Moving to Arizona With Your Dog: What East Valley Newcomers Need to Know

Relocating to Gilbert or the East Valley is exciting, and your dog is part of the move. The desert climate, local wildlife, and county rules are different from what most newcomers are used to. Here's a checklist for the first weeks in your new home.

Before and during the move

• Bring your records. Keep your dog's rabies certificate handy. Maricopa County requires a current rabies vaccination to license a dog, and the certificate must show the vaccination date, when the next one is due, and the veterinarian's ID and signature.
• Never leave your dog in the car. Moving days mean lots of loading and unloading, but a dog can die of heatstroke within minutes in a parked car, even in the shade with the windows cracked. Keep your dog inside the new home, with water, while the truck is open.
• Pick a vet early. Find a local vet before you need one. Heat, snakes, and wildlife encounters are common enough here that having a vet lined up is worth it.

License your dog soon after you arrive

Under state law, a dog over three months old that lives in Maricopa County for at least thirty consecutive days of a calendar year must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. Licenses renew annually, and Maricopa County lets you create an online profile to upload proof of rabies, renew, and update your information. Update your address and tags while you're at it.

Learn the Gilbert rules

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control handles enforcement of most dog laws in Gilbert. The basics:

• Leash: Away from your property, your dog must be on a leash no longer than six feet and under your control.
• At home: Your dog must be confined to an enclosure or otherwise secured on your property.
• Barking: It's unlawful to keep a dog that barks or howls excessively, under Section 6-2 of the Gilbert Code.
• Clean up: Pick up after your dog. Park rangers, police, and animal control officers can fine you for an unleashed dog or for not picking up.
• Parks: Gilbert has off-leash dog parks, including Cosmo Dog Park. Keep dogs out of playground areas and leashed on canal paths and in basins.

Rules can change, so check the Town of Gilbert and Maricopa County websites for current details.

Protect those paws

Newcomers are often surprised by how hot Arizona pavement gets. On extreme heat days blacktop can reach 150 to 180 degrees, and even when the air is in the 80s asphalt can climb to around 140 degrees.

• Do the hand test. Press the back of your hand to the ground for seven seconds. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog.
• Walk early or late. Mornings and evenings are best for avoiding heat exhaustion.
• Use booties carefully. They help, but take them off when you're home, since dogs sweat through their feet and wearing them too long can cause blisters. Introduce them before a long walk.
• Watch other surfaces. Rocks, sand, and dry grass heat up too.

Meet your new wild neighbors

Coyotes are the most common predator in the Phoenix area and live throughout the Valley. Hawks and owls also prey on small pets, so small dogs need extra attention.

• Keep small dogs supervised outside, especially at dusk and dawn, and always use a leash. Bold coyotes have attacked small dogs on retractable leashes.
• Hawks and owls are most active in the area from fall through spring, which includes right now. Go outside with small pets during these months, and use a sturdy enclosure with a roof if they're ever left outside.
• If you see a coyote on a walk, pick up a small dog and leave the area.
• Feed pets indoors and don't feed wildlife. It's unlawful to feed coyotes in Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties, and Gilbert prohibits feeding wild animals on public property.
• Rattlesnakes live here too. Keep your dog leashed on trails, and see an emergency vet right away after a bite.

Choosing a dog-friendly home

If you're still house hunting, your dog can help narrow the search:

• A shaded yard and covered patio
• Secure gates and solid block walls
• Cooler ground cover near the door, since gravel and bare pavement get hot
• Tile or other cool flooring inside
• A nearby park or shaded walking route
• HOA pet rules that fit your dog. Ask about limits and restrictions before you fall in love with a home.

Moving to Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, or Queen Creek? I can help you find a home that works for the whole family, four-legged members included, and point you to local resources once you arrive.

Send me a message to get started: realestate@melissarush.com

Melissa Rush | Real Broker