Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm shipping from Ohio to Maryland. What would you guys recomend? I don't want to send usps because I've heard that they hold live animals for 2 days before shipping! I was thinking ups, but they say that they don't accept live animals. I've heard about Delta Dash before, does anyone know about this? Their website said that they accept live reptiles. Is this the best way to go? What would that cost? I really need advice badly, this is my first time shipping and I'm a little nervous! Thanks!

I'm shipping from Ohio to Maryland. What would you guys recomend? I don't want to send usps because I've heard that they hold live animals for 2 days before shipping! I was thinking ups, but they say that they don't accept live animals. I've heard about Delta Dash before, does anyone know about this? Their website said that they accept live reptiles. Is this the best way to go? What would that cost? I really need advice badly, this is my first time shipping and I'm a little nervous! Thanks!

Delta Dash costs between $50-$75 per shipment. Delta was not accepting live reptiles for a while, but may have changed their rules.
Go over and read some of the posts on the shipping forum. You will read about the problems, and some of the solutions.
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Chris Harrison

Are you sure UPS won't ship live animals?
A friend of mine recently sent me an adult WC female cal king from Texas via UPS (I'm in NY state). It cost him just under $50 and she arrived safe and sound the next morning. As far as I know they won't knowingly ship snakes (venomous or not), but have no prolem with lizards, so that's what he told them it was and that's what he and they marked on the box. In fact the carrier even asked me what kind of lizard it was when he dropped her off...caught me off guard and I stammered 'uhhh a bearded dragon!' lol!
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"Klaatu...Verata...Nicht--cough, cough, cough!"

On the shipping forum they had a discussion about whether it was legal to ship usps or ups. Basically because USPS is a federal mail agency its illegal to ship snakes, but since ups is a private company its just against there policy, not illegal. Many breeders apparently use ups, thats how I got my snakes. Delta dash is supposed to be good too, and there was another that I can't remember, again on the shipping forum somewhere, they even ship venomous snakes, so its prolly fine to ship regular too lol.
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My greybands:
Prince Mandrake and Princess Caldera

...Delta, and especially DASH (whenever a change of planes is required:
1) DASH can move from plane to plane in less than an hour, whereas Delta wants a minimum of 6 hrs on the ground at most, perhaps all, airports to make a connection. It's that time on the ground that is the biggest risk, imho.
2) if you sched a DASH shipment carefully the animals are received the same day you ship them;

Other advantages:
3) With Delta, the package can be marked "live snakes", so the people handling it know they're handling that kind of animal, whereas the various subterfuges people sometimes use with other carriers (because they won't allow shipments of snakes) such as ("perishable"; "live crickets"; "lizards" or no special handling markings at all) simply beg for the package to be mishandled. Can we blame a driver who leaves a box in a hot truck on a texas afternoon, if he thinks it's got cxrickets...or books or whatever, in it? Most of Delta's freight offices have special animal rooms where packages are kept until loaded for outbound flights, and until picked up byk the customer, after arrival.
4) with Delta you can INSURE your shipment (50 cents per hundred of value, I think); DASH shipments are limited to $750 of coverage but that coverage is free. With a different carrier, i don't know how you can insure something that is not what you've indicated is in the package! Besides, IMHO, i think a carrier who's financially responsible for the package is very likely going to be working harder at transporting it safely.

There's more, but you get the idea. I think on all points it's better for the animals. HARDER on us, no question: no door-to-door delivery, for examlple, and it costs more. So perhaps the decision boils down to question like, "what's more important, the welfare of the animals or my convenience?" the welfare of the animals, or the cost? how much savings/convenience does it take to get me to lie to a business about what i'm shipping?

But i think the safety of the animals should be the determinant. Delta's not perfect. But they're darn good. Oh, Continental "QuickPaks" are a good method too, for airports not so well served by delta flights.

One drawback: You've gotta be a "known shipper" to use delta, and that's gonna take some time and patience, paperwork, probably still a home/shop visit by a delta employee, too. That's part of the post 9/11 security measures.

peace
terry