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COMING UP ON "PIT BULLS & PAROLEES"...
[ DOG BARKING ]
Tia: OKAY, OKAY.
A DEFENSIVE MAMA DOG --
SHE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE CHICKEN.
SHE CARES MORE ABOUT HER PUPPIES,
WHICH IS A PERILOUS STANDOFF.
A DOG IN FEAR IS JUST GONNA SNAP AT YOU.
THIS IS WHERE IT'S GONNA GET UGLY.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
THEN, IT'S PUPPY PANDEMONIUM
TO CONNECT A FAMILY OF FIVE WITH A NEW DOG.
BUT IT'S THE FOUR-LEGGED MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
THAT GETS THE FINAL WORD.
DID YOU HAVE FUN?
AND A PAROLEE TRAVELS CROSS-COUNTRY...
I SOLD MY CAR FOR $1,200, GOT A BUS TICKET.
...TO PROVE HE'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES
TO BE A MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
Will: IT'S REALLY COOL THAT MISS TIA WOULD SEE
THAT I HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH DOGS.
MY NAME IS TIA MARIA TORRES.
FOR 20 YEARS,
I'VE BEEN GIVING SECOND CHANCES TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.
I RUN A SANCTUARY.
IT'S FOR NEARLY 200 PIT BULLS,
THE WORLD'S MOST MISUNDERSTOOD BREED OF DOG.
AND IT'S FOR PAROLEES...
THE GUYS I HIRE BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL.
BUT I'M NOT FIGHTING THE FIGHT ALONE.
MY FAMILY SHARES MY PASSION.
AND IN OUR HOME, NEW ORLEANS,
THE CITY OF SECOND CHANCES,
MY MISSION IS TO RESCUE,
BUT MY HOPE IS ONE DAY I WON'T HAVE TO.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Tia: SO, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE
OF ALL THINGS FOUR-LEGGED.
WE HAVE RESCUES, WE HAVE DROP-OFFS,
NEW DOGS, OLD DOGS...
[ BARKS ]
...AND -- OH, YES -- PUPPIES.
LOTS AND LOTS OF PUPPIES.
SO, A LITTLE WHILE AGO,
WE GOT TWO BATCHES OF PUPPIES
DROPPED OFF TO US, BACK-TO-BACK.
SO, HOW MANY ARE THERE?
SIX.
AND SHE JUST COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF THEM.
SO THAT'S LIKE 14 PUPPIES.
LET'S GO! COME ON!
COME ON! LET'S GO!
COME ON!
COME ON! YOU CAN DO IT!
YOU CAN DO IT!
WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG AND SUPER-SMALL, THEY'RE EASY.
WHEN THEY JUST KIND OF HANG OUT IN THE PEN TOGETHER,
THEY KEEP EACH OTHER ENTERTAINED.
NOW THAT THEY'RE BIGGER,
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE FULL-GROWN DOGS.
THEY'RE JUST, LIKE, 24/7 CHAOS.
OH, SHE'S PULLING MY BEARD.
[ LAUGHS ]
SHE'S EATING MY FACE.
OH, LORD.
THANKFULLY, I CAN ALWAYS RELY ON EARL.
I MEAN, HE'S BEEN GREAT WITH THE PUPPIES.
AND LATELY, HE'S GOTTEN A LOT OF HELP
FROM ONE OF OUR NEW GUYS, WILL,
WHO HAS THE PATIENCE OF A SAINT.
Will: SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN NEW ORLEANS,
EARL'S BEEN THE ONE THAT,
YOU KNOW, SHOWED ME THE ROPES, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
SO I KNOW EARL HAS MY BEST INTENTIONS AT HEART.
SO I AM GONNA GIVE IT 1,000%.
Earl: RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE MORE DOGS IN THE KENNEL THAN EVER.
IT'S A LOT TO MAINTAIN.
HAVING WILL AROUND TAKES THE LOAD OFF OF ME A LOT,
BUT THE WAY I WORK, DOING KENNELS,
SOMETIMES IT GETS VERY PAINFUL.
MY ARM HAS BEEN HURT SINCE 2006.
I HURT MYSELF WHILE PLAYING CONTACT FOOTBALL IN PRISON.
MY ARM DO HURT, YOU KNOW,
AND SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.
AND A LOT OF TIMES, I TRY TO KEEP MY HAND IN MY POCKET,
OR I PLACE IT INSIDE OF MY WAIST BELT.
AT TIMES, THAT GETS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
HELLO?
WHAT'S UP?
HOW ARE YOU?
I HEARD YOU ARE A VERY GOOD SOUL.
I'M GETTING TIRED OF HOLDING MY ARM IN MY PANTS.
YEAH, AND YOUR BUCKET.
I NEED ME A SLING.
OKAY.
YEAH, AND, LIKE,
THE REGULAR ONES -- IT'S JUST NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR MY HAND.
OKAY.
SO I NEED SOMETHING
THAT'S CUSTOM-MADE THAT'S GONNA COME
AT LEAST DOWN TO THIS FINGER HERE.
WELL, LET ME MEASURE, THEN.
THE WHOLE REASON EARL HASN'T BOUGHT JUST A NORMAL SLING
IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT LONG ENOUGH.
HE NEEDS SOMETHING THAT COMPLETELY SUPPORTS
HIS HAND AND HIS WRIST,
'CAUSE THERE'S NO MOVEMENT IN IT AT ALL.
WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL DO YOU WANT?
WHAT DO YOU WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE?
LONG AS IT'S SOME CAMO MATERIAL,
I'M NOT TOO MUCH CONCERNED WITH IT.
WE CAN DO THAT.
EARL'S ONE OF THE BEST EMPLOYEES WE EVER HAD,
SO I AM VERY HAPPY TO DO IT.
YEAH, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE. I'LL GO GET SOME CAMO MATERIAL.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT MARIAH COME UP WITH.
SHE GONNA PUT SOME OF HER TOUCH IN IT
WITH SOME FEATHERS AND SOME FUZZY STUFF,
SO I'LL LET HER DO HER THING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MARIAH.
OF COURSE.
WHATEVER IT MAY BE AND IT FIT, I WILL WEAR IT.
Tia: YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY GREAT
THAT I HAVE A REALLY GOOD CREW WORKING IN THE KENNELS,
BUT AT TIMES, IT'S THE OUTSIDE WORLD
THAT CAN BE JUST ALL-CONSUMING.
AND THIS MORNING,
IT'S YET ANOTHER CALL ABOUT PUPPIES.
OH, OKAY.
WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A WOMAN
WHO FOUND A STRAY, VERY EMACIATED PIT BULL
NEAR HER HOME AND A LITTER OF PUPPIES.
HOW MANY PUPPIES DOES SHE HAVE?
THE MOTHER DOG IS BECOMING VERY PROTECTIVE OVER THE PUPPIES
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS,
AND THE WOMAN IS AFRAID TO GO OUT IN HER OWN YARD.
SHE'S AFRAID TO LET ANY OF THE KIDS GO OUT IN THE YARD
BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE MOTHER DOG'S ACTING.
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME GET HER.
IF THE DOG WAS ALREADY SECURELY CONTAINED,
I COULD PROBABLY GET HER BY MYSELF,
BUT BECAUSE THERE IS A CHANCE
THAT THIS DOG MIGHT TAKE OFF AND RUN,
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE
A COUPLE OF EXTRA SET OF HANDS.
A LADY JUST CALLED WITH, LIKE, A STRAY MOTHER DOG,
AND SHE HAD PUPPIES IN THE SHED.
