Why does ShipYourReptiles support USARK?

Updated

ShipYourReptiles states on its site that it is a Platinum Member of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) and frames that support as a defense of the hobby itself. The company's stated reason is direct: legislation can take away the rights to keep, breed, and ship live reptiles and other animals, and the future of the hobby depends on the ability to defend against those laws. The site also gives visitors a way to contribute, with a "Donate to USARK today" link and a "DONATE NOW" button.

What the site actually says

The relevant text on the homepage reads:

"Protecting our future with USARK. The future of our hobby depends on our ability to defend legislation that takes away our rights to keep, breed, and ship live reptiles and other animals. We are a proud Platinum Member of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. Help us support the cause. Donate to USARK today."

Three claims are being made here, and they are worth separating:

  • Membership status — ShipYourReptiles identifies itself as a Platinum Member of USARK.
  • The rationale — the company links its business and its customers' interests to legislation affecting keeping, breeding, and shipping live reptiles.
  • The call to action — visitors are directed to donate to USARK through a link on the site.

Why a shipping company takes this position

ShipYourReptiles is a live-reptile shipping service, and its own description of itself is "100% UPS certified to ship live reptiles affordably, securely and easily." That business depends on the legality of moving live reptiles. If legislation restricted keeping, breeding, or shipping, the effect would fall on both the company and the hobbyists it serves.

That is the logic behind the wording on the page: the company treats shipping rights as part of a broader set of animal-keeping rights, and treats USARK as the organization positioned to defend them. Supporting USARK is therefore presented not as a separate charitable gesture but as protecting the conditions the business and its customers operate under.

How visitors can participate

The homepage provides a direct route to contribute:

  1. Locate the USARK section on the homepage.
  2. Use the "Donate to USARK today" link or the "DONATE NOW" button.
  3. Complete the donation through the linked USARK page.

The site does not state on the homepage what donation amounts are suggested, whether ShipYourReptiles matches donations, or whether any portion of shipping fees goes to USARK. Those details are not supported by the page content, so they should not be assumed.

What this means for you as a customer

If you are choosing a reptile shipping service, this position is a signal about the company's public stance rather than a functional feature of the shipping product. Two practical takeaways:

  • If supporting USARK matters to you, the site gives you a direct donation entry point, and the company publicly aligns itself with the organization.
  • If you only need shipping, the USARK section does not change how booking works — you would still use the site's "Book a Shipment," "Quick Quote," tracking, supplies, and insurance functions.

The membership claim and the donation link are the concrete, verifiable elements on the page. The broader argument — that legislation threatens keeping, breeding, and shipping — is the company's stated reasoning, presented in its own words.