Stay ConnectedRescued by a Dog brings you stories told by dog owners about the pups who ACTUALLY saved their lives. If you need to find some goodness in the world, you’ll find it here. …Produced and hosted by Laura Thomas, animal welfare professional and author of the novel Not Just a Dog.
Did a dog save your life? Email Laura at rescuedbyadogpodcast@gmail.com !
Want to help keep this podcast going? Sponsor Rescued by a Dog on Patreon for only $5 at: www.patreon.com/rescuedbyadogpodcast
Copyright: © 2024 Rescued by a Dog
At only 20 years old, 80% of Joe's body was burned in a serious car accident, and his face was permanently disfigured. At the time, his friends didn't show up for him, but his dog Buster didn't treat him any differently.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!When a mama bear with two cubs confronts Bailey outside her woodsy home, her pup Zeus springs into action.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!In this heartwarming episode, we'll meet Roland, a blind Canadian whose best friend is his guide dog Dodger. When a cabbie drops Roland and Dodger in the wrong neighborhood, in the rain, Dodger calmly guides them home.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!When Ruth's son is struggling, and her new dog Sammy suddenly becomes paralyzed, Sammy shows everyone how to persevere.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!When a series of tragedies leaves Jonathan homeless, he and his beloved pup Evelyn spend three winter months sleeping in his tiny car, using the engine to keep themselves warm. One particularly cold night, the engine breaks down, leaving them without heat, and Jonathan decides his life is over and passes out from the cold. But Evelyn refuses to let Jonathan go.
In 2021, Brian was home alone with his new rescue German shepherd, Sadie, when he suffered a stroke. He couldn't get up and his phone was across the room. Desperate to help her new papa, Sadie came to the rescue.
On September 11, 2001, Michael was working on the 78th floor of one of the Twin Towers, with his guide dog Roselle by his side as always. Since Michael is blind, his best friend Roselle constantly acted as his eyes. When the planes hit the Towers, Roselle and Michael had to work as a team to get down 78 flights of stairs and out of the path of danger.
Andre grew up hustling for money by caring for the dogs of the drug dealers in his neighborhood, and working in the heartbreaking Quarantine areas of dog shelters. Through the love of three dogs--a shelter Rottweiller, a stray shepherd, and a pitbull puppy, his life is saved.
Today, we'll hear two moving stories from young women. First, bereaved sister Mags tells the story of how pup Cici showed her brother endless joy and grace as he grappled with mental illness. Now, in his honor, Mags and her family have started an organization, Paws for Patrick, that transforms other people's lives through the love of dogs. Next, Morgan tells us how, with the help of Paws for Patrick, pup Mescal helped her work through a paralyzing fear of leaving her college dorm room.
After surviving three sudden cardiac arrests in one night, Drew's rescue pup Lucky found a way to keep him alive.
At the Christmas parade in 2020, Abby collapsed from an episode of POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Picaso, a shelter dog walking in the parade, pulled his handler into the crowd to save her. Then, she saved him.
Louise has an infectious love of life. But Multiple Sclerosis has caused her to fall to the ground many times--sometimes when she's out of reach of her cell phone. But with service pup Moonie around, Louise knows she always has a superhero by her side.
In the middle of the night, little infant Harper stopped breathing entirely. The family pup, Duke, knew just what to do.
After a brutal and unfair custody battle, Emiko suffered a serious stroke that left her unable to even travel to visit her child. Emotionally broken, she adopted Victoria - a mangy, diseased shelter dog with behavior issues. Like Emiko, Victoria's pups had been taken from her before she arrived at the shelter. Emiko and Victoria embarked on a beautiful healing journey, mothering each other with care.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!In this episode, we'll hear three beautiful stories from men who overcame deep hardship and depression through the love of their dogs.
When Rebecca stops breathing for two full minutes, pup Ulysses tries repeatedly to rouse her. When that doesn't work, he knows it's up to him to figure out how to get help fast.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!At 28 years old, Kate's doctors told her that because of her many psychiatric conditions - bipolar disorder, agoraphobia, an eating disorder, and severe hallucination - she could only survive inside a locked psychiatric ward. But then Kate met Waffle, a fluffy Bernese mountain dog who figured out that Kate needed help discerning reality from hallucination.