SO, FOR THIS RESCUE,
I DECIDED TO BRING MARIAH AND HER FRIEND, SAM,
WHO HAS BEEN HELPING HER IN THE KENNELS TODAY.
GOT TREATS, LEASHES, CRATES...
GOT EVERYTHING. OKAY. LET'S GO.
A LOT OF TIMES, WITH DOGS THAT ARE AFRAID,
THEY JUST RESPOND BETTER TO WOMEN.
I MEAN, A BIG GUY CAN BE PRETTY INTIMIDATING TO A SCARED DOG.
WHEN I TALKED TO NANCY, THE WOMAN WHO FOUND THE DOG,
YOU KNOW, SHE MADE SURE TO TELL ME
THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE LIVED IN A COUNTRY ENVIRONMENT,
AND IF THIS DOG THAT IS PROTECTIVE
AND AGGRESSIVE-ACTING AS SHE SAYS,
SHE CAN BOLT AND TAKE OFF.
HI. YOU'RE NANCY, THEN?
YES.
HI. I'M TIA.
HEY, TIA.
GOOD TO MEET YOU, TIA.
THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, MARIAH.
HEY, MARIAH.
AND ONE OF OUR WORKERS, SAM.
HI. HOW YOU DOING?
HI.
SO, SHE'S BEHIND OVER HERE?
YES, THAT PEN.
OKAY. SO, DO YOU KNOW IF SHE'S IN THERE NOW?
OH, SHE'S IN THERE.
I HOPE.
OKAY.
SHE WAS NOT HAPPY -- GROWLING, BARKING.
SEE, SHE HAD THEM IN THAT -- THAT OLD SHED RIGHT THERE.
THIS LITTLE WOODEN SHED?
YEAH.
OKAY.
I GOT REAL NERVOUS BECAUSE, I LOVE ANIMALS,
BUT BEING WITH PUPS,
I KNEW THAT WAS GONNA BE A PROBLEM.
[ DOG BARKING ]
Tia: WALKING UP, I CAN'T SEE THE MAMA DOG,
BUT I CAN DEFINITELY HEAR HER,
AND SHE'S MAKING IT QUITE CLEAR
THAT SHE DOES NOT WANT US HERE.
OH, NO, SHE'S GETTING OUT THROUGH HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE -- IT LOOKS DISTURBED.
YOU KNOW, AFTER NANCY TOLD ME THAT THIS MAMA DOG
HAS CONTINUED TO ESCAPE OUT OF THIS ENCLOSURE,
I MADE SURE TO PLUG UP ALL THE HOLES
BEFORE GOING IN.
AND I BROUGHT MY BEST WEAPON WITH ME.
GOT SOME CHICKEN.
THE FIRST THING I WANTED TO DO WAS LET THIS DOG KNOW
THAT I KIND OF WAS THERE TO TRY TO MAKE FRIENDS.
[ DOG GROWLING ]
WELL, OKAY.
THIS IS REALLY FUN.
SHE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE CHICKEN.
SHE CARES MORE ABOUT HER PUPPIES.
I'M GONNA HAVE YOU SLIDE THE CRATE IN.
ONE PERSON HOLD THIS GATE
IN CASE SHE GOES TO RUN AND SLAM IT.
I DON'T CARE IF SOMEONE'S FOOT'S IN THE WAY, SLAM IT.
OKAY.
AND THEN ONE PERSON SLIDE THE CRATE IN.
WE BROUGHT THE CRATE INTO THE PEN.
[ DOG BARKING ]
OKAY. OKAY.
WHENEVER WE GET A DOG KIND OF BLOCKED IN SOMEWHERE
AND I HAVE A PIECE OF PLYWOOD,
THAT'S THE ONLY TIME I REALLY GET WORRIED,
'CAUSE I SEE ALL THE SPOTS THAT I CAN JUST GET TAKEN OUT.
IF SHE GOES TO RUN BY YOU, JUST LET HER RUN,
'CAUSE A DOG IN FEAR IS JUST GONNA SNAP AT YOU.
OKAY.
THIS IS WHERE IT'S GONNA GET UGLY.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
I SLOWLY REMOVE THE BLANKET AWAY FROM THE MOTHER DOG.
OKAY.
AND THAT'S WHEN I WAS KIND OF WORRIED.
I'M LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
IS SHE JUST GONNA JUMP OUT AT ME?"
ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN,
AND THAT'S NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A MOTHER
TRYING TO BE PROTECTIVE OVER HER YOUNG.
THIS COULD GET REAL UGLY REAL QUICK.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
IT'S OKAY.
THIS IS WHERE IT'S GONNA GET UGLY.
[ DOG BARKING ]
OKAY.
AS I LIFTED THE BLANKET UP, THE MIRACLE HAPPENED.
GOOD GIRL.
SHE LEANED OUT -- [SNIFFS] --
LITTLE SNIFFER WAS GOING, AND STARTED TO EAT THE CHICKEN.
GOOD GIRL. GOOD GIRL.
OKAY. WE MAY HAVE A SHOT AT THIS THE EASY WAY.
WOW. [ LAUGHS ]
OUT OF NOWHERE, SHE DECIDED TO GET UP AND GO IN,
WHICH ABSOLUTELY BLEW MY MIND.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS SO EASY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MY MOM DOES THAT.
[ LAUGHS ]
Tia: YEAH. ALL RIGHT!
WE'RE KIND OF ALMOST FRIENDS.
[ DOG BARKS ]
I'M GONNA COVER YOU UP, ALL RIGHT?
WHY DON'T YOU GUYS COME OVER HERE
AND CHECK ON THESE PUPPIES?
ONCE WE STARTED TO MOVE THE PUPPIES,
THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE SHE WAS GONNA GET EVEN MORE UPSET,
AND, HEY, CAN'T SAY I BLAME HER.
SO ONCE WE HAD HER SECURED, COVERED UP,
I HAD SAM AND MARIAH, YOU KNOW, BEGIN TO BRING THE PUPPIES OUT
AND PUT THEM IN A SEPARATE ENCLOSURE.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME HELP YOU OUT HERE.
Samantha: AND WE SAW THE PUPPIES.
I WAS EXCITED, AND THEY WERE SO CUTE.
Tia: GUY'S TEENY!
AND IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.
DOESN'T HAVE AN EAR?
AND ALL OF THEM HAVE, LIKE, SORES AND STUFF FROM THE FLEAS.
ALL OF THE PUPPIES HAD FLEAS ALL OVER THEM.
THEY HAD A LOT OF SORES ALL OVER THEM,
PROBABLY FROM JUST SITTING IN THAT BLANKET.
THE BLANKET WAS SATURATED IN JUST PEE AND NASTINESS.
Tia: OKAY, LET'S GO GET THEM -- LET'S GET MAMA LOADED FIRST.
OKAY, SAM, YOU GUYS WANT TO GRAB IT?
LET ME OUT OF HERE.
HERE WE GO.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT SAMANTHA GOT TO COME ON THIS RESCUE
WITH MY MOM AND I.
SOMETIMES, IT GETS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT
TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO MY FRIENDS WHY I LOVE MY JOB SO MUCH.
BUT TODAY, DOING THIS RESCUE WITH ME,
I THINK SHE UNDERSTANDS WHY ALL OF US
WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND DO THIS JOB.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING GOOD CARE OF EVERYBODY.
NO, THANK YOU. [ CHUCKLES ]
Tia: ALL RIGHT, GUYS. YOU GUYS CLIMB IN THE FRONT, OKAY?
RIGHT NOW, THE NEXT STEP IS TO GET BACK TO THE WAREHOUSE,
BATHE EVERYBODY, GET THEM CLEANED UP,
AND REUNITE PUPPIES WITH MOTHER.
