Resolution to Change Shipping Policies on Live Harmless Snakes

We the undersigned propose a change of policy in regards to the shipping of Live Harmless Snakes.

Be it known that it is common knowledge that such companies as Federal Express, United Parcel Service, The United States Postal Service, and Airborne Express will not knowingly accept Live Harmless Snakes as cargo for door-to-door delivery service. Be it also known that these same companies have provisions for other Live Reptiles and Amphibians. We contend that this constitutes blatant discrimination against individuals and companies involved in the legal business of breeding and selling Live Harmless Snakes, while allowing those who deal in other live reptiles and amphibians an unfair advantage.

Be it also known we are aware that some of the aforementioned shipping companies have provided for some of their clients one or more of the following:

a) A written agreement/waiver for the shipping of Live Harmless Snakes
b) Are being granted a "blind eye" policy towards them using their services
c) Some businesses are allowed to utilize those services as local management exception-based decisions

We shall refer to the above herein as "Exceptions". We contend that this is highly discriminatory towards any competitors of those businesses who are not allowed the obvious advantage of these "Exceptions". We further contend that these "Exceptions" are not applied equally throughout the shipping company and are often based on the volume of business a company provides to the shipping company.

Be it also known that a situation has arisen for some people not granted "Exceptions". These people are deliberately not marking their boxes with the accurate contents in order to simply survive in this business. This could constitute a violation of the Federal Lacey Act, (which requires the labeling of boxes of live animals) and subject these people to severe penalties if discovered. It is obvious that based on the above-mentioned circumstances, they have no other choices available to be competitive. These policies affect thousands of people dealing in millions of dollars worth of animals every year. We believe we are blatantly being discriminated against and our businesses are suffering accordingly. As such, we believe it is time to do something about this situation instead of just standing by and watching our entire industry wither away.

We the undersigned propose that a review of policy be initiated to allow the shipping of Live Harmless Snakes by common carrier. The shipping of Live Harmless Snakes does not carry any more risk than the shipping of other live reptiles and amphibians. The benefit to the carrier that allows such shipping is enormous. We believe that a change in the policy would not only benefit us as shippers, but would have a huge monetary benefit to the shipping company that changes their policy to reflect the allowance of the shipping of Live Harmless Snakes. We therefore conclude that it is in the best interest of both parties that a compromise is reached, and the shipping of Live Harmless Snakes to be allowed as a matter of policy, and not of "Exception".