DANDY #202 *

#202 DANDY/#203 CANDY(Cats)Chino Valley,AZ-Gering, NE * Dandy Andy #202 and CANDY CANE #203, both polydactyl kittens, 9 weeks, 2-3 pounds, male and a female began their adventure in Chino Valley, AZ, with Sandra B who rescued them from a shelter. They were picked up in Ashfork, AZ, by team drivers Chris and Brandy P. Chris and Brandy report the two silver grey with dark grey markings kittens were very unique. Each of these polydactyl kittens had six toes on their front paws and seven toes on their back paws. The first day on board they slept, but by the second day they wanted out of their carrier to explore their new surroundings. Dandy Andy liked to sit in the litter box. Gizmo, Chris and Brandy's traveling companion, was scared of the two kittens at first but later would bathe Candy Cane. Both kittens traveled west to Los Angeles, CA, area before heading back east to meet their new adoptive family with Glenda L in Gering, NE. Arranged by Sandra B United Animal Friends Chino Valley, AZ Operation Roger Drivers Chris and Brandy P pu 6/18/07 - del 6/20/07 *************** We have received this e-mail pertaining to DANDY ANDY and CANDY CANE: From: "glenda Goodman" Date: Fri, Jun 22, 2007 11:27 am To: operation roger Ms. Honey Edwards, I simply want to say thank you for all your efforts to get my form posted and especially your patience. I would also like to let you know what a wonderful transport you found for my kitties. As you know it was Chris and his wife Brandy who did this service for us. They did such a thoughtful and excellent job. They were very loving to the kitties...very kind. They were incredibly professional in every way. They kept me completely posted at every phase of their trip. When they would tell me they would call at different points in their progress towards me they did, exactly on time. At the final pick up where we met in Kimball Nebraska they arrived about 10 minutes after I arrived...Brandy carried my kitties to my vehicle, what a surprise...She spotted me before I spotted her. She spent at least five minutes talking to the kitties and comforting them before she left us, telling the kitties everything would be okay...What a sweet lady...It was about 3:45am, I never did get to meet Chris in person, hope he was sleeping...Anyway this is my forever impression of your lovely service to our animals and people that love them. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! Glenda Larsen : NEBRASKA ****************************************************

DEEBO #217

#217 DEEBO (Lab X) Williamson, GA - Wharton, TX Deebo #217, a 2 y/o 45# male Lab X was transferred from Williamson, GA, to Wharton,TX, by driver Brian B. This is not a story we want to write. While Deebo will have a much better life at the Smiling Dog Farm in Wharton, TX, his transport did not go well largely to the fact the information given to Operation Roger was incorrect and the attitudes of the people involved. We have learned the Smiling Dog Farm is in fact a sanctuary for unadoptable animals. That bit of important information should have been on the post for transport. We thank God for such a place and for Jay H who runs it. Deebo and others like him will be able to live out their lives there. However, we must point out Operation Roger is a volunteer service and our drivers do not have to take any animal they feel uncomfortable with. We do not force any animal on any driver. A reputable shipper will not either, yet this was done. We want to thank Kindle G of the FBL (Fueled By Love) Greyhound Rescue, Beaumont, TX, who stepped in to take Deebo from our driver who was being forced to return to GA with Deebo when the receiver refused to meet him in the wee hours of the morning. We must reiterate, all transfers must be done on the driver's schedule, whatever the time. We do feel the receiver may not have been informed of this requirement and give him the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, because of this, two other unadoptable dogs out of Georgia will not be transported by this organization. This we regret. This point of all this is.... we need ALL the pertinent information regarding each animal. Let us find the right driver. Don't leave anything out or bad relationships result...to the detriment of the animals. Be truthful. Operation Roger driver Brian B pu 8/28/07 - del 8/29/07 ****************************************************