JUST GRAB THOSE,
AND THEN I NEED YOU TO GO IN FRONT OF ME
SO YOU CAN OPEN THE DOOR.
Mariah: THE PUPPIES ARE EXTREMELY YOUNG,
BUT THEY'RE COVERED IN FLEAS AND JUST DISGUSTING.
COME HERE, BABE.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO BATHE PUPPIES THAT YOUNG,
BUT WE HAD TO GET THOSE FLEAS OFF OF THEM
AS MUCH AS WE COULD AND CLEAN,
BECAUSE IT'S JUST EXTREMELY UNHEALTHY FOR THEM.
OKAY. FIRST BATH.
OH, BABY, YOU'RE SO DIRTY.
OKAY, JUST PUT A TINY BIT OF THE SOAP ON THERE.
JUST LIKE A DROP.
THERE.
[ PUPPY WHIMPERING ]
OH, Shh. IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
UGH! SEE ALL THESE FLEAS? DISGUSTING.
I KNOW. YOU PROBABLY HATE ME RIGHT NOW.
SEE ON THEIR SKIN? THOSE ARE ALL FLEAS RIGHT THERE.
BUT IF I CAN AT LEAST --
[ WHIMPERING CONTINUES ]
I'M SORRY. DON'T BE MAD AT ME.
WELL, THEY'RE HEALTHY FOR THE MOST PART,
BUT IT'S JUST A LOT OF FLEAS, ALL THE FLEA DIRT,
AND IT'S GONNA END UP LEAVING SORES
IF IT'S NOT WASHED OFF.
SQUEEGEE.
IT'S OKAY, DUDE.
GOT TO COOPERATE. TRY NOT TO GET YOUR FACE.
OKAY, BUDDY.
Mariah: LET'S DO THE BELLY.
OH, YAWNING.
YOU SLEEPY?
I SERIOUSLY FEEL LIKE THERE'S, LIKE, FLEAS CRAWLING ON MY FACE.
I HATE FLEAS.
[ PUPPIES WHIMPER ]
Tia: SO, WITH SIX LITTLE MORE MOUTHS TO FEED,
IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE HAVE A FAMILY COMING TODAY
TO LOOK AT OUR OTHER PUPPIES.
AND I KNOW JUST THE GUY
TO HAVE ME HELP WITH THIS ADOPTION.
THAT'S NO FAIR.
Tia: WE KIND OF THREW WILL
INTO BEING, LIKE, THE PUPPY MAN.
NOBODY WANTED THAT JOB.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PUPPY CRAP.
AND WILL CAME ALONG, HE'S LIKE, "YEAH."
COME ON, EVERYBODY. COME ON.
HUDDLE UP! HUDDLE UP!
COME ON, WIDE RECEIVER! GET OVER HERE!
AND HE'S IN THERE, YOU KNOW, THREE TIMES A DAY BEFORE NOON.
CAN YOU SIT?
SIT.
MY NAME IS WILLIAM WATSON.
I'M FROM WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA.
I SPENT 27 YEARS IN PRISON
BECAUSE I WAS AN ACTIVE GANG MEMBER.
EVERYTHING FROM EXTORTION
TO ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON
TO POSSESSION OF GUNS, SHOOTINGS.
BY 17, 1988, GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD...
[ GUNSHOT ]
...POINT-BLANK RANGE,
SELLING CRACK ***.
IT HIT ME HERE...
AND IT'S NOW HERE.
IT'S STILL THERE.
AND I GET HEADACHES, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
THE LONGEST AMOUNT OF TIME I'VE DONE IS 10 YEARS.
IT WAS FOR A BANK ROBBERY.
MY PAROLE OFFICER DID NOT GIVE UP ON ME.
SHE CAME TO MY HOUSE,
AND SEEN ME WORKING WITH MY DOGS,
AND SHE ACTUALLY TOLD ME ABOUT VILLALOBOS,
AND I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, I COULD DO THIS," YOU KNOW?
SHE SAID, "LET ME SEE IF I CAN HOOK IT UP."
SO, I SOLD MY CAR FOR $1,200, GOT A BUS TICKET,
JUMPED ON IT, SPENT TWO DAYS ON THE BUS,
AND I CALLED TIA FROM THE BUS STATION
HERE IN NEW ORLEANS.
SHE'S LIKE, "I'LL BE RIGHT THERE."
THE DOGS HAVE DONE WHAT THEY ALWAYS DONE FOR ME.
THEY ALLOWED ME TO RELAX.
IT'S YOUR FIRST BATH, LITTLE MAMA.
YOU LIKE IT?
IT'S REALLY COOL THAT MISS TIA WOULD SEE,
IN A WRETCH LIKE ME,
THAT I HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH DOGS,
AND I LIKE THAT.
AND I LOVE MISS TIA FOR IT.
I'M EVEN MORE THANKFUL SHE ASKED ME
TO DO THIS ADOPTION WITH HER.
I LOVE TO SEE ONE OF THESE PUPS GET INTO A GOOD HOME.
DID YOU HAVE FUN? HUH? DID YOU HAVE FUN?
MY NAME IS JULIA NORTON. I'M FROM BOSSIER CITY.
I'M HERE WITH MY FAMILY.
WE DROVE ABOUT SIX HOURS TO COME TO VILLALOBOS.
PHILLIP.
THIS IS JULIA.
JULIA.
JULIA, HI.
THIS IS WILLIAM.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
THIS IS JOHN PAUL.
HI, JOHN PAUL.
DEUCE.
DEUCE.
WHAT'S UP, DEUCE?
AND THIS IS ELIZABETH.
WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT A NEW PUPPY TODAY,
SO, YAHOO!
OH, MY GOD. THIS IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
SO, YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH DOGS, OTHER DOGS.
I MEAN, THESE KIDS HAVE GROWN UP WITH DOGS,
SO IT'S SOMETHING THEY LOVE.
AND WHAT KIND OF DOGS DO YOU HAVE NOW?
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE PRECIOUS.
OKAY.
SHE'S A PUG-DACHSHUND MIX.
OKAY.
AND SHE IS THE SWEETEST THING.
AND WE RESCUED HER THREE YEARS AGO NOW.
PRECIOUS IS MY BABY.
SHE IS THE PRINCESS OF THE HOUSE,
BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS GETS HER WAY.
SHE SLEEPS WITH ME IN MY BED, AND I JUST LOVE HER SO MUCH.
AND WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET A PIT BULL?
THAT WOULD BE ME.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU INSPIRED ME TO JUST WANT TO GET ONE AND JUST HELP THEM.
I JUST THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE JUST BEAUTIFUL DOGS
AND THAT THEY JUST GET SUCH A BAD RAP FOR EVERYTHING.
THE ONLY THING SHE WANTED WAS A PIT BULL PUPPY.
Deuce: WHOA!
OH, MAN.
WE WERE JUST LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH!"
WE ACTUALLY GOT HER.
Deuce: SHE WAS JUST A DOG THAT MY SISTER LOVED
AND PLAYED WITH ALL THE TIME.
AND HOW DID PRECIOUS DO WITH HER?
THEY WERE BEST FRIENDS.
OKAY.
SOMETIMES THEY WOULD GO OUTSIDE.
THEY WOULD WRESTLE IN THE DIRT.
AND NALA WOULD GET SO DIRTY.
Elizabeth: YEAH, AND WE'D HAVE TO GIVE HER A BATH EVERY NIGHT.
EVERY NIGHT. [ LAUGHS ]
PRECIOUS JUST TOOK CARE OF NALA.
