Podcast Summary: The Dr. Laura Podcast – “Be a Floëf Advocate!”

Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Guest: Tracy Schlessinger (Director of HR at Activision Blizzard, President & Founder of Floef Society, Dr. Laura’s daughter-in-law)
Date: March 20, 2026

Overview

This episode features Dr. Laura Schlessinger in conversation with her daughter-in-law, Tracy Schlessinger, who runs Floef Society, a nonprofit animal rescue based in Santa Monica. The discussion focuses on the realities of animal rescue, the challenges in fostering and adoption, the importance of advocacy, and practical ways listeners can help. The tone is compassionate, candid, and sometimes humorous, blending family anecdotes with heartfelt stories of animal rescue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of Floef Society

• Naming Story & Meaning: Tracy describes how the Floef name came about from playful songs about their cats, leading to its adoption for the rescue.

  • Notable moment: Dr. Laura and Tracy sing the “Floef” song together.
  • [02:11] Tracy: “S L O E oof, F L O E oof, F L O E oof…and it just sort of repeats and repeats on but you know, ended up being really catchy.”

• From Fostering to Founding a Nonprofit:

  • Tracy shares the journey from informally fostering cats for six years to establishing a nonprofit in response to the overwhelming need and high euthanasia rates in LA shelters.
  • [03:36] Tracy: “Last year is when we officially started the nonprofit because there was just such an overwhelming demand…seeing day in and day out, witnessing how easily stray cats are overlooked and…euthanized, not because they’re unlovable, but because the system is overwhelmed.”
  • [04:00+] Reveals the myth of “no-kill LA,” disclosing that euthanasia for treatable conditions is still common in parts of the city.

2. Rescue Stories and Black Cat Stigma

• Rescue of Jinx the Cat:

  • Dr. Laura asks about an unusual cat with a “red eyeball,” leading Tracy to recount saving Jinx, a sick black kitten facing euthanasia for a simple upper respiratory infection.
  • [08:04] Tracy: “He ended up being a foster fail…severe upper respiratory infection…just took some antibiotics, some love, some care. And we had him, we took care of him…but black cats often are the most neglected or brought into the shelters.”

• Black Cat Adoption Challenges & Superstitions:

  • Tracy discusses the unfair treatment of black cats due to superstitions, especially around Halloween, including genuine dangers from people performing rituals.
  • [09:04] Tracy: “We don’t adopt black cats out [at Halloween] because there’s actually really sick people out there that perform rituals with black cats.”

3. How Floef Society Works

• Fostering Process Simplified:

  • Floef Society removes barriers by providing all necessary supplies and covering all veterinary bills for fosters.
  • [10:00] Tracy: “If you decide to foster or adopt a cat, we provide you with everything that you need…the supplies, food, litter, litter box, a cute cat bed…”

• Vet Care and Support:

  • Supplies and vet costs are covered to make fostering as stress-free as possible.
  • [10:42] Tracy: “And the vet bills…which are the most [expensive part].”
  • Dr. Laura notes how unusual it is for fostering organizations to be this comprehensive.

• Adoption Events & Finding Homes:

  • Placement is achieved mainly via adoption events, especially within Tracy’s workplace, and through social media and word of mouth. An interview process ensures responsible placements.
  • [13:41] Tracy: “We have adoption events…where people can meet the cats live. And then I have everything with me at the events…the carrier, the litter boxes, everything.”

4. Foster “Failures” and Long-Term Outcomes

• Foster Failure Rate:

  • Dr. Laura asks how many fosters end up adopting the animals (a “foster fail”).
  • [13:28] Tracy: “About 50%.”
  • The personal connection often forms, making letting go difficult but rewarding.

• Long-Term Commitment Consideration:

  • Tracy cautions that adopters must remember the potential 20-year lifespan and commitment.
  • [13:56] Tracy: “Cats live…for up to 20 years. So it’s a long time to be able to have something and to care for it…”

5. Oversight, Safety, and Tough Rescue Cases

• Monitoring Fosters & Intervention:

  • Tracy recounts a recent challenging case of a foster “hoarding” cats in poor conditions, requiring personal intervention and removal of the animals.
  • [15:47] Tracy: “We had somebody that was kind of hoarding cats…she had five foster cats in addition to her own animals…The room didn’t have any sort of softness…It was dirty.”
  • The situation led to stricter protocols and direct action by Tracy and her husband Derek.

• Alternative Placement for Unsocialized Cats:

  • Problematic or feral cats can be repurposed as “working cats” in safe areas like wineries.
  • [17:39] Tracy: “They are able to catch mice and rodents and be free on the winery. And at night…they come back into the house.”

6. Building Trust with Traumatized Animals

• Behavioral Rehabilitation:
  • Trust and affection can take months, depending on the animal’s trauma history.
  • [18:33] Tracy: “A lot of cats have been in bad situations. They just need some time to decompress and learn to trust humans…It took her a good two to three months to come out of her shell…”

7. Donation and Getting Involved

• How to Help:

  • Listeners can foster, adopt, or donate. Floef Society’s comprehensive support is emphasized.
  • [19:39] Tracy: “We have a website, which is floefsociety.com…you’re gonna have to spell that, sweetheart.”
  • In a humorous rehash of the naming story, Tracy sings the spelling and Dr. Laura joins in.

• Contact Information:

  • Website: floefsociety.com (spelled F-L-O-E-F)
  • Email: info@floefsociety.com
  • Also available on Instagram and social media.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Shelter Realities:
  • [04:00] Tracy: “I always thought that LA was no kill, because that’s a tagline that we often hear…But that is not true at all…cats and dogs were being euthanized daily. And that just made me sick to my stomach…they would get killed for something as simple as a cold.”
• On Barriers to Fostering:
  • [12:27] Tracy: “A lot of the agencies don’t do that…there are some that do, but I really wanted to take any stress out of people wanting to open up their home to an animal.”
• On Patience and Trust with Feral Cats:
  • [18:33] Tracy: “It took her a good two to three months to come out of her shell and realize that when I approached her, I wasn’t going to [hurt her]…But now…she will come up to me and get love and rub up against me.”
• Lighthearted Family Moments:
  • [11:06] Dr. Laura: “You can ask her what it’s like to have me as a mother in law, but that’s not relevant to the subject.”
  • [19:52] Tracy: “Well, I’ll sing it. F L o e f society.com…”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Floef Naming & The Cat Song: 01:53–03:01
• State of LA Shelters / Rescue Motivation: 03:36–05:15
• Jinx the Black Cat’s Story / Black Cat Stigma: 07:51–09:26
• What Floef Provides for Fosters: 10:00–10:42
• Adoption Events & Forever Homes: 13:41–14:54
• Rescue from Bad Foster Situation: 15:47–17:39
• Trusting Feral Cats: 18:33–19:25
• How to Donate, Foster, or Contact Floef: 19:39–21:08

How to Get Involved

• Website: floefsociety.com (spelled F-L-O-E-F)
• Email: info@floefsociety.com
• Adoption/Fostering: Supplies, food, and medical costs are all covered by Floef Society to support prospective fosters/adopters.
• Donations: Critical to covering veterinary care and supplies, ensuring no hurdles for fosters.
• Social Media: Instagram & other platforms (find links via website).

Closing Thoughts

The episode provides a transparent, hopeful, and occasionally humorous look into grassroots animal rescue, showing how individuals can make a difference for vulnerable animals. Tracy’s passion and Floef Society’s practical support model encourage more people to become “Floef Advocates”—whether by fostering, adopting, or donating.

Dr. Laura’s sign-off:
“They don’t even have to like cats. They just have to have a good heart.” [21:08]