DUSTY #218 *

#218 DUSTY (Great Pyrenees) Indianapolis, IN - Billings, MT DUSTY #218, a 17 m/o, 85# Great Pyrenees has made it home to Billings, MT, safe and sound, although happy to stretch his long legs. The original owners had a goat farm in Indiana and bought Dusty to herd the goats. Every time he went into the field of Fainting Goats, they would get so scared of him they would faint. So the owners gave him up to the rescue. Jim, a volunteer, brought Dusty to driver Kathy Y at Huntington, IN. Dusty was very shy, quiet, gentle, didn't bark, and was very laid back. Because of his size, Kathy had to put his paws on the floorboard and then pick his rear up and shove him inside. He tried once to get inside himself but his size prevented him from doing so again. Kathy's dogs barked for the first four hours Dusty was on board. Kathy had to stop at a terminal shop for truck repair. The mechanics reaction at seeing Dusty was pure disbelief. Once they got over their shock, they were interested in the breed and even played with him. Linda M, the receiver, called several times, so anxious to get Dusty. At the Fying J near Billings, Linda M ran to Kathy's truck calling "where is he, where is he?" She was so excited but Dusty was too shy to go to her at first. So Kathy walked him a bit to get him settled down. When Linda drove her pick-up close to Kathy's truck, Dusty jumped into the bed, turned, and looked at Kathy as if to say, "At last, I'm home." Dusty is having his own "block party" so everyone can meet him. The whole neighborhood has heard about him for two months. During the trip, Dusty sat in the passenger seat and receive many astonished comments from other drivers. Lots of people came over to pet him when she had Dusty out for a walk. This breed is used for rescue and animal herding and are part of the genes for making Saint Bernards. Kathy said both her shipper and receiver were astonished truckers would even take strange animals on our trucks. To take a dog this size blew their minds. One of Kathy's dogs would sleep on the floor with Dusty instead of the bed. Kathy feels Lady Mimi felt sorry for him because he couldn't sleep on the bed. In size, Dusty, standing, came up to Kathy's chest. On hind legs, he was better than 6 feet tall. However, Dusty will reach about 175#, so at 85#, he is only half grown!! He will continue to grow until he is 3 years old. Linda said she had looked through thousands of photos until she found Dusty. He looked like the pet she had lost just six months ago. Linda works for a college and will be taking Dusty with her. Linda gave Kathy a thank you card with the following inside. "Dear Kathy, Thank you so much for taking the time to bring me to my forever home. You can never know how much my new Mom and I appreciate you and Operation Roger. We waited two months for you because you were the perfect choice. Please have a peaceful meal on us. Dusty and Linda" Kathy reported that also printed on the card was the following: It was so nice of you and appreciated more than words can say. When asked if she would ever again transport such an animal, Kathy's quick response was "In a heart beat." Operation Roger driver Kathy Y - pu 9-13-07 - del 9-15-07 ****************************************************

