Shipping a Pet or Animal

Shipping a Pet or Animal;

    Dogs and cats demand the same comfort and attention that people expect durring travel. The cargo compartments in most aircraft are temperature controlled and pressurised, ensuring that your pet travels under the the best possible conditions and circumstances. Cats and dogs are carried in specially designed cargo crates or shipping containers; however in very exceptional cases, they may accompany the passenger in a seat but the animal can not carry a firearm.

• Accustom the pet to the container days before travel, allowing it to sleep, feeding and live around the container.
• A favourite toy or blanket will help the crate feel like home, relaxed and at ease.
• Don't feed or water your pet 6 hours before transit, and exercising before loading will minimise the risk of him pooping in the container or becoming sick.
• Attach your pet's name and feeding instructions on the side of the shipping crate or sky kennel. Attendants, can call a pet by his name which is very comforting.
• Animals can become stressed and upset when travelling, ask your veterinary surgeon to prescribe tranquilisers if you think it will help.
• Make sure your pet's necessary inoculations are up to date at least 1 month in advance to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.

What Are The Most Common Methods of Shipping Reptiles?

   By commercial means, there are three methods of shipping reptiles. They are: the US Postal Service (USPS), commercial carriers, and air freight. Each of these methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. Each will be discussed below.

US Postal Service:

   If you are shipping or receiving lizards or amphibians, the USPS is a reasonable alternative to use. The advantage of the USPS is that it is convenient and reasonably inexpensive. A small animal can be shipped overnight for less than twenty-five dollars. There are a couple of disadvantages, however. First, postal regulations prohibit the shipment of snakes through the mail. Second, even with overnight priority, the package is still treated as mail, and no special arrangements are usually made to control the temperature of the box. If the box drives around in a hot mail truck all day until it gets to your house, the results can be disastrous. It is for these reasons that many breeders and dealers cannot guarantee live arrival of animals shipped through the USPS.

   A better alternative, is to ship the animals "post office to post office". By this method, the shipper will ask for the zip code of the buyers post office - not his home. The package can then be shipped overnight, and held in a climate controlled post office until the buyer picks it up. This reduces much of the heat/cold stress, as much of the mail moves overnight, and is not subjected to the extremes of outside temperatures. In the past few years, we have shipped hundreds of leopard geckos by express mail, without a single mishap.

Commercial Shipping Companies

   Some commercial shipping companies are now accepting reptile shipments - most notably, Airborne Express, and UPS to a lesser extent. The advantage is that shipping is fairly inexpensive, again less than thirty dollars, and these companies have developed a tracking system to follow the package every step along the way. That is helpful if the package does not end up where it should be. Again, there are a couple disadvantages. Although the package arrives at your door, it can again bounce around in a truck all day at uncontrolled temperatures. The buyer also needs to be home when the package arrives, or it may sit on a doorstep all day. Another local disadvantage is that acceptance of the package by the freight company is solely at the discretion of the clerk at the counter. If the clerk doesn't like reptiles, the package may not be accepted, regardless of any company policy stating the opposite.

Air Freight

   By far, the safest method of shipping reptiles is by air freight. Of the air carriers, Delta Airlines appear to care the most about the animals it ships. The shipper goes to the airport freight counter and sends the package on its way to the airport of the buyer. The buyer must then go to his airport, pay shipping costs (usually) and take his animals home.

   The advantages are obvious. The animals are in a controlled environment most of the time, and the airline can usually tell you the status of the shipment. If you choose to pay a little extra and ship air express or Dash, the shipper can specifically state exactly which flights the animals will take to their destination.

     Unless there is a direct flight to the destination, have the shipper deliver the package to the airline in the evening, and route the flights so it stays overnight in Atlanta. Atlanta is a major Delta hub, and the animals can get to virtually any airport from there. Also, the Delta people in Atlanta process many animal shipments, and appear to pay attention to the animals' needs. Shipping in the evening permits an extra margin of error in extreme temperatures, as the animals are not likely to sit on a flight line in the sun during the evening fight down to Atlanta or the flight out early the next morning.

     This method too, has disadvantages. First, both buyer and seller must make a trip to the airport. Second, air freight is the most expensive. Standard freight will cost about $35, air express and Dash may be about $55-60. Delta has recently changed their shipping structure, making express shipping the safer alternative. Delta Dash is a convenient service, in that the shipment will travel like a passenger's luggage, and make a more rapid connection if time is of the essence. Dash must be pre-paid however, and the breeder may ask for these charges in advance. When shipping Delta Dash, be sure that the airport enters the commodity code 0182 . This is the code for cold blooded animals and will be billed at the standard rate. Delta recently made a corporate decision to ship all other animals at triple the standard rate! If the airport enters the wrong commodity code, your shipment will cost about $160!!

     Most major airlines have now instituted a policy of doing business only with known shippers. If you have not shipped before, this makes it very difficult to ship your animal. It may be necessary to discuss this withyou freight carrier to determine their individual requirements.

How are the Animals Packaged?

   With the exception of venomous animals, which won't be covered here, styrofoam shipping containers offer the best protection for your animals. Usually, individual animals are placed in bags or deli containers. If the animals are small and fragile, add crumpled newspaper or paper towel to the bag. The containers are then put in a styrofoam box. In extreme temperatures, ice packs or hot packs are used. The newer types of hot packs utilize oxygen in the heat-generating reaction, so be careful to either punch air holes in the box or don't overdo the hot packs. Additional newspaper is added to the styrofoam box to keep the inner containers from shifting too much. If large and small animals are shipped, be sure the large animals cannot crush the smaller ones. Most styrofoam boxes are available with outer cardboard boxes. This is then sealed, marked as "live reptiles", and labeled as to species and number of animals. If the animal is shipped air freight, a label also includes the markings "Hold at Airport" and the buyers name and phone number.

What do I do at the Airport?

   When you receive a call that the animals have arrived at the freight terminal, be prepared to pick them up as soon as possible. Even under ideal conditions, the less time the animals stay in the shipping box, the better off they will be. Many breeders will not guarantee live arrival if the animals are not picked up within a reasonable time.

   Pay the freight bill if it not prepaid, and immediately inspect the outside of box for damage, open the box, and make sure the animals are OK. Do not leave the freight counter until this is done. If there is a problem, file a claim with the airline before you leave. Most shipments are insured, and most breeders will replace damaged or dead animals, but it is up to the buyer to help the breeder recover damages from the airline. However, shippers, unless there is gross negligence, significant delays, or highly visible outside damage to the container, be prepared for a constrained battle with the airline. You will get absolutely nowhere if the box leaves the counter without inspection.