Moving to senior living can be a big transition. You might be leaving the home you’ve lived in for decades, which means saying goodbye to your worldly possessions. It’s natural to feel some apprehension about making such a huge change, but there are ways to make the process easier for you and your pet. If you’re planning on moving too soon and want more information about the city’s top pet-friendly senior living in Jupiter, FL—as well as some tips for finding pet-friendly housing in general—keep reading!
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Take care of things before the last minute. Moving can be stressful, and you must have time to plan and get everything in order.
At least two months before you move, start working on these tasks:
- Get a pet-friendly home inspection: This is done by a professional who will determine whether or not your new home is suitable for your furry friend. You’ll need this information when looking for an apartment or house in Jupiter, FL.
- Ensure vaccinations are up to date: If your dog is over six months old, it should have its rabies shot at least 30 days before moving (puppies need two shots; one at 12 weeks and another at 16 weeks). Be sure it has been vaccinated against distemper and parvo, as well as other common illnesses that can affect dogs, like kennel cough or Lyme disease.
- Arrange for a suitable carrier. If your dog is still in the habit of using one, bring it along with you. Otherwise, any soft-sided carrier will do. This can be useful if you’re moving anywhere during your move and need to keep your pet safe while traveling.
- Bring food, water, and toys. It’s a good idea to have enough supplies on hand so that you don’t need to make more than one trip from point A to point B—especially if this involves stairs! Sturdy bowls should have enough food and water for at least two days worth of meals, if possible.
Make Sure There’s Plenty of Pet-Friendly Space
Of course, you want to ensure that your new community has plenty of pet-friendly amenities for you and your furry friend(s). This includes things like dog parks and walking trails, both inside and outside of the community. It also means making sure that there are no breed restrictions in place. Some communities have rules against certain breeds of dogs, but there’s no reason to be limited by such policies when it comes to choosing a senior living option in Jupiter, FL.
Visit the Communities and See their Rules
When visiting the communities, make sure to ask about their pet policies and restrictions. Sometimes there will be a number of pets allowed per apartment, so it is important to know what that limit is at each place. You should also inquire about the size of dogs allowed and if there are any breed restrictions. Most importantly, you’ll want to know what times and places you can walk your dog outside of the apartment complex or in common areas like courtyards or sidewalks.
Conclusion
Just as important as ensuring that your new community will not put a limit on how much weight can be carried by your pet is making sure that there aren’t any size limitations either—even if they’re small dogs or cats! As long as they’re well-behaved, this is one area where all animals should get equal treatment.