On the night of March 9th, 2008 I got an unexpected call from one of our beagle rescue people and was told that some dogs were rescued from a horrible puppy mill out in Missouri that was shut down and that some doggies were saved and taken to a Colorado puppy mill rescue place. I'm fuzzy on the details, but apparently the Colorado people then decided to have 2 volunteers load 50 dogs into a van and drive to L.A. to unload them on some willing rescues whilst stopping in Vegas. I know, WTF were they thinking!! So we knew the situation was dire and we just didn't ask any more questions and headed out to save these poor dogs. We were not prepared for what we saw.
The van met us (a few local rescue people) in an abandoned parking lot at about 10:00 at night and we just kept saying to ourselves 'There cannot be 50 dogs in that van... it's just too horrible.' But the volunteers driving this van were actually quite horrible people and they definitely didn't let these dogs out in the 2 days they were driving. The dogs were all crammed in crates stacked one on top of another and sitting in their own urine (if they could even sit since they were crammed with multiple dogs in a crate). I will spare the rest of the story because I will start to cry (as I did when I got home that night). Our rescue alone pulled 11 beagles that night and the other rescues took many more. We made sure that the kennels were all cleaned and sanitized. We gave all of the dogs walks, food, and water, and the ones that went back on the van had a crate all to themselves to lay in... we just couldn't take them all!! But we were assured that they were going straight to L.A. to meet with other rescues. (And we ireported thos volunteers to the head of the Colorado rescue and she was mad!) Anyway, it was a long and crazy night. One we hope to never endure again. I must say though that there were times when I looked around in the chaos and I had to admire the people that were there that night. We had a veterinarian running around checking the dogs as well as a mobile grooming couple that took as many dogs as they could and washed them and trimmed their nails (that were so bad some dogs couldn't even walk right). We really stepped up and rallied our spirits and just did what we had to do to help these poor animals. There are good people in the world after all! Now we just had to convince the dogs of that...
Tanner and I took out a boy who is thought to be 7 years old (Buster) who was absolutely terrified and crammed into a crate that was smaller than him. Tanner actually had to break the crate open to get him out. Poor Buster was freaked, but he seemed to take to Tanner. After an hour or so, after we got him clean and his nails trimmed, he actually started to wag his tail! It was a beautiful sight. This was probably the first act of kindness this poor guy had ever received from a human. We just had to take him and keep him safe. We also took a 5 month old girl that was a bundle of energy (Jelly Bean). She was crammed into a crate with about 5 other puppies in that van and they didn't have much room to move in days. She didn't seem too freaked though. Puppies are so wonderfully resilient. I remember when we all finally left at about 2 AM, Tanner and I were driving home. I was holding Buster close to me and Jelly Bean was howling in her crate in the back. We just looked at each other and said 'Okay, so where are we taking these two?' And we just started laughing... Like I said, it was a long night (and yes, I made it to class that morning too, and all those people had to go to work too I'm sure). So fast-forward to now... Jelly Bean is staying with my dad and happy as a clam. Jansen and Diana fell in love with her on their last visit and will be taking her when Jansen's residency is over (Sugar and Peanut will be happy). Just this past weekend Buster was taken to his forever home on a farm in St. George, Utah where he can live out the rest of his beagley years in peace and quiet. (Unfortunately, due to the extent of his abuse, he is on anti-anxiety meds to help him cope and may need to be on them permanently...) Good luck, Buster! The other 9 beagles have all found their permanent homes with loving families that will give them a good life. It has been a crazy month, but totally worth it. :) Actually, just one boy still needs a home (we CANNOT figure out why because he's awesome! but he'll get one soon, I just know it!) :)

So, here is a story written by another beagle rescuer from that night that I thought was touching...
My name is Mojo; that’s short for Missouri Joe. My new Mommy and Daddy gave me that name because I’m from Missouri and I’m named after 'Joe' Beagle from New Mexico. I have a beautiful, new home with two other beagles; big brother Bugle and big sister Ginger. I can run free and play in our big backyard with trees and bushes; a bridge to run across and a waterfall with rocks where lizards live. Bugle and I love to hunt lizards and explore all over the yard. When we get tired we find a warm sunny spot and take a nap. Ginger likes to sunbathe too. My new Mom is a great cook. I get lots of good, home-cooked food and clean water. Mom and Dad play with me (though I’m still afraid of men), give me lots of love and tell me I’m a very handsome little boy.
