Denver was informative.
1.) It IS illegal to ship gerbils via the United States Postal Service.
Not every employee of the USPS is aware of that. If an employee
accepts a parcel, package, or letter for transport, it does not
absolve the person who presented it for shipping. Default is
the return address on the mail item as to who sent it.
The employee can be in trouble too, for aiding and abetting.
As is their immediate superior (i.e., the postmaster of the
post office where the parcel was accepted.)
An exception can be granted but it takes a court action and/or
an act of congress (i.e., a line on a 'christmas tree bill') for that
time only....
The sender can also technically be charged for 'inhumane
treatment of an animal' if the package was accepted and
the animal(s) come to harm during the transit. That is a
pretty healthy fine and jail time where I live...figure a grand
fine plus the lawyer plus a year plus two to five of checking
in with authorities after.
2.) Private carriers and shippers, it varies. There are different
guidelines depending on what the main vehicle of transport
is (i.e., plane, train, truck, boat, etc) and where the transport
starts and ends, and where it must pass through.
3.) I have not heard back yet from my inquiries to FedEx and
UPS and Airborne.
4.) Greyhound was inconclusive, although I did get a bunch more
numbers to call higher up the line.
I am hoping here, to get 'express through' delivery of a
certain size package with a certain weight max; that would
ride in the cabin all the way not the cargo/luggage.
5.) I need some ideas on what would be a good size and
weight to specify (I am using 18"wide x 24"long x 15" tall)
[45cm x 60cm x 38 cm high] and (10# or 4.5 kg) for a
package that would hold a few smaller containers to
hold 1-12 gerbils per a cube of that size....
Across the country would be three to five days (USA)
depending on if it got to go mostly express or had to
go some 'local' routes as well.
6.) I have more numbers and email addresses to wade
through, as the 'crossing state lines' and 'going to and
from the US and another country' needs to be legal as
well.
7.) California prohibits gerbils by state law, and does
not want them shipped into to remain or out of their
state...the latter gets you in trouble. I am trying to find
out about 'through' permission...
8.) Health certification varies, from $6 to $40 dollars.
It depends on how thoroughly the animal(s) involved
must be checked out, some tests take time and
run the cost up accordingly. And sometimes more
than one animal may be listed on the same certificate;
sometimes it is required that EACH ONE have their
own....
[charts designating all this are being built. ]
I will keep you all updated.
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
