Operation Roger... Truckers Pet Transport

Hi, I'm Roger, a Toy Manchester Terrier.  It is a sad fact each year, millions of us healthy, adoptable pets are admitted to animal shelters or are taken in by animal rescue groups across the United States.  Many of us, like me, are adopted into new homes, but many others are not so fortunate.

It is also a fact there are thousands of homes who would adopt many of us, but how do you get a dog in Alabama to a new home in New Hampshire? How do you transport a cat in California to it's forever home in Florida?

Many of you would dread a 500 mile or more drive, but for wonderful volunteer truck drivers, it's another day at the office - 

They are Operation Roger... Truckers Pet Transport.

Who They Are...

Operation Roger is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization comprised of regional and long-haul truckers who volunteer their time to share their love of animals with people who run animal shelters or animal rescue groups who are trying to save the lives of us pets.

They can also help other pet owners by providing pet transportation in special circumstances such as family illness or loss of a loved one. 

It is also a fact every day and night, tractor/trailers are rolling up and down the nations highways, heading to far away places hauling the food, clothing, dog food, etc. you all depend on.  Operation Roger serves us pets as the trucks serve the economy while helping everyone interested in helping us pets save valuable resources at the same time.  It is a win-win situation. 

I was a rescue from a shelter after having lost my way.  My human took me on one of those trucks for two years.  I loved every minute of it and couldn't wait to get back on the road when we did go home for a few days.  One day though, I crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and became the mascot for Operation Roger only three months later.  I may be gone, but the need to help other pets like me goes on, every day, every week, every month.

They need volunteer drivers to transport us.  They need Layover Homes and Shuttle Drivers.  They also need sponsors, corporate and individual, to defray their moderate expenses.  Help them help us.  Volunteer your time and/or resources.  All we pets want is to be loved and a chance to love in return.  We depend upon you to provide for us and in return we will provide you with devotion...... Roger (2001-2005).

Continue on down.....

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How it Works

When Operation Roger... Truckers Pet Transport receives a request for a pet transport (we only transport dogs and cats and other small companion animals), we then make every reasonable attempt to match a pet needing a lift with a Trucker heading the same direction.  Due to the nature of our trucking commitments, we cannot give a specific time for your pet to be either picked up or delivered.

Remember, we are all volunteers.  We have no paid staff, so everything is done as soon as our personal/trucking lives permit.  While we will attempt to keep in contact on a weekly basis with shippers &/or receivers, you may not hear from us until a driver calls to inquire about your pet.

We are Truckers first and therefore the requirements of our job must come first so we cannot offer door-to-door pickup and delivery. Generally speaking, arrangements are made in advance with the driver to meet the person sending the pet (shipper) at a nearby truck-stop or travel plaza.  The pet's paperwork is checked, approved, and the pet is on their way.  At the destination, the person who is waiting for the pet (receiver) agrees to meet the driver (and his passenger) at a predetermined location where the pet is then handed off to the new owners so it can start its new life in a forever home.

There are times when a driver can pick up a pet but they aren't going to the destination area.  The driver may decide to keep the pet on board and try to work their way to the pet's new home, or we try to put together a "repower" with another driver.  This means the two drivers would have to meet somewhere and that is difficult to do at best.  Here is where the Layover Home could be a big help.  Essentially, a Layover Home is merely a temporary foster.  The pet's stay is anywhere from a few hours to less than a week.  If we could get more of these Layover Homes around the country, more pets might be helped.

A Shuttle Driver, usually someone who cannot be a Layover Home, is someone who can drive the pet from driver-to-driver, driver-to-forever home, home to driver, or any other combination.

What Does it Cost? 

An application/administrative non-refundable minimum donation of just $20.00 is required to post a pet on our Pet Board effective July 22, 2008.  This is expected when the application is made. It may take a minimum of 3-7 days for a volunteer to review, approve, and get the application entered on our Pet Board.  Then, it may take an equal time to get the information out to all of our Team Leaders and Team Members.  Thus, we are usually unable to handle "emergency" requests.

This donation helps Operation Roger... Truckers Pet Transport meet our day-to-day operation expenses, and remember, we are 501(c)(3) so your donation is tax deductible.

With gasoline prices reaching higher almost daily, pet transport services costing hundreds of dollars, and airlines charging transportation fees that can break almost any budget, we think a minimum donation of $20.00 is the most reasonable deal you could find in exchange for a pet receiving the first class, "one on one" treatment it deserves.

The Application!

Now, if you wish to use Operation Roger, please go to "My Rescue" (above) and "Register."  Once this is accomplished and you log in, go to "Need To Know," (above) read our "Transport Requirements" very carefully and accept them.  This will bring up the Application.  Fill it out completely and follow the prompts to send.  Applications for the Layover Home and the Shuttle Driver as well as others will be coming on line in the near future.  Watch for them.