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S6E81 Operation Frodo 2025: One Mission, 20 Rescue Dogs, and a nationwide volunteer effort
S6E81 Operation Frodo 2025: One Mission, 20 Rescue Dogs, and a nationwide volunteer effort
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About this episode
Operation Frodo 2025 focuses on the incredible efforts of volunteers to rescue and transport 20 dogs from overcrowded shelters to loving homes across the country. Host conversations with key figures like Katie, who has dedicated two decades to dog rescue, highlight the importance of spaying and neutering, fostering, and community support. The episode features heartwarming stories of individual dogs, the challenges faced by rescues, and the collaboration with local businesses like PetSmart. Listeners will gain insight into the ongoing need for animal rescue and how they can contribute.
Topics:
Bentley
Cars:
Toyota Sienna
In this episode we follow the 2025 Operation Frodo dog rescue mission from Omaha´s Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland all the way to the Asher House in Salem, Oregon, saving the lives of 20 dogs with the help of an army of volunteers and support from Kia, Toyota, Ineos, Subaru, Volkswagen and Chrysler.
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Bentley
"By the way, so and you brought Bentley. We made last night."
Bentley makes very fancy, expensive cars that are often seen as symbols of wealth and prestige.
Bentley is a British luxury automobile manufacturer known for high‑end, handcrafted cars such as the Continental GT and Flying Spur.
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Toyota Sienna
"We have the Sienna here. We have the Sienna here. The Sienna woodland."
The Sienna is a large van made by Toyota that’s great for families because it can seat many people and has lots of room inside.
The Toyota Sienna is a minivan produced by Toyota, known for its spacious interior and family-friendly features.
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Well, here we are for the four-year operation photo with Katie, who runs the, what is it? Beagle or Bassett or Bassett and Beagle? Bassett and Beagle. No, I think it should be Beagle and Bassett personally.
You've been running this for how long? We hit our 20th year this year in September. So since we started doing this in 2022, this operation has grown a lot, right?
Oh yes, the first time we did it, we sent out four dogs. I remember I was here. Yes, you were and it was cold like it is today. Yeah, two degrees. Yeah, and the last few we've done between 13 and 23, I think, one year. We did 23.
This year we're taking 20. We were going to take 21, but when we got off the bus, I guess, let's say that.
Yes, he was unfortunately got kennel cough and we didn't want to risk it. Yeah. So tell us in general why this, I mean, you work is important and what we do just helps a little bit. Why is that important?
Oh, because every time a dog leaves a rescue, it creates space for another dog to come in. So sending out 20 dogs gives us 20 spaces.
Yeah. And honestly, last night, I got tagged on six more vehicles. Oh, wow. So they're waiting for the next. We're ready for the next round. Exactly.
So can you tell me something else? You've been doing this voluntarily for 20 years because you love dogs, but you're recently retired. And now this is your full time job.
It pretty much is anymore. Yeah. That's how much work is involved in this. Not only this operation, but every day basically, right?
You know, I think between Angie and I, we've probably put 60 hours a week into relatively. Yeah.
So tell us about the process. I mean, like, I've heard some of stories already, but like some very dramatic, unfortunately, some others like not so much, but still dogs need to be rescued and adopted, right?
Right, right. Tell us, I mean, what of the dogs that we have here today?
Okay. Well, let's start with a really good one, Harley. His mom got in a little over her head by not spain and neutering and had a literal house full of dogs.
We took five out of there. One was pregnant and actually had four or five puppies. So we were able to help her. She still has, I think, seven dogs in her house.
So we're going to work with her on getting more out so that she is at a level where she can sustain it. Other dogs like Ned and Sophie were sitting in a shelter and not getting any notice.
So they contacted us. And I mean, they're adorable. They'll get adopted in a minute.
Yeah, the puppies that I'm taking. I'm driving those. Oh, you are. Yeah. They were outside with their mom, Korra.
And it was cold and they would not have survived. They were starting to wander a little bit and they were close to a main road.
