Hi Deb. It sounds like you are doing a wonderful job. I'm sure everyone on
the GML is truly appreciative and grateful to have someone willing to put
their personal time into such a research project! I do.
Thank you Deb.
-----Original Message-----
From: Deb Rebel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thursday, August 03, 2000 9:24 AM
Subject: Update on the Gerbil Rideshare Project
>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
