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COMING UP ON "PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES"...
RED, COME HERE, BOY.
Mariah: HAS HE BEEN EATING AT ALL?
A SIMPLE GOOD DEED...
SEE, THAT'S NOT LIKE HIM AT ALL.
I CAN TAKE HIM TO THE VET.
OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT.
...FORCES MARIAH TO RESCUE BOTH DOG AND MAN.
OH, LORD HAVE MERCY.
THAT'S MY MAN, HUH? HUH?
AND A VILLALOBOS OLD-TIMER WHO NEVER GOT A CHANCE...
I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO ASK IF I COULD ADOPT HIM.
...FINALLY GETS A TASTE OF FREEDOM.
Dana: SCRATCHING YOUR BACK, MAN.
BUT WILL IT LAST?
SO IT'S ALL ON YOU NOW.
AND A PAROLEE WITH A BAD TRACK RECORD...
I'VE NEVER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PAROLE IN MY LIFE.
READY? ONE, TWO, THREE.
...FINDS A LIFELINE IN THE KENNELS.
LOOK AT THE TIME. OH, MY GOD.
WE SMOKED IT.
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 NEW HOME, NEW ORLEANS,
THE CITY OF SECOND CHANCES,
MY MISSION IS TO RESCUE,
BUT MY HOPE IS ONE DAY I WON'T HAVE TO.
THIS ONE RIGHT HERE?
Mariah: YEAH, IT'S THIS HOUSE.
OKAY, WHERE ARE THE DOGS AT?
ON THE FENCE OVER THERE.
Tia: SINCE ARRIVING IN NEW ORLEANS,
WE'VE BEEN ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED
BY THE NUMBER OF DOGS WE'RE SEEING CHAINED UP IN YARDS.
A DOG ON A CHAIN IS NOT ONLY EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER ELEMENTS,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF A STRAY DOG WERE TO COME UP AND ATTACK HIM,
HE'S GOT NO ESCAPE,
WHICH, OF COURSE, IS A RECIPE FOR A FATAL DISASTER.
Mariah: WE WERE THINKING THAT WE COULD BUILD THEM HERE
SO THAT WHEN IT RAINS AND STUFF, IT DOESN'T GET FLOODED.
SO WE STARTED MAKING DEALS WITH OWNERS --
IF THEY WILL ALLOW US TO GET THEIR DOG SPAYED AND NEUTERED,
THEN WE WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH KENNELS
AND GET THEIR DOGS OFF OF THE CHAIN.
GOT IT?
Tia: IT'S A BIG JOB, SO WE ROUNDED UP
AS MANY FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND WORKERS AS WE CAN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING? I MIGHT PUT THE THIRD ONE HERE.
THEM TWO RIGHT HERE AND HAVE HIM RIGHT HERE.
STARTED.
GO AHEAD AND GET THE OTHER ONE.
Tia: IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SOMEONE'S GOT TO START THE BALL ROLLING.
[ BARKING ]
YEAH? YAY!
OH, HI. HOW ARE YOU?
Tia: SO, WHEN WE WERE FINISHING UP WITH THESE DOGS,
ANOTHER NEIGHBOR CAME OVER TO US
AND SAID THAT HE ALSO NEEDED HELP.
HI.
I'M MARIAH. NICE TO MEET YOU.
YOU LIVE AROUND HERE?
Murray: MY NAME IS MURRAY.
I HAVE TWO PIT BULLS --
ONE NAMED BROWNIE AND THE OTHER ONE NAMED RED.
I CAME OVER TO ASK FOR SOME ASSISTANCE.
SO, YOU NEED HELP WITH KENNELS, AS WELL, THEN?
LET'S GO LOOK OVER THE FENCE.
HE TOLD US THAT HIS TWO DOGS HAD BEGUN TO FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER,
AND NOW HE HAD TO KEEP THEM CHAINED UP
ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HOUSE.
SO, THIS HOUSE HERE?
Murray: I DO REALLY NEED SOME HELP WITH MY DOGS
'CAUSE MY HEALTH IS NOT THAT GOOD,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF MY DOGS.
I LOVE THEM.
OKAY. BROWNIE.
HI, BROWNIE.
COME HERE.
OH, HE'S SCARED. IT'S OKAY.
HE'S SCARED.
ALL RIGHT, BROWNIE.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, BROWNIE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE MY DOGS ON CHAINS ANYMORE.
I SAVED HIM FROM THE STREETS.
BROWNIE USED TO RUN UP AND DOWN THESE STREETS OUT HERE
LIKE A WILD DOG.
ONE NIGHT WE CAME OUT AND PUT THE FOOD IN MY HAND.
HE CAME AND ATE THE FOOD OUT MY HAND.
THE NEXT MORNING HE WAS SITTING ON MY PORCH.
SO HE KNEW HE WANTED A HOME, SO I GAVE HIM ONE.
SO YOU WANT TO GET THE SAME KIND OF THING --
TWO CAGES LIKE WE GOT OVER THERE?
THE OTHER ONE'S ON THE OTHER SIDE?
YEAH.
WE CAN BUILD ONE OVER HERE
AND ONE OVER THERE.
