Hollywood tells us that all dogs go to heaven. Although a nice sentiment, it fails to acknowledge that not all dogs have a home. This month, 23 puppies were rescued from life-threatening situations in the Midwest and transported via a weeklong road trip to loving families on the West Coast.
This second chance was made possible by a network of animal rescue organizations and a volunteer community of automakers and car enthusiasts, including yours truly.
Operation Frodo is a national dog rescue initiative that began with a single dog, the eponymous Frodo. Frodo stole the heart of Nik Miles, an auto journalist, a few years ago.
This was not a difficult task for the beagle because Miles is an unapologetic animal lover who already has several dogs running free in his Portland home.
Frodo, however, was a rescue from Omaha, Nebraska. Miles couldn’t simply hop on a plane this time; he needed to drive if he wanted his heart back.
Although driving is part of his job, the career assessment did not include rescuing abandoned, abused, or discarded dogs. But Miles was in Nebraska, learning about how the region’s rescues and shelters become overwhelmed by dumped dogs that hunters no longer need or breeders cannot sell.
“Shelters are full of different kinds of dogs in different parts of the country,” Miles told me. “Las Vegas has an abundance of French Bulldogs; the Midwest has an abundance of Beagles; and Portland has an abundance of German Shepherds. However, they can be used in a variety of settings.
Miles believes that while these dogs are not housed, they are certainly not unloved. Miles devised a road trip rescue plan in collaboration with Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland (BBRH), which focuses on rehoming its namesake breeds in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
The urgency became clear when one breeder threatened to shoot the dogs if the rescue would not take them.
“It wasn’t a threat, just a fact,” said Harvey Briggs, an auto journalist and volunteer coordinator for Operation Frodo. “That’s why we began Operation Frodo. To get these guys home with loving families.
This year marked the third cross-country rescue effort, beginning in Omaha, Nebraska and stopping in Denver, Salt Lake City, Boise, and, finally, Beaverton, Oregon, where the rescues were transferred to Beaverton Kia.
BBRH handled the canine logistics, with help from Cascade Beagle Rescue, Seattle Beagle Rescue, and Utah Beagle Rescue for fostering and rehoming.
The five-day road trip began with 22 beagles, but 23 eventually found new homes. That’s because Melvyn, a Tennesseean who now lives in Michigan, stole the heart of an autowriter and volunteer driver.
Helping Melvyn find his forever home halfway through the drive was a watershed moment for Miles, as was the number of beagles rescued.
Until now, Operation Frodo had transferred 23 dogs. So, 2024 alone doubled that figure, resulting in an exponential increase in everything else, particularly in needs—monetary, vehicles, volunteers, and hugs.
“This was the most number of dogs we’ve ever taken on an operation,” Miles told me. “Scaling up is extremely challenging. Twelve dogs [from last year] were easily managed, but 22 is extremely difficult.
Keeping everyone healthy and well, from vet visits to food and supply needs, is difficult.”
Miles emphasizes that the process is not as simple as loading a few dogs into a car with some snacks. When crossing state lines, pets are subject to quarantine rules, so each rescue must meet the health, test, and vaccination requirements of its final home state.
Support for transportation came directly from the automotive industry, including OEMs, writers, and influencers. The 2024 rescue fleet consisted of a Ford Explorer, Genesis GV70, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Carnival, and Subaru Forester.
A MotorTrend colleague drove a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter outfitted with Bridgestone winter tires. The massive van served as the group’s unofficial but essential mobile command center.
Infiniti provided meals and lodging for the 20 volunteer drivers, while Nissan covered the large fuel bill. Pet-friendly La Quinta Inn & Suites waived pet fees for the group, which occupied dozens of rooms over several nights.
The volunteers covered their own travel expenses to and from their respective starting and ending cities.
“This year was expensive,” Miles admitted. “[Due to the additional rescues], Operation Frodo cost us as much money as we raised, but was totally worth it.”
As a result, for at least one week in December, car talk does not revolve around sales, layoffs, or the bottom line.
Thanks to donations and volunteers from the auto community and beyond, nearly 50 beagles who would have been shot, starved, or lost to a Midwest winter now have a place to call home for the holidays and beyond.
Next year’s adventure is already scheduled for December 14-17. If you want to help or learn more, go to the non-profit Animal Rescue Rigs website.