PCSing with pets can be an adventure.
Military PCS with Pets-CONUS
Denise Sloan
Our first PCS with pets was relatively simple from Texas to Arizona. Our two dogs loved car rides and knew the word “adventure” meant good times. My husband and I just loaded up the cars and hit the road.
Over the next 24 years and 11 PCSes, we hauled dogs from one side of America to the other and across the ocean to Hawaii. We learned a lot of lessons and slowly built a check list of things to do before, during and after the move.
We’re dog people, but many of the following tips work with other pets too. Just keep in mind many hotels and housing options do not allow exotic animals like reptiles, ferrets or potbellied pigs. If you’re PCSing with an exotic, you’ll need to do a lot of research to make sure your pet will be accepted wherever you’re traveling.
Expect the Unexpected
Even if a PCS seems like it’s years away, we recommend three simple things: save money, kennel train your pets and acclimate them to long car rides.
First, save money, lots of money. In January of 2024 the military began offering pet pcs reimbursements for one pet per household up to $550 for CONUS moves. By “pets” the DOD means dogs or cats only.
Five hundred dollars sounds like a lot, but it’s not an automatic payment and may not cover all of your moving expenses, especially if you have more than one pet. Also keep in mind you have to pay the money out of your own pocket first before being reimbursed.
For CONUS moves, costs could include: purchasing a kennel, boarding and hotel pet fees, extra vet visits to update shots and get a microchip, purchasing extra medicine, pet rent or a pet deposit for housing, installing or renting fences, meet and greet with your new vet to establish care and city registration fees (if off base). So save as much money as you can as soon as you can.
Kennel training your pet before you pcs makes everything easier.
Second, teach your pets to use a kennel. By accident, we taught our first two dogs to love their kennels. We had no idea how helpful this would be down the road when we were moving overseas and had to kennel the dogs.
As you road trip to a new destination, the kennel can be a familiar place for your pet. Some of our dogs were calm enough to ride without a kennel, but one sure wasn’t. He was Houdini at escaping from doggie seatbelts and a nut once out. He needed a kennel for his sanity and ours.
Third, acclimate your pet to long car rides. Don’t assume your pet will travel well in a vehicle. Some pets get car sick, others are extremely anxious and others unleash extreme energy distracting you from driving. Take the time to train your pets on riding in the car. For tips on how to do that, check out this article.
CONUS Orders in Hand
Once PCS orders arrive, kick the preparations up a notch. Make sure your pet is up to date on all of its vaccinations and has a microchip with current registration. If not, get that taken care of asap.
At the same vet appointment, request your pet’s records and ask any questions about travel medications (if needed).
Our dogs traveled from one coast to the other.
Check your pet’s collar and replace it if worn down. Also add a tag to the collar with your name and cell phone number. Then update the tag once you have your new address. Make sure a current rabies tag is on the collar too.
I have a section in my PCS binder complete with our pets’ information, a current photograph for each dog and medical records since I may need these to check into military hotels, at an emergency vet visit or if my dog is lost while moving.
Stock up on things like flea and tick control, heart worm protection and any other medications your pet takes. It may take a little time to get in to see the new vet after the move and you don’t want to run out of these vital items.
If your pet is on a special diet or supplements, stock up on enough supplies to carry your through the road trip and until you find a source in your new location.
Bringing your pet’s favorite toys, games and activities keeps them entertained in hotels.
We also bring plenty of treats, toys, enrichment games and poop bags to last a while along with our dogs’ favorite beds and their kennels.
Finally before leaving your current home, research your next home. PCSing with pets can be tricky due to the housing situation. You have three options: military housing, rent a home and buy a home. I did a deeper dive into the housing issue
Researching your options before you PCS helps remove some of the stress on the other end.
Furry Tourists
Next up, create a travel plan for the humans and the pets. Whether driving straight to your new duty station or making it into a fun road trip with stops along the way, remember your pets.
Plan plenty of potty breaks for your dogs. Dogs enjoy exploring new scents and enjoy stretching their legs as much as humans do. Look for state rest areas, truck stops with dog parks or other activities that allow dogs. Bring Fido and Sniff Spot are a great resource for this.
Look for pet-friendly stops like state rest areas.