SHE SHOWED HER THE ROPES OF THE HOUSE,
SHOWED HER WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO.
KIND OF TREATED HER AS HER OWN.
SO, WHAT HAPPENED THEN? I MEAN, I'M HEARING "WAS."
SHE PASSED WAY UNEXPECTEDLY.
OH, MY GOSH.
I WAS JUST TEACHING HER HOW TO SHAKE,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT WAS JUST LIKE SHE JUST STARTED THROWING UP
AND WAS JUST GONE.
SHE JUST SAT THERE,
TRIED TO PULL HER UP -- "NALA, BABY, DON'T DIE ON US.
COME BACK WITH US."
SHE JUST WAS GONE, AND...
IT JUST HAPPENED LIKE THAT.
SO, WHAT DID THE PUPPY DIE FROM?
SHE HAD A BIRTH DEFECT. SHE HAD A HEART ATTACK.
Deuce: SHE HAD A HOLE IN HER HEART.
A HOLE IN HER HEART?
Phillip: THEY TOOK NALA TO A VET,
AND, BASICALLY, THE VET SAID
IT'S THE CLASSIC SIGNS OF A HEART DEFECT,
AND IT HAPPENS IN PUPPIES.
WE'LL NEVER REPLACE HER, BUT WE JUST --
WE KNOW THAT IT'S TIME
TO BRING ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IN.
LOOK AT IT AS NALA'S PASSING --
SHE DID THAT BECAUSE SHE WANTED YOU
TO SAVE ANOTHER DOG, ANOTHER PUPPY.
THAT'S HOW WE THINK ABOUT IT.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW WE THINK ABOUT IT.
SHE STEPPED ASIDE AND IS NOW ALLOWING ANOTHER PUPPY
THAT NEEDS A HOME.
THAT NEEDS A HOME, ALSO.
NEEDS A HOME.
WELL, WE'LL BRING OUT THE PUPPIES,
AND WE'LL BE BACK IN A SECOND.
NO DOG CAN REPLACE NALA,
BUT THE JOY OF A NEW PUPPY IN THE HOME
IS GONNA BE A REALLY GREAT THING FOR US RIGHT NOW,
AND WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED TO GO AHEAD
AND HAVE THAT NEW PUPPY BREATH AGAIN.
OH!
Tia: SO, WE BROUGHT OUT THE ONES WITH THE TEMPERAMENTS
THAT WE THINK WILL BE THE BEST.
OH!
HEY!
Phillip: THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SEE.
I WANTED TO SEE MY FAMILY
COME BACK FROM THE TRAGEDY THAT WE HAD WITH NALA
AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY HAVING A PUPPY.
Tia: OOH, OOH, OOH!
Julia: OH, THAT ONE'S A RUNNER.
HI, PUPPY!
HI!
[ WHISTLES ] OH, THEY HAD TO GO POTTY.
YEAH.
THEY ALL HAD TO GO POTTY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
PUPPIES!
[ LAUGHTER ]
Will: JOHN PAUL WANTS TO RUN AROUND.
ONE OF THE PUPPIES CHOSE TO FOLLOW HIM.
Julia: COME HERE.
JOHN PAUL.
Phillip: JOHN PAUL.
TOYS FOR THEM.
Elizabeth: I GOT YOU!
Julia: [ LAUGHS ]
Tia: WHEN YOU TAKE A GROUP OF PUPPIES AND PUT THEM TOGETHER
WITH A GROUP OF YOUNG KIDS, IT IS CHAOS.
Julia: OH, MY GOSH.
THERE'S FOUR PUPPIES IN FRONT OF YOU.
THAT'S JUST FOUR TIMES THE FUN.
Phillip: WE GOT FOUR PUPPIES HERE.
THEY'RE ALL GREAT, THEY'RE ALL BEAUTIFUL,
THEY ALL NEED HOMES -- WHAT DO WE DO?
THIS IS ANTOINE.
Julia: COME HERE!
Deuce: ANTOINE!
ANTOINE!
I WAS INITIALLY DRAWN TO ANTOINE,
THAT KIND OF HAS THAT HOUND LOOK.
PIERRE OVER THERE.
I LIKE PIERRE MOST OF ALL.
ARE YOU A SNUGGLER?
DO YOU LIKE TO SNUGGLE?
Will: THIS IS DIRK.
DIRK WITH THE SPOT ON HIS HEAD.
IS HE CUTE?
WHAT?
UH-OH. YOU KNOW WHAT HE JUST SAID?
"THIS IS MY FAVORITE ONE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
Tia: HIM AND JOHN PAUL GOT A THING GOING ON.
[ LAUGHING ]
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT DIRK. HE IS SO CUTE.
AND HE WAS JUST, LIKE, JUST LOOKING UP AT ME,
AND I WAS LIKE, "OH, I LIKE DIRK.
THAT'S MY FAVORITE PUPPY."
Tia: SO, BEFORE HAVING THEM BRING THEIR DOG PRECIOUS OUT,
I WANTED THE FAMILY TO NARROW IT DOWN
TO JUST A COUPLE OF PUPPIES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO SENSE IN OVERWHELMING PRECIOUS
WITH ALL THESE PUPPIES RUNNING AROUND HER
AND JUMPING ON HER
AND JUST DRIVING HER CRAZY.
SO, LET'S TALK TO MOM AND DAD.
WANT TO NARROW IT DOWN TO A COUPLE THAT YOU LIKE?
SO I BEGAN TO ASK EVERYBODY
YOU KNOW, WHICH PUPPY DID THEY SEEM TO LIKE.
ANY OF THEM SUIT YOUR FANCY?
Deuce: THESE TWO -- PIERRE AND THE BROWN ONE.
OH, SO WE GOT --
ALL FOUR OF THEM GOT A VOTE.
BUT ULTIMATELY, THE FAMILY SAID TO US THAT,
"WE WANT ELIZABETH TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION."
IT'S UP TO HER.
SHE'S LEANING TOWARDS DIRK.
Julia: YEAH.
I LIKE THIS ONE.
IT'S HER DECISION, SO...
OH, WHAT A GOOD BROTHER YOU ARE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND SHE'S THE BIGGEST AND THE OLDEST.
SO, YOUR FAVORITE IS DIRK?
DO YOU WANT ME TO GO GET PRECIOUS NOW?
YOU WANT TO GO WITH ME TO GET PRECIOUS?
OKAY.
Tia: SO, DIRK IS THE FAMILY'S CHOICE,
BUT THE FINAL DECISION STILL LIES WITH PRECIOUS.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ] COME ON, GIRL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT DOGS GO THROUGH
WHEN LOSING THEIR CANINE FRIEND.
EVEN PEOPLE -- EVERYBODY GRIEVES DIFFERENTLY.
COME ON, PRECIOUS.
SOMETIMES, WHEN THAT HAPPENS,
THE REMAINING DOG DOESN'T WANT ANOTHER FRIEND.
WE'LL LET HER WALK IN,
BUT I WANT TO HAVE THE LEASH, JUST IN CASE.
Phillip: PRECIOUS IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS FAMILY.
IF SHE DOESN'T TAKE TO THE DOG, THE DOG CAN'T COME.
Elizabeth: COME HERE, DIRK.
Julia: BE CAREFUL NOW.
Tia: JUST IN CASE.
RIGHT.
HERE HE COMES!
Tia: AFTER SPENDING TIME WITH ALL OF THE PUPPIES,
THE NORTON FAMILY DECIDED THAT DIRK WAS THE ONE FOR THEM.
IT'S UP TO HER.
SHE'S LEANING TOWARDS DIRK.
