probably end up saving a few bucks.

Plan vet visits carefully and keep them to a minimum

You'll need to visit the vet at least once to secure the proper health documents, but make sure you're aware of what you need so that you can be efficient and avoid multiple visits, which could definitely inflate your budget unnecessarily due to veterinarian fees.

Crowdsource your questions

You're not the first person to undertake a pet move; someone out there has done it before, and it's likely they'd be glad to share their knowledge. Social media can be used for fun and a whole lot more, so don't be shy about using these handy tools to pick up tips where you can.

Throwing a question out onto Twitter or finding a great message board and posting a question could be the key to saving yourself time and money. Check out the PetRelocation Facebook page to get started

Contact PetRelocation if you have any questions about planning your upcoming pet move!

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in October 2011 and has been updated with new information.