AND THAT WAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO EVER GET INTO AN ARGUMENT.
YOU KNOW.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED.
THAT ONE OVER THERE GET A-LOOSE.
HE WANT TO RUN OVER HERE AND FIGHT HIM.
Tia: WHEN MURRAY TOOK US
AROUND THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE TO SEE RED,
I COULD TELL THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT WITH HIM.
Tia: OKAY.
[ LAUGHS ] YEAH.
Murray: RED IS KIND OF SICK RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHY.
HE'S NORMALLY FRISKY, BUT NOW HE'S ACTING SLUGGISH.
Mariah: HAS HE BEEN EATING AT ALL?
WHAT HAPPENED IS I WENT TO THE STORE DOWN THE STREET.
AND THE MEAT THAT'S A DAY OVERDUE,
I'LL BUY THAT.
I'LL JUST CUT IT UP AND MIX IT WITH THEIR FOOD.
AND I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT DISAGREED WITH HIS STOMACH OR WHAT.
OH, RED, YOU GOT A TUMMY ACHE.
Murray: I WANT TO SEE HIM GET WELL,
BUT I'M NOT REALLY ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM WITH A VET RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I'M ON A FIXED INCOME.
I'M A DISABLED VET.
I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY FROM 1972 TO 1975
ABOARD THE USS KITTY HAWK.
I'M GONNA COME BACK TOMORROW AND SEE.
AND IF HE'S STILL NOT ACTING RIGHT,
I CAN TAKE HIM TO THE VET.
WE CAN -- WE'LL MAKE A TRIP TOGETHER,
AND WE'LL TAKE HIM TO THE VET.
Tia: WHAT IF WE GET IT DONE FOR YOU?
OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT.
Mariah: OKAY. THEN I'LL COME BY TOMORROW
AND WE'LL SEE HOW HE'S DOING, OKAY?
OKAY, NO PROBLEM.
WHATEVER HELP YOU ALL CAN RENDER TO ME, I APPRECIATE IT.
Murray: IT MEAN A LOT TO ME.
IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME THAT THEY COME OVER
AND THEY COULD HELP ME 'CAUSE I REALLY NEED THE HELP.
I NEED IT BAD.
Tia: I'M REALLY GLAD THAT MURRAY CAME UP
AND ASKED US TO HELP GET HIS DOGS OFF OF THE CHAINS.
BUT RIGHT NOW THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO KEEP AN EYE ON RED.
AND IF NEED BE, WE GOT TO GET HIM TO THE VET.
WITH US DOING SO MUCH WORK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY,
IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY HELP US OUT, TOO.
WE HAVE DOG WALKERS HERE.
I WOULDN'T WALK THEM REAL FAR 'CAUSE IT'S SO HOT.
YEAH, JUST AROUND HERE.
THE VOLUNTEERS COME OUT TO WALK THE DOGS.
SOME GO EVEN FURTHER AND BRING THE DOGS TOYS AND DOG TREATS.
THEY REALLY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE OUR DOGS HAPPY.
COME ON. YOU WANT SOME WATER?
COME ON. LET'S GO GET SOME WATER.
COME ON.
THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO VILLALOBOS
WAS WHEN THEY FIRST MOVED HERE.
I LOVE ANIMALS AND LOVE DOGS IN NEED,
AND I JUST LOVE COMING AND BEING AROUND AS MANY DOGS AS I CAN.
Diana: MY DAUGHTER DANA IS A DOG LOVER.
WHEN SHE MET TIA,
SHE KNEW SHE WANTED TO COME HELP WITH PIT BULLS,
AND SO I COME WITH HER.
WE COME EVERY SATURDAY AND WALK THEM.
I WAS AFRAID OF THEM.
I WAS AFRAID 'CAUSE YOU ALWAYS HEARD RUMORS THAT WHEN THEY BIT,
THEY CLENCHED AND DIDN'T LET GO.
JUST HAD A FEAR OF THEM UNTIL I MET THEM, AND WERE AROUND THEM,
AND REALIZED THAT THEY'RE VERY LOVING AND SWEET ANIMALS.
MR. MEANOR, YOU'RE LAYING ALL OVER TREATS.
HE DON'T WANT IT. THEY'RE HARD.
HE DON'T EAT HARD TREATS.
OH, SORRY.
SORRY.
Dana: MY MOM SPONSORS ONE OF THE DOGS THAT SHE WALKS.
I SPONSOR MR. MEANOR.
THAT'S MY MAN, HUH? HUH?
HE'S JUST A HAPPY GUY AND BOUGHT HIM COLLARS
WITH HIS NAME EMBROIDERED IN IT.
AND EVERY SATURDAY I'M HERE.
THE ONLY TIME I MISS IS IF I'M REALLY SICK AND CANNOT COME.
Tia: SO, I KNOW THAT DANA AND A LOT OF OUR OTHER VOLUNTEERS
WOULD LOVE TO ADOPT ONE OF OUR DOGS.
BUT THEY CAN'T BECAUSE OF EITHER WHERE THEY LIVE,
OR MAYBE THEY HAVE OTHER DOGS.
SO SPENDING TIME WITH THEM HERE IS THE NEXT BEST THING.
