Love our little Squeakin’ Pups, but live in a different state? Now we are able to ship your rats to you!
Shipping can be a stressful experience for animals, but there are a few rules we have to limit the stress for your new rats:
- We will only ship 3+ rats. If you are only adopting 1-2 rats from us, we will not be able to ship them to you. (Finding others in your area willing to share a shipment is a possible solution, however.)
- Rats must be at least 6 weeks old when requested as part of a shipping order and 8 weeks old or 140 grams when being shipped.
- We will only ship to locations where there is a major airport and the total flight time does not exceed 8 hours.
- We prefer non-stop flights. If your destination does not have any non-stop flights available, and additional insurance fee will apply.
How Much Does It Cost?
Shipping is expensive because rats can only be shipped via car or airplane, and the process for shipping is both costly and time consuming. This note is specifically for persons who will be having rats shipped by plane. If you would like to reduce shipping costs, you can find a group of adopters in your area who would like to ship rats together, this will reduce the per person price for shipping. You can also look into an out of area appointment (meeting by driving) rather than a flight. We have a separate page with that information under Adoption in the main menu.
We currently charge $360 for a the booking/shipping fees for a single adopter. This does not include the cost of any rats you are acquiring. The amount is paid out in installments as your shipping order progresses, and each payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. The final payment for both shipping and rats must be paid before the scheduled shipping date.
If multiple adopters are booking together, there is a $50 additional fee per person. For example, two adopters requesting rats in a single crate would be $410 for the booking/shipping fees. There will need to be a primary adopter for multi-adopter bookings. The Primary Adopter will be the person responsible for picking up the rats at the destination airport and ensuring all rats find their way to their new homes properly. Squeakin' Pups is not responsible if the Primary Adopter does not deliver all rats to their proper homes. It is very important that you only team up with persons you feel you can trust when scheduling a multi-adopter booking.
$50 of the shipping fee is refundable to the Primary Adopter after they receive their new rats IF they ship the IATA crate back to me in like condition to when it arrived at the destination airport. Damaged or unusable crates will have no refundable portion. Instructions on how to return the crate will be sent prior to your shipment. I always recommend shipping the crate back as soon as possible to avoid any damage while in your care.
I do not book any flights set to depart SAN airport any earlier than 11 a.m. (most flights arrive at their destination between 4-9p.m. depending on distance) There is a large process to shipping the rats that I have to do the morning of shipment to prepare the rats for travel, and I have to arrive 2-3 hours early for drop-off of the rats as well. If the arrival flight at the destination airport is too late for you as the adopter, we can look earlier than 11 a.m., however there is a $50 additional fee for booking a flight that departs prior to 11 a.m. as I will likely have to wake up at 3-4 a.m. to begin getting the rats ready for departure.
** If you would like me to research the available flights to your area, there is a $50 non-refundable deposit required. We use Delta Cargo and you are welcome to research flights before contacting us or do any research on your own to see if they fly to your desired airport. Flights that you find may not be the same ones we later find, however, if you see a preferred flight, we can look into it after you have begun your shipment request.
We currently charge $360 for a the booking/shipping fees for a single adopter. This does not include the cost of any rats you are acquiring. The amount is paid out in installments as your shipping order progresses, and each payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. The final payment for both shipping and rats must be paid before the scheduled shipping date.
If multiple adopters are booking together, there is a $50 additional fee per person. For example, two adopters requesting rats in a single crate would be $410 for the booking/shipping fees. There will need to be a primary adopter for multi-adopter bookings. The Primary Adopter will be the person responsible for picking up the rats at the destination airport and ensuring all rats find their way to their new homes properly. Squeakin' Pups is not responsible if the Primary Adopter does not deliver all rats to their proper homes. It is very important that you only team up with persons you feel you can trust when scheduling a multi-adopter booking.
