STEP 1

RESERVATION & DEPOSIT

Once you have chosen your animal and we have confirmed it is the right fit for your property and experience level, we ask for a deposit to hold your animal. At that point, your animal is removed from our available listings and reserved exclusively for you.
We will schedule your delivery date based on weather, your location, and transport availability. We never rush a shipment — if conditions are not ideal, we will work with you to find a better window.

STEP 2 
PRE-SHIPMENT HEALTH CHECK

Before any animal leaves Homeland Farm Pets, it goes through a full pre-shipment health assessment, including:
✅ Physical examination by our veterinary team
✅ Verification of all vaccinations (up to date for species and age)
✅ Deworming and parasite check
✅ Official health certificate issued by a licensed, accredited veterinarian
✅ Brucellosis and/or tuberculosis testing where required by destination state
✅ Proper identification tagging in compliance with state and federal regulations
All health paperwork travels with your animal and is handed to you upon delivery. We meet or exceed the interstate transport requirements for every state we ship to.

STEP 3

TRANSPORT

We work exclusively with experienced livestock transporters who specialize in small and miniature animals. Our standards for every transport include:

Clean, appropriate-sized trailers — your animal is never overcrowded. Miniature animals travel in trailers sized for their needs, with adequate space to stand, shift position, and lie down if needed.

Ventilation and climate management — trailers are well-ventilated. In hot weather, we schedule hauls during cooler hours and monitor temperature throughout the journey. In cold weather, animals are protected with appropriate bedding and windbreaks.

Fresh water and feed — animals have access to water and hay throughout longer hauls. We do not cut corners on in-transit care.

Rest stops on long hauls — for multi-day journeys, we schedule proper rest stops where animals can be checked, watered, and allowed to rest.

No auction facilities or mixed loads — your animal will not be mixed with unknown livestock from auctions or third-party farms. We maintain biosecurity throughout transport.

STEP 4

DELIVERY DAY

We will keep you updated on your animal’s estimated arrival time. Most buyers find it helpful to:

• Have a secure, clean pen or stall ready before arrival
• Have fresh water and appropriate hay or feed waiting
• Keep the receiving area calm and quiet — first arrivals can be stressful for any animal

When the transporter arrives, take a moment to observe your animal’s condition before unloading. Then give your new arrival 24–48 hours to settle in before introducing it to other animals or handling it extensively. A calm, quiet first week makes a big difference.

STEP 5

POST-DELIVERY SUPPORT

Our commitment to you does not end at delivery. After your animal arrives, we are available to answer questions about:

• Feeding and nutrition adjustments
• Quarantine and introduction to existing animals
• Signs of stress vs. normal settling-in behavior
• Local veterinary recommendations
• Anything else that comes up

We have helped hundreds of families bring their first farm animal home, and we know that the first few weeks bring the most questions. Call or email us any time.