Pet-proof your new home. Block any nooks where your pet could get stuck, wrap or tuck away electrical cords, make sure window screens are firmly attached with no holes, eliminate poisonous plants if possible and double-check that no poisonous pest-control traps have been left behind by the previous residents.
Locate your veterinarian before you need them. Your dog, cat, ferret, bird, guinea pig, etc., deserves to begin their relationship with a new vet before they get sick. To find a vet, ask pet parents at your apartment complex or in your neighborhood for recommendations – and make new acquaintances at the same time! Schedule a well visit or “meet the vet” visit to ensure you’re comfortable with the practice and then get your pet’s records transferred from your previous vet as soon as possible. (If your pet has unique issues, the NC State Veterinary Hospital has top specialists in all aspects of care.)
Shop local for pet supplies. Pet Mania has stores in Raleigh, Cary, Holly Springs and Wake Forest; The Fishroom serves all your fish needs in Raleigh and Cary; The Urban Chicken in Raleigh has supplies for chickens, goats, horses, deer, wild birds, mini pigs, rabbits, dogs and cats; and Unleashed, the Dog & Cat Store has six locations in the Triangle.