$50 of the shipping fee is refundable to the Primary Adopter after they receive their new rats IF they ship the IATA crate back to me in like condition to when it arrived at the destination airport. Damaged or unusable crates will have no refundable portion. Instructions on how to return the crate will be sent prior to your shipment. I always recommend shipping the crate back as soon as possible to avoid any damage while in your care.
I do not book any flights set to depart SAN airport any earlier than 11 a.m. (most flights arrive at their destination between 4-9p.m. depending on distance) There is a large process to shipping the rats that I have to do the morning of shipment to prepare the rats for travel, and I have to arrive 2-3 hours early for drop-off of the rats as well. If the arrival flight at the destination airport is too late for you as the adopter, we can look earlier than 11 a.m., however there is a $50 additional fee for booking a flight that departs prior to 11 a.m. as I will likely have to wake up at 3-4 a.m. to begin getting the rats ready for departure.
** If you would like me to research the available flights to your area, there is a $50 non-refundable deposit required. We use Delta Cargo and you are welcome to research flights before contacting us or do any research on your own to see if they fly to your desired airport. Flights that you find may not be the same ones we later find, however, if you see a preferred flight, we can look into it after you have begun your shipment request.
Why is Shipping So Expensive?
I get asked this question a lot, and it is a very legitimate question. I have broken down the shipping charge by basic items that are in it so you know what you are paying for when you book a shipment with me.
For an ideal booking, I will receive $20/hr for my time, however, most bookings I make under $10/hr. Most of the cost of shipping is due to ensuring the safety of your new rats as they travel by choosing a reputable airline for the flight and providing a secure IATA approved carrier for transport.
- $180, The actual flight booking cost (this is the usual cost, but I have been charged as much as $210)
- $75, Shipping crate. Our shipping crates are IATA approved and safe for pet rat travel and are large enough to provide excellent comfort and a low-stress flight for your rats.
- $5, cost of bedding and food for the flight.
- $100, cost of my time and labor in researching and making the booking (2-4hrs), drive time to the airport and home (1.5hr) and associated car usage(gas, etc. as it is a 30 mile drive), check-in time at the airport (2-5hrs), and reservation of my day for the flight (I often set the whole day until their scheduled arrival time aside in case there is an unforeseen issue with the flight, I am available to assist with that as well.) Time estimates are all under the assumption that everything runs perfectly smooth with your shipment.
- I do NOT charge additional amounts for any additional time and work if there is an issue outside of the adopter's control. I have had times when the original flight was cancelled and I have had to book a new flight, which required multiple trips to the airport for picking up and dropping off the rats once again. Issues of this sort are absorbed by Squeakin' Pups as a risk of providing this service.
For an ideal booking, I will receive $20/hr for my time, however, most bookings I make under $10/hr. Most of the cost of shipping is due to ensuring the safety of your new rats as they travel by choosing a reputable airline for the flight and providing a secure IATA approved carrier for transport.
What Else Should I Know Beforehand?
Please be aware that shipping can be a lengthy, and sometimes turbulent, experience. Finding a flight that works with both our schedules, monitoring rats before flight, the possibility of delays due to illness or unfitness for flight of one or more rats, flights being cancelled or rescheduled by the air carrier, and a multitude of other delays or inconveniences could occur before, during, or even on the day of your scheduled booking.
Most of our shipments go very smoothly without incident, but when they do not, it is important that all adopters know that we do not refund any portion of your shipping fees or adoption fees after they have been paid. You must be committed to your booking and walking through the whole process with us before you begin. We will work tirelessly for you during the full process to make it as smooth as possible. Even when problems do arise, we are committed to always being here to help!
Our Rat Guarantee applies to all of our rats, however, we do not pay for any return/replacement shipping for rats, nor do we make any guarantee that we will drive any distance for delivery or pickup of rats. Adopters are always responsible for travel, even when our Guarantee applies. Choosing to adopt from a rattery that is a long distance from where you live will mean that you will not have the benefit of being able to easily meet in person if needed. Should anything go amiss with your rats that is covered under our Rat Guarantee, we will do what we can to work with you and assist in all situations, however, the solutions may need to be modified from those that are available to our local adopters. For example, the exchanging of one rat for another will likely not be feasible since it would entail shipping both rats (the returned and new one). In these cases, we will try to make a determination for a solution that is fair based on the actual situation (asking you to pay shipping back to us in returning the rat does not seem reasonable to me.) The solutions vary case-by-case, but please know that we are always here to help, and our primary concern is the health and welfare of our rats and our adopters.
