>Hurrah to Deb and everyone else who is against shipping gerbils...
I am against shipping gerbils ILLEGALLY. Legal methods
are a lot safer and saner.
>imagine how *scared* they would be! And if they did suffocate...
>if you need a gerbil that badly, go to a pet store.. I know it is not
>as high quality (poor gerbil.. no-one wants to be called low-
>quality) but at least it will be ALIVE.
>
>-- Melanie, Kip 'n' Percil
The thing about the pet stores and the wholesale trade, is
because they can fill a whole truck, they can afford to ship
the animals by ground freight. Under controlled conditions.
And they don't want to deal with us hobbyists unless we
can do the same; pay for an entire truck to go from A to B
with the load. [having my own business, I can often do
inquiries on the business-to-business level that most
can't...and that is the reply. I could hire a semi or large
panel truck to carry cargo, but unless I can fill it up, it
becomes prohibitive....]
The hub for Colorado is in Denver, a place called
Tropaquatics. They bring in almost every small animal
sold at the chain stores throughout the state as well
as all the wet pets and reptiles. They can pay to fill
a cargo plane or semi truck to get the stuff to them;
then ship out with the durable goods to the retailers
who order from them. I have been at stores as they
get the semi or panel truck; with everything on it.
The hauler will NOT entertain taking a private package
as they are under contract to ship just what has been
loaded on that truck at point A, and offloading on the
list provided. I get a business card to call if I want to
contract a load....
None of the private parcel carriers (Fed Ex, UPS,
Maroon, etc) will handle live animals. None of the
commercial passenger/freight venues (i.e., Greyhound)
will either. There is a ton of federal regulations.
Air freight, there is one place, Delta Dash. They
have two rates, one for anything not considered
'warm blooded' and the 'warm blooded'.
I've been sent links for other 'animal shippers' and
almost everyone contracts through Delta Dash and
adds their fees on top. It may be you don't have
to go as far using them to drop off or pick up, but
in the end it's that one carrier.
That leaves us with private rideshare. Of which a
large number of people who post to here are willing
to drive a ways and meet someone or otherwise
deliver...and those on a trip have offered to take
little furry passengers along and posted that also.
So, it's find a breeder within distance, or get someone
to haul them with.
I placed mine locally because of not being able to
ship with any sort of affordability.
Someone on their way through here last year, I
arranged to meet them and they adopted on their
way....so. There are ways to get animals around.
We just have to keep the welfare of the animal
in mind, and stay within the law.
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