SEE, NOW YOU'RE PRETTY.
NO, HE DIDN'T NEED TO LOOK GOOD FOR ANYBODY.
ONLY ME.
SO, I'M NOTICING THAT DANA
IS GETTING REALLY ATTACHED TO MR. MEANOR.
AND I'M SURE IF HE GOT ADOPTED BY SOMEBODY ELSE,
SHE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED.
BUT HE'S BEEN WITH US FOR YEARS, AND HE IS AN OLDER DOG.
SO WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THAT?
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
I JUST GOT AN E-MAIL FROM PAROLE.
WHAT COULD THIS BE ABOUT?
SO, IN CALIFORNIA WHEN I GOT CALLS FROM A PAROLE OFFICER,
THAT USED TO WORRY ME.
BUT HERE IN NEW ORLEANS, THESE CALLS CAN BE GOOD NEWS.
THE LAST TIME A PAROLE OFFICER REACHED OUT TO US,
WE ENDED UP WITH EARL, AND NOW HE'S ONE OF MY BEST GUYS.
THEY WANT ME TO HIRE SOME GUY NAMED RANDY WALKER.
"HE'S HAD A ROUGH ROAD,
"AND HE LIVES IN A HALFWAY HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
"HE NEEDS A STRUCTURED PLACE
"THAT WILL GIVE HIM OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORT.
"DOESN'T KNOW IF HE'S HAD EXPERIENCE WITH DOGS.
BUT HE'S GOT SOME GOOD CARPENTRY SKILLS."
SO, NOW THERE'S THIS GUY RANDY
WHO'S SUPPOSEDLY A REALLY GOOD CARPENTER
AND REALLY GOOD WITH TOOLS,
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD REALLY USE AROUND HERE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALING WITH A WAREHOUSE.
THERE'S ALWAYS KENNEL DOORS AND FENCING
THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED.
WE HAVE DOORS THROUGHOUT OUR WAREHOUSE
THAT ARE HANGING OFF THE HINGES THAT WE NEED TO PUT BACK UP.
HIS PAROLE OFFICER IS SAYING,
"HE NEVER MADE IT THROUGH A STINT,
"NOT ONCE ON PAROLE SUCCESSFULLY.
"HE'S TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
HE NEEDS A STRUCTURED PLACE."
HE'S NEVER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PAROLE,
WHICH IS NOT A SMALL THING TO OVERLOOK.
BUT HIS PAROLE OFFICER
SEEMS TO THINK THAT THIS TIME HE'S REALLY COMMITTED.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF GUYS THAT I'M LOOKING FOR
TO HELP TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT GIVE IT A SHOT.
I'LL HAVE HIM WORKING WITH YOU.
OKAY.
HE DOESN'T HAVE DOG SKILLS,
AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE PEOPLE SKILLS, SO YOU'RE FINE.
TRUE.
WE'LL GIVE THIS GUY A SHOT, YOU KNOW.
SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT.
Mariah: I'M GOING OVER TO MURRAY'S THIS MORNING
TO CHECK ON HIS DOG RED.
YESTERDAY WHEN WE MET HIM, HIS DOG LOOKED KIND OF SICK.
AND HE TOLD US THAT HIS DOG HADN'T BEEN ACTING NORMAL.
HOPEFULLY, RED'S DOING BETTER TODAY
'CAUSE IF NOT, I'M GONNA HAVE TO TAKE HIM TO THE VET.
MURRAY REALLY CARES ABOUT HIS DOGS,
AND YOU CAN TELL JUST BY THE WAY HE TALKS ABOUT THEM,
BUT HE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY
TO TAKE THEM TO THE VET AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT,
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TO HELP HIM.
HI, MURRAY.
SO, HOW'S RED DOING TODAY?
WELL, HE SEEMS TO BE JUST A LITTLE SLIGHTLY BETTER,
BUT I THINK HE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO SEE A VET.
YOU HAVE A LEASH?
HUH? I HAVE A LEASH.
I HAVE SOME TREATS
SO THAT RED GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE
OKAY.
I'LL GET HIM.
RED, COME HERE, BOY.
LATELY HE'S BEEN KIND OF SLUGGISH, AND HE LOOKS SAD-LIKE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
THAT'S WHAT HURTS MY HEART, TO SEE HIM THAT WAY.
HI, BABY.
SEE, THAT'S NOT LIKE HIM AT ALL
BECAUSE NORMALLY HE'D BE PULLING.
Mariah: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH RED.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE DOG TO THE VET.
GOOD!
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS HANDLED
BEFORE ANYTHING SERIOUS HAPPENS.
I APPRECIATE THIS TO THE HIGHEST.
I SWEAR TO GOD, I APPRECIATE IT.
OF COURSE. IT'S WHAT WE DO.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD RED?
I'VE HAD RED ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS NOW.
THE GUY THAT HAD HIM WAS NEGLECTING HIM.
SO I ASKED HIM, "CAN I HAVE HIM?"
HE SAID, "YEAH."
WE'VE BEEN LIFELONG FRIENDS EVER SINCE.
OH. YOU HAVE A VERY, VERY BEAUTIFUL HEART, MURRAY.