It is very important that you pick up your rats on time from the airport. Having a valid photo ID and reliable transportation for the date of pick up is a must. If either of those items is an issue for you, it may be better to research a rattery that is closer to where you live so they can accommodate you better. The ID and travel to the airport are not something we can adjust on our end.
If you feel that scheduling a shipment is still something that you want to do, please continue to Step 1 below.
Most of our shipments go very smoothly without incident, but when they do not, it is important that all adopters know that we do not refund any portion of your shipping fees or adoption fees after they have been paid. You must be committed to your booking and walking through the whole process with us before you begin. We will work tirelessly for you during the full process to make it as smooth as possible. Even when problems do arise, we are committed to always being here to help!
Our Rat Guarantee applies to all of our rats, however, we do not pay for any return/replacement shipping for rats, nor do we make any guarantee that we will drive any distance for delivery or pickup of rats. Adopters are always responsible for travel, even when our Guarantee applies. Choosing to adopt from a rattery that is a long distance from where you live will mean that you will not have the benefit of being able to easily meet in person if needed. Should anything go amiss with your rats that is covered under our Rat Guarantee, we will do what we can to work with you and assist in all situations, however, the solutions may need to be modified from those that are available to our local adopters. For example, the exchanging of one rat for another will likely not be feasible since it would entail shipping both rats (the returned and new one). In these cases, we will try to make a determination for a solution that is fair based on the actual situation (asking you to pay shipping back to us in returning the rat does not seem reasonable to me.) The solutions vary case-by-case, but please know that we are always here to help, and our primary concern is the health and welfare of our rats and our adopters.
It is very important that you pick up your rats on time from the airport. Having a valid photo ID and reliable transportation for the date of pick up is a must. If either of those items is an issue for you, it may be better to research a rattery that is closer to where you live so they can accommodate you better. The ID and travel to the airport are not something we can adjust on our end.
If you feel that scheduling a shipment is still something that you want to do, please continue to Step 1 below.
Step 1: Let’s Get Started!
THE COST: The first $50 deposit is due before any arrangements (including the researching of booking costs) can be made for your shipping order. It is allocated for shipping costs only, and cannot be used for any other purpose, even if you later decide to meet with us in person.
With this $50 deposit, we set aside one of our shipping crates for your order specifically. If the $50 is not paid, you may not be able to get either the rats you want or the shipping time you are hoping for. It is always best to pay this amount up front. We have a limited number of crates we keep on hand. We only reorder crates once all are assigned to shipments. It can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for the new ones to arrive (we always hope for the shorter time!) Please remember that all monies paid - even deposits - are non-refundable and non-transferable. They ensure our adopters are as committed to this process as we are!
Current Available Crates: 4 (four)
THE WORK: You will need to become an approved adopter with us before we can accept a deposit from you. Please see our Become an Approved Adopter section under Adoption in the main menu for details on being approved.
The most important information we will need from you, if you did not already provide it, is:
OUR PART: We will do the following:
With this $50 deposit, we set aside one of our shipping crates for your order specifically. If the $50 is not paid, you may not be able to get either the rats you want or the shipping time you are hoping for. It is always best to pay this amount up front. We have a limited number of crates we keep on hand. We only reorder crates once all are assigned to shipments. It can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for the new ones to arrive (we always hope for the shorter time!) Please remember that all monies paid - even deposits - are non-refundable and non-transferable. They ensure our adopters are as committed to this process as we are!
Current Available Crates: 4 (four)
THE WORK: You will need to become an approved adopter with us before we can accept a deposit from you. Please see our Become an Approved Adopter section under Adoption in the main menu for details on being approved.
