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What would you do if you receive a snake through the USPS?

The BoidSmith

The BoidSmith

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Every now and then we hear about instances of people who unknowingly receive snakes through the postal service. We know it’s illegal to send them but it would also implicate that you (in the receiving end) can be held liable of breaking the law. Let’s assume you didn’t know the snake was going to be shipped USPS and the package shows at your door. You have to ponder if you reject the package and send the animal to a sure death or save him by accepting it and thus risk being liable. What would you do?

Thanks.
 
The BoidSmith said:
Every now and then we hear about instances of people who unknowingly receive snakes through the postal service. We know it’s illegal to send them but it would also implicate that you (in the receiving end) can be held liable of breaking the law. Let’s assume you didn’t know the snake was going to be shipped USPS and the package shows at your door. You have to ponder if you reject the package and send the animal to a sure death or save him by accepting it and thus risk being liable. What would you do?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I had that happen to me last year. I had no clue it was being sent USPS. My mail man brought me the package. It was marked glass.

I took the package, but did not know it was a Mex king until I opened the box. My wife sells a lot on Ebay, I thought is was something for her.

Needless to say, I contacted the seller, and had a real long talk with him. His excuse was, " He did not make enough money on it to ship it any other way".

I have not, nor do I intend to buy from him again.
 
The second snake I ever purchased online came to me via the USPS. Being a "newbie", I never thought to ask how it would be shipped....I just assumed it would be through legal means, even I knew it was illegal to ship USPS.

Long story kind of short......since my post office is a very small, rural office, if the package isn't there by the time he's done sorting his mail, he leaves and it waits til the next day for delivery, even the "overnight" packages. Of course, it didn't arrive til after he left, and when it didn't get here by late afternoon, I emailed the sender.....that's when I found out.....the post office couldn't find it (they were looking for MY name, but he had used my ol man's name since it was his paypal account I had used at the time).....finally, the NEXT MORNING they called and figured it out. I picked it up immediately, and the snake was fine, but the sender still got a royal butt chewing.....and the box was labeled, "LIVE PLANT". Hm. I couldn't bring myself to not accept it though....it was winter, and I knew the poor thing more than likely wouldn't survive the return journey. Later, I thought to look at the postage he paid to ship it......he charged me $40 shipping, it cost him $12 or so to ship it. :hot:

I have NEVER bought an animal since without clear confirmation of what carrier it is being shipped with. Even so.....I just don't think I could refuse to accept it if the seller were to lie and ship USPS, I'm too soft-hearted to make the critter suffer more time in that box. :rolleyes:
 
Well this thread was supposed to have a poll with the following options: 1. Accept it; 2. Accept it but never deal again with this individual; 3. Reject it. My experience with USPS was similar to that of Cathy. Years ago I bought a ball python from a guy name Tyronne. The old timers here might remember him as he was later selling hetero for ghost as if there was no tomorrow. Long story short, a box arrived at my door USPS. It had never occurred to me it was going to be shipped other than the usual carriers. To make matters even worse the snake had escaped the bag and it was loose in the box. Had it been a weaker box she would have escaped in the post office or the truck. I had to make my decision there and it was to accept, and never again deal with this individual.

Regards.
 
Hey dand, we have something else in common.

I too would have accepted the snake.

Then I would have made some call and asked some questions, much like I have of you. Cat still got your tongue there?

Unless it's a habitual thing, recieving snakes through USPS, I don't really think there should be any problem with saving the life of your snake by accepting it rather than almost certainly sealing it's death warrant by sending it back, only to be sent out again the same way. If it survives the return trip.

IF it was a newbie mistake, then take it with a grain of salt.

IF it's ray's reptilia,or scum of his ilk, you should have known better anyway.
 
People being prosecuted for sending snakes thru USPS seems to be an urban legend. Something that everyone says can happen but no one's ever actually seen. I have trouble believing someone would be punished for accepting a package they didn't know was going to be shipped illegally..I'd accept the snake.
 
I have trouble believing someone would be punished for accepting a package they didn't know was going to be shipped illegally.
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According to the law it seems to depend on what's being shipped. If you ship a garter snake and someone finds out they will probably tell you not to fo it again. If you ship a mamba and it escapes in the post office, you better call a very good lawyer.

