Terms of Use

Welcome to Cargo and Critters, LLC ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website at cargoandcritters.com, our customer portal, mobile applications, phone-based services, and all freight and animal transport services we provide (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing our website, creating an account, placing a service order, or otherwise using any part of our Services, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any additional guidelines or policies incorporated by reference herein.

These Terms apply to all visitors, registered users, customers, and any other party who interacts with the Services, whether as an individual or on behalf of a business entity. If you are using the Services on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent and warrant that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

Cargo and Critters, LLC provides integrated logistics and transport services across all 50 United States. Our core service offerings include:

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our Services at any time with or without notice. We shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of Services.

To use our Services, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Age: You must be at least 18 years of age. By using our Services, you represent and warrant that you are 18 or older. Our Services are not intended for, and may not be used by, persons under the age of 18.
• Legal Capacity: You must have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts under applicable law. If you are entering these Terms on behalf of a business, you warrant you have authority to do so.
• Not Prohibited: Your use of the Services must not violate any applicable law or regulation in your jurisdiction, or any sanctions lists maintained by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
• U.S. Territory: Our Services are offered within the United States and its territories. International animal transport involving import/export regulations requires prior written approval and is subject to additional terms.
• Account in Good Standing: You must not have had a previous account terminated by us for violation of these Terms or applicable law.

Certain features of our Services, including booking shipments, accessing tracking information, and managing your order history, require you to register for an account. By registering, you agree to the following:

• Accurate Information: You agree to provide true, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account information up to date at all times.
• Password Security: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You agree to use a strong, unique password and to enable two-factor authentication where available.
• Account Responsibility: You are fully responsible for all activity that occurs under your account, whether or not authorized by you. We are not liable for any loss resulting from unauthorized account access due to your failure to maintain credential security.
• Unauthorized Access: You must notify us immediately at security@cargoandcritters.com if you suspect any unauthorized use of your account or any other security breach.
• One Account Per Customer: You may not create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions, access promotional pricing multiple times, or otherwise misuse our platform.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if any information you provide is found to be inaccurate, false, or outdated, or if you otherwise violate these Terms.

You agree to use our Services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. The following outlines what is and is not permitted:

Prohibited Cargo

The following items are strictly prohibited from shipment via any Cargo and Critters service:

• Illegal drugs, controlled substances, or drug paraphernalia not covered by a valid DEA authorization
• Firearms, ammunition, and explosives without proper federal licensing and prior written approval
• Counterfeit goods, stolen property, or items infringing on intellectual property rights
• Undeclared or mislabeled hazardous materials (HAZMAT) not in compliance with DOT 49 CFR regulations
• Animals not accompanied by valid USDA health certificates, vaccination records, or required interstate documentation
• Protected or endangered species shipments without valid CITES permits and USFWS authorization

The transport of live animals is subject to federal, state, and local regulations, including the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), USDA regulations, and applicable state laws. By booking animal transport, you agree to the following:

Customer Responsibilities

• Health Certification: All animals must be accompanied by a valid USDA health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within the timeframe required by the destination state (typically 10 days prior to transport).
• Vaccinations: Proof of up-to-date vaccinations as required by applicable state law and species-specific standards must be provided at booking and at pickup.
• Accurate Disclosure: You must accurately disclose the species, breed, age, weight, temperament, and any known health conditions of the animal. Failure to disclose known aggressive behavior, contagious illness, or special medical needs may result in refusal of transport without refund.
• Appropriate Housing: Animals must be presented in IATA-approved carriers or enclosures suitable for the species and transport duration. We reserve the right to refuse animals in unsuitable housing.
• Emergency Authorization: By booking, you authorize Cargo and Critters to seek and obtain emergency veterinary care for your animal at your expense in the event of a health emergency during transport.

Animals We Are Unable to Transport

• Animals exhibiting signs of contagious or communicable disease at the time of pickup
• Pregnant animals within 48 hours of expected delivery date
• Newborns under 8 weeks of age (species-dependent exceptions may apply with veterinary clearance)
• Animals on the CITES Appendix I endangered species list without valid export/import permits
• Venomous reptiles or arachnids without a valid state exotic animal permit and specialized enclosure

All service bookings are subject to availability and confirmation by Cargo and Critters. A booking is only confirmed upon your receipt of a written confirmation email or order number from us.

Pricing & Quotes

• All quoted prices are in US Dollars and are exclusive of applicable taxes, fuel surcharges, and toll fees unless explicitly stated as included.
• Quotes are valid for 72 hours from the date of issuance unless otherwise specified in writing. After expiration, pricing is subject to change based on market conditions and availability.
• Additional charges may apply for changes to pickup/delivery windows, extended waiting times beyond 30 minutes, re-delivery attempts, remote location surcharges, and special handling requests made after booking confirmation.
• Animal transport pricing includes standard handler fees and climate control. Exotic species, additional documentation coordination, or emergency veterinary coordination may incur additional charges disclosed in advance.