IT'S ALL IN THE WAY YOU TREAT PEOPLE.
IT'S YOUR PERCEPTION THAT YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE.
IF YOU PUT GOOD ENERGY OUT THERE,
GOOD ENERGY WILL COME BACK THOUGH.
THAT'S ONE THING MY MOM'S ALWAYS TAUGHT ME.
Murray: IF THE VET TELL ME SOME BAD NEWS,
IT WOULD HURT ME TO MY HEART 'CAUSE I LOST DOGS BEFORE.
AND THAT'S REALLY HEART-WRENCHING.
MURRAY'S DOG WASN'T FEELING WELL
AND HAS BEEN ACTING A LITTLE BIT WEIRD.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET HIS DOG INTO THE VET
SO THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING LIFE-THREATENING,
THAT WE CAN GET IT HANDLED.
IT'S OKAY, RED. EASY, EASY.
NOW YOU JUST STAY RIGHT HERE WITH HIM
SO HE DOESN'T BECOME AFRAID.
NORMALLY HE REAL FRISKY AND FRIENDLY.
AND LATELY HE BEEN SLUGGISH,
AND HE DON'T RESPOND THE WAY THAT HE NORMALLY DO.
OKAY. I'M NOTICING HE LOOKS
LIKE HE'S HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE BREATHING, TOO.
LET ME JUST LISTEN TO HIS CHEST, AND I'LL SEE.
THAT'S A GOOD BOY.
OKAY.
HIS CHEST NOISE --
HE HAS SOME VERY HARSH SOUNDS IN HIS CHEST.
I THINK THAT PROBABLY WE SHOULD CHECK HIM FOR HEARTWORMS.
Mariah: SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE,
WE'VE COME ACROSS A LOT OF DOGS WITH HEARTWORM.
HEARTWORMS ARE A PARASITE THAT ARE TRANSMITTED BY MOSQUITOES
AND ATTACK A DOG'S HEART.
MOSQUITOES ARE EVERYWHERE HERE IN NEW ORLEANS,
AND SO IS THIS DISEASE,
WHICH CAN EASILY KILL THE DOGS IF IT'S NOT CAUGHT IN TIME.
OKAY. WELL, UNFORTUNATELY,
HE DOES HAVE MICROFILARIA IN HIS BLOOD,
SO WE DO KNOW THAT HE IS, IN FACT, POSITIVE.
YES.
Murray: OH, LORD.
WELL, WE CAN TREAT IT.
WE'RE GONNA START TREATING HIM FOR IT.
Murray: WHEN THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT HE HAD HEARTWORM...
...I FELT LIKE I WAS ABOUT TO LOSE A CHILD
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE IS TO ME.
HE'S LIKE A CHILD OF MINE.
WELL, I NEED TO GET BROWNIE OVER HERE.
Mariah: WE'LL BRING BROWNIE OVER HERE TOO, OKAY?
AND WE'RE GONNA HANDLE THIS NOW AND GET HIM ALL FIXED UP
SO THEY CAN COME HOME AND GO IN THEIR NEW KENNELS.
YOU HAVE TO PUT GOOD ENERGY OUT THERE SO THAT IT COMES BACK.
THINK POSITIVE.
Dr. Jackson: WELL, IF YOU'RE READY...
YEAH, I AM.
I'LL BE BACK FOR YOU, MAN. HEAR?
I'LL GIVE YOU ALL A CALL ONCE THE BLOOD WORK IS UP
AND LET YOU KNOW KIND OF WHAT THE STATUS IS...
IN A LITTLE WHILE.
ALL RIGHT, RED.
Mariah: PHONE NUMBER UP HERE. COME ON.
OKAY, COME ON.
OH, SWEETHEART.
COME ON, RED. I'LL BE BACK, MAN.
Murray: WAITING FOR THE END RESULT HAS GOT ME INTENSED,
AND I'M JUST NERVOUS.
MY STOMACH IS IN KNOTS RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE, I SWEAR TO GOD, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY DOG.
I LOVE HIM.
Mariah: RIGHT NOW PRETTY MUCH ALL WE CAN DO
IS CROSS OUR FINGERS AND HOPE THAT RED MAKES IT THROUGH.
[ BARKING ]
SO, RANDY'S PAROLE OFFICER SENT HIM OVER
TO SEE IF HE WOULD BE A GOOD FIT WITH US.
HIS PAROLE OFFICER HAS SAID THAT HE'S REALLY TRYING
TO STAY ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW.
HE JUST NEEDS A SHOT.
Randy: MY NAME'S RANDY WALKER.
I WENT TO PRISON FOR BURGLARY
AND CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS.
BEEN ON PAROLE QUITE A FEW TIMES,
AND I'VE NEVER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PAROLE.
IT'S BEEN MY LIFE FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.
BUT THERE'S A TIME TO GET OUT.
THERE'S A TIME TO GET OUT, AND THERE'S A TIME TO CHANGE.
WE HAVE THIS DOOR HERE.
SEE, YOU'RE GONNA GREASE UP THERE.
YEAH. YES, MA'AM.
OKAY, AND THEN THAT DOOR DOWN THERE.
THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T GET IT BACK CLOSED AGAIN.
Tia: SO, I WANT TO GIVE RANDY A KIND OF TEST.
I HAVE THIS BIG WAREHOUSE DOOR
THAT'S BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME.
AND SO FAR NO ONE'S BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT.
SO IF RANDY CAN, THEN I'LL BE IMPRESSED.
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU'RE GONNA GET ALL THIS STUFF
AND GET THIS FIGURED OUT FOR ME.
YES, MA'AM.
NO PROBLEM.
SO IT'S ALL ON YOU NOW.
IT'S IN YOUR HANDS.
YEAH.
AS YOU GET OLDER, YOU LOSE TOO MANY GOOD YEARS, YOU KNOW.
SOCKET SET, SOCKET SET, SOCKET SET, SOCKET SET.
I SPENT HALF MY LIFE DOING EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
AND WHEN YOU WANT TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO,
THERE'S REPERCUSSIONS, AND THERE'S CONSEQUENCES.
YOU LOSE TOO MANY GOOD YEARS THAT YOU CAN'T GET BACK.
AND MY MOTHER DIDN'T SPEND 13 HOURS IN LABOR
FOR ME TO GIVE MY LIFE TO A JAIL OR INSTITUTION.
THAT WASN'T HER OUTLOOK WHEN I WAS ON THE DELIVERY TABLE.
I KNOW WHAT IT IS. I GOT IT. I GOT IT.
PLAY WITH THIS THING ALL DAY.
MAN, ARE YOU FOR REAL?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
EVERY GOOD THIEF IS MECHANICAL.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN MECHANICALLY INCLINED.
OH, YEAH.
OH, YEAH!
OH, YEAH!
BEING A GOOD THIEF IS LIKE BEING A GOOD HANDYMAN.
YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE.
[ TOOL WHIRRING ]
THAT'S HOW YOU HANDLE THAT.
WHAT'S THE VERDICT?
THE BLOCK WAS STOPPING THE DOOR.
THE BLOCK WAS STOPPING IT.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH.
THIS LITTLE PIECE OF SHEET METAL.
SO I'LL JUST PUT A SCREW RIGHT THERE.
CLOSE IT UP.
WELL, NOW, WHEN IT'S OPEN, WILL IT CLOSE?
YES, MA'AM.
YES. GOOD JOB.
SO, RANDY ACTUALLY GOT THAT BIG-*** DOOR OPEN.
I'M ACTUALLY IMPRESSED.
OKAY, RANDY. GREAT JOB.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN. YOU'RE HIRED.
YES, MA'AM.
SHE'S WILLING TO GIVE ME THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TODAY'S SOCIETY
ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT.
AND I REALLY RESPECT THAT ABOUT HER. I REALLY DO.
Tia: I THINK HE'S GONNA BE A REALLY GOOD FIT,
AND I'M DEFINITELY GONNA BE PUTTING HIS CONSTRUCTION SKILLS
TO GOOD USE.
TOMORROW I'M GONNA HAVE HIM
WORK IN THE KENNELS WITH TANIA,
SO SHE CAN OVERSEE HIM.
SHE HATES OFFICE WORK, ANYWAYS.
OH.
AND YOU JUST -- THE SUBJECT IS CALLED, "THANK YOUS."
I'M -- NOTHING.
I JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO WRITE AN E-MAIL.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO --
ALL RIGHT, IN THE SUBJECT LINE...
THANK YOU.
THANK YOUS.
THANK YOUS.
OH, NO. "THANK," NOT "HANK."
OH!
[ CHUCKLES ]
I SERIOUSLY DON'T DO THIS.
I-I -- WHEN DO YOU EVER SEE ME DOING OFFICE STUFF?
OH, GOD HELP ME.
OFFICE WORK AND COMPUTER WORK IS NOT TANIA'S CALLING IN LIFE.
SO I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT SHE CAN HANDLE HER OWN
OUT THERE IN THE KENNELS.
Mariah: THE VET CALLED ME THIS MORNING
AND TOLD ME SOME BAD NEWS ABOUT RED.
THIS...
UH...
SO, THE VET CALLED ME.
THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
HE HAD HEARTWORM,
AND HE HAD AN INFECTION
IN HIS, LIKE, CHEST CAVITY.
THE TISSUE HAD GOTTEN ALL INFECTED,
AND THEY WEREN'T EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT WAS FROM,
BUT I FIGURED IT OUT.
HE HAD GOTTEN BIT BY A DOG. HE'D GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT.
COULD'VE BEEN WITH BROWNIE 'CAUSE HE -- BROWNIE AND HIM GOT INTO A FIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. IT PUNCTURED HIS CHEST CAVITY
AND GOT AN INFECTION RIGHT THERE.
AND HIS LUNGS COMPLETELY FILLED UP WITH FLUID.
AND THEY DRAINED A LOT OF THE FLUID OUT.
BUT BECAUSE THE INFECTION WAS SO BAD,
THEY WOULD'VE HAD TO DO SURGERY AND STUFF,
BUT HE DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO DO SURGERY.
