Operation Frodo was started by automotive journalist Nik Miles in 2020 when he was looking for a new beagle and found Frodo at a rescue in Omaha Nebraska. Since then the organization has helped move hundreds of rescued beagles from the midwest where there are too many, to the west coast where they have homes waiting for them. FORCE Family Office joined the drive this year as part of our FORCE For Good initiative. In the process we learned a lot about the plight of these animals, why transportation is one of the missing links in rescuing dogs, and yes, we also fell in love.
The midwest has a beagle problem. Actually it’s a human problem that affects these wonderful animals. They’re often used in medical testing. Hunters abandon dogs in the field if they don’t perform to their satisfaction. Breeders surrender females when they are no longer productive. And puppies are overbred and often destroyed if they can’t be sold.
Fortunately there are good people, like the folks from Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland and Operation Frodo to rescue the dogs and transport them to safety. Twice a year since 2020 the two organizations have worked together in conjunction with Cascade Beagle Rescue, Seattle Beagle, Rescue, Utah Beagle Rescue, and The Asher House to relocate dogs from the midwest where their aren’t enough homes, to cities on the west coast where loving families await them.
Honey’s Story: Resilience Personified
Every dog on the journey has a story, but Honey (pictured here) captures why BBRH and Operation Frodo exist.
Honey was found abandoned on the side of the road, her leg broken and life in jeopardy. She was taken to a vet where they began the work of repairing her leg and nursing here back to health. As she got better, her leg was slow to heal and she couldn’t weight on it. After a few weeks of no progress, the vet recommended amputation and the surgery was scheduled. Then the day before she was to get her operation, Honey began walking on all four legs. As each day went by the leg got stronger and now she has full mobility thanks to the care of her foster and the veterinarian.
The Dream Team
Each year, Miles pulls together a team of journalists and works with auto makers who provide the vehicles for the transport. Drivers included writers from publications including Autopian, Forbes, Headlight News, SAE International, and Rides & Drives. The goal was not only to transport the beagles to their forever homes, but prove that road-tripping in an EV across the vast expanse of the American west is not only possible, but easy.
The All-Star Fleet
This summer all the vehicles were electric SUVs: Cadillac Escalade IQ, Lucid Gravity Grand Touring, Kia EV9, and Hyundai Ioniq 9. EVgo came on as a charging partner and the route was planned. At $154,000 and change, the Escalade was the most expensive vehicle of the fleet and also the most capacious. It easily swallowed 4 crates along with all the luggage and supplies necessary for the four day journey to Portland. It’s 465 miles of range also meant it only had to charge every other stop on our journey.
Tech Designed for the Job
The Escalade made the drive easier with the addition of GM’s excellent SuperCruise hands-free driving system. Probably 80% of t he driving between Omaha and Portland was done without touching the steering wheel or pedals.
The Lucid features Creature Comfort Mode. When enabled, it allows the driver to set the HVAC system to the desired temperature, lock the doors, and walk away, knowing the pets inside will be kept cool and comfortable. To prevent others from worrying about the animals, the dash displays the message, “My Humans Will Be Back Soon”
The Happy Ending
After 1,800 miles over four days with overnight stops in Cheyenne, WY, Salt Lake City, UT, and Ontario, OR, our convoy arrived in Portland to deliver several of our charges to families there. Others continued on to find homes in Seattle. Watching the families welcome the beagles made the effort all worthwhile.
Spending time with the volunteers also reminds us of the incredible lengths people go to make a difference in the world. Watching their emotions at the end of the journey made it clear that Operation Frodo does as much to change the lives of its volunteers as it does for the beagles and the families who adopt them. And that’s why it’s an organization worth supporting.
If you’d like to donate to Operation Frodo, Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland, or any of the organizations, please follow the links in the story.