They're not only what? Seven weeks and you got eight weeks now. Oh, eight weeks. They got them at what? Three weeks or something like that?
We got them really young. Yeah, I think we actually got it. Yeah, it would be like five weeks. I think we got them.
So tell us how other people can be one more responsible with their dogs and they're thinking about what if they should get a dog or not.
And more importantly, how can they help you? Okay. Well, first of all, one of our major things that we advocate for is spain and neutering.
We pull our dogs from a state. Basically, a lot of Missouri. And they really don't have a lot of low cost spain neuter.
They don't have a lot of education about spain and neutering. And that's when we get all these unwanted litters.
Next, we advocate for heartworm. If we're talking about the health of a dog, give your dog on heartworm preventative.
A lot of the dogs that we tried to pull for this were heartworm positive and to treat a heartworm positive dog, it's 800 to 1200 dogs.
Oh, wow. Yeah. And why is you can help? Be a good dog parent. Be an advocate for dogs that need help.
Monetary donations are always needed to any local rescues.
And all others, right? Yeah. It's not just us that needs the help. It's everybody that needs the help.
And right now, I think that the nation is in kind of a dog rescue and cat rescue prices because a lot of the dogs that were coming from the COVID dogs is really important.
Oh, I have a few stories in my own neighborhood about that. Yeah. And now a lot of them, I mean, of the past few years, everybody's getting rid of their dogs.
Well, that's really, really sad. Well, thank you for what you do and enjoy your retirement.
I don't know if it's really your retirement, but I'm enjoying it. Thank you for always helping.
No, thank you. I guess it's a good idea. I'm getting close to the retirement age and I'm thinking about what to do.
And this is like something maybe, I don't know if I want to live in Nebraska because it's too long.
But there's so you can, anybody can work anywhere in the country, in the world, helping dogs, right?
Yes, anywhere. I mean, we have people that live in a certain area, but they get, they pick a breed and then they help find a rescue for that breed and they do it all on their computer.
So much has done via Facebook and Instagram. That helps a lot.
So maybe that's a positive thing of the COVID era. People got more involved on social media and that also helps, right?
Yes, absolutely. I don't think we would be as well. We might find the dogs without social media.
Oh, I see. That's how they post the dogs and they go, oh, and then they tag us and we go, yeah, we can help.
So one last thing before we leave, we are here at PetSmart. So they got involved too here?
Yes, yes. PetSmart, especially this location in North Omaha, really do support the local rescues.
We come out here and do adoption events. Jacob, the manager is always really great about helping us out when we need, you know, like we're sending people in to get food and we can prepay and they just allow everything to happen and it's awesome.
Okay, I'm going to go around and meet some of the other volunteers. Tiya, we've been there.
Yeah. But I met last night and actually in particular, the ones I'm driving because I'm not my cargo now.
Yes. I'm responsible for that.
Yeah, and I don't know if you're getting three or four.
Oh, I'm paying the whole of all of them in one car. Oh, my gosh. That'll be fine.
I'm going to be busy. Yes, you are.
No, not as much as you are, but a couple of days. Yeah, that's going to be a lot of food.
So I think this is Jacob who at Pet Mars will help you a lot.
Yes, this is Jacob. He is the manager here at the PetSmart in North Omaha.
Yeah.
And he is our favorite manager. Yeah, appreciate it.
So thank you for what you do. I mean, because a lot of people come to these big stores and I honestly, most of them, I mean, not all of them, I think unless you come very often, you don't know the people.
And there's always people behind everything, right? And there's a lot of work.
Oh, yeah. The team's great out here. I mean, they know the customers by name.
I mean, we help out as many organizations and rescues as we can.
So we do what we can for the community and the pets.
I think you don't give any enough credit to yourself.
Yeah, absolutely. Jacob is the heart and soul of our relationship with PetSmart.
And we follow him from store to store.
It's just lucky now that he's at my store.
Yeah.
