Interstate moves with an animal are routine, and they go badly mostly when the paperwork or the arrival is left to improvisation.
Paperwork to carry
The vaccination record, including rabies, and a recent health certificate from a registered vet for a long journey. Carry originals, and keep a photograph of each on your phone as a backup.
The journey itself
A ventilated carrier the animal can stand and turn in, sized for it rather than for the boot. A light meal a few hours before, not immediately before. Water offered at every stop. For a long road journey, plan the stops in advance rather than when someone remembers.
Heat and timing
Travel early or overnight in summer. A stationary vehicle in afternoon sun becomes dangerous within minutes, and an animal will not always show distress before it is serious.
The first week at the other end
Confine the animal to one or two rooms initially, keep feeding times identical to before the move, and delay introductions to new people. Register with a local vet in the first fortnight and hand over the history.
Climate change, not just address change
Moving from a dry state to a humid one changes the grooming routine immediately. Expect to adjust, and watch the skin and ears in the first month.
