Rescue Tails

What does it take to rescue 31 dogs from terrible living conditions, build a shelter almost overnight, and give animals that have experienced years of neglect a chance at a better life? In this episode of Rescue Tails , Dr. Robert Forto and co-host Robin Lucas take listeners behind the scenes of one of Rebel Rescue South Korea's largest rescue operations. Robin shares the story of the 2021 Gumi re...

Animal rescues rarely close because people stop caring. More often, they close because the financial and emotional costs of saving animals become unsustainable. In this episode of Rescue Tails, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas examine the growing challenges facing animal rescue organizations in the United States and South Korea. From rising kennel expenses and declining dog adoptions to volu...

What does it actually take to keep a dog rescue running day after day? In this episode of Rescue Tails , Robert Forto puts co-host Robin Lucas in the hot seat for a behind-the-scenes look at life at Rebel Rescue South Korea. Robin wears many hats, handling everything from adoption and foster applications to finances, animal intake, volunteer coordination, website updates, veterinary needs, and com...

Bringing a rescue dog home is exciting, but the first seven days can also leave new adopters wondering if they made the right decision. A dog who seemed calm at the shelter may suddenly behave very differently once introduced to a new home, new people, new routines, and new expectations. In this episode of Rescue Tales , Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea break down what happ...

Can a rescue dog become a therapy dog? Yes, but that doesn't mean every rescue dog should. In this episode of Rescue Tails , hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea explore what it really takes for a rescue dog to succeed in therapy work. They discuss temperament, handling tolerance, recovery from startling situations, social behavior, training, and the responsibility of...

South Korea is approaching a major turning point as the country prepares to end the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for human consumption. But closing the farms does not automatically mean thousands of dogs are headed to new homes. In this episode of Rescue Tails , Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea discuss what happens when an industry shuts down, but the...

Why do rescue dogs come back after adoption? Often, it is not because the dog is “bad.” The problems begin when basic skills are missing, expectations are unclear, and adopters do not have enough support during those critical first weeks. In this episode of Rescue Tails , Robert Forto and Robin Lucas discuss the three common problems that can lead to adoption returns and what rescues can do before...

What happens after a rescue dog leaves the shelter and enters a foster home? Too often, that is exactly when support begins to disappear. In this episode of Rescue Tails , Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea discuss what foster families actually need to succeed. They talk about why foster programs struggle, the importance of regular check-ins, clear expectations, behavioral an...

Is that rescue dog aggressive, or is he simply scared? On this episode of Rescue Tales , Robert Forto and Robin Lucas take a closer look at one of the most misunderstood behaviors in rescue dogs: fear that looks like aggression. In the stressful environment of a shelter or kennel, barking, lunging, spinning, freezing, cowering, lip licking, and other behaviors can easily lead people to label a dog...

The first few days after adopting a rescue dog can be exciting, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming. Unfortunately, that excitement can also cause families to ask too much of their new dog too soon. On this episode of Rescue Tales , Robert Forto and Robin Lucas discuss what really happens during the first seven days with a rescue dog. They break down the 3-3-3 rule, explain why decompression mat...

What makes a rescue dog adoption successful? It's rarely about finding the "perfect" dog. Instead, it's about finding the right match between a dog's personality and a family's lifestyle. In this episode of Rescue Tails, Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas discuss the adoption process from the rescue's perspective, explaining why activity level, work schedules, home environment, and realistic expecta...

Bringing a rescue dog into a home with children can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a family, but it also comes with unique responsibilities. In this episode of Rescue Tails, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas discuss how families can safely introduce rescue dogs to children while creating the foundation for a lifetime of trust and companionship. The conversation explores why chil...

What does confidence actually look like in a rescue dog? In this episode of Rescue Tales, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas explore how confidence is developed in rescue dogs and why it plays such a critical role in successful adoptions, training, and long-term behavior outcomes. They discuss the difference between confidence and outgoing behavior, how dogs recover from stressful situations,...

Are you really reading your dog's behavior correctly? In this episode of Rescue Tales, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas explore one of the most important skills in rescue work and dog ownership: understanding canine body language. From fearful dogs and shutdown behavior to confidence, stress, and common misinterpretations, they discuss how rescue workers, foster families, and adopters can be...

oin Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea as they tackle the real challenges of flying rescue dogs internationally, from 10-day health certificates and USDA endorsements to quarantine, customs, and multi-dog logistics on Asiana Airlines. In this deep dive, they unpack why so many rescue dogs are returned due to separation anxiety, the unrealistic 'gotcha day' expectations fu...

Moving overseas with dogs? Adopting a rescue? Dealing with barking, destruction, or panic when you leave? In this episode, Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas break down separation anxiety, one of the top reasons rescues get returned. We cover: Signs (vocalizing, destruction, elimination, escape attempts, physical distress) Common adopter mistakes that make it worse Triggers (routine changes, new env...

Dog rescue can save lives. But it can also quietly destroy the people doing the work. In this episode of Rescue Tails, Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue continue their conversation about rescue burnout, compassion fatigue, failed adoptions, volunteer exhaustion, and the emotional weight many rescuers carry every single day. Robin also shares more about her upcoming move back to Sout...

Why do some incredible rescue dogs get ignored while others are adopted immediately? In this episode of Rescue Tales, Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue talk about the rescue dogs people often overlook. The older dogs. The shy dogs. The dogs with medical needs. The dogs were labeled “too calm,” “too scared,” or “too much work.” But many of those dogs become the most loyal companions...

What happens after a rescue dog goes home? In this episode of the Rescue Tails podcast, Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas from Rebel Rescue South Korea discuss one of the biggest challenges in animal rescue: follow-up support after adoption. They break down why many rescue dogs are returned, the role unrealistic expectations play in failed adoptions, and how rescues, trainers, and adopters can work...

On this episode of the Rescue Tails podcast, Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas from Rebel Rescue South Korea break down the realities of pet travel, quarantine laws, airline crate requirements, health certificates, and the costly mistakes owners make when moving with pets. From South Korea to Alaska, Hawaii to Europe, they share real-world experiences helping families, military members, and rescue...

Animal rescue work is rewarding, but it also comes with an emotional cost. In this episode of Rescue Tails , Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea discuss rescue burnout, compassion fatigue, volunteer stress, limited resources, and the mental toll of helping animals every day. They share honest stories from the front lines of rescue, including how shelters face constant pres...

Why do some rescue dogs wait months or even years for adoption while others find homes quickly? In this episode of Rescue Tails , Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea discuss the hidden biases that affect adoption decisions. They explore why senior dogs, black dogs, and dogs labeled as “imperfect” are often overlooked, despite being loving and loyal companions. You’ll also...

Bringing home a rescue dog is often filled with excitement, but it can quickly shift into frustration if expectations are not aligned with reality. In this episode of Rescue Tails , Robert Forto and Robin Lucas take a deeper look at why patience is the most important trait for any adopter. They discuss how dogs behave differently in shelters versus home environments, why the first 72 hours matter,...

Confidence is one of the most important and most misunderstood elements of dog training, especially in rescue environments. In this episode of Rescue Tails, Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas explore why so many rescue dogs struggle with confidence and what owners can do to help them build it. The conversation begins with a deeper look at what confidence in a dog actually looks like, contrasting it...

Understanding dog body language is one of the most overlooked skills among dog owners, especially when working with rescue dogs. In this episode of Rescue Tails, Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas explore how dogs communicate stress, fear, and trust through subtle cues that are often misinterpreted. From lip licking and yawning to wide eyes and posture changes, these signals can mean the difference...