Your dog doesn’t know why the couch is leaving. Your cat definitely doesn’t approve. Moving with pets takes a little extra planning, but it keeps them safe and makes the whole day calmer for everyone. Here’s what to do before, during and after the move, plus the Omaha-area pet licensing deadlines every new resident should know.
Before the Move
Visit the Vet
Schedule a checkup a few weeks before moving day and ask for:
- Copies of vaccination and medical records, especially proof of rabies vaccination. You’ll need it to license your pet in Omaha.
- Refills of any medications or prescription food to get you through the first few weeks.
- A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection if you’re moving to Nebraska from another state. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture requires dogs and cats entering the state to have one, issued by an accredited vet within 30 days before entry and showing a current rabies vaccination.
- Advice on travel anxiety if your pet gets stressed in the car.
New to Nebraska? Our guide to moving to Omaha covers the other new-resident deadlines. Moving out of Nebraska? Check the rules for your new state before you go, and see how our long distance moves work.
Update the Microchip and ID Tags
A collar tag with your cell number is one of the quickest ways for a neighbor to get a lost pet home. Make sure it’s current before moving day, not after.
If your pet is microchipped, update the registry with your new address and phone number. Not sure which registry your chip is in? The AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup checks participating registries for you. According to AAHA, when microchipped pets don’t make it home, it’s usually because the owner information is wrong or missing.
Get Your Pet Used to the Crate
If your pet only sees the carrier on the way to the vet, it’s not going to love moving day. The ASPCA suggests getting pets used to their crates gradually, with food and treats, and taking a few short practice drives.
Pack a Pet Essentials Bag
This bag rides with you, not on the truck:
- Food and treats for a few days, plus bowls
- Medications
- Leash, harness and an extra collar with ID tag
- Litter box, litter and scoop for cats
- Poop bags and paper towels
- A favorite toy, blanket or bed that smells like home
- Vaccination records and your vet’s phone number
Check the Rules at Your New Place
Renting? Read the lease’s pet policy, including any breed, size or number limits. Buying in a neighborhood with an HOA? Check the covenants. And check your new city’s pet licensing rules (more below).
Moving Day
Moving day is risky for pets. Doors are propped open, people are carrying big things and nobody’s watching the floor. (More on avoiding common moving day mistakes.)
- Give them a safe room. The ASPCA recommends keeping pets in a quiet room with the door shut, or at a friend’s house. Doggy daycare or a sitter works too.
- Empty that room first (or last) so movers don’t need to go in and out.
- Put a sign on the door: “Pet inside. Please keep closed.”
- Tell your crew lead during the walkthrough. At Easy As Pie, our crews walk every room with you before loading, so that’s the perfect time to point out which door stays shut.
- Stick to the routine. Feed and walk them at the usual times as much as you can.
- Pets ride with you, never on the moving truck.
In the Car
The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends:
- Keeping cats in a carrier so they can’t crawl under the driver’s feet or escape
- Safely restraining dogs, and keeping them out of the front passenger seat if it has an airbag
- Never leaving pets unattended in the car
- On long trips, feeding small portions and stopping about every two hours so dogs can stretch and go to the bathroom
Keep the leash on before you open any car door, especially at gas stations and rest stops.
Other Pets: Fish, Birds and Small Animals
- Fish: A full aquarium is extremely heavy and can crack when moved. Drain the tank before moving day, and plan for your fish to travel with you in containers. Ask your vet or a local aquarium store for the safest way to move your species.
- Birds, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs: Move them in a secure, covered carrier in your car, away from drafts and direct sun.
- Reptiles: Many need steady temperatures. Talk to your vet about keeping them warm and safe for the trip.
Let your crew know about the empty tank, cage stands and other pet furniture so they can pad and load them like any other fragile piece.
After the Move
Pet-Proof Before You Open the Doors
Before your pet explores, the ASPCA suggests tucking away cords, blocking nooks where a pet could get stuck, checking that window screens are secure and removing toxic plants and any pest-control traps. Check fences and gates for gaps too.
Start With One Room
Set up a “home base” room with their bed, food, water, toys and litter box, then open up the rest of the house a little at a time. For cats, the ASPCA suggests moving the litter box gradually, about a foot a day, toward its permanent spot.
Explore on a Leash
Walk your dog around the new neighborhood on a leash for the first few weeks while everyone learns the area, and make sure the yard is escape-proof before any off-leash time.
Find a New Vet
If you’re new to the area, line up a new vet and know where the nearest emergency vet is before you need one. Then transfer your pet’s records.
Omaha Pet Licensing Rules
In Omaha and many surrounding cities, licensing your pet is required, and the Nebraska Humane Society handles it. Here’s what new residents need to know, as of 2026:
| City | New residents must license within | Animal limits |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha (including Elkhorn) | 30 days | 3 dogs, 5 cats and 2 mini pigs |
| Bellevue | 30 days | No more than 3 animals over 6 months old |
| Papillion | 10 days | 4 animals over 4 months old |
| La Vista | 30 days | 4 animals over 4 months old, max 3 of one species |
| Gretna | 10 days | 4 animals over 4 months old, max 3 of one species |
A few more things to know:
- Dogs and cats need a license at 4 months old. In Omaha and Bellevue, so do mini pigs.
- You’ll need proof of a current rabies vaccination.
- Licenses are renewed every year. They’re due January 1 and late after March 15. If you move to the area after March 15, you won’t owe a late fee for that year.
- Spayed or neutered pets cost less to license, with proof from your vet.
- You can license online, by mail, at participating vet clinics or in person at the Nebraska Humane Society.
- Omaha has extra rules for some breeds. Owners of certain breeds must show proof of $100,000 in personal liability insurance before licensing. Check the NHS page for the list.
- Need more pets than the limit? Omaha and Bellevue offer a pet avocation permit that allows more animals after an inspection.
Moving to Council Bluffs or another city not on this list? Check with that city directly. And if you’re still deciding where to live, our Omaha suburbs guide compares the area’s most popular communities.
Moving With Pets FAQs
How do I keep my pet calm on moving day?
Keep them in a quiet room with the door shut (or with a friend or sitter), stick to their usual feeding and walking times and give them something familiar, like their bed or a favorite toy.
How long do I have to license my pet after moving to Omaha?
Thirty days. The Nebraska Humane Society handles licensing for Omaha, including Elkhorn. Papillion and Gretna give new residents only 10 days.
Do I need a health certificate to bring my dog or cat to Nebraska?
Yes. Nebraska requires a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued by an accredited vet within 30 days before entry, showing a current rabies vaccination.
Can pets ride in the moving truck?
No. Pets should always ride with you in your car, safely restrained or in a carrier.
When should I update my pet’s microchip?
Before you move, or as soon as you have your new address. Update your phone number and address with the microchip registry and get a new ID tag for the collar.
Let Us Handle the Heavy Lifting
You focus on the pets. We’ll handle the rest. Easy As Pie Moving Co. crews call when they’re on the way, walk every room with you and pad and strap every load. Want even less on your plate? Our packing services cover one room or the whole house. And our moving checklist keeps everything else on track.
Request your free estimate or call (402) 200-4661.