Julia: YEAH.
I LIKE THIS ONE.
BUT THEY DON'T GET TO MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION --
PRECIOUS DOES.
I WANT TO SEE HOW HE REACTS WITH HER.
THAT'S FINE.
SO, I WAS JUST WAITING,
HOPING THAT WE WOULD SEE SOME SORT OF LOVE CONNECTION.
Elizabeth: [ SMOOCHES ] HERE HE COMES!
THEN, DIRK MADE THE FIRST MOVE.
OH. [ LAUGHS ]
Tia: UGH.
JUST BRING HER RIGHT HERE.
COME HERE, PRECIE. [ SMOOCHING ]
PRECIE, COME HERE.
WHEN HE MET PRECIOUS,
HE REALLY -- HE JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW HER AROUND.
LIKE, HE WAS LIKE, "OKAY, I'M JUST GONNA FOLLOW YOU,
AND I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY" -- LIKE, THAT KIND OF THING.
YOU LIKE HIM?
SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE."
HUH? MAYBE.
HER LITTLE TAIL'S --
HER LITTLE TAIL'S A WIGGLY-WAGGLY.
HER LITTLE TAIL'S A WIGGLY-WAGGLY.
Tia: AND THE LOVE CONNECTION IS COMPLETE.
I JUST WANT TO HAVE ONE FINAL TEST,
AND THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT PRECIOUS
IS GONNA BE OKAY WITH THIS NEW PUPPY IN HER HOME.
Tia: SO, I'LL COME UP TO YOUR PLACE,
AND MAKE SURE THAT PRECIOUS IS COMFORTABLE
WITH DIRK AT HER HOME.
AT HER --
IT IS HER PALACE, I HAVE A FEELING.
I GUESS, RIGHT NOW, IT'S...
OPERATION BRING TIA TO BOSSIER CITY.
YOU WANT TO SAY GOODBYE?
GOT TO SAY GOODBYE.
I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT FAMILY
THAT I KNOW HAS A LOT OF LOVE TO OFFER,
SO I REALLY WANT THIS TO WORK OUT.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
GONNA GO UP AND JUST ANALYZE THESE PUPPIES.
SO, AFTER GIVING THEM SOME TIME TO SETTLE IN,
I WANTED TO CHECK IN ON THE MAMA DOG AND HER PUPPIES
THAT WE GOT OUT THERE IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S JUST AMAZING HOW A LITTLE NURTURING
AND A SAFE AND WARM PLACE TO SLEEP
CAN CHANGE A DOG LITERALLY OVERNIGHT,
'CAUSE THIS DOG HAS COME COMPLETELY OUT OF HER SHELL.
Mariah: SHE'S BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT
ME PICKING UP THE PUPPIES AND STUFF.
OH, SHE DOESN'T MIND AT ALL?
NO, SHE WAS REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT.
ISN'T SHE THE BEST THING EVER?
HUH?
SHE'S SO SWEET NOW.
DID WE BOND OVER CHICKEN?
YOU KNOW, SHE WASN'T ACTING AGGRESSIVE
BECAUSE SHE IS A BAD DOG OR AN AGGRESSIVE DOG.
SHE WAS JUST BEING A GOOD MAMA.
SHE WAS BEING PROTECTIVE.
SHE WAS SCARED. SHE'S OUT IN THE WILD.
SHE WAS FENDING FOR HERSELF AND THE PUPPIES.
AND LOOK AT HER NOW.
NOW THAT SHE'S COMFORTABLE, SHE KNOWS SHE'S SAFE.
YEAH.
GOOD BABY.
IT'S SO HEARTWARMING TO SEE HOW SHE WENT FROM,
YOU KNOW, "DON'T YOU TOUCH ME,"
TO, "DON'T STOP TOUCHING ME."
THIS IS VERY INTERESTING. IT'S NOT A DOG BITE.
YEAH, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A BRAND OR A BURN.
SHE'S GOT BITE MARKS ALL OVER HER FACE, TOO.
AWW.
SHE'S BEEN DEFENDING THESE LITTLE GUYS --
HUH? -- AND HERSELF.
[ SIGHS ] JUST A SURVIVOR.
JUST A SURVIVOR.
MAMA.
YEAH, SO, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO STAY WITH HER
FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS.
OH, YES, YOU'RE GONNA --
YOU AREN'T EVEN SURE YOU WANT TO BE AWAY FROM -- YEAH.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
WE'LL START TO LOOK FOR HOMES FOR THEM.
I MEAN, I'M NOT MUCH OF A PUPPY PERSON,
BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT THESE ONES ARE PRETTY CUTE.
AND I REALLY CAN'T BLAME THE MAMA, YOU KNOW?
I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN PROTECTIVE OVER THEM, TOO.
OH, YEAH.
OH, LIFE IS GOOD.
LIFE IS GOOD.
SHE'S SO SWEET.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ DOGS BARKING ]
Mariah: TODAY, I'M GONNA ATTEMPT TO MAKE EARL A SLING.
I USED TO SEW A LOT,
BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME
SINCE I ACTUALLY USED A SEWING MACHINE.
HOPEFULLY, IT'LL TURN OUT GOOD.
OH, JESUS.
WHAT?
NOTHING'S HAPPENING, TATER.
YOU'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING.
MY DOGS THEO, TATER, AND MOMO
TEND TO DISTRACT ME WHEN I DO ANYTHING,
AND THAT'S WHY, WHEN I USED TO SEW,
I WOULD LOCK MY DOGS OUT.
SERIOUSLY?
OKAY, NOW ON MY LEG.
[ Laughing ] OH, GOD.
BOTH OF YOU?
YOU GONNA HELP?
THEY WILL SIT THERE AND STARE AT ME THE ENTIRE TIME.
I SEE THEM OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE,
AND I START PETTING THEM AND KISSING THEM
AND THEN WANTING TO PLAY WITH THEM.
WHAT?
[ SMOOCHES ]
[ DOG WHINING ]
OKAY, OKAY.
SERIOUSLY?
JUST COME IN HERE AND FART?
I NORMALLY LOCK THEM OUT, BUT THIS TIME, I DIDN'T.
I USED CAMOUFLAGE FABRIC, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT EARL WANTED,
AND I WANT IT TO FIT HIS PERSONALITY,
OF COURSE, SO...
OH, BUT I CUT THIS,
SO THIS HAD TO HAVE BEEN BACK HERE.
I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULDN'T TAKE THAT LONG,
BUT, YOU KNOW, POKING MYSELF...
[ Laughing ] OW!
...MESSING THINGS UP...
[BLEEP]
OH, MAN.
I SHOULD HAVE CUT IT LONGER.
...TOOK A LITTLE LONGER, BUT [LAUGHS]...
...IT WASN'T TOO BAD.
WHY AM I SO DUMB TODAY?
NOW IT'LL WORK.
SWEET.
THIS WASN'T AS EASY AS I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE,
BUT, FOR EARL,
IT'S WORTH PUTTING UP WITH THE BLOOD, SWEAT,
AND THE SMELLY DOG FARTS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW I GOT IT DONE,
JUST THAT I GOT IT DONE, RIGHT?
Earl: MESSIAH IS ABOUT A YEAR OLD,
AND SHE WAS BROUGHT TO US AS A PUP.
SHE IS VERY GENTLE, SWEET.
SHE LOVES KIDS.
ALSO, MESSIAH IS CRATE-TRAINED.
SHE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DOGS NOR CATS.
SHE IS A PUP, SO SHE'S VERY PLAYFUL AT THE SAME TIME.