Regards.
 
What about the (many?) people that ship snakes thru UPS, FedEx or DHL without having gone thru the process of being approved to ship exotics..is that illegal in the same sense as using USPS or is it just a matter of violating a company's TOS without actually involving legality? Are there any real-world consequences to doing that?
 
ApexPredatorBoids said:
People being prosecuted for sending snakes thru USPS seems to be an urban legend.
Click to expand...

I would accept the package and never deal with the shipper in the future.

Regardless if no one was ever prosecuted,
That statement does nothing to help the hobby. Let’s just reassure newcomers that if they decide to skirt legal shipping practices, that there will be no consequences. Bad press does nothing for us.

Also, if you do a search on Lacy Act violations and snakes you will see some convictions noted.
 
Since you seem to think you KNOW that I'm condoning such activity..I'M NOT. I thought this was a place for open discussion and exchange of info. I'm simply saying my honest opinions and asking questions..yet again the little guy gets shit on for trying to participate.
 
The BoidSmith said:
According to the law it seems to depend on what's being shipped. If you ship a garter snake and someone finds out they will probably tell you not to fo it again. If you ship a mamba and it escapes in the post office, you better call a very good lawyer.

Regards.
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I have the same opinion on this, basically the law is there so that, if somone does ship a deadly animal, or something happens and say somone has a heart attack because they see a snake in a package, theyre protected and safe from being sued or getting their asses chewed out by the public/people sending it.

While its still against the law, i dont think youre going to get much more than a warning if you get caught once with say a small ball python or other such hatchling. youll probably just get a slap on the wrist and theyll just want to check your packages when you go to send them.

Id accept just because i wouldnt want the animal going back through the system after such a miserable trip in the first place. but id avoid the person in the future.
 
ApexPredatorBoids said:
Since you seem to think you KNOW that I'm condoning such activity..I'M NOT. I thought this was a place for open discussion and exchange of info. I'm simply saying my honest opinions and asking questions..yet again the little guy gets shit on for trying to participate.
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I didn’t say you condoned anything. I said, that the “urban legend” statement wasn’t a fact, that some might take it, as it would be “ok” to ship by USPS without consequences.

All of us would hope the community takes a hard-line on the issue instead the nightly news.
 
It wasn't presented as a statement of fact..as I said, it "SEEMS TO BE an urban legend". It was meant as an opinion and nothing more. The implication on your part certainly SEEMED to be there..yet again, my opinion. If I mis-took your words I apologize.
 
The BoidSmith said:
Let’s assume you didn’t know the snake was going to be shipped USPS and the package shows at your door. You have to ponder if you reject the package and send the animal to a sure death or save him by accepting it and thus risk being liable.
Click to expand...

Is there perhaps a third alternative? Could one refuse the package yet contact the local supervisor of the post office, explain the problem, and ask that he/she intercede on behalf of the life of the animal?

Surely (I hope) there must be procedures in place to deal with all sorts of other non lawful material that people can attempt to ship; perhaps there would be a way to both save the snake and not accept possible liability.

If that would work, not only does it offer some possibility of protection of liability, negating the possible presumption by the post office of collusion with the shipper on acceptance; but the fact that the post office then has to deal with the problem assures that the illegal shipper would be dealt with also.
 
Is there perhaps a third alternative? Could one refuse the package yet contact the local supervisor of the post office, explain the problem, and ask that he/she intercede on behalf of the life of the animal?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if this has changed after 9/11. The best thing they can possibly do is probably speed up the return of the package to the sender. One way or the other you are talking of an additional 24 h at least that may mean the difference between life an death for the animal. I'm not sure about the legal implications for USPS if they call animal control and the package is opened. Mail is supposed to remain private.

Regards
 
I now am certified to ship with FedEx but way before they even offered this to anyone I shipped a ball python through UPS, they caught it and called me back and said to come and get it and please do not do this again, they said it was one of the best ones to come through LOL and everyone just loved it! Go figure hugh.
I do not condone shipping through USPS and will not purchase from anyone doing so. Shanell.
 
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