Oh, so they move you around.
I used to work at West Maple.
Yeah, that was a job to go buy stuff.
So Jacob here is the general manager of the store and we found him carrying back, like doing any kind of work.
Every, like, you are hands on right.
Oh, yeah, hands on. You gotta pitch in or you can, you know, you can't just push it down to everybody else.
So as much as you can do, help the team.
Well, this is great to see this kind of collaboration.
The organization itself, the store here.
And we're a little part here because we only do this once a year, but.
Right. But, you know, it's very nice to say, let us do it here.
Yeah.
It's always cool.
Oh, yeah, middle of December or whatnot.
Yeah.
And it's always worse, I think.
Well, we just have it.
Actually, he wants to go back to work. So thank you.
Thank you.
All right.
Well, we're here with Tia who.
You've been working with this organization for how long now?
For probably three to four years now.
Okay, it's more or less the time that this operation photo has been going on.
Yeah.
By the way, so and you brought Bentley.
We made last night.
Beautiful dog.
And he's going where?
To Seattle.
Yeah.
So tell us why this operation photo is so important for the organization and for the people, for the dogs, especially.
In the Midwest and down south, we get overrun with how many dogs we can save.
And there's just a limit of foster homes and all the foster homes are fuller overflowing.
So we need to be able to move dogs elsewhere.
How many dogs would you get?
Like a promando, I don't know how you count.
Just in my home, we had 15 foster dogs.
15?
15 go through our houses here.
I had started off the year with a litter of five puppies.
Oh my god.
Yeah.
And why did you get involved in this?
Um, I was a retired dog groomer.
So I already loved dogs.
And I networked and found Kathy and helped them with some of their dog mail trims.
And I decided to foster a senior dog with them one time.
And that was love, of course.
A huge snowball, I guess.
Yeah.
I'm running down.
Absolutely.
And so, Bentley, tell me is there a particular story with him?
Bentley was an over-surrender.
He was a dog that a child wanted to have and wasn't helping out enough.
And he lived a life outside.
Oh my god.
So he lived in the back.
Here in Omaha?
In the winter?
In Nebraska, yes.
And that's probably part of the reason he ended up surrendering.
There was an option for him once winter came.
So that's a good reminder why people think twice about, especially this time of the year,
like, oh, let's get a dog for Christmas.
And the great responsibility that comes with it.
Yes, absolutely.
Tell us about that.
Like, what should people think about or worry?
The great responsibility that people have to.
Yes.
Uh, Alfie and Bentley did one thing.
Thank you.
Yeah, a lot of times we see dogs as Christmas gifts.
Oh, this is for my kid.
And it's not that easy.
Yeah, no.
It's like a 10, 12, 15 year commitment, right?
Yes, absolutely.
And I can get expensive too.
Yes, yes.
So how do you do not get attached emotionally attached to the dogs?
It's hard.
You love every single one.
But I think as fosters, our mindset has to be that if you don't let them go,
you're losing another life.
Yeah, someone.
You stop the cycle.
And you have to keep the cycle open and keep going to save the next dog.
So you have to be strong enough to let them go into their next home.
Yeah.
Well, thank you, too.
And, uh, where is Bentley going to Seattle, I think?
Yes, yeah.
He already has some.
Foster to adopt.
Yes.
Oh, foster drop.
Not adopted yet.
Oh, great.
Foster and then adopt him and get him acclimated and adopt him.
That's it.
Let's go through.
Meet another one.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Okay, and now we're here with Holly who is taking care or handing us over the seven puppies
that we're taking to Seattle.
So tell us a little bit more about this family.
They came to us about three weeks ago.
The little one we named peanut was three pounds and the big boy,
there's six girls and one boy.
Oh, wow.
And he's the big one right there.
We named him Benny.
Oh, yeah.
Benny boy, big Ben.
So seven.
Seven.
Yeah, he weighed six pounds a little one.
Weight three.
How do you found them or how do they were handed over to their organization?