WITH SOME KIDS OR SOME PEOPLE THAT'S ACTIVE,
I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT DOG FOR Y'ALL.
TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MESSIAH,
OR ANY OF OUR OTHER DOGS,
PLEASE VISIT animalplanet.com/pitbulls.
Will: YOU GONNA BE, YOU KNOW,
RUNNING THAT LITTLE BOY CRAZY, HUH?
BUT THIS IS WHAT YOU DO --
ALWAYS BE NICE TO THE LADIES, ALL RIGHT?
HERE, LISTEN TO ME -- ALWAYS BE NICE TO THE LADIES,
'CAUSE THE LADIES ALWAYS RUN THE HOUSE, OKAY?
ALWAYS DO WHAT THE MAMA SAY.
HOW YOU DOING, DIRK?
OH, SEE, THERE GOES MAMA NOW.
SO, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS SEE
HOW HE'S GONNA BE WITH THE LITTLE DOGS.
UH-HUH. UH-HUH.
Tia: THE FAMILY LOOKING TO ADOPT DIRK
HAS A SMALL DOG NAMED PRECIOUS.
WHILE DIRK WAS REALLY EASYGOING WITH PRECIOUS
AT THE INITIAL MEET-AND-GREET,
I WANTED TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE TEMPERAMENT TESTING WITH HIM,
AND THAT'S BRING HIM INTO A MORE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT --
ONE THAT'S QUIETER, WITH LESS DISTRACTIONS --
AND HAVE HIM MEET SOME OF OUR LITTLE RATS.
ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS WHEN ADOPTING OUT PUPPIES
INTO HOMES THAT HAVE LITTLE DOGS
IS THAT THE LITTLE DOGS BECOME THE PUPPY'S CHEW TOY,
AND IT'S NOT FUN FOR THE LITTLE DOGS.
YOU KNOW, SOME PUPPIES CAN BE TOO ROUGH.
SOME CAN BE JUST RIGHT.
SO I JUST WANT TO GET A FEEL FOR IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A PIT BULL RESCUE,
WE DO GET A COUPLE OF LIGHTWEIGHTS
DROPPED OFF FROM TIME TO TIME.
THESE LITTLE ONES ARE USED TO BEING MY LITTLE TESTERS.
I'M GONNA LET TACO OUT FIRST.
OKAY.
HE'S THE MORE CONFIDENT ONE.
DEFINITELY.
AND THEN I'LL LET LULU DOWN.
OKAY. YOU READY FOR THIS?
SO, I WANTED TO SEE IF DIRK WOULD DISPLAY ANY BEHAVIOR
THAT I MIGHT NEED TO WORK ON OR ACTUALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT
BEFORE I TOOK HIM TO THE HOME AND WITH PRECIOUS.
GO MEET DIRK. LET HIM GO.
LET HIM GO.
[ BARKING ]
[ SNIFFING ]
IT'S ALL RIGHT. COME ON, DIRK.
HERE, BUDDY. TACO, REALLY?
COME ON, GET OVER HERE, TACO.
HE'S NOT AS CONFIDENT WITHOUT LULU.
[ SMOOCHES ] HELP HIM OUT, LULU. HELP HIM OUT.
[ DOG BARKS ]
HELP HIM OUT, LULU.
SHE'S LIKE, "YEAH."
SHE'S SAYS, "BEEN THERE, DONE THAT."
WHAT I'M WATCHING HERE IS THAT HE --
YOU'RE GONNA GET IT.
[ TACO GROWLS ]
GOOD. YEAH.
THAT'S GOOD.
I LIKE THAT. HE SUBMITTED TO HIM.
WHEN TACO GROWLED AT DIRK,
YOU KNOW, HE COULD HAVE EASILY WENT BACK AT HIM.
BUT, INSTEAD, YOU KNOW, DIRK JUST ROLLED OVER ON HIS BACK,
WHICH IS A SIGN OF SUBMISSION.
I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT.
HE JUST SAID, "SCREW THAT. I'M WALKING AWAY FROM IT."
GOOD BOY, DIRK.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M WATCHING.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT HE DOES...
HE DOES, RIGHT.
...BASED OFF OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.
I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR DIRK,
THAT WHEN PRECIOUS SAYS, "GET AWAY,"
HE WILL GET AWAY.
YEAH.
EVERYTHING WENT REALLY WELL,
SO I DECIDED TO BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS,
AND GIVE DIRK SOMETHING
THAT'LL PUT A LITTLE MORE PEP IN HIS STEP.
TRY RINGO.
RINGO MAY BE ONLY LIKE 2 POUNDS SOAKING WET,
BUT HE IS DEFINITELY THE INSTIGATOR
IN OUR LITTLE RAT PACK.
[ CHUCKLES ] OKAY. WELL, THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG.
[ RINGO GROWLS ]
PLAY.
[ BARKING ]
TRY RINGO.
[ CHUCKLES ] OKAY. WELL, THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG.
Will: SEE, DIRK'S LIKE, "HEY, HOLD ON."
RINGO'S POSTURING.
YEAH, HE'S POSTURING, BUT HE STILL WANTS TO PLAY.
Tia: EVEN THOUGH DIRK IS LIKE
A TRILLION TIMES BIGGER THAN RINGO,
AND HE PROBABLY COULD'VE, LIKE, SQUISHED HIM LIKE A COCKROACH,
HE WAS BEING REALLY GENTLE WITH HIM.
HE'S LIKE, "WOW, HE'S LITTLE."
HE'S LIKE...
[ RINGO GROWLS ]
YOU KNOW, AND EVEN THOUGH RINGO IS, LIKE,
REALLY PUSHING DIRK'S BUTTONS,
YOU KNOW, DIRK'S JUST NOT TAKING THE BAIT.
HEY, DIRK, I THINK YOU'RE TOO BIG
TO PLAY ROUGHHOUSE WITH HIM.
[ RINGO GROWLS ]
DIRK IS NOT TRYING TO BE TOO PHYSICAL.
MNH-MNH.
I LIKE THAT.
YEAH, HE'S BEING VERY GENTLE.
YEAH, I LIKES THAT.
[ LAUGHS ] RINGO.
COME DOWN. COME DOWN.
COME ON. DOWN.
[ DIRK BARKS ]
THERE YOU GO.
COME ON, GUYS.
YOU DID GOOD! YOU DID GOOD, LITTLE RINGO!
DID GOOD! YES, YOU DID! YOU WERE THE BEST!
HE'S GONNA GET ALONG RIGHT FINE WITH PRECIOUS,
'CAUSE NO MATTER WHAT SHE DO, HE'S GONNA ABIDE BY IT.
YEAH. GOOD JOB.
HE'S GONNA ABIDE BY IT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I THINK THAT WENT REALLY WELL.
YOU KNOW, I THINK DIRK IS NOW READY FOR HIS HOME CHECK
AND FOR WHATEVER PRECIOUS MIGHT THROW AT HIM.
Will: ALL RIGHTY. COME ON, BIG GUY.
A-PLUS.
I GOT A PRESENT FOR YOU.
JUST TRY IT ON.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME PUT THIS AROUND YOUR NECK. OH, WAIT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GIVE EARL HIS SLING.
HE'S BEEN HURTING FOR A WHILE,
SO IT FEELS GOOD KNOWING THAT I CAN DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE HIS LIFE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
SEE, THIS IS JUST WHAT I NEED.
NOW, YOU SEE HOW MY HAND'S SITTING IN THERE?
MM-HMM. HOW HIGH DO YOU WANT IT?
ABOUT RIGHT THERE.
OKAY.
Earl: I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
AND SO FAR, IT FITS VERY COMFORTABLY.