RED'S LUNGS COLLAPSED,
AND THEY TRIED TO GIVE HIM CPR, AND HE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
AND THEY SAID
THAT IF HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AT THE HOSPITAL,
AND HE WOULD'VE BEEN OUT HERE AND BEEN IN THE HEAT,
IT WOULD'VE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE.
AND SHE SAID THAT HE WOULD'VE BEEN IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN.
WOW. WOW.
Tia: I WAS DYING FOR MY DAUGHTER.
I WAS ABSOLUTELY HEARTBROKEN FOR HER.
I KNOW SHE'S ALREADY SO WORRIED
ABOUT TELLING MURRAY WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS DOG.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO MURRAY.
LIKE, THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN SAY EXCEPT THE TRUTH.
I MEAN, HONESTLY, THE ONLY POSITIVES I CAN THINK OF THIS
IS THAT, YEAH, RED DID NOT DIE UNDER THAT HOUSE,
YOU KNOW, OUT IN THE DIRT AND THE HEAT...
'CAUSE HE WAS GOING TO.
YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO JUST TELL HIM.
I MEAN, I WOULDN'T MAKE HIM FEEL BAD OR GUILTY
NO. I'M NOT GOING TO.
JUST DON'T DRAG IT OUT.
I WON'T.
HOW DO YOU TELL SOMEONE THIS KIND OF NEWS?
THERE IS NO INSTRUCTION MANUAL.
[ SIGHS ]
THIS IS WHAT WE MOVED HERE FOR.
BUT LITTLE DID WE KNOW, IT WAS GONNA BE QUITE THIS BAD.
I DON'T KNOW WHO I'M SADDER FOR, HIM -- RED -- OR MY DAUGHTER.
CALL ME AFTERWARDS.
I WILL.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, THIS IS OUR LIFE.
THIS IS THE REALITY OF DOING ANIMAL RESCUE.
Mariah: JUST NOT REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS AT ALL.
SEEING HIM WALKING UP AND BARELY BEING ABLE TO WALK,
I WAS DYING INSIDE AND ALREADY TRYING NOT TO CRY,
AND I HADN'T EVEN TOLD HIM YET.
HI, MURRAY.
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
ALL RIGHT.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY
OR HOW I WAS GONNA SAY IT.
UM...
SO, I GOT A CALL FROM THE VET THIS MORNING, AND...
HOW IS RED?
HE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
OH, MAN!
I'M SORRY.
OH, LORD HAVE MERCY.
LORD, LORD, LORD, LORD, LORD.
[BLEEP]
IT'S EASIER TO BE ANGRY THAN BE UPSET,
BUT EVERYTHING JUST KIND OF COMES OUT AT ONCE,
AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL
WHEN YOU HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HE HAD AN INFECTION IN HIS CHEST.
IT WAS FROM GETTING BIT BY A DOG, THEY SAID.
BIT BY A DOG?
YEAH, HE SAID -- THEY SAID.
WELL, HIM AND BROWNIE GOT INTO A FIGHT.
THAT COULD'VE BEEN WHAT IT WAS.
ALL I CAN SAY
IS THAT AT LEAST HE WASN'T OUT IN THE HEAT, YOU KNOW.
OH, LORD HAVE MERCY.
OH, LORD HAVE MERCY.
I TRIED TO MAKE MURRAY UNDERSTAND
THAT IT WAS BETTER FOR RED TO BE AT THE VET
WITH PEOPLE REALLY, REALLY TRYING TO HELP HIM.
WHERE HE WAS IN THE HEAT, HE WOULD'VE BEEN IN SO MUCH PAIN.
SO, I HOPE THAT ONE DAY HE'LL BE ABLE
TO REALIZE THAT RED'S BETTER NOW.
I'M SORRY, MURRAY.
ALL I CAN TRY AND DO IS TAKE BROWNIE IN TOMORROW
AND MAKE SURE THAT HE STAYS HEALTHY.
WHAT I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON RIGHT NOW
IS TAKING MURRAY'S OTHER DOG, BROWNIE, TO THE VET TOMORROW,
SO THAT NOTHING HAPPENS TO HIM.
WHERE WE AT HERE? COOPER?
ARE WE READY FOR HIM?
GIVE ME ONE SECOND.
I LIKE THAT RANDY WORKS HIS *** OFF.
WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, HE'LL DO IT,
AND HE'LL ALWAYS ASK US, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE CAN DO NEXT.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE THAT KENNEL
BECAUSE THEY BOTH STUCK TOGETHER.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE CUT THE WIRES, THEY STILL STICK.
IDLE HANDS IS THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND.
READY? ONE, TWO, THREE.
SO I TRY TO KEEP BUSY.
JUST WAITING FOR YOU, RANDY.
NO BIG DEAL.
I'M COMING.
I'M HERE TO HELP YOU.
NO, NO. LET ME HELP YOU.
Tania: I'M WORKING ON MY FRIENDSHIP SKILLS,
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO FOR YOU.
YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM.
I WANT EVERYTHING DONE WITH A SMILE TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, BOSS.
"BOSS." I CAN DEAL WITH "BOSS."
YOU ARE THE BOSS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ALL COME IN HERE REALLY TOUGH,
AND THEY ARE TOUGH.