They, I think, were found in Missouri with a gentleman that had their mom and just couldn't
care for them anymore.
Oh.
So another rescue in Missouri found them asked if the Bassett and Beagle Rescue Group could get
them.
And then when I saw a picture of them, I said, can I have all the puppies?
Yeah.
So they looked out.
I heard they had some issue or something before.
No.
Oh, they came to us just with, like, flea flea bites.
Yeah.
They were probably wearing a very good environment at all.
No, they were skinny minis.
But we got them their first round of shots.
We helped get rid of their fleas and we started to deworm them.
So they're very much gained some weight since we got them.
Yeah, they look healthy.
I mean, they're like all here.
Yes, they don't like the cold too much.
Yes.
This one is like, she's very smart.
She's very smart.
So this one, do you know where they're going exactly?
They're going to the Asher House.
Oh, the Asher House.
Okay, perfect.
So I'm going to be driving them.
Yeah.
Take care.
It's company for the right.
Yes, you do.
Thank you for your work.
Yeah, just make sure you give them extra kisses for me.
Yeah.
Okay.
So Jennifer, I think you are the first PR representative for a car manufacturer.
The joint operation credo from Toyota.
So why is that important for Toyota to be here with you?
Are you with Toyota to be here?
Well, I actually volunteered.
I told my boss.
I said, hey, you know, I have a bunch of action vacation days.
I want, I'm going to do this just so you know,
and since we are already participating monetarily,
it just made good sense.
We have the Sienna here.
We have the Sienna here.
The Sienna woodland.
Which, by the way, the amount of space in that, it's perfect for this.
So much room.
Yes.
Which I think is why we have three dogs.
So I'm really excited to help enjoying the team this year.
Well, thank you for helping us.
And I'm sure you're going to enjoy it.
I'm super excited.
Yeah.
Let's go.
So Harvey, finally, the end of day two.
How was it?
These first two days are the hardest.
Because everybody's kind of trying to get the teams,
learning what to do, all that stuff.
But it's been a lot of fun always.
You know, some great people on this drive.
Being able to help save 20 more dogs is phenomenal.
And I'm always a sucker for a good road trail.
I know.
So we started in Omaha, Nebraska.
No, they aren't there today.
Do they, Denver?
Yep.
On a Benful.
Right.
The weather was perfect.
We're lucky with the weathered 50 degrees when we left Denver.
The only problem was a little wind.
And that inios is a little more susceptible to the wind than some beer.
Yeah, I'm speaking of ines.
We ended up that they hear of the dealership.
Yeah.
And what happened here?
Well, we, we work with different rescues along the road.
And there were people here at Utah Beagle Rescue.
And they had room for three dogs.
So we delivered three dogs to them tonight.
Two of their owners showed up.
And we got to see them.
They were super happy.
Yeah, that's always gratifying to see people get their puppies to take away.
So, and then from here?
Then from here, we're going to go to Boise, Idaho, which is not that long of a ride.
No, it's about a six-hour drive.
So that's an easy day tomorrow.
And then the final day will get up early and head into Portland, Oregon.
Actually, we're going to end up in Salem at a rescue mission called the Asher House.
And Lee Asher, who runs that, has 240 acre sanctuary where he has over 100 dogs
that he cares for and raises and then adopts out.
And then some other dogs are going to Seattle, right?
That's right.
About six dogs are going to head up to Seattle.
So we're meeting them at the airport and dropping off the dogs and they're going to head north.
And then Nick has one dog that he's hanging on to that it's going to go to a very special young man in Portland.
And that'll be super.
And then that's Wednesday.
Thursday, I guess.
Thursday morning.
And then Friday, you start working for next year.
That's right.
We'll do this again in the summer and we'll do one in the winter again.
And eventually, the big thing is animal rescue rigs will be building transport vehicles.
There are these shelters.
So I think I saw any nails that I can work really well.
Or maybe.
Maybe.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you guys.
Thanks.
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