YEAH, I CAN FEEL IT -- SITTING UP.
SWEET!
SEE NOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I CAN RIDE THIS.
THIS IS GONNA HELP ME A LOT -- DURING THE DAY, YOU KNOW,
I WON'T HAVE TO KEEP MY HAND INSIDE MY POCKET SO MUCH.
THAT WILL KEEP SOME OF THE PRESSURE
OFF OF MY SHOULDER.
IT'S GONNA DO GOOD.
THANK YOU, MARIAH.
OF COURSE.
I APPRECIATE YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING BACK TO THE HOUSE.
THANK YOU.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪ AND THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR ♪
[ MARIAH LAUGHS ]
I'M SO THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY HERE AT VILLALOBOS.
WHEN I THINK BACK TO WHERE I WAS A YEAR AGO,
I HAVE TO SAY I WAS A DESPERATE MAN,
REALLY BEGGING FOR MISS TIA TO HIRE ME FOR THIS JOB.
MISS TIA, I'LL DO ANYTHING.
I ALMOST NEEDED TO PINCH MYSELF.
IT WAS LIKE I WON THE LOTTERY, THE DAY SHE HIRED ME.
COME ON, BAMA.
I GOT A JOB THAT I LOVE,
AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL NEEDED AND GOOD ABOUT MYSELF.
PUPPIES!
[ SMOOCHING ]
WHAT? WHERE IS YOU TRYING TO GO?
BUT I ALSO HAVE A FAMILY THAT TAKES GOOD CARE OF ME.
AND FOR IT ALL, I COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL.
TODAY IS THE DAY I SAY GOODBYE TO DIRK.
DIRK. DIRK.
THE DIRK MAN -- HE'S GONNA GET ADOPTED.
IT'S FINALLY TIME TO TAKE HIM TO HIS HOME CHECK.
I LOVE YOU, BIG GUY.
IT'S SAD TO LOSE SOMETHING YOU LOVE.
DON'T WORRY. DON'T BE SCARED.
BUT I REALLY WANT THIS TO WORK OUT FOR HIM,
'CAUSE HE DESERVES TO GROW UP IN A HOME
WITH A FAMILY OF HIS OWN.
I'M GONNA MISS YOU -- YOU KNOW WHAT? --
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU NO MORE, ALL RIGHT?
I WANT YOU TO LIVE THERE FOREVER.
THAT'S THE BAD PART ABOUT THIS JOB --
HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE ALL THE TIME.
YEAH.
JUST SAID HELLO, MAN. YOU AIN'T THAT OLD, MAN.
YOU JUST SAID HELLO.
PBHT!
[ DOGS BARKING IN DISTANCE ]
LET'S GO. ALL RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD
TO PREPARE DIRK FOR HIS HOME CHECK,
BUT THE REAL TEST IS GOING TO BE HOW HE AND PRECIOUS ACT TOGETHER
ONCE THEY'RE ON PRECIOUS' HOME TURF.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THREE LITTLE KIDS IN THIS FAMILY
THAT ARE COUNTING ON DIRK BECOMING A NEW FAMILY MEMBER,
AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM LET DOWN.
Tia: SO, WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO THE NORTONS' HOUSE
TO DO DIRK'S HOME CHECK.
AND IT IS A SIX-HOUR DRIVE
UP THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF LOUISIANA.
AND WILL IS PRETTY EXCITED.
YOU KNOW, HE WANTS TO REALLY GET OUT
AND SEE THE REST OF THE STATE.
IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A STRESS BUTTON FOR ME,
IT IS WHEN WE DO A HOME CHECK WHERE THERE'S AN EXISTING DOG.
AND EVEN THOUGH PRECIOUS
DID REALLY WELL WITH DIRK AT VILLALOBOS,
SHE COULD BECOME A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DOG
ONCE WE GET TO HER HOUSE.
AND WE HAVE THREE LITTLE KIDS WHOSE HEARTS WOULD BE BROKEN
IF THIS PUPPY DOESN'T STAY WITH THEM.
EVERYBODY IN MY FAMILY
IS VERY EXCITED, NERVOUS, AND ANXIOUS.
IF I DON'T GET THIS PUPPY, I'LL PROBABLY CRY.
HI.
OH, IS EVERYBODY HERE?
WELCOME.
AND, OF COURSE, THE KIDS WERE REALLY EXCITED.
I MEAN, THE BIG DAY WAS HERE.
KNOW WHAT HE SAID BEFORE?
WHAT?
HE WAS LIKE, "I WANT TO ASK MISS TIA
IF SHE CAN GO PLAY HIDE-AND-SEEK WITH ME."
[ LAUGHTER ]
HIDE-AND-SEEK.
BUT BEFORE I BROUGHT DIRK IN THE HOUSE,
I WANTED TO SEE HOW GOOD OF A JOB THE NORTON FAMILY DID
ABOUT PUPPY-PROOFING THEIR HOUSE.
OKAY. COME ON, SHOW THEM YOUR ROOM.
SLOW DOWN.
Tia: SO, JOHN PAUL DECIDED
THAT HE WAS GONNA BE THE ONE GIVING THE TOUR,
AND THE FIRST STOP, OF COURSE, WAS HIS ROOM,
WHICH WE OBVIOUSLY NEEDED TO HAVE A LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT.
THESE LITTLE BOYS GOT LOTS OF TOYS.
PUPPIES CAN'T DETERMINE
WHAT'S THEIR TOYS AND WHAT'S YOUR TOYS.
RIGHT.
IF YOU FIND THAT THE PUPPY
IS COMING IN HERE, REALLY TERRORIZING HIS ROOM,
YOU CAN GET BABY GATES.
WE HAVE BABY GATES,
BUT THEY USUALLY KEEP THEIR DOOR CLOSED.
OKAY.
HIS, ESPECIALLY.
'CAUSE HE'S GOT ALL THE SMALL STUFF, AND --
REALLY?
JOHN PAUL TOOK PROTECTING HIS TOYS AND BELONGINGS
QUITE SERIOUSLY,
SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE OKAY HERE.
OKAY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU GONNA SHOW US AROUND THE REST OF...
GO, GO, GO.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THE KIDS SHOWED ME ALL THEIR BEDROOMS.
WOW! LOOK AT HOW ORGANIZED AND CLEAN.
IS IT ALWAYS LIKE THIS, OR IS IT BECAUSE WE CAME?
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A REALLY COOL ENVIRONMENT
FOR ONE OF OUR PUPS.
WE'RE GONNA GO OUTSIDE AND SEE THE BACKYARD, OKAY?
COME ON, LET'S GO OUTSIDE.
Julia: YAY!
SO, THIS IS THE BACKYARD.
Tia: OKAY. OH, IT'S NICE-SIZED.
THE YARD WAS A REALLY NICE SIZE.
I REALLY LIKED THAT.
THEY HAD TREES. THAT WAS GREAT.
OKAY.
BUT THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT THING
I WANTED TO ADDRESS WAS THEIR FENCE.
YOU KNOW, I KNEW BEFORE COMING OUT HERE
THAT THE FENCE WAS ONLY 4 FEET,
AND WE DO PREFER 6 FOOT,
BUT THIS FAMILY HAS OWNED BIG DOGS IN THE PAST,
AND THEY KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED
AS DIRK GREW UP AND GREW BIGGER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE ACTUALLY LOOKED INTO --
WE HAVE SOME NEIGHBORS THAT JUST GOT A PRIVACY FENCE PUT UP.
OH, WHAT KIND?
IT'S AWESOME.
A WOOD FENCE.
OH, YEAH.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING.