The most important information we will need from you, if you did not already provide it, is:
- First and Last name of the person who will be picking up the rats.
- Address of the person who will be picking up the rats.
- Phone number for the person who will be picking up the rats.
- Airport you would like the rats to arrive at and a secondary (larger) airport you would be willing to drive to if the primary airport does not have flights shorter than 8 hours available.
- Your preferred dates and times that you would like the rats to arrive at your destination airport. (Please keep in mind that there are many rules that govern animal travel and morning flights are very rare. Most flights I have researched so far arrive between 3-8 p.m. I will search any given times, though.)
OUR PART: We will do the following:
- Approve you for adoption and add you to our list of Approved Adopters
- Confirm receipt of your deposit and the reservation of a crate for shipping
- Confirm that there are qualifying flights from our local airport to your destination airport that meet our criteria
Step 2: Rat Selection and Booking
The next step involves the booking of the flight and the reservation of the rats you are adopting. This is when your order becomes a REAL THING!
THE COST:
THE WORK: You can begin to look through available babies as soon as we approve you as an adopter. Which rats you would like to make your own is completely up to you. You may select from any of our babies that are a minimum of 6 weeks old or any of our older or retired rats as well. You must reserve all rats for your order at the same time. The best time to adopt for shipping is usually November and January, or May-July. We will have more babies available for adoption during these two months. However, you may adopt at any time of the year we have babies that meet the criteria. Bookings on or around major holidays may be more expensive and we charge additional fees for requests that fall within 2 calendar days of a federal holiday or within 1 week of the following holidays: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and New Year's Eve.
OUR PART:
THE COST:
- We will need a second deposit of $150 for the shipping. This is non-refundable and non-transferable once paid.
- We will also need a $20 deposit on each rat you are requesting for reservation. For example, a shipment of three rats will require a $60 deposit. This deposit is also non-refundable and non-transferable.
THE WORK: You can begin to look through available babies as soon as we approve you as an adopter. Which rats you would like to make your own is completely up to you. You may select from any of our babies that are a minimum of 6 weeks old or any of our older or retired rats as well. You must reserve all rats for your order at the same time. The best time to adopt for shipping is usually November and January, or May-July. We will have more babies available for adoption during these two months. However, you may adopt at any time of the year we have babies that meet the criteria. Bookings on or around major holidays may be more expensive and we charge additional fees for requests that fall within 2 calendar days of a federal holiday or within 1 week of the following holidays: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and New Year's Eve.
OUR PART:
- Confirm requested rats are available and the reservation of rats once deposits are received
- Confirm flights are available for preferred travel dates that coincide with the go home dates of all rats being requested
- I do not book any flights set to depart SAN airport any earlier than 11 a.m. (most flights arrive at their destination between 4-9p.m. depending on distance) There is a large process to shipping the rats that I have to do the morning of shipment to prepare the rats for travel, and I have to arrive 2-3 hours early for drop-off of the rats as well. If the arrival flight at the destination airport is too late for you as the adopter, we can look earlier than 11 a.m., however there is a $50 additional fee for booking a flight that departs prior to 11 a.m. as I will likely have to wake up at 3-4 a.m. to begin getting the rats ready for departure.
- Confirm the details of your reservation and booking before final payment is requested.
Step 3: Here They Come!!!!
The last step of the process for you is to make the final payment on your reservation and be at the airport in a timely manner to pick up your new Squeakin' Pups.
THE COST:
- The remaining balance of the shipping costs.
- The remaining balance for the adoption fees on your rats.
THE WORK: The final payment must be received no later than 5 calendar days prior to your rats’ scheduled flight. We will not ship out any rats without final payment clearing any financial institutions, so paying earlier is always best.