SodapupIn the middle of the night, Ms. Sherry took a tumble in her bathroom, wedging herself between the toilet and the bathtub. Unable to move for many hours, she uttered weak cries of help, uncertain whether anyone outside the house could hear her. From down the street, inside another house, pup Milo came to the rescue.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!When pup Fred saves a whole platoon of marines in Afghanistan, Craig knows he has to find a way to get Craig back to the United States. But completing that journey would require a series of impossible miracles...
After a major surgery on her leg, Cheryl is feeling fine, but pup Sami tells her mommy that she needs to get back to the hospital STAT.
After blowing $100,000 on cocaine, Craig was deeply depressed and his marriage was falling apart. Until he met a street dog named Vector, who reminds him every day that there's a better way to live.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!When Ashley finds herself stuck in an abusive relationship, only the intervention of her pup Zeda could make her walk away.
James's life had fallen apart. Unemployed and recovering in a sober living home, he met a pitbull named Blu who changed his life.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!Alexia was going through a "dark night of the soul" when a puppy literally showed up at her doorstep. Together, they learn to navigate the world.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!On a hike in Alaska, Claire and her teenage daughter encounter a mama grizzly and her cub. When the mama grizzly rears up on her hind legs, pup Bronwyn puts herself between her humans and the bear.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!When a series of tragedies leaves Jonathan homeless, he and his beloved pup Evelyn spend three winter months sleeping in his tiny car, using the engine to keep themselves warm. One particularly cold night, the engine breaks down, leaving them without heat, and Jonathan decides his life is over and passes out from the cold. But Evelyn refuses to let Jonathan go.
Danelle, a professional endurance athlete, was out for a run when she fell off a cliff, plummeting 60 feet to the ground and shattering her pelvis. Unable to drag herself out of the canyon, her pup Taz refused to leave her side. Until she told him to.
As a teenager, Brian had been involved in a brawl that resulted in the loss of a man's life, landing him in prison for life. Twenty-five years later, Brian enrolled in the Pawsitive Change Program, where inmates train undersocialized dogs so that those dogs can find a home. The moment Brian met his assigned pup, Flynn, his entire life changed.
When Angela's family home catches fire with nine children asleep inside, rescue pup Capone knows what to do to make sure everyone gets out alive.
In this lighthearted episode, we'll learn about two golden retriever heroes. Six-month-old Todd stepped between his owner and a rattlesnake, saving her life. Then: Young Austin was house-bound due to severe and mysterious medical challenges, until his new service dog Paris opened up his world, and helped his doctors hone in on a proper diagnosis.
[Personal note from the host Laura Thomas] Hi friends! I feel a bit uncomfortable about this, but today I'm going to share with you my own story about struggles with debilitating chronic illness, and how my pup Cody has kept me alive and grateful and grounded through all of it. I feel humbled by this opportunity to share a little bit of my life with you. And I'm wildly grateful that the incredible dog trainer Matt Beisner has joined me as my co-host today, since I can't interview myself. Thank you for all your support, and for loving dogs as much as I do, and I hope some of you will relate to my story. Big love.
After a year of unbearable hardships, Sean and his wife Jamie meet a blind, abused dog named Marigold with nowhere to go. They instantly know that Marigold is supposed to be theirs. What they don't know is that Marigold will teach them that life should never be defined by past hardships; especially when the present is so filled with love.
When Julie's pup Marley starts acting strange, refusing to leave her side, she takes him to the veterinarian - and Marley gets a clean bill of health. So she goes to the doctor to get some blood work done on herself. And that trip to the doctor saves her life.
When Emily's wedding is canceled on her wedding day, she suddenly finds herself without a home, without belongings, without anything except her beloved rescue pup Kaya. Kaya teaches Emily that their love is all that they need.
Soon after the birth of their baby, actress Jessica St. Clair and her playwright husband Dan O'Brien developed cancers simultaneously. Their beloved rescue schnauzer Emma seemed to understand that her love could carry them through.
When Janet's house goes up in flames, the babysitter gets one child to safety, while the family's pitbull Blue stays behind in the collapsing, smoke-filled house with the youngest daughter. Can Blue save the child's life?
When Michael's car crashes 50 feet into a ravine, his legs are pinned and he can't move. The only has for survival is his six-month-old puppy Honey.
