Question:
I have seen many people starting to use railroads to transport animals. It seems risky to me that the animal is changing hands so many times and that the transport can take a much longer time than simply shipping.

Why do people choose to railroad instead of shipping? And what are the advantages of it?


Answer:
I think that one of the main reasons people are doing it is to try and save the cost of shipping. I think the only way I would ever try doing it is if it was a short distance and I knew the people in the transport really well. I'd always go with whichever was going to be the less stressful for the animal.


Answer:
I agree with Pam, the only real way I would do railroading is if it were a fairly short distance and I knew the people. So much can happen with trading hands so often IMO. I hate to be so skeptical of people, but who's to say someone wouldn't switch chins or do something to jeopadize the chin. Granted I've heard horror stories from shipping chins, I think that's what I would opt for. I know for some railroading people ask for a bit of gas, and it sometimes can take much more time. So for a long distance trip why not just pay a bit extra and save time and stress on the chin.

I think the advantages of it, I would assume in most cases, is generally the transport person(s) are at least a bit chin knowledgable and know what to watch for and how to handle chins. A bit less worry about the chin getting lost.

Most of my chins I've picked up myself. I did have one set of rescues who were delivered by someone I hadn't met yet. Otherwise the only other time I've had chins transported for me has been by people I know.


Answer:
I think railroading would also be more stressful on a chinchilla....changing people/vehicles all of the time, they would be different noises, different sounds,,,etc,,,wouldnt it be stressful??

where as flying, they are in one place basically until they reach you....altho it could be scary being on a plane without anyone, and stragners also have to handle the crates,,,etc,,,,,


Answer:
The only experience I have with railroading is where I drove a kit about an 1 hr to a breeders house, and he kept her there for about a week- and then took her up to the Ohio(mansfield) show with him, where she met her new owner--and after the show drove to South Dakota... It was a long trip, but Paige did fine.

I honestly don't know which would be better for the animal, though.


Answer:
I would not railroad unless I knew the people involved very well. I'm just not trusting enough. And you would have no way of tracking the animal. Granted the airways aren't perfect, but I'm much more comfortable with them. It's a buisness to them and they want to do it right or they would loose their customers. Some one doing it because they have some spare time might not be as commited to your 'cargo'.


Answer:
I also worry about railroading. It's one thing to railroad larger animals ( I think one of the orignal railroads that was somewhat organized was for dogs... ), but small animals?

Recently, within the last year, there was a woman organizing a railroad for Rabbits. It started out as a free thing, but now, they're charging membership fees and such -- it just got too difficult to manage due to all the mistrust and everything...

I might not railroad, but I would use someone that I trust, if necessary. For instance, if someone were travelling to wherever I needed to get an animal (rabbit/chinchilla/etc), someone whom I trust, and there was only the one exchange, then I believe that would be cheaper and possibly more worth while than paying for shipping.

I myself have "railroaded" for a friend on a couple of occaisions, and would again, if she needed it.


Answer:
I haven't been involved in railroading as the opportunity hadn't come up. I think shipping is ok, and normally it goes well. when it doesn't it can be really bad. Last month I had some skinnypigs shipped to me, the airline "lost" them for a few hours and found them in the main terminal. apparently the carg guys didn't realise they were live cargo. They were in a carrier inside a box,,and they had also layed the box on it's side. Iwas amazed that they were ok,..it was -42 that day..and who knows how long they were on the runway before they were brought in?


Answer:
I would only consider railroading if it was a short distance. No longer than maybe 6 hours. I also make sure that I have people railroad that I know and trust. So far I have always chosen to ship my chins, it certainly prevents alot of stress even if it costs me more.


Answer:
With my case, I was very comfortable with the people who were taking the animal to the lady that purchased her. They've been in chins a long time, and are very nice people- who I've bought from in the past... If it was just anyone-- I wouldn't have trusted them with my animals...

In my case, I do think it was pretty safe. But there is no way i'd railroad with people I don't really know..I just wouldn't trust them.