BUT YOU GOT TO BE PRETTY TOUGH TO WORK HERE AT VILLALOBOS.
KEEP IT MOVING.
[ LAUGHS ]
BOSS, YOU GONNA GET UP
AND YOU GONNA GET THAT LAST BUCKET?
NO. I WAS HOPING THAT YOU COULD GET THAT.
ALL RIGHTY, THEN.
Tania: SO, MY MOM PUT ME IN CHARGE
TO WORK WITH THE NEW PAROLEE RANDY.
AND HE'S A LITTLE STRANGE, BUT IN A GOOD WAY
'CAUSE IT KIND OF MAKES WORK GO BY FASTER.
LOOK AT THE TIME. OH, MY GOD.
WE SMOKED IT.
I ALMOST BELIEVE YOUR NICE COMPLIMENT.
OOH. I'M SO SERIOUS.
I CAN TELL.
WE ROCK 'N' ROLLED.
DID OUR THING.
Randy: YOU HAVE TO TRY TO GET ALONG WELL WITH OTHERS,
WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT.
YOU LOCKED ON THAT CELL BLOCK 24 HOURS A DAY,
YOU GOT TO LEARN HOW TO GET ALONG.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
WHAT DO I OWE YOU?
I WANT ROSES, RANDY. WE DISCUSSED THIS.
I KNOW. I KNOW. I'M WORKING ON IT.
HEY, MA'AM. WE MEET AGAIN.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW ARE YOU?
OKAY. HOW YOU DOING, MOM?
Diana: I'M DOING FINE.
Tia: TODAY DANA AND HER MOM CALLED ME
AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WANTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT MR. MEANOR.
WE UNDERSTAND HE'S A LITTLE OLDER, TOO, RIGHT?
YEAH, YEAH.
HE'S MIDDLE-AGED, HEADING TOWARDS THERE.
I MEAN, ACTUALLY MR. MEANOR CAME FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.
REALLY?
HE WAS NOT EXACTLY THE BEST DOG TO MEET THROUGH A FENCE.
BUT HE'S JUST BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PERFECT DOG HERE.
Dana: YEAH, WELL, I KNOW SINCE...
[ LAUGHS ] OKAY, OKAY.
SHE WAS SMITTEN BY HIM AS SHE SAW HIM.
SHE LOVE THAT UNDERBITE.
MY DAUGHTER DANA JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.
AND I WATCHED HER WITH HIM, AND IT JUST DREW ME TO HIM.
FIRST DAY I WAS SMITTEN,
AND EVERY DAY SINCE THEN -- EVERY SATURDAY SINCE THEN,
IT'S BEEN WORSE AND WORSE.
SO I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO ASK IF I COULD ADOPT HIM.
WOW.
YOU KNOW, MY HEART
WAS BREAKING EVERY TIME I HAD TO LEAVE HIM.
AND MR. MEANOR'S AN OLDER GUY.
I GUESS THEY ESTIMATE HE'S ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD.
AND SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS I DIDN'T WANT TO COME ONE SATURDAY
AND FIND OUT HE WAS SICK OR SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO HIM.
I WANT HIM TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE.
YOU KNOW, WOW.
I'M STILL AT "YOU WANT TO ADOPT HIM"
[LAUGHS] BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE HE CAME FROM.
AND I JUST -- IT'S JUST VERY OVERWHELMING
TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU THINK THERE'S NO CHANCE,
THERE IS A CHANCE.
Tia: YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY
WANTS TO ADOPT MR. MEANOR AT HIS AGE IS --
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
WELL, LET'S, I MEAN, JUST BRING HIM OUT AND JUST SAY HI,
AND WE'LL PLAN OUR NEXT MOVE.
OKAY.
GET THE LITTLE GUY.
THE LITTLE MISTER OUT.
THE LITTLE MISTER OUT, YEAH.
LET'S SEE HOW HAPPY HE IS TO SEE ME TODAY.
UH-OH. HERE COMES THE BIG MAN.
COME ON, YOU LITTLE ***.
[ PATTING ]
[ MR. MEANOR BARKING ]
STOP. STOP.
MR. MEANOR.
BIG BOY. HEY, BIG BOY.
YOU WANT TO COME HOME?
YOU WANT TO COME HOME WITH US, HUH, MAN?
Tia: IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE
THAT MR. MEANOR MADE A BEELINE FOR DANA.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR,
IS JUST THAT INSTANT MUTUAL CONNECTION.
Dana: MR. MEANOR IS SPECIAL.
THE WAY HE LOOKS AT ME WITH HIS BIG BROWN EYES,
AND IT'S LIKE HE CAN READ MY SOUL.
AND HE KNEW HE BELONGED TO ME.
I THINK I'M THE ONE WHO TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER
REALIZING HE NEEDED TO BE HOME WITH ME.
NOW, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN COMING HERE
LIKE EVERY VOLUNTEER DAY SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN HERE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW. LIKE, WHAT'S YOUR SITUATION AT HOME?
MY MOM AND I LIVE TOGETHER IN A BRICK HOME --
THREE-BEDROOM BRICK HOME,
FENCED-IN YARD, 6-FOOT WOODEN FENCE.
