DO NOT EVER USE ARETE TRANSPORT FOR ANY REASON
Avoid using Arete Transport for any reason. They will exploit you, hold your pet hostage, and demand additional money once the trip is underway.
I hired Arete to transport my puppy from Virginia to California, with delivery promised within 72-96 hours. They were to leave Virginia Monday morning, and arrive at my house by Thursday night / Friday morning.
However, once en route, I learned they would only bring him as far as Bakersfield, CA, which is in the middle of nowhere and 5.5 hours from my home. As a full-time caregiver for my mother, I couldn't make the 12-hour round trip to Bakersfield. I requested a special accommodation for direct delivery, and Trey, the owner of Arete, quoted me an additional $1150 for the extra 5.5 hour drive. Having only paid $795 for the transport all the way from Virginia to California, I was shocked by the exorbitant extra fee. Trey claimed they didn't operate in the California Bay Area and would make an exception for me. Desperate to get my puppy, especially after losing my previous beloved dog suddenly just a few weeks before, I had no choice but to agree.
Then 2 days into the trip, Trey tells me my puppy would reach Arete’s home base in Utah late Thursday night, stay the short night, and leave for my home first thing Friday morning, arriving Friday evening instead of Friday morning. I agreed of course, because he has my puppy, and I couldn’t risk his well-being.
Instead, my puppy arrived in Utah early Thursday morning, spent the entire day there, and didn't leave until late Friday morning, eventually arriving at my house at 11 PM Friday night. I was told by Trey that the 24+ hour delay in Utah was due to driver availability and a flat tire. The delay en route was due to picking up another dog in the northeast Bay Area – completely out of the way from me – and contradicting Trey's justification for the high additional cost. (Note that Trey denied them picking up another dog, even though I have video of the driver telling me firsthand that they picked up another dog, and of course the other dog was physically in the van.)
In total, it took 109 hours for my puppy to arrive. Trey exploited my emotional state, my caregiving responsibilities, and the fact that he already had my puppy, effectively holding him hostage. Trey is a dishonest and manipulative individual. I strongly advise against using Arete Transport for any reason.
2 June 2024
Unprompted review