But my life wasn’t always this happy. There was a night when I had lost all hope and my will to live. This is the story of the miracle that saved my life.
The Missouri puppy mill where I was raised was shut down. I and many other dogs were crammed into crates and loaded into a panel van. We didn’t know where we were going but we drove and drove; I couldn’t tell if it was day or night. Finally late at night on Sunday March 9th, the van stopped and the doors were opened. We were in Las Vegas! I heard frantic voices everywhere as our crates were removed from the van and opened. We were being separated by breed by many rescue volunteers. It was mass chaos with dogs barking and people yelling. My crate was set down in the middle of all the confusion but nobody came to let me out. My crate was horribly filthy after such a long journey. I was covered in feces and sitting in a lake of urine. The smell was so bad I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t see because my eyes were tearing and stinging. I was so scared and miserable; I was shaking and crying. I just didn’t want to live anymore. Then I heard a soft beautiful voice. She said, 'Little One, my name is Mommy Trish and I crossed the Rainbow Bridge last month. When I lived on earth in Santa Fe, NM, I devoted my life to rescuing beagles and finding forever homes for them. I heard your cries and I felt your will to live slipping away. So I have been allowed to come to you in spirit with this message: do not despair. It is not your time to cross the Rainbow Bridge. You are special and deserve to be happy, loved and cherished. Someone is coming just for you. She adopted one of my beagles 3 yrs ago and is a dear friend. I have chosen her especially for you but you must be strong and hang on until she arrives. I will guard your crate so nobody else can take you away. You will have everything you ever dreamed of and more. And I will always be watching over you.'
I thought I was hallucinating. Who could possibly want me, a dirty, smelly, scared, forgotten little beagle? I felt myself drifting away when I heard another voice.
'Hey, has anybody checked that crate in the middle? I think there’s a dog in there. Wait, I think there’s a BEAGLE in there! Oh Lord, what’s that god-awful smell? Oh no, this is not happening; not on my watch! Come here, Little One, come out of that nasty crate. Come to me, my precious baby.'
She gathered me up in her arms, hugged and petted me, and kissed my head. With tears in her eyes she told me I was beautiful and this would never happen to me again….EVER! She wrapped me in a towel and she took me home. We went straight to the shower where she shampooed and cream rinsed me over and over. Oooooo, the warm water felt so good, and the shampoo and cream rinse smelled so nice. As my new Mom was toweling me dry a man came into the room. He said, 'Look at him; he’s beautiful and he is the perfect combination of Ginger and Bugle. He has Bugle’s face and Ginger’s body coloring. He could be their son.' I didn’t have to wait long to find out who Ginger and Bugle were because they were right there trying to sniff me! But I was too exhausted to be sociable; I just wanted my new Mommy to hold and comfort me. After awhile I was able to eat alittle food and drink some water. My new Daddy had a kennel ready for me with soft clean blankets. I collapsed from exhaustion relieved to finally feel safe.
The miracle Mommy Trish promised had come true.
Eleven beagles were rescued that night by the newly formed Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue team. Many other dogs were also rescued by the other groups. The dogs that could not be kept in Las Vegas were going on to California where additional rescue teams were waiting for them.
Mojo officially joined The Pack at Casa San Vito on March 16, 2008. He is doing great and is a wonderful addition to our family. We have a few minor medical conditions which are being addressed (ear infection and worms). Mojo will be neutered and have his teeth cleaned next month. Our vet thinks Mojo is about 1 to 1-1/2 yrs old. He is still skittish, afraid of loud noises and sudden movements, and very afraid of men. But in just 2 short weeks Mojo has accomplished so much…he loves to play in the yard and go to the beagle meet-ups at the park. Mojo no longer cowers all the time but stands up straight with his chest out and his 'happy tail' held high. He has learned to use the doggie door. He doesn’t howl often but when he does it is a deep mournful 'aarrroooooooo'. We hope you all can visit soon and meet our Mojo!
THE END :)

Here's a few pics of a few of these angels! :)