Before Zach Skow devoted himself to his dog rescue organization, Marley's Mutts, he was a committed alcoholic with a rapidly-dying liver, and all the doctors gave him 90 days to live. But Zach's dog Marley refused to accept this diagnosis.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!When a series of tragedies leaves Jonathan homeless, he and his beloved pup Evelyn spend three winter months sleeping in his tiny car, using the engine to keep themselves warm. One particularly cold night, the engine breaks down, leaving them without heat, and Jonathan decides his life is over and passes out from the cold. But Evelyn refuses to let Jonathan go.
Andre grew up hustling for money by caring for the dogs of the drug dealers in his neighborhood, and working in the heartbreaking Quarantine areas of dog shelters. Through the love of three dogs--a shelter Rottweiller, a stray shepherd, and a pitbull puppy, his life is saved.
When Rebecca stops breathing for two full minutes, pup Ulysses tries repeatedly to rouse her. When that doesn't work, he knows it's up to him to figure out how to get help fast.
In this story, we'll hear three beautiful stories from men who overcame deep hardship and depression through the love of their dogs.
In the middle of the night, Ms. Sherry took a tumble in her bathroom, wedging herself between the toilet and the bathtub. Unable to move for many hours, she uttered weak cries of help, uncertain whether anyone outside the house could hear her. From down the street, inside another house, pup Milo came to the rescue.
Louise has an infectious love of life. But Multiple Sclerosis has caused her to fall to the ground many times--sometimes when she's out of reach of her cell phone. But with service pup Moonie around, Louise knows she always has a superhero by her side.
After a brutal and unfair custody battle, Emiko suffered a serious stroke that left her unable to even travel to visit her child. Emotionally broken, she adopted Victoria - a mangy, diseased shelter dog with behavior issues. Like Emiko, Victoria's pups had been taken from her before she arrived at the shelter. Emiko and Victoria embarked on a beautiful healing journey, mothering each other with care.
At the Christmas parade in 2020, Abby collapsed from an episode of POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Picaso, a shelter dog walking in the parade, pulled his handler into the crowd to save her. Then, she saved him.
Today, we'll hear two moving stories from young women. First, bereaved sister Mags tells the story of how pup Cici showed her brother endless joy and grace as he grappled with mental illness. Now, in his honor, Mags and her family have started an organization, Paws for Patrick, that transforms other people's lives through the love of dogs. Next, Morgan tells us how, with the help of Paws for Patrick, pup Mescal helped her work through a paralyzing fear of leaving her college dorm room.
On September 11, 2001, Michael was working on the 78th floor of one of the Twin Towers, with his guide dog Roselle by his side as always. Since Michael is blind, his best friend Roselle constantly acted as his eyes. When the planes hit the Towers, Roselle and Michael had to work as a team to get down 78 flights of stairs and out of the path of danger.
After surviving three sudden cardiac arrests in one night, Drew's rescue pup Lucky found a way to keep him alive.
Rescued by a Dog - Patreon Membership!At 28 years old, Kate's doctors told her that because of her many psychiatric conditions - bipolar disorder, agoraphobia, an eating disorder, and severe hallucination - she could only survive inside a locked psychiatric ward. But then Kate met Waffle, a fluffy Bernese mountain dog who figured out that Kate needed help discerning reality from hallucination.
SodapupIn the middle of the night, little infant Harper stopped breathing entirely. The family pup, Duke, knew just what to do.
Rescue puppy Vanya suddenly shows a remarkable ability to know when her owner Morgan is on the verge of a diabetic coma.
When military working dog Layka loses a leg while saving the life of her handler, Army Ranger Trent McDonald, he vows to give her all the love that she deserves in retirement.
In his twenties, before he became a nationally-renowned dog trainer, Matt Beisner was a jobless, self-loathing alcoholic with a rap sheet. And he was scared of dogs. When he went to the shelter one day and unexpectedly adopted a Jindo pup with a rap sheet of his own, Matt's life began to change. As Matt got clean and sober, he and Renge rode out some heartbreaking lows and euphoric highs, and Renge taught Matt how to slow down, live with kindness, and listen to what a dog's trying to say. Because dogs will tell us everything we need to know about life, if we just pay attention.
Re-release from Season 1: Danelle, a professional endurance athlete, was out for a run when she fell off a cliff, plummeting 60 feet to the ground and shattering her pelvis. Unable to drag herself out of the canyon, her pup Taz refused to leave her side. Until she told him to.
