ETHICS STATEMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE: DECEMBER 2025
LAST UPDATED: DECEMBER 2025
THIS ETHICS STATEMENT IS EXPRESSLY INCORPORATED INTO AND GOVERNED BY THE HERPTIVARIUS, LLC TERMS & CONDITIONS AND IS STRICTLY SUBORDINATE THERETO, THIS STATEMENT DEFINES THE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES, OPERATIONAL INTEGRITY STANDARDS, AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL OWNERS, AFFILIATES, CONTRACTORS, CUSTOMERS, AND BUSINESS INTERACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HERPTIVARIUS, LLC, NO PROVISION OF THIS STATEMENT CREATES ANY INDEPENDENT RIGHT, WARRANTY, OR REMEDY OUTSIDE THE SOLE AUTHORITY OF THE TERMS & CONDITIONS MASTER AGREEMENT.
LEGAL COMPLIANCE AS A CORE ETHICAL REQUIREMENT
HERPTIVARIUS, LLC OPERATES UNDER A ZERO-TOLERANCE COMPLIANCE MODEL, ALL OPERATIONS ARE GOVERNED BY APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL LAW INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WILDLIFE, COMMERCE, TRANSPORT, LABOR, ADA, PRIVACY, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION STATUTES, NO BUSINESS OBJECTIVE, CUSTOMER REQUEST, FINANCIAL INCENTIVE, OR OPERATIONAL PRESSURE SHALL OVERRIDE LEGAL COMPLIANCE.
ANIMAL WELFARE AS A NON-NEGOTIABLE STANDARD
ANIMAL CARE, HUSBANDRY, HEALTH MANAGEMENT, AND TRANSPORT ARE GOVERNED BY THE ANIMAL WELFARE & HUSBANDRY POLICY AND THE HEALTH, HYGIENE, & BIOSECURITY POLICY AS SUBORDINATED TO THE TERMS & CONDITIONS, ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIRES FUNCTIONAL WELFARE, RISK MANAGEMENT, AND SCIENCE-BASED PRACTICE, NOT DISPLAY-DRIVEN OR ANTHROPOMORPHIC STANDARDS.
TRUTHFUL REPRESENTATION AND NON-DECEPTIVE PRACTICE
ALL REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING ANIMALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES, PRICING, AVAILABILITY, GENETICS, AND OPERATIONS SHALL BE TRUTHFUL, ACCURATE TO THE BEST OF AVAILABLE KNOWLEDGE, AND FREE FROM INTENTIONAL MISREPRESENTATION, DECEPTION, OR OMISSION OF MATERIAL FACTS, FRAUDULENT CONDUCT OF ANY KIND IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
FAIR DEALING AND NON-COERCIVE COMMERCE
HERPTIVARIUS, LLC OPERATES UNDER A PROFESSIONAL, NON-COERCIVE COMMERCE MODEL, NO CUSTOMER, VENDOR, OR AFFILIATE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO EXTORTION, HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, OR BAD-FAITH PRESSURE IN ANY TRANSACTION, RECIPROCALLY, NO CUSTOMER SHALL ATTEMPT TO COERCE REFUNDS, FREE PRODUCT, FREE SERVICES, OR POLICY OVERRIDES THROUGH THREATS, REGULATORY ABUSE, OR PAYMENT PROCESSOR MANIPULATION.
REGULATORY AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY
HERPTIVARIUS, LLC MAINTAINS A STRICT COOPERATION STANDARD WITH LAWFUL REGULATORY AUTHORITIES, INSPECTORS, AND ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHEN LEGALLY REQUIRED, OBSTRUCTION, FALSIFICATION, CONCEALMENT, OR MISREPRESENTATION OF REGULATORY INFORMATION BY ANY PARTY CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL ETHICS VIOLATION.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
ALL BUSINESS DECISIONS SHALL BE MADE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OPERATIONAL INTEGRITY, LEGAL COMPLIANCE, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY, PERSONAL GAIN, UNDISCLOSED FINANCIAL INTERESTS, OR THIRD-PARTY INFLUENCE SHALL NOT CONTROL BUSINESS DETERMINATIONS, ANY MATERIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST MUST BE DISCLOSED AND RESOLVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNANCE STANDARDS.
PRIVACY, DATA RESPONSIBILITY, AND CONFIDENTIALITY
ALL PERSONAL, COMMERCIAL, AND OPERATIONAL DATA SHALL BE HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRIVACY POLICY AND COOKIE POLICY AS SUBORDINATED TO THE TERMS & CONDITIONS, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, DISCLOSURE, MISUSE, OR EXPLOITATION OF DATA IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
RESPECTFUL CONDUCT AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
ALL INTERACTIONS WITH HERPTIVARIUS, LLC SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN A LAWFUL, CIVIL, AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER, HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, THREATS, DEFAMATION, OR ABUSIVE CONDUCT TOWARD STAFF, CONTRACTORS, AFFILIATES, OR OTHER CUSTOMERS CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL ETHICAL AND CONTRACTUAL VIOLATION.
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ILLEGAL OR UNSAFE ACTIVITY
ANY ATTEMPT TO USE HERPTIVARIUS, LLC SERVICES, ANIMALS, OR PRODUCTS IN FURTHERANCE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, REGULATORY EVASION, ANIMAL CRUELTY, TRANSPORT VIOLATIONS, UNLAWFUL BREEDING, SMUGGLING, OR MISREPRESENTATION SHALL CONSTITUTE MATERIAL BREACH OF CONTRACT AND MAY RESULT IN PERMANENT SERVICE TERMINATION AND REFERRAL TO AUTHORITIES.