While waiting for your new Squeakin’ Pups to arrive, you can set up your new cage, buy bedding, treats, toys, etc. all those wonderful things your rats will want and enjoy. Don’t forget that Squeakin’ Pups has an Etsy shop where you can purchase rat related items as well! (www.etsy.com/shop/squeakinpups) We offer a 10% discount on all our sewn items for adopters who request items with their new rats.
On the date of the shipment, you MUST arrive at the airport early to ensure you are ready and waiting for your new fur babies when their flight arrives. You will need a photo ID to prove your identity for pick-up. The person named on the airway bill is the person who must arrive for pick-up. If that person is unavailable, please let us know as soon as possible and we will change the information on the date of travel.
OUR PART:
- Send confirmation of payment in full when received.
- Ensure all rats are in good health and state for travel. We will notify you if there is any issue with any rat you have reserved as soon as we know of the issue. We will communicate all possible options for resolution to you. Rescheduled flights due to any issue with the rat(s) themselves will have no additional fee.
- Transport to the airport, check in, and ensuring adequate foods and bedding for transport. Notification once the rats are safely booked in and on their way!
Cancellations or Changes to Your Booking
- Squeakin’ Pups is not responsible for late or cancelled flights by the airport/airline/carriers. We will attempt to get your new rats on the very next available flight out to you, should this occur. If it is a connecting flight and your rats are already in transit, we have no way to expedite that process, unfortunately. We DO NOT charge additional fees if flights are cancelled due to the airline or airport. It happens, and we understand it is part of shipping and absorb any additional time costs.
- If anything prevents you from being available for pick-up, please arrange for an alternate person to pick up your rats. If anyone except the named person will be picking up, please notify us AS SOON AS YOU KNOW. We will need to be sure the correct name, address, and phone number appear on the shipment when we check them in.
- If you cancel your booking request at any time, you will forfeit ALL fees paid up to that point.
- If you decide to reschedule your booking after it has been confirmed, you will need to pay $25 + any additional fees charged by the carrier for the change of flight.
- If you decide to cancel or exchange one or more rats you will be adopting after paying any amount on them, you will lose all monies paid for the rat being returned or exchange. In addition, you will have to pay a new deposit and full adoption fee for any new rats added to the booking.
- If Squeakin' Pups is unable to deliver the rats to the airport at the designated time and date, and the flight must be rebooked due to our error, such as becoming ill or failing to account for poor traffic, we will issue a $25 refund of the booking fees in apology for the inconvenience at the request of the adopter, and pay any additional fees charged by the carrier for the missed flight.
- If Squeakin' Pups deems any rat unfit to travel on the scheduled booking date, the adopter will have several options for proceeding.
2. Receive a refund on the unfit rat and book a replacement rat while still keeping the same scheduled flight. (all applicable fees for the new rat's adoption will need to be paid by the adopter.)
3. Cancel the scheduled flight and book for a later date when the rat is expected to be fit to travel. (This can only be elected if the unfit rat is expected to be fit to travel within 1 week of the originally booked flight.)
A Final Note on Shipping
Any rats that are shipped to other states will still be covered by our rat guarantee, however we do not pay any shipping charges for adopters. If you would like to return a rat, it will have to be done at your own expense. The same is the case if you decide you would like to exchange one rat for another. You will need to pay the shipping of the unwanted rat back to us and/or the shipping for a new rat to be sent out to you. The shipping for a rat exchange is discounted if there is a covered reason within our rat guarantee. The adopter will only pay the actual booking cost for the flight and the $40 for the crate to ship the new rat(s).
Squeakin’ Pups also has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy when it comes to failing to pick up your rats from the airport. If we are notified that you did not arrive in a timely manner, you will be banned by our rattery from adoption and all events or promotions we sponsor.
If you have any questions on shipping, or anything else, please feel free to ask. We are always here to help!
Squeakin’ Pups also has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy when it comes to failing to pick up your rats from the airport. If we are notified that you did not arrive in a timely manner, you will be banned by our rattery from adoption and all events or promotions we sponsor.
If you have any questions on shipping, or anything else, please feel free to ask. We are always here to help!