While I work on episodes for Season 4 of the podcast, I'm re-releasing some of my favorites from Seasons 1 and 2! This week: When Maddie stepped over a rattlesnake, her new rescue pitbull, Mr. Jones (newly-rescued from Austin Pets Alive) risked his life to save hers.
While I work on episodes for Season 4 of the podcast, I'm re-releasing some of my favorites from Seasons 1 and 2! First up: In 2021, Brian was home alone with his new rescue German shepherd, Sadie, when he suffered a stroke. He couldn't get up and his phone was across the room. Desperate to help her new papa, Sadie came to the rescue.
Tooth and Tail Dog ServicesAs a teenager, Brian had been involved in a brawl that resulted in the loss of a man's life, landing him in prison for life. Twenty-five years later, Brian enrolled in the Pawsitive Change Program, where inmates train undersocialized dogs so that those dogs can find a home. The moment Brian met his assigned pup, Flynn, his entire life changed.
Nature GnawsWhen Julie's pup Marley starts acting strange, refusing to leave her side, she takes him to the veterinarian - and Marley gets a clean bill of health. So she goes to the doctor to get some blood work done on herself. And that trip to the doctor saves her life.
Lil' Archie'sAfter his military service in the Gulf War, John's crippling PTSD forced him to withdraw for the world. Until the organization K9s for Warriors stepped in, introducing him to a newly-trained rescue pup named April. Can April's love help John re-engage with family and friends?
Operation Good Boy[Personal note from the host Laura Thomas] Hi friends! I feel a bit uncomfortable about this, but today I'm going to share with you my own story about struggles with debilitating chronic illness, and how my pup Cody has kept me alive and grateful and grounded through all of it. I feel humbled by this opportunity to share a little bit of my life with you. And I'm wildly grateful that the incredible dog trainer Matt Beisner has joined me as my co-host today, since I can't interview myself. Thank you for all your support, and for loving dogs as much as I do, and I hope some of you will relate to my story. Big love.
Operation Good BoySoon after the birth of their baby, actress Jessica St. Clair and her playwright husband Dan O'Brien developed cancers simultaneously. Their beloved rescue schnauzer Emma seemed to understand that her love could carry them through.
Big BarkerWhen Michael's car crashes 50 feet into a ravine, his legs are pinned and he can't move. The only has for survival is his six-month-old puppy Honey.
Today’s episode is sponsored by the high-quality dog gear company Operation Good Boy. For 10% off your first purchase, use code RESCUEDBYADOG10 at operationgoodboy.com.
First: When Maddie suffers a string of devastating losses in her early 20s, depression and grief consume her. But her pup Pita is determined to lift her out of the depths. Then: after losing her husband, brother and father, Anneth loses herself in grief. Until she meets a rescue pup named Lily.
When Janet's house goes up in flames, the babysitter gets one child to safety, while the family's pitbull Blue stays behind in the collapsing, smoke-filled house with the youngest daughter. Can Blue save the child's life?
Before Zach Skow devoted himself to his rescue organization, Marley's Mutts, he was a committed alcoholic with a rapidly-dying liver, and all the doctors gave him 90 days to live. But Zach's dog Marley refused to accept this diagnosis.
When a series of tragedies leaves Jonathan homeless, he and his beloved pup Evelyn spend three winter months sleeping in his tiny car, using the engine to keep themselves warm. One particularly cold night, the engine breaks down, leaving them without heat, and Jonathan decides his life is over and passes out from the cold. But Evelyn refuses to let Jonathan go.
When Emily's wedding is canceled on her wedding day, she suddenly finds herself without a home, without belongings, without anything except her beloved rescue pup Kaya. Kaya teaches Emily that their love is all that they need.
In this lighthearted episode, we'll learn about two golden retriever heroes. Six-month-old Todd stepped between his owner and a rattlesnake, saving her life. Then: Young Austin was house-bound due to severe and mysterious medical challenges, until his new service dog Paris opened up his world, and helped his doctors hone in on a proper diagnosis.
NatureFilmWhen a pug arrived at a Laredo animal shelter with a broken pelvis, heartworms, and multiple tick-borne diseases, Jacqueline knew she needed to save him, despite having only $20 in her bank account. She worked two jobs to pay for Puglas's medical care, and at the same time, her own health issues were spiraling and she found herself in need of a service dog. As soon as she started auditioning typical service-dog breeds, Puglas made it known that HE was the best pup for the job.
