Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Dr. Laura Podcast
Episode: Saving a Dog From a Kill Shelter
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Laura recounts a deeply personal story about rescuing an eight-week-old puppy from a kill shelter after her son sent her a photo of the dog in urgent need of fostering. Using her signature blend of candor and compassion, Dr. Laura explores not only the immediate rescue effort, but also the broader themes of kindness, responsibility, and how small personal actions can make a big difference—especially for those most vulnerable.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Rescue: Bear, the Puppy

• Dr. Laura receives a photo (01:05): Dr. Laura’s son sends her a picture of a puppy at risk of euthanasia that same day.
• Immediate response: Dr. Laura decides to foster the dog herself.

  “I said, okay, well, then bring it here and it won’t get terminated. Bring it here.” (01:31)

• Background: The puppy, later named Bear, along with its three siblings, had been abandoned in a box behind a Walmart in San Bernardino.
• Description of Bear:
  • Bear is described as looking like a little bear—possibly an Australian Shepherd mix, with a cropped tail.
  • Despite being “starved out in the cold,” Bear remains trusting and affectionate:

    “This dog was starved out in the cold and totally trusting and flips over on his back, says, rub my belly. I’m good.” (02:23)

• Dr. Laura’s family involvement:
  • Her son and daughter-in-law are deeply involved in fostering and rescuing, most often with cats; Bear is among their first dog rescues.

2. The Fostering Experience

• Bear’s quick adjustment: Dr. Laura describes how Bear settled into her home, even “rolling on his back” for belly rubs.
• House training mishaps: Bear had “two accidents in the house” (03:23), but Dr. Laura is patient and optimistic, noting he’s learning to go outside when prompted.
• Routine adjustments: Dr. Laura describes her commitment:

  “I’ve been taking him out every hour and saying, go pee, pee. And he does. So we’ll see.” (03:35)

3. Reflections on Animal Rescue

• Call to action:
  • With genuine concern for Bear’s siblings, Dr. Laura encourages her listeners in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino areas to act:

    “If you are anywhere near … and you want to get one of the other three, you better hurry up because I’m worried that they’re going to euthanize them, and they’re all cute.” (06:23)

4. Personal Touches and Humor

• Family quirks: Dr. Laura jokingly refers to her son and daughter-in-law as “freaks about cats” and tells how their walks regularly get interrupted by neighborhood cat rescues.

  “We’ll go for a walk, all of us, and two blocks away, they’ll see a cat. And they have to go visit it.” (02:56)

• Dog’s demeanor: Even after a traumatic experience, Bear’s trust in people is highlighted as both moving and inspiring.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pet Rescue and Compassion:

  “I went from hell to heaven in one day.” (02:17, paraphrasing what Bear’s attitude seems to say)

• On Fostering and Uncertainty:

  “But I’m still at the if stage. Never mind that I just paid the money for a year of vet insurance. Yes, I did that already, but I haven’t decided yet. Yeah, sure. Okay. And he’s very chill.” (06:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:05] – Dr. Laura introduces Bear’s rescue story.
• [02:17] – Describes Bear’s trusting, affectionate behavior.
• [02:56] – Family's cat-rescue adventures.
• [03:23] – Bear’s settling-in and house-training progress.
• [06:20] – Dr. Laura’s personal update and call to action for local listeners.

Tone and Style

Dr. Laura’s tone is candid, caring, and slightly humorous, blending emotional storytelling with practical advice. She draws listeners in with her warm, relatable delivery, and uses humor to lighten the subject while emphasizing the urgency and importance of helping animals in desperate situations.

Final Thoughts

This episode serves as both a touching personal anecdote and a passionate appeal for animal welfare. Dr. Laura’s openness about the realities—joys and messes alike—of bringing a rescue animal into her home exemplifies her mission: using everyday life as a platform for teaching compassion, responsibility, and the power of individual action.

For more information on adopting Bear’s siblings or supporting local rescues, Dr. Laura encourages listeners to take immediate action and spread the word.