NON-RETALIATION
HERPTIVARIUS, LLC PROHIBITS RETALIATION AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUAL FOR LAWFULLY REPORTING A SUSPECTED VIOLATION OF LAW, SAFETY STANDARDS, OR ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS, PROVIDED SUCH REPORTING IS MADE IN GOOD FAITH AND WITHOUT MALICIOUS INTENT.
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY
HERPTIVARIUS, LLC RESERVES THE UNRESTRICTED RIGHT TO INVESTIGATE, ENFORCE, SUSPEND, TERMINATE, AND REFUSE SERVICE BASED ON ETHICAL VIOLATIONS AT SOLE DISCRETION, ETHICAL ENFORCEMENT DECISIONS SHALL NOT CREATE ANY CUSTOMER REMEDY, REFUND ENTITLEMENT, OR CONTRACT MODIFICATION.
NO WAIVER OF CONTRACTUAL AUTHORITY
THIS ETHICS STATEMENT DOES NOT MODIFY, LIMIT, OR OVERRIDE ANY PROVISION OF THE TERMS & CONDITIONS, RETURNS & CANCELLATIONS POLICY, LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEE, SHIPPING POLICY, PROHIBITED SPECIES & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE POLICY, ADA & CUSTOMER CONDUCT POLICY, OR ANY OTHER GOVERNING DOCUMENT.
CONTACT FOR ETHICS MATTERS
HERPTIVARIUS, LLC IS COMMITTED TO OPERATING WITH INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR BUSINESS. WE BELIEVE THAT ETHICAL CONDUCT IS ESSENTIAL TO TRUST, LONG-TERM SUCCESS, AND THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE. THIS STATEMENT OUTLINES THE FUNDAMENTAL ETHICAL PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE OUR ACTIONS, DECISIONS, AND RELATIONSHIPS.
THIS ETHIC STATEMENT IS INTENDED TO REFLECT OUR VALUES AND OPERATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND DOES NOT CREATE, EXPAND, OR MODIFY ANY LEGAL RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS, WARRANTIES, OR DUTIES BEYOND THOSE IMPOSED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
THESE PRINCIPLES ARE DESIGNED TO GUIDE INTERNAL CONDUCT AND PROMOTE ETHICAL AWARENESS ACROSS OUR ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED AS AN EXHAUSTIVE ENUMERATION OF ALL DUTIES, PROCEDURES, OR COMPLIANCE OBLIGATIONS.
COMMITMENT TO HONESTY
WE CONDUCT BUSINESS HONESTLY AND TRANSPARENTLY. WE WILL NOT MISREPRESENT: ANIMALS, GENETICS, LINEAGE, HEALTH HISTORY, AVAILABILITY, PRICING, POLICIES. WE BELIEVE TRUTHFULNESS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
RESPONSIBLE ANIMAL STEWARDSHIP
WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE. WE STRIVE TO: PRIORITIZE ANIMAL WELFARE AS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE IN OUR OPERATIONAL DECISION-MAKING, AVOID UNNECESSARY BREEDING, PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED CARE, MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE HOUSING CONDITIONS, SEEK VETERINARY SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED. OUR ACTIONS REFLECT THE VALUE OF LIFE.
FAIR CUSTOMER CONDUCT
WE TREAT CUSTOMERS WITH: RESPECT, PROFESSIONALISM, PATIENCE, FAIRNESS. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, OR UNETHICAL SALES PRACTICES. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE A SALE IF ETHICAL CONCERNS EXIST FOR AN ANIMAL’S WELFARE. NO POLICY CAN ANTICIPATE EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES NECESSARILY INVOLVES PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT BASED ON THE FACTS AND CONDITIONS PRESENT AT THE TIME OF DECISION MAKING.
COMPLIANCE & TRANSPARENCY
WE FOLLOW APPLICABLE: FEDERAL LAWS, STATE REGULATIONS, ANIMAL TRANSPORT GUIDELINES, ECOMMERCE REGULATIONS. WE OPENLY COMMUNICATE OUR POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND LIMITATIONS. WHERE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES INTERSECT WITH ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & ENRICHMENT, HEALTH, SAFETY, SANITATION, BIOSECURITY, OR REGULATORY COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS, LEGALLY MANDATED SAFETY OBLIGATIONS (FEDERAL OSHA) SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
WE CONTINUALLY SEEK TO IMPROVE: HUSBANDRY STANDARDS, COMMUNICATION PRACTICES, PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE, ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING. WE WELCOME CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK.
COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY
WE SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP AND EDUCATION. WE BELIEVE IN EQUIPPING CUSTOMERS WITH KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES, AND GUIDANCE NEEDED FOR PROPER LONG-TERM CARE. WE WILL NOT KNOWINGLY ENABLE IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
WE AIM TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN A MANNER THAT MINIMIZES WASTE AND PROMOTES SUSTAINABILITY WHERE PRACTICALLY POSSIBLE.
THIS ETHICS STATEMENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL AND TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO SERVE AS A CONTRACTURAL GUARANTEE, REPRESENTATION OF SPECIFIC OUTCOMES, OR SUBSTITUTE FOR INDIVIDUALIZED PROFESSIONAL, VETERINARY, OR LEGAL ADVICE.