Since not everyone lives near a hedgehog breeder, or even a store that
sells hedgehogs, we often get asked questions about shipping, and 
would like to address some of those questions here.




Important Announcement

Following the 9/11 tragedy, the FAA has placed restrictions

 on air shipments. Until further notice, we are only able 

to ship with the Pet Air service. Air freight prices 

typically run $139 to $169 through Pet Air. You can obtain

a quote at their website: Pet Air. 

An $18 per shipment "security" fee is currently being imposed 

by Pet Air. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may 

cause. You may be interested in our new Shipping Buddies 

program, designed to help defray shipping costs!


Update 10/03/01

As of today, USAirways and Continental have informed me that they

can take new shipping contracts from persons who have shipped

with them before. Thankfully, I have used both carriers in the

past and have put in my application for consideration. Both

carriers are a bit less expensive than Pet Air during times of

the year when heat and cold embargoes are not in place. We will

post more details as we get them!

Is shipping expensive?
     YES. The only legal (and safe) way that I have available to ship
     hedgehogs is via air cargo. We used to use Delta, but they raised
     their shipping rate to $169 for air freight alone, so they are no 
     longer our first choice. Options we have available to us are to ship
     on Saturdays out of Kansas City on Continental (roughly $89) or
     USAirways (roughly $96 to $162, depending on whether cargo is open on
     the receiving end at arrival time), or Delta out of Wichita on Sundays,
     for $169. These prices are subject to airline changes, but are the 
     most current quotes that I have. We are unable to ship on weekdays.
     As of 5/23/01 we are registered with Pet Air  and can ship year round, 
     as long as temperatures are forecast to be between 45 and 85 at origin,
     departure, and any stopover points. Pet Air  shipments are made on
     Saturdays.

Why not send it overnight express or UPS or 

something like that?
     Even though it's ok to send some birds through the US post, and
     some carriers may accept certain animals, hedgehogs are an exotic
     and unless the carrier is USDA approved to handle exotics, it is
     not legal. Not to mention that these services typically do not
     have temperature controlled shipping or delivery vehicles, 
     increasing the chances that the hedgehog may be exposed to 
     extreme (and potentially deadly) temperatures. No thank you!

What are the other expenses involved in shipping, 
besides just the hedgehog and the air freight?
     In order for the hedgies to travel, they must be checked by a
     licensed veterinarian and receive a clean bill of health within
     10 days previous to traveling. My vet charges $14 per 
     certificate. Multiple hedgies can go on the same certificate at 
     $4 per extra hedgie (i.e.: $18 for 2, $22 for 3, and so on). You 
     will also need an airline approved kennel cab. This is about $16.
     Because we live over 120 miles from the nearest airports, we also
     charge a $20 transport fee, which will be waived when we can ship
     two or more hedgies on the same day. Pet Air is currently
     imposing an $18 per shipment "security fee."


How is the hedgehog shipped?
      Hedghogs that are shipped through the cargo department of the 
      airline, will need to be picked up at the airline's
      cargo office unless other arrangements are made for after hours
      pick ups. During shipping the hedgehogs are put in a cargo
      space that is heated and cooled just like the part of the plane
      where people ride. In the kennel cab there must be food 
      available and a dish where water can be offered when the hedgie
      is not in the air. I always provide a hedgebag that the hedgie 
      can hide in or under during the trip. 
      Hedgehogs that are shipped via Pet Air are picked up at the 
      airline's counter.

What are the weather restrictions?
     The compartment where the hedgies stay during their time on the
     plane does a good job of staying cool when the plane is moving,
     but if the plane stops for any length of time, the compartment
     can get dangerously hot or cold. Airlines are not allowed to ship
     live animals if it is below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees at any
     point in their journey. In addition, a shipping embargo is in effect
     from May 15 to September 15 each year, due to airline concerns about
     hot temperatures. Here in Kansas, we typically also experience 
     temperatures below 45 during the months of December and January. We 
     are now using Pet Air and can offer shipping during 
     other airlines' summer embargo, so long as the temperature is above 
     45 and below 85. See the Pet Air website for a quote on shipping.

So, how much does that cost all together?
     You need to add together the cost of the air freight, health 
     certificate, airline approved kennel cab, transport fee (if 
     applicable), and the animal to calculate your final cost. 

When do I pay for shipping?
     We used to be able to ship collect, but the airlines appear 
     to have eliminated this option. Therefore, we DO NOT ship 
     freight collect. We will obtain an estimate of air freight 
     charges from Pet Air, and require that to be paid by 10 business 
     days prior to when shipping is planned. If we can find a less 
     expensive flight, we will refund you the difference. We make 
     every effort to find the most cost effective shipping possible 
     (it can take me 3 hours of time on the phone calling and waiting 
     to talk to representatives), but please understand that for 
     some routes it will be as much as $169. Due to the requirement
     that we prepay your flight when we request booking, we ask that
     air freight be paid 10 business days in advance.

We have informed people about shipping.