DOUIE #267

#266 LOUIE/#267 DOUIE (Malti-Poos) Schaumburg, IL - Joshua, TX * LOUIE #266 and DOUIE #267, both male/neutered, 10 y/o, 10#, White Malti-Poos finally reached home in Joshua, TX, to be with their owner, driver Sue W. Injured on the job in Illinois and unable to travel home with her two companions, driver Susan M picked up the duo. They traveled to Florida where Susan took care of them during her off-time. Susan then drove four hours to hand them off to team drivers Miles & B.J. F who took them on to Baytown, TX, to meet driver Jim B, who kept them until he went back on the road. Unable to get directly toward Joshua, Jim and his own new traveling companion, a white pit, and the boys, traveled east to Louisiana before finally arriving in Wilmer, TX, to meet Sue. The plan was for Sue, who had attended the funeral of a family member that day in Wichita Falls, TX, to meet Jim later that night. However ... her daughter's car lost its transmission, stranding both of them until Sue's brother, two nephews, and a grand-nephew arrived like the cavalry to save the day. Sue's brother took both of them home to Joshua, leaving the car, but Jim had to return to his home with both dogs. Sue and her daughter drove down three days later to near Baytown to pick them up. By this time Louie and Douie were definitely confused but handling the situation like the pro-trucking dogs they are. When Sue walked in, Douie came to her immediately. Louie, on the other hand, let it be known he was unhappy with her by virtually ignoring her...for a while. Arranged with the efforts of Team Leader Kris Peters Operation Roger driver Susan M pu 4/18/08, team drivers Miles & B.J. F, driver Jim B del 5/1/08 **************************************************** THE FOLLOWING REPORT WAS RECEIVED from Sue: Many thanks to all of the Operation Roger guys and gals. Three times within four weeks this group rose to the occasion and rescued my pets. I was very ill with pneumonia and the flu on the first Friday in March in Kansas City, MO, which necessitated a stay in the ER. Tony H called my company's terminal and arranged for Louie and Douie to be walked a couple of times before I could return. Then, on the following Tuesday, in Mt. Vernon, IL, I was taken by ambulance from Wal-Mart to the ER with severe dehydration. This time Tony arranged for a local shelter to pick up my duo and keep them overnight. He called it "Jail." Meanwhile, two employees of Wal-Mart, to whom I'd given my truck keys, found my truck and walked my pets. The third time is the story above. Tony, Dellcina, Kathy, Nancy, Glenn, Susan, Josh, Jerry, Kris & Brandy, Dave, Jim and others called to offer help. Since I didn't want to leave my truck in IL while I went home to TX, the three of us became the house guests of Joanne F, New Beginnings Shih Tzu & Friends Rescue, until the details could be worked out. Operation Roger will move heaven and earth in the attempt to help a driver's stranded pet, not just mine, but yours too. I told them they were just being put through their paces as a training exercise. They informed me they now had quite enough experience, thank you very much and please ... don't do it again! ****************************************************************************

DOUIE #284

#284 DOUIE (Malti-Poo) Joshua, TX - Candler, FL DOUIE, a senior 11 y/o Malti-Poo 10# male has had quite a life the past year. Adopted by Driver Sue W in Nashville, TN, in April 07 at the TN Truck Show during Operation Roger’s Pet Adoption Day from Russell Rescue, Douie became the trucking companion of Sue and Louie, another 11 y/o Malti-Poo. In March 08 Sue became ill on the road and had to be taken to the ER. Operation Roger driver Tony H stepped in and arranged for a local rescue to get Douie and Louie from Sue’s truck and put in “jail.” Well, that’s the term Tony used. They were put into a cage, of course. A month following that, Sue was injured on the job and both Douie and Louie were picked up by Driver Susan M in Illinois. They rode around with her until they all reached Susan’s home in FL. Once Sue was at home in TX, the duo were returned to her by other Operation Roger drivers. Unable to have them in her younger daughter’s home due to allergies by the children and daughter, the duo were housed with Sue’s older daughter for about three weeks. While there, their Pug/German Shorthaired Pointer pup gave both dogs a hard time to the point there was concern for their safety. Arrangements were made to send them both to a sanctuary in Florida to live out the rest of their lives. When it came time for Sue, her daughter and family to travel to ME for the wedding of Sue’s oldest granddaughter, it was necessary to put both Douie and Louie in a veterinarian’s boarding facilities. A vet had already told Sue Louie’s heart conditions was getting worse. It was extremely hard to leave them but she had no choice. When Sue returned about 10 days later, she learned Louie has passed over the Rainbow Bridge two nights before. Douie was picked up by Driver Susan M in Fort Worth the next day and again traveled with her until they reached her home in FL. Once at the sanctuary in Candler, Douie was totally happy. A neighbor lady would come over the help in the sanctuary and fell in love with Douie, and apparently he with her. Every time she would come over, she would go right to him. Finally, Sue was called to see if she had any problems with him being adopted by this lady. Hearing he would be very well taken care of, and knowing it was just what he needed, she quickly agreed. While he tolerated the truck quite well, even being the first of the two to want back inside, his deafness and arthritis seemed to be getting worse. Driver Susan M pu 6/21/08 del 7/11/08 **************************************************************