Another misleading and untrue statement  regarding the transport posted by the San Diego Humane Society.

SDHS claims “Fear Free Methods” were employed throughout the transport of 323 animals, that they were safe at all times and checked on multiple times during the drive to Tucson.  

Research on Fear “Free Methods and Certifications” finds Dr. Marty Becker’s website – fearfreepets.com.  Their mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety and stress in pets from the home to the hospital and during the veterinary visit.  The education focuses on dogs, cats, and birds.  There is little information on rabbits and guinea pigs and no information found on rats or hamsters.

Moreover, there seems to be no references for Fear Free Methods on transporting the small exotic/prey animals like the animals sent from SDHS to HSSA.  In fact, and to the contrary, there is a reference about exotics hiding weakness and explains they should to be given extra cautions due to their fear of being someone’s dinner. 

Fact - 76 rabbits were sent on this unethical trip
Rabbits, as prey animals, are hardwired to be fearful of changes in their environment. This can include unfamiliar people or other animals, but also simply being moved from one room to another. They also have a strong sense of territory: if you move your rabbit from one cage or room to another, it might take it a while to get used to its new surroundings.  

Stress can make rabbits more vulnerable to illness and also increases susceptibility to parasites and other infections and generally makes them more vulnerable to injuries, which could lead to problems like a broken leg if he runs into something while running away from what he perceives as an attacker. They might also be more prone to biting or lashing out due to stress. 

323 prey animals were taken from their long time safe environments and stacked like sardines into an unfamiliar refrigerated moving truck for 18 ½ hours.  How did their food and water last that long?  It appears some of the first carriers loaded were left with towels over the tops and the air holes covered as carriers are seen on top with ties around them.

The front of the carriers were covered by a wall or another carrier, logically, there is no possible way 323 animals could have been checked on multiple times during the transport as SSHS claims without removing all the carriers on each check. It is highly questionable how many animals did/did not survive the trip as there are no recorded videos of unloading and no evidence other than checkmarks on a printed list of animals.  Both the word of SDHS and HSSA are not credible. 

It appears there were bungie cords around the carriers every other row, the carriers could have easily buckled and if the rows were not all even in height, they could have easily fallen. 

Refrigerated trucks
Refrigerated trucks generally have a no pets policy.

Exotic animals like snakes and rats may not be hardy or adaptable enough for long trips, and are generally prohibited, or at least discouraged.
Ethical trucking companies only recommend moving penguins and honey bees in refrigerated trucks.

While SDHS continues to claim this transport was fear free, it was nothing of the sort.  While they continue to state they had no idea the animals were going to one “rescue” evidence from Jessica Des Lauriers shows otherwise. Both SDHS and HSSA did nothing to demand the animals back from Colten Jones/python breeder when they found out they were missing and still no charges have been filed.

The majority of the animals that left SDHS came into the shelter under municipal contracts, they were paid to care for them and in turn deceived and betrayed them and defrauded the public.  SDHS is also subject to public records on those animal taken in under municipal contracts but are refusing to comply.
 
Sadly, even if animals survived this cruel, highly stressful trip, the majority are missing and presumed dead because they were sent by the hands of Christian Gonzalez under the watch of Steve Farley into harm's way (to Colten Jones/The Fertile Turtle/ snake breeder who sells live and frozen small pets as feeders).  Both Gonzales and Farley walk free without consequence of animal cruelty charges as well as Colten Jones.

SDHS sent -
76 total rabbits 
26 unaltered rabbits were sent
6 were baby bunnies 
ALL BUT 4 MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD