It’s easy to put a cute dog in a TV spot, but
six automotive brands really put their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting animal welfare.
Toyota (Sienna), Kia (Carnival), Chrysler (Pacifica), Volkswagen
(Altas), Subaru (Forester) and Ineos (Grenadier) all loaned out their vehicles for a recent cross-country dog transport that began in Omaha, Nebraska and ended in Portland, Oregon, where 20 very lucky
dogs found new homes.
There’s a surplus of beagles in the heartland due to overbreeding and abandoned hunting dogs. This sweet breed (think Snoopy!) is in short supply in
the Pacific Northwest, so the only issue is moving them from point A to point B — almost 2,000 miles. That’s where 20 automotive journalists (myself included) step in for Operation Frodo
— named after the very first beagle that was moved cross-country and saved by one of the group leaders, television journalist and auto expert Nik Miles.
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This was my
third year driving the transport, the second all the way across the country. This year we had a Toyota public relations team member on our team, and we made stops at two Ineos dealership along the way
in Salt Lake City and Boise, which was the first Ineos dealership in the U.S.
We started the first day in Omaha where we loaded all the gear and the dogs into the vehicles in front of a
Petsmart location, which supports the Omaha-based rescue, Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland, where the dogs originated.
Automakers were excited about helping, but we
had some specific requirements. Vehicles were selected for their attributes, like low step-in height, wide doors and flat load floors (something I look for in every single vehicle I test-drive
year-round).
“This was not about trim levels or brand storytelling, it was about results,” Miles says. “Minivans once again proved irreplaceable. Their low floors
and open interiors make them ideal for transporting animals safely and efficiently. Marketing departments have spent years trying to make minivans cool again. Rescue work never stopped needing
them.”
Kia might call the Carnival a “multipurpose vehicle” or MPV, but with the sliding passenger door, it’ll always be a minivan to me — and
that’s a good thing! It's one of my all-time-favorite vehicles for a reason.
Our next transport is already in the works. It’s going to have a unique twist —
four electric vehicles will be used this summer to move a smaller number of dogs. The route will be different, taking charging stations locations into consideration. Motels that are both dog-friendly
AND have chargers will be our home-away-from home for four days.
I can’t wait!
To read more about Operation Frodo or to support our efforts,
check out our website.