If we plan to stop somewhere that isn’t dog friendly, one of us enjoys the activity while the other stays with the dogs. Then we swap places. Yes, it’s inconvenient, but it’s responsible.
We usually do drive throughs for meals or have dinner delivered to the hotel. Take your pet’s favorite bed, blanket, toys and treats in the hotel each night. Animals thrive on routine and structure. All of these items will help them feel less stressed because they are familiar and fun.
We also bring along a lot of bottled water. Water quality varies from place to place. The last thing you want to deal with is a pet’s upset tummy. We keep a collapsable water bowl in the van and our dog’s hotel bag.
Our dog has her own travel bag stuffed with the necessities.
Yep, our dog has her own hotel bag loaded with her food, supplements, two collapsable bowls, a sheet to cover the hotel furniture, games and chewy sticks. Before we hit the road, I place each meal and supplements in its own snack bag. When it’s time to eat, I just pull out the bag of kibble and mix it with the canned food. Easy peasy.
Our dog’s bag also has spoons for mixing her wet food and a small bottle of dish soap and sponge to clean her bowls after meals.
Finally, throw some cleaning supplies like baby wipes, paper towels and disinfectant in your car. I also bring a dog first aide kit, shampoo and towels in case the worst happens and they need medical help or a bath. You’ll be ready to deal with everything from vomit to cut paw pads.
Just Sleep on It
So where will you and your pet sleep during this PCS? Many military hotels like IHG, the Navy Lodge and Air Force Inns allow pets with a deposit. See the “Additional Resources” section at the end of this blog for each service’s hotel link. While you may be able to reserve a room online, it’s best to call to verify they have a pet room available.
The hotels on military installations must follow the installation guidelines about banned dog breeds and each service has a slightly different list of banned breeds. So check to be sure your pet isn’t one of those. Ask if they have any restrictions on size, number of pets and what the cost might be.
Upon arrival be ready to present vaccination records. Many hotels also require the pet be kenneled if you leave the room.
If military hotels aren’t on your route, an MWR recreation area might be. Many installations have camp grounds, cabins and lodges at recreations areas.
Many civilian hotel chains allow pets to stay for a fee. Most hotel websites leave a spot for comments, but don’t actually verify they have a pet-friendly room available for the dates you booked.
Again, to be sure, call the hotel directly and ask questions. Also ask if they’ll wave the pet fee for military on PCS orders. Don’t assume because one hotel in the chain worked, all hotels will work. Often individual owners tweak pet policies.
Many hotels welcome dogs with a pet fee.
Here is a list of non-military hotel chains we’ve used the in past for our dogs who ranged in size from 45 pounds to 75 pounds. I’ve included hotels friends have used too:
- Best Western
- Candlewood
- Comfort Inn
- Double Tree
- Drury Inn
- Embassy Suites
- Extended Stay
- Fairfield Inn and Suites
- Hampton Inn
- Hilton
- Holiday Inn
- Home 2 Suites
- Howard Johnson
- Hyatt
- LaQuinta
- Marriott Townplace Suites
- Motel 6
- Red Roof Inn
- Residence Inn
- Staybridge
- Super 8
- Windham
- Air B n B
- Vrbo
Behavior Changes
Moving stresses pets just like it does humans. Expect to see some behavior changes, keeping in mind every animal reacts differently. Some of the things you might see: pacing, lack of appetite, lack of interest in play, confusion, may not reliably obey commands, excessive hyperness and inability to “settle”, fear like refusing to walk over strange surfaces (anything different than what was at their home), hiding, startling at noises, “clinging” to you.
Bringing enrichment games to the hotel helps lower a dog’s stress level.
Keeping habits the same will help them. If your dog is used to going for walk first thing in the morning, resume that habit asap, even if it’s just walking around a hotel parking lot. If you spend lots of time snuggling on the couch, give them as much snuggle time as possible in the midst of a move. When pets, especially dogs, know what to expect it helps them feel more secure.
Give your pets lots of grace and extra TLC and they’ll eventually pull through. All four of ours did. The benefits our dogs gave to me and my husband far outweighed the hassles of PCSing.
Additional Resources
Download Our FREE Pet Packing List
Moving with Pets can be tricky, especially when the military is involved. Be prepared for whatever comes your way with our FREE CONUS Pet Packing List
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.