In 2025, roughly 600,000 animals (including 320,000 dogs) died in America's shelters — many of them alone, scared, in their kennels. PJ and Christine of The Little Red Dog dig into why so many good, adoptable dogs get overlooked: breed mislabeling, the pit bull myths that follow certain dogs, and how the shelter environment itself can turn a happy dog into a so-called "behavior case." A hard but hopeful conversation about dog rescue, adoption, fostering, and why the problem is almost always human error — not the dog.

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Donate, adopt, or foster at https://thelittlereddog.org/
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Follow on YouTube to see our virtual adoption events https://www.youtube.com/@TheLittleRedDog

This week on For the Love of Dog, PJ and Christine share must-know Fourth of July safety tips to keep your dog from becoming part of the July 5th shelter surge — from microchips and safe spaces to keeping gates closed during the fireworks. They also dig into the disturbing Miranda's Rescue case, where dogs were found shot and buried, and ask how transfers and adoptions go unchecked. Plus an uplifting finish: Bear, the Australian koala-detection dog who saved 100 koalas and just retired with an award.

Support the show

Donate, adopt, or foster at https://thelittlereddog.org/
Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/thelittlereddog
Follow on YouTube to see our virtual adoption events https://www.youtube.com/@TheLittleRedDog

PJ and Christine sit down with adopter Jill Stanton, who almost never found Zahara — a dog pulled off the kill list at one of California's deadliest shelters and now, in Jill's words, “heaven on earth.” Jill shares how she discovered foster-based rescue (the middle ground between a shelter and a breeder that most people don't know exists), why staying open-minded landed her the perfect family dog, and how The Little Red Dog's 30-day protocol made a seamless second-dog adoption. Plus a Feel Good Friday moment with Osito, the bike-riding rescue pup charming the World Cup in Mexico City. A warm reminder of why foster rescue and adoption change lives — for dogs and people both.

Support the show

Donate, adopt, or foster at https://thelittlereddog.org/
Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/thelittlereddog
Follow on YouTube to see our virtual adoption events https://www.youtube.com/@TheLittleRedDog

"No-kill shelter" is one of the most comforting phrases in animal rescue — and one of the most misleading. This week PJ and Christine pull back the curtain on what really happens to surrendered dogs, why five states account for half the nation's euthanasias, and how kennel stress breaks down even healthy animals. They also dig into why so many good dogs get overlooked — seniors, black dogs, "only dogs," and dogs with disabilities like Dudley — and make the case that there's an adopter out there for every single one. A frank, hopeful conversation about responsibility, rescue, and loving the dog you have.

Support the show

Donate, adopt, or foster at https://thelittlereddog.org/
Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/thelittlereddog
Follow on YouTube to see our virtual adoption events https://www.youtube.com/@TheLittleRedDog

The #1 request The Little Red Dog gets isn't to save a shelter dog — it's "please rehome my pet." This week PJ and Christine walk through the real alternatives to surrendering your dog: trainers and rescue support for behavior issues, Care Credit and Scratch Pay for vet bills you can't cover, pet-friendly housing searches, safe rehoming (never free on Craigslist), and how to ask for temporary help without shame. Plus: TLRD's new Second Chance Circle on Patreon — care without crisis, starting at $10/month — and sweet Charlotte still needs a foster.

Support the show

Donate, adopt, or foster at https://thelittlereddog.org/
Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/thelittlereddog
Follow on YouTube to see our virtual adoption events https://www.youtube.com/@TheLittleRedDog

For thousands of people, a dog is the one constant through the hardest stretch of their life. PJ and Christine dig into the "My Dog Is My Home" movement and the shelters finally making room for pets, the life-saving role fostering plays for people leaving abusive situations, and the big debate: is crate training helpful or harmful? Plus two urgent rescue appeals from The Little Red Dog. Learn more and foster at thelittlereddog.org.

Support the show

Donate, adopt, or foster at https://thelittlereddog.org/
Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/thelittlereddog
Follow on YouTube to see our virtual adoption events https://www.youtube.com/@TheLittleRedDog

It's National Microchip Month — and PJ and Christine are here to remind you to not just chip your pet, but actually register it and keep your info updated. Then they get into it: off-leash dogs, summer safety tips, and why your dog doesn't have to like everybody (and neither do you). A packed episode full of practical advice for dog owners heading into the warmer months.

Support the show

Donate, adopt, or foster at https://thelittlereddog.org/
Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/thelittlereddog
Follow on YouTube to see our virtual adoption events https://www.youtube.com/@TheLittleRedDog

What happens when the rescue is the danger? This week PJ and Christine break down three recent cases that shook the dog rescue world: Woofy Acres in California, where 94 of 114 seized dogs were euthanized and the operator may walk away with probation; Miranda's Rescue in Fortuna, where dogs were shot and buried in mass graves; and Working Dogs of Nevada, where a whistleblower's phone footage led to felony arrests at a Las Vegas training facility. This one's hard — but it matters.

Support the show

Donate, adopt, or foster at https://thelittlereddog.org/
Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/thelittlereddog
Follow on YouTube to see our virtual adoption events https://www.youtube.com/@TheLittleRedDog