WE HAD HAD A 6-FOOT FENCE UP ON THE FRONT PART OF THE YARD
WHEN WE HAD LARGER DOGS BEFORE,
SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN IN THE WORKS WITH ANYWAY.
SO WE ARE PLANNING TO PUT UP A 6-FOOT PRIVACY FENCE.
AND THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO GO.
Tia: YOU KNOW, WITH THE FENCE ISSUE ADDRESSED,
WE MOVED ON TO THE REST OF THE YARD.
AND I GOT TO SAY -- YOU KNOW WHAT? --
THE NORTONS DID A REALLY GOOD JOB
JUST PREPARING THE YARD FOR A NEW PUPPY.
AND THAT --
OH, I SEE WHAT YOU DID.
OH, YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.
YEAH.
OKAY, OKAY.
THAT WAY, IT JUST KEEPS IT FLUSH UP AGAINST THERE,
SO NOBODY CAN GET THROUGH.
THEY HAD TAKEN CARE OF
ALL THE POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOTS THAT DIRK MIGHT GET INTO.
OH, THIS IS GOOD. THIS IS GOOD.
SO, ONCE WE GOT THE HOME CHECK AND THE YARD CHECK DONE,
I EXPLAINED TO THE NORTON FAMILY
THAT I WANTED THEM TO BRING PRECIOUS OUT
AWAY FROM THE YARD --
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE NEUTRAL TERRITORY.
[ DIRK WHIMPERING ]
OKAY.
YOU HOLD THIS.
THEN, IT WAS TIME TO BRING DIRK OUT
AND REINTRODUCE HIM TO PRECIOUS.
PRECIOUS COULD HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT THOUGHT PROCESS GOING
ONCE WE BRING A DOG ONTO HER HOME TURF.
OKAY, DIRK -- ROUND 2. [ CLICKS TONGUE ]
YOU CAN TELL PRECIOUS KNOWS SOMETHING'S GOING ON.
COME HERE. IT'S OKAY.
SHE'S JUST REAL EXCITED
AND GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.
HOLD ON, BUDDY.
OKAY, LET'S PUT HIS COLLAR...
ONCE HE'S ON THE GROUND.
YEAH.
WE SEE HIM, JOHN PAUL?
YOU SEE HIS FEET UP UNDER THERE?
WE SEE HIM. WE SEE HIM.
ALL RIGHTY. COME ON, BUDDY.
STILL LEARNING THE LEASH.
YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO, OBVIOUSLY, TAKE THIS SLOW,
SO I SAT DIRK DOWN.
AND I WAS HOPING HE WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF SLOWLY WALK UP TO PRECIOUS,
BUT HE JUST WOULDN'T SETTLE DOWN.
[ DIRK YIPPING ]
I MEAN, HE'S A PUPPY. I UNDERSTAND.
AND OF COURSE, MY MAIN CONCERN
WAS HOW WAS PRECIOUS GOING TO REACT TO THIS.
Julia: GOOD GIRL!
[ CLICKING TONGUE ] GOOD BOY!
PRECIOUS DIDN'T EVEN CARE.
COME HERE.
BEING NONCHALANT --
SHE'S REALLY SHOWING NO REACTION WHATSOEVER.
IN THE STREET. YOU'RE IN THE STREET.
SO IT WAS OKAY SO FAR.
I THOUGHT, "OKAY, LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT STEP,"
AND THAT'S BRINGING DIRK AND PRECIOUS
BOTH BACK INTO THE BACKYARD,
WHICH WAS REALLY ON PRECIOUS' HOME TURF,
SO THAT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE TEST.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST SAT DIRK DOWN IN THE YARD,
PRECIOUS JUST KIND OF IGNORED HIM.
SHE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IMPORTANT TO SAY.
SHE JUST KIND OF WANDERED OFF AND DID HER OWN THING.
I SAW HE WAS GETTING ALL THE ATTENTION, OBVIOUSLY,
AND THEN SHE WENT OVER THERE AND JUST KIND OF SAT.
SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT SHE STILL GETS EQUAL AMOUNT OF ATTENTION.
I TOLD THE FAMILY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"YOU LET HER FEEL LIKE SHE'S STILL IMPORTANT.
DON'T LEAVE HER OUT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A NEW PUPPY."
[ Laughing ] GOOD GIRL!
YOU KNOW, LET HER KNOW THAT SHE'S STILL THE QUEEN.
YOU'RE STILL THE QUEEN. YES, YOU ARE.
YOU'RE STILL THE QUEEN.
Julia: THAT'S SO GOOD.
YOU ARE A GOOD GIRL.
OHH.
Tia: AND AFTER GETTING
A LITTLE REASSURANCE FROM THE FAMILY,
SHE WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DOG.
Julia: [ LAUGHS ]
OOH!
SHE BEGAN DOING THE PLAY BOW, AND PUTTING HER BUTT IN THE AIR,
AND DOING, LIKE, THE BOOT SCOOT AND BOOGIE
AROUND THE YARD AND TRYING TO ENGAGE IN PLAY WITH DIRK.
IT WAS REALLY CUTE.
IT WAS REALLY ENDEARING TO WATCH.
SEEING DIRK AND PRECIOUS
PLAY AROUND IN THE BACKYARD WAS GREAT.
PRECIOUS JUST SAID, "COME ON! THIS WAY!
THIS IS MY YARD, AND COME SEE AND PLAY,"
AND THAT WAS AWESOME.
Tia: I HAVE DIRK THE PUPPY, PRECIOUS THE LITTLE DOG,
I HAVE JOHN PAUL THE LITTLE OVERLY EXCITED BOY.
YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT, I COULDN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT
WHICH DIRECTION TO LOOK AT FIRST.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AS A MOM, IT IS SO GREAT
TO SEE THE JOY COME BACK INTO THE HOME,
ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE NEW GLOW TO HER AGAIN.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AWW, YOU'RE GETTING SLEEPY.
HE'S SO SWEET.
HE'S GONNA FALL ASLEEP IN MY ARMS.
WE NEED SOMETHING TO COMPLETE US,
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.
AS A FATHER, YOU CAN'T GET A BETTER FEELING THAN THAT,
THAN SEEING YOUR KIDS AND YOUR WIFE JUST OVERJOYED.
Tia: YES, HE'S STAYING.
HE'S STAYING, WE'RE LEAVING.
THEY GOT TO LEAVE.
HE'S STAYING!
YAY!
THANK YOU. BYE.
BYE. THANK YOU.
Tia: IT WAS A TRAGEDY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NORTON FAMILY
AND ESPECIALLY ELIZABETH.
YOU KNOW, TO HAVE HER LITTLE PUPPY, NALA, DIE SUDDENLY.
I WAS THERE TO MAKE ELIZABETH HAPPY AGAIN.
I WAS THERE TO GIVE A LITTLE PUPPY NAMED DIRK,
YOU KNOW, A CHANCE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE WE DID OUR JOB.
AND, ULTIMATELY, THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
YOU RUN THIS PLACE, ALL RIGHT?
YOU'RE STILL IN CHARGE.
STILL IN CHARGE.
IF HE DISOBEY, YOU PUT HIM IN HIS PLACE, ALL RIGHT?
[ LAUGHTER ]
Will: TO BE A PART OF THIS WAS AN HONOR.
TO HAVE THE TRUST OF TIA
AND TO SEE DIRK IN A HOME -- PRETTY AMAZING.
THAT'S WHAT YOU DO THIS FOR.
BYE-BYE.
Julia: BYE.
LATER.
THANKS.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS
FOR DIRK AND FOR ME.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ALL RIGHT.