9 minutes | Sunday, January 18, 2026
Inside The Strain On America’s Animal Rescue SystemMore than six million companion animals enter U.S. shelters each year and a little over four million are adopted. Sadly, shelters still rely on euthanizing when facilities are overcrowded and an animal has been there for a while. Author Laurie Zaleski has made it her life’s work to rescue hundreds of these unwanted pets and care for them on her farm. We speak with Zaleski as well Dr. Joshua Fisher, an animal expert, about the importance of approaching any pet adoption with the mentality that it’s a lifelong commitment. Guests: Laurie Zaleski, author, Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals; Dr. Joshua Fisher, Director of Animal Services, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.Host: Marty Peterson Producer: Polly Hansen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.