>>....... I close everything up and write "fragile",
>>"this side up ^", and "live lizards" around the box. I take it to my
local
>>post office and ask for overnight delivery.
>
>
>Falsification of postal contents (eg: writing live lizards when they are
>gerbils) is a federal crime.
>
>Shipping mammals is another federal crime.
>
>Just because you've had no problems until now doesnt make it right.
>The very fact you must outright lie on the boxes should clue you in that
>you are doing something wrong-
>STOP this foolish, animal endangerous, money-saving, criminal
>behavior now, before you are caught and consider yourself LUCKY.
I agree with 'a gangi' on content, but not how it was put.
As I posted a little earlier, I had a very serious discussion with a
well placed official at the Denver Main post office.
It is a federal crime to ship gerbils, hamsters, and the like via
the United States Postal Service. Not all the employees or their
supervisors are aware of the fact.
If the package is accepted by the postal clerk, it is 'aiding and
abetting a federal offense' BY THE CLERK. *AND* their
immediate supervisor (usually the postmaster of the post office).
The one considered to be committing the crime is the person
that presented the package to be accepted for shipping. All
packages must have a return address, name is optional....
and they are supposed to refuse a package unless there is
a return address on it. If in doubt, the person named in the
return address OR the owner *and* resident (resident over
owner if it's a rental) is considered to be the person that
presented the package for shipment.
Which means if you are a minor living at home and submit
a package that is accepted for shipping with return address
minus name listed on it, and it is discovered to be full of gerbils....the
owner of the house you live in is now considered to be the
one that presented the package. Your parents are gonna be
*real* upset when they find out they're being accused of a
federal offense with proof (aka the box with gerbils in it) and
they didn't send it.....
Falsifying contents or lying about same....if they are suspicious
they have the right to open it or have you open it on the spot.
If you labelled it 'books' for the 4th class rate and they open it
and find it full of china....at the very least, they will accept it and
force you to pay the parcel rate (which is higher than book rate).
If you labelled it 'lizards' and they open it and find gerbils....they
can either hand the box back to you, or decide to keep it and
push for attempt to ship banned items. Which is also a federal
offense. (they usually pull this one for drugs and firearms and
anything *known* to have been stolen).
Please, this is illegal. We are working on ways to get gerbils
from point A to point B legally.
Falsifying contents and mailing via the USPS is against the law.
Please do not do it, or encourage others to do it.
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
