Coco and Jackson become US citizens

[Balefulregards]

Hi all

I’ve not been on in ages ,and when I popped back last the forum was down for remodelling (looks lovely btw).

A small update on our family:

The adult female has completed her PhD and defends on the 28th of June. On the 29th, we are moving to Wisconsin where I have accepted a professor position. Montreal to Wisconsin – Quite a move.

The rabbits will be in the car with me, caged in the back seat. I already have my bag of critical care, metacam, big syringe, papaya treats and the oxbow veggie treats they like ready to go. We have reservations at pet friendly hotels for the nights we aren’t at my husbands parents house ( in Detroit). Loki the cat will travel in his enormous kennel with the husband ( got to love that Feliway, btw).

I have everyone’s vet records in hand already for crossing the border. My only worry is that they will confiscate the Hay, even though I have small bags of Oxbow for the trip. Depending on the border guard, they may or may not require the litter to be emptied at the border ( I use the compressed pine fuel pellets, so I don’t think they will fuss about those, but who knows).

Coco and Jackson know something is up as I have removed 3/4ths of their habitat including dismantling the Maze Haven and packing the tunnel. There has been urine retribution galore. I know they aren’t going to love being caged for large bouts of time but there is no other choice until we get settled in the new place.

New place has carpet, so I have already thought out how to buy plastic sheeting to lay over the carpet with the throw rugs on top of it. I’ve not seen the new place, so I’ll have to wait and see.

Does anyone have experience with doing a cross country move in car with rabbits? Any tips for me? Things I have forgotten?

[jerseygirl]

No sage advice from me, I just wanted to come by and say:
Hello, Congrats, and Good Luck!

Oh, and may the urine retribution be short-lived. omg. Coco?

[Balefulregards]

Of course Coco, jerseygirl! My little “I will stare straight at you and lift my tail and pee next to the litter box to show you my displeasure” queen. I shudder to think of how long I will be punished post move.

The good news is that there seems to be a couple of rabbit savvy vet options in the new town, as well as tons of local farms for hay. Plus I have a job as a professor which is as rare as hens teeth these days, so that is a relief. Everyone can continue to eat!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I don’t have any experience traveling with bunnies, a few members do, hopefully they will give you some advice.

I just want t say “Welcome back to BB” and good luck in the US!!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

We bought our guinea pigs in the US when we lived in s. ontario and had a bit of trouble crossing, just really a long time in customs while they tried to find ‘guinea pigs’ in their system, so they called them rabbits and let us go.

I might suggest calling the border/embassy etc to find out tips for crossing. Check at your vet clinic too-you might want a certificate of health?

Other than that you sound super prepared. Congrats on the life changes! Sounds like it’s been a ton of work

[Monkeybun]

from what i remember, no health certificates or such is required to bring bunnies tot eh US from canada. I don’t think hay will be an issue, just fresh fruits and veggies.

[Loki'sMomma]

I brought Loki with me from the US to Canada, and the border guard didn’t even have us stop so she could inspect him. Be prepared to have them pull your car over just to look at the him and make sure that he is healthy, but there isn’t any quarantine time. I called customs before I came just to make sure that everything would go smoothly. There aren’t any vaccination requirements for rabbits, and unlike cats and dogs, you don’t have to have a pet passport. As far as the hay goes keep it in the original bag. When I talked to the customs guy he said that bringing in hay in a bale or unmarked bag may cause problems but I just bought a new bag and brought it unopened over the border. They don’t really eat or drink much while the car is moving so we made sure to stop every 1 1/2 – 2 hours and offer him food and water. We also split the trip up into 2 days since its a 8-9 hr drive if you don’t stop at all ( we were going from Indianapolis to Mississauga). Other than that just make sure you keep the car really cool and I put a towel over the window on his side of the car just to make sure the sun never was shining directly on him. He did wonderful and eventually was relaxed enough to flop in the car and relax. In about a month we’ll be going back over the border again, and going back has the same regulations as going into Canada.

[kinggoblin]

I’m not sure about the border but my bunny takes 3-5 hr car rides quite often ( every other month or so ) and I’ve never had a problem, he usually flops over on his side and sleeps most of the way and doesn’t want food or water. I offer him wet veggies before and after though which he eats.

[Chesters Mommy]

No tips from me. Just here to say congratulations and good luck with the travel/move 

[Balefulregards]

I wanted to update this thread, if only to help others who may be dealing with a move.

We moved over the dates June 28th -July2nd – some of the hottest days ever, with no A/C in our car. The first day of driving, we did in the evening, so other than being mad at being in their cage and in the back seat, it wasn’t bad. They both would hunker down and glare. No eating while in the car, of course.

Once we would get to the hotel, I would get them settled in the bathroom with litterbox/rugs/food and water. They would do pretty well, actually and I would see poo and evidence of urine before we headed out the next day.

The second day, we drove from Toronto to Detroit. At the border, I was ready with all of our vet information. The border guard was kind, but definitely wanted to see my paperwork with evidence that they were pets and under regular care. The strange thing was she didn’t ask for any paper work on the cat.

That 2nd day was very,very hot. My solution was to buy 2 8 pound bags of ice and set them next to each rabbit. They didn’t love it, but it helped keep them cool(er). They would even lick the water on the bag as it melted. By the time we got to Detroit, both bags had melted. The compressed pine ballooned like crazy.

We spent 1.5 days in Detroit and they were happy as can be in the cool finished basement at my MIL’s house. We left very early on Sunday morning for the Detroit to Beloit(WI) drive to get around Chicago. Another bag of ice kept them cool.

Pulled into Beloit and got into another pet friendly hotel, got the rabbits set up in the bathroom. They settled more quickly with every transition. Ate well (cooler of greens that I refilled each stop) drank water. All good.

The final day was only a 4.5 hour drive but it was broiling hot by 9a.m. So hot that by the time I drove the 500meters across the highway to buy the bags of ice to pack around them, I was sure Coco had died. She had flopped to the side and was looking a bit unresponsive. I got her packed next to the ice. I could see her breathing, but even when we dripped water down on her, no response. It took easily 45 minutes for her to “come to” enough to sit Up and look annoyed.

We got to the new house and I got them into the A/C bathroom ( before I could rabbit proof a room). They are doing just fine now….aside from Ms Coco’s decision to lose all of her ability to pee in her litterbox. But that is for another thread!

[bunnyfriend]

Hi, just wanted to say congratulations! I’m assuming the position is at the UW? My aunt moved last year from Madison, Wisconsin to Montreal with her cat (she’s going to McGill) Sorry the drive down here was so tough, I’m sure you’re relieved to have it over with.

[Balefulregards]

Isn’t that funny – I just came from McGill! Yes, I took a professor position with UW – no small feat in these economic times. Professor positions are as rare as hens teeth.

I have to find a vet, and have found a couple of places that sell Oxbow – but bizarrely no local hay connections yet. There is hay EVERYWHERE but no one sells it.

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