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In November I saw on the WRAP site that there were 2 whippet sisters who needed a new home and it was very important to everyone that they stay together.  Barb Barclay advised me that she had known their breeder and that they should be sweet dogs.  WRAP had no luck finding a home for two and I had a couple of new applications for a rescue dog so I asked if anyone would be willing to take on two.  One couple said yes and they sounded very promising so I contacted Lori Rose of WRAP in Oregon and gave her the info.  That was pretty much the extent of my contribution. 
Susan Shusterman tells her part of the story...
I want to stress that we all did this out of love for the Blarneystone Whippets.  When Bev McKibbin passed away in 2006, I placed 12 of her adult dogs in wonderful new homes.  I try to stay in touch with everyone and we have become an extended family through the dogs, from Eureka, CA to Kamloops, BC.  Two of the girls had been with family but due to extreme family hardship they had to be rehomed.
Lori Rose took Blossom and Sinner into her home and her pack adopted them right away.  It was a happy surprise that one of Lori's friends actually had 2 of Sinner's daughters, Soucia and Matia, so there was joy all around for mom and daughters to be reunited. Both Lori and I were tapping every contact we had looking for just the right home to place them together.  Paulette Blinch of NWCC Rescue contacted me and I notified Lori that there was a possible home in Canada.  Paulette and Lori put their heads together to see if the home in Horsefly, BC would be suitable.  Lori reviewed the information about Shelley and Joe in Horsefly, BC and realized it could be a great home.  They already had experience with whippets and currently have two rescued Greys, an Afghan and 15 acres.  Lori spoke to Shelley and to their references and felt they would be perfect, then she called me to say, 'It is 750 miles from Portland to Horsefly, do you think it is possible?'
Susan S then took over the Whippet Railroad and contacted 'family' members.  The response was wonderful!  What you have to know is that the weather was not good and nobody was sure that the girls could go all the way through before the storms hit.  It was, therefore, imperative that anyone who participated would have to be willing to hold the girls over if necessary.  Susan moved the day of departure up one day to Nov 30 and that was a good thing because Lori and Susan S  were able to get home before the big flood took out I-5 by Centralia, WA.  At the other end, Susan and Jamie made it just before their route was closed due to snow and Shelley and Joe got them home before it hit -35C.
Here is the itinerary:  Upon seeing the weather reports, Lori Rose cancelled her Friday afternoon clients so that she could get Blossom and Sinner as far north as possible.   She drove north from Portland to Castle Rock, WA on I-5 and back a total of 116 miles passing the girls to Susan Shusterman.
Susan Shusterman drove a total of 265 miles round trip heading south on I-5 from Renton, WA,. calling Lori on the cell phone trying to find an exit to meet. Castle Rock, WA was chosen and both arrived within 10 minutes of each other.  After a teary goodbye Susan S headed north while Marie Anti started driving south on I-5 from Custer, WA, near the Canadian border, to rendezvous with Susan.
Marie Anti met Susan S in Tacoma, WA to pick up the girls and drove back during the Friday night rush hour (actually 2 extra hours on the return) 280 miles round trip.  Marie and Don, her husband kept Blossom and Sinner overnight on Friday.  Marie delivered them to Susan Nicholson and Jamie Thomson in Abbotsford, BC the next morning, driving another 52 miles round trip.  (Note:  Marie discovered that Blossom and Sinner were littermates to her Lanie - so it was another family reunion!)
Susan Nicholson and hubby Jamie Thomson of Kamloops, BC braved the mountain snows to meet Marie in Abbotsford, BC and ran ahead of the snow storm arriving at home exhausted after a 360 mile round trip in a single day.   Blossom and Sinner spent the night on Saturday with Susan and Jamie in front of the toasty wood stove, reuniting Blossom with her daughter Mini, and waited for Shelley and Joe to come and take them to their new home.
On Sunday Shelley Phillips and Joe Illes headed south from Horsefly, BC to Susan and Jamie's house in Kamloops, BC.  They made a quick turn around because the temperature was dropping fast and snow was falling during their entire 400 mile round trip.  Later that night, a collective sigh of relief could be heard from all of the Whippet Railroad participants followed by cheers that the girls were safe in their new home.
From Susan Shusterman
Lori, thank you for taking in the girls and t hank you for losing your heart to them.  It must be so difficult to part with your rescues, I don't know how you can do it time after time.
Marie, my friend...you know... I would do anything for you at a moment's notice. I love you Don, Paco, Wizard, Bella, Espresso, Lanie (Blarneystone Hidden Dragon) and Spice (Blarneystone Spice Girl.
Susan and Jaime, thank you for all the love you given to Mini (Blarneystone New York Minute) who came to you as a traumatized skinny little girl.  You have given her stability and love and she is certainly exactly where she needs to be.
Shelley and Joe, thank you for taking Blossom (Blarneystone Black Dahlia) and Sinner (Blarneystone Original Sin) into your home.  They will steal your hearts before you know it.  Please let us know how they are doing and if ever they are in need, don't hesitate to let us know.
This has been a little long but it is such a great story of how people can help each other and their dogs and how people can keep the faith. 

A Rescue Story

The “Paws Across the Border” Rescue

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