Payment

• Payment is due in full at the time of booking unless a net-30 credit account has been established with written approval from our Accounts department.
• We accept all major credit and debit cards, ACH bank transfers, and company checks. All card transactions are processed through PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant payment processors.
• Invoices unpaid beyond the agreed payment terms are subject to a 1.5% monthly late fee (18% per annum), plus any collection costs incurred.
• Disputed charges must be raised in writing within 30 days of the invoice date. Charges not disputed within this window are deemed accepted.

We understand that plans change. The following cancellation and refund policy applies to all service bookings:

Exceptions & Force Majeure

Refunds or service credits may be issued at our discretion for cancellations caused by documented natural disasters, government-mandated travel restrictions, or other qualifying force majeure events beyond your reasonable control. Such requests must be submitted in writing within 7 days of the affected booking date.

Disclaimer of Warranties

Our Services are provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. We expressly disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and any warranties arising from course of dealing or usage of trade.

Freight Liability

Our liability for loss or damage to freight shipments is governed by applicable federal regulations, including the Carmack Amendment (49 U.S.C. § 14706), unless a higher declared value has been agreed upon in writing. Standard liability is limited to the actual loss or damage up to the declared value.

Animal Transport Liability

While we exercise the utmost care in transporting animals, we shall not be liable for death, injury, illness, or distress of animals caused by pre-existing health conditions, undisclosed temperament issues, natural causes, force majeure events, or circumstances outside our reasonable control. Our liability for animal transport incidents within our control is limited to the declared value stated at booking, not to exceed $10,000 USD unless additional insurance coverage has been arranged.

All content, materials, and features available on our website and through our Services — including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, software, and the overall design and arrangement of the website — are the exclusive property of Cargo and Critters, LLC or our licensors and are protected by United States copyright, trademark, trade dress, patent, and other intellectual property laws.

• Limited License: We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use our website and Services for your personal or internal business purposes only, in accordance with these Terms.
• No Reproduction: You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any of our content without our prior written consent.
• No Reverse Engineering: You may not reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or attempt to derive the source code of any software component of our Services.
• Trademarks: "Cargo and Critters," the C&C logo, "Critter Care," and all related names, logos, slogans, and trade dress are trademarks of Cargo and Critters, LLC. Use of these marks without our prior written consent is strictly prohibited.
• User Content: By submitting reviews, photos, or feedback to us, you grant us a royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to use that content for marketing and service improvement purposes, with appropriate attribution.

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Cargo and Critters, LLC, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, service providers, successors, and assigns from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your violation of these Terms of Use
• Your use of our Services in a manner not authorized by these Terms
• Your shipment or transport of prohibited, undeclared, or mislabeled cargo or animals
• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property, privacy, or contractual rights
• Any false or misleading information you provide in connection with your use of the Services
• Your violation of any applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations

We reserve the right, at our expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which case you agree to cooperate fully with our defense of such claim.

Informal Resolution First

Before initiating any formal dispute, you agree to first contact us at legal@cargoandcritters.com and provide a written description of the dispute, the relief sought, and your contact information. We will attempt to resolve the dispute informally within 30 days of receiving your notice.

Binding Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, with proceedings conducted in Los Angeles County, California.

Small Claims Exception

Notwithstanding the arbitration agreement above, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for disputes within that court's jurisdiction, provided the action remains in small claims court and is not removed or appealed to a court of general jurisdiction.

Statute of Limitations

Any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or our Services must be filed within one (1) year from the date the claim arose, regardless of any statute or law to the contrary. Claims filed after this period are permanently barred.

These Terms of Use and any dispute arising out of or related to them or our Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule, whether of California or any other jurisdiction.

You consent to personal jurisdiction in the State of California for any legal proceedings not subject to arbitration under Section 12. If any provision of these Terms is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

We reserve the right to revise and update these Terms of Use at any time at our sole discretion. All changes are effective immediately upon posting the updated Terms, unless a future effective date is specified.

• Material Changes: For changes that materially affect your rights or obligations, we will provide at least 30 days' advance notice via email to your registered address and a prominent notice on our website.
• Review Responsibility: You are responsible for reviewing these Terms periodically. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
• Continued Use: Your continued use of our Services following the posting of revised Terms means you accept and agree to the changes. If you disagree with the new Terms, you must stop using the Services.
• Opt-Out Right: If a material change adversely affects you, you may terminate your account within 30 days of the notice date and receive a prorated refund of any prepaid service fees for unused periods.