An alleged UPS worker went viral after claiming that someone tried to ship a live dog. But is this story really true?
In their work, UPS employees catch many bizarre and illegal shipments. For example, UPS workers once found 40 pounds of meth disguised in Cheetos bags that someone tried to have delivered using their services.
However, one story about a strange and unsettling UPS shipment has the internet up in arms.
What Happened Here?
In a post with over 5.5 million views, TikTok user @user586336788426948 shows an image of a box on a counter. On the box is an image of a dog. The image of the dog is labeled, “I am going to live on a farm!!”
The TikToker offers a grim description in the post’s overlay text.
“To the guy who shipped a dog in a box thru ups with covered up holes u gotta be the most insane person on planet earth,” he writes. “Poor dogs dead.”
In the comments section, the user offered some clarification on the alleged situation. According to the TikToker, the dog was shipped while alive and then died in the process.
“It was a dog inside the box not ashes or a pre-dead dog,” the user writes. “They tracked it back to the person and found out who it was and where it came from but that’s all I know because I’m an employee not a manager.”
He claims in a follow-up video that “charges are being pressed” but does not offer any additional information.
Can You Ship Live Animals With UPS?
UPS does allow customers to ship live animals. However, the rules are very strict. And if they are followed, situations like the one being alleged by the TikToker cannot occur.
According to UPS’ official policies regarding the shipment of live plants and animals, no mammals can be shipped using their services. Some other animals, such as fish, reptiles, and worms, are allowed to be shipped as long as they meet certain requirements.
When packaging these animals, UPS recommends using boxes of a certain strength and allowing for air holes. Many also choose to label the package with a brightly-colored sticker reading, “LIVE ANIMALS.”
This does not mean that all people shipping animals follow these rules. One user on Reddit stated that they handled a package reading “Live Animals” and “Keep at 70° F!”—even though the package was shipped via ground transport. The package purportedly contained reptiles, which are allowed for shipping via UPS under specific circumstances.
So, Did This Really Happen?
Thankfully, UPS has confirmed that this video is a hoax.
In an email to BroBible, a UPS spokesperson stated that “There is NO truth” to the claims made in the video.
“We confirmed there was no animal inside the box,” the spokesperson wrote.
Sending live animals goes against shipping policies of many carriers. Still, some people have attempted to ship live animals via the mail in the past.
In one case, a woman attempted to send a puppy across the country using the United States Postal Service. According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the woman told workers she was trying to ship a toy robot, though the puppy was discovered after the box fell on the floor.
The woman was charged with animal cruelty; the case was dismissed after the woman was found incompetent to stand trial. The puppy, named Guess, was later adopted.
Commenters Are Furious
In the comments section, users expressed their anger at this alleged incident, believing it to be real.
“They should ship the guy to a prison across the world in a box with covered up holes, see how he likes it,” declared a user.
“But he had to hand it to a employee to get it shipped,” noted another. “why didn’t they just deny it or call the cops right there?”
“Thank you for taking action and actually caring,” stated a third. “we need more people like you.”
BroBible reached out to UPS via email and @user586336788426948 via TikTok comment.