NYC Second Chance RescueDanelle, a professional endurance athlete, was out for a run when she fell off a cliff, plummeting 60 feet to the ground and shattering her pelvis. Unable to drag herself out of the canyon, her pup Taz refused to leave her side. Until she told him to. [The first five people to respond to the DM prompt in the podcast intro will receive a giveaway prize related to the episode!]
When military working dog Layka loses a leg while saving the life of her handler, Army Ranger Trent McDonald, he vows to give her all the love that she deserves in retirement.
IzzyStaysAfter a year of unbearable hardships, Sean and his wife Jamie meet a blind, abused dog named Marigold with nowhere to go. They instantly know that Marigold is supposed to be theirs. What they don't know is that Marigold will teach them that life should never be defined by past hardships; especially when the present is so filled with love.
Major DarlingThis episode brings us two heartwarming stories. First: When Wendell suddenly finds him unhoused and living in his van, his pup Sadie attracts blessing after blessing. Then: After a series of devastating losses, Marlene had lost control of her life and fallen into dangerous patterns of addiction and self-loathing. But with patience and dedication, her rescue pups Trixie and Homer--both of whom she had saved from euthanasia lists--taught her how to have compassion for herself.
NatureFilmPART TWO of this powerful episode:
After a near-death experience, Matt Beisner's pup Renge helped him built a new life as Matt learned--in a very public way--what it means to make mistakes and take responsibility for their consequences. Even as the world tried to pull Matt back down into a dark place, Renge continued to give Matt boundless unconditional love, until Matt was able to once again see the beauty that surrounded him.
In his twenties, before he became a nationally-renowned dog trainer, Matt Beisner was a jobless, self-loathing alcoholic with a rap sheet. And he was scared of dogs. When he went to the shelter one day and unexpectedly adopted a Jindo pup with a rap sheet of his own, Matt's life began to change. As Matt got clean and sober, he and Renge rode out some heartbreaking lows and euphoric highs, and Renge taught Matt how to slow down, live with kindness, and listen to what a dog's trying to say. Because dogs will tell us everything we need to know about life.
Luling Animal Welfare SocietyDanelle, a professional endurance athlete, was out for a run when she fell off a cliff, plummeting 60 feet to the ground and shattering her pelvis. Unable to drag herself out of the canyon, her pup Taz was her only hope for survival. Find out how Taz saved Danelle's life on this extraordinary, beautiful, edge-of-your-seat episode of Rescued by a Dog.
In her early 20s, Brenna had reached a low point in life, and she didn't think there was any happiness left for her. But when Brenna attempted to take her own life, her six-month-old boxer puppy Hadley refused to let her mama leave this world. Hadley showed Brenna that happiness is always within reach, even during the darkest times. This is a story of recovery, and hope, and the boundless power of a dog's love.
When Noah's addictions start to take hold of him again, it's his love for his rescue pups Bodhi and Lucy that prevent him from disappearing into the depths. They are his anchor in sobriety, and in life. Find out how they saved each other on Episode 5 of Rescued by a Dog!
Major DarlingIn 2021, Brian was home alone with his new rescue German shepherd, Sadie, when he suffered a stroke. He couldn't get up and his phone was across the room. Desperate to help her new papa, Sadie came to the rescue. Find out what she did on Episode 5 of Rescued by a Dog!
Tooth and Tail Dog ServicesFor Deidra, her 15-year-old rescue beagle Lucy was "everything." For Lucy, Deidra was "everything" as well. When Deidra was diagnosed with cancer, Lucy made it her mission to help her mama heal. Their love was all that each of them needed.
TogetHER for HealthIn Episode 3, rescue puppy Vanya suddenly demonstrates a remarkable ability to know when her owner Morgan is on the verge of a diabetic crash.
When Samantha's dog was killed in a fire, there was only one way to restore her will to live: she wanted to rescue one of the neediest dogs at the shelter. Payapa had been gravely injured in a car accident, and she needed 24/7 TLC. Tune in to Episode 2 of Rescued By a Dog to find out how Papaya and Samantha saved each other.
Tooth and Tail Dog ServicesWhen Maddie stepped over a rattlesnake, her new rescue dog, Mr. Jones, lunged in and grabbed the snake out from under her. Find out what happened next in Episode 1 of Rescued by a Dog.
Major Darling
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