MY STEPFATHER IS HANDICAPPED.
HE WALKS WITH A WALKER.
SO, THEY'RE TELLING ME ABOUT THEIR GREAT HOUSE
AND THEIR BIG, BEAUTIFUL YARD AND THE REALLY SECURE FENCING.
AND THEN DANA COMES OUT
WITH THAT HER DAD, WHO LIVES WITH THEM, USES A WALKER.
AND NOW I HAVE A HUGE CONCERN.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU KNOW, DOGS CAN HAVE A REACTION.
I'VE SEEN THEM HAVE A REACTION TO, LIKE, CRUTCHES.
YEAH.
SO LET ME JUST TRY HIM OUT
AND MAKE SURE HE'S GONNA BE OKAY WITH THAT.
SURE.
WALKERS, CRUTCHES,
BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS, ANYTHING WITH WHEELS
ARE TRIGGERS THAT SOMETIMES A DOG
CAN PERCEIVE AS THREATENING.
THEY CAN TRIGGER PREY DRIVE.
THESE ARE THE TYPE OF SITUATIONS THAT CAN CAUSE A DOG TO ATTACK,
FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, AND BITE.
I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS
ABOUT HOW MR. MEANOR MIGHT REACT TO A WALKER.
BUT THIS MIGHT BE HIS ONLY CHANCE.
SO I HAVE TO STAY HOPEFUL THAT WHEN WE TEST HIM,
THAT HE'LL BE FINE.
ALL RIGHT, THEN LET'S DO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK WITH HIM.
OKAY, WELL, COOL.
HE'S A CUTE OLD MAN.
WELL, WE'LL WALK YOU TO THE GATE
LIKE A TRUE GENTLEMAN THAT HE IS.
COME ON, BUDDY.
IF MR. MEANOR DOESN'T WORK OUT BECAUSE OF THE WALKER,
I'LL BE HEARTBROKEN.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS A LOT.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME JUST DO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK WITH HIM.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL GIVE YOU A CALL, AND WE'LL...
ALL RIGHT.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, FROM MR. MEANOR'S PAST,
HE HASN'T BEEN AROUND WHEELS AND CRUTCHES,
AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO FIND OUT NOW
BEFORE WE EVEN GO ANY FURTHER.
Mariah: AFTER MURRAY'S DOG RED PASSED AWAY,
MURRAY AND I DECIDED
THAT WE WANTED TO GET BROWNIE TO THE VET
SO THAT THE SAME THING DOESN'T HAPPEN TO HIM.
IT KILLS ME THAT WE LOST ONE DOG.
BUT TODAY MURRAY AND I
ARE TAKING HIS DOG BROWNIE TO THE VET
TO GET A FULL PHYSICAL AND CHECKUP
SO THAT HOPEFULLY HE CAN LIVE A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE.
HI, MURRAY.
Murray: HEY. HOW YOU DOING?
BROWNIE!
COME ON, BOY.
Mariah: HE'S CUTE.
COME ON, BROWNIE. LET'S GO.
GOOD!
BROWNIE'S A REAL COMFORT TO ME.
IF THEY CAN TELL ME HE GOT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH,
WELL, I WOULD WANT THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING.
GOOD BOY.
Mariah: THIS IS MOLLY.
SHE IS A 5-YEAR-OLD PILAB -- A PIT BULL, LAB MIX.
MOLLY LOVES TO GO FOR LONG WALKS,
PLAYING IN HER PINK KITTY POOL.
AND SHE IS GREAT IN THE HOUSE.
MOLLY WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN SOMEONE TO LOVE
AND SOMEONE TO LOVE HER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MOLLY OR ANY OTHER VILLALOBOS PIT BULL,
YOU CAN GO TO animalplanet.com/pitbulls.
COME ON, BROWNIE. GO AHEAD.
Mariah: TODAY MURRAY AND I
ARE TAKING HIS DOG BROWNIE TO THE VET
TO GET A FULL PHYSICAL AND CHECKUP
SO HOPEFULLY HE CAN LIVE A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE.
BELLY FEELS GOOD.
WE'RE GONNA RUN THE HEARTWORM TEST NOW.
IT TAKES ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO FIND THAT PART OUT.
AS THEY WERE DRAWING BLOOD,
I WAS CROSSING MY FINGERS THAT EVERYTHING WAS GONNA BE OKAY.
THIS POOR MAN'S BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH ALREADY.
Dr. Corr: WE'LL LET HIM RELAX WITH YOU FOR A FEW MINUTES
WHILE WE RUN THIS TEST.
STAY HERE, BABY.
I WAS HOPING THAT SHE DIDN'T COME BACK
WITH THE SAME BAD NEWS AS RED.
I WAS PRAYING THAT SHE DIDN'T.
'CAUSE IF SHE DID THAT, I'M LOST.
I DON'T HAVE NOBODY.
OKAY.
SO, WE LOOKED AT OUR HEARTWORM TEST,
AND HE IS POSITIVE ON THE TEST FOR HEARTWORMS.
BUT IT'S A VERY SLIGHT POSITIVE.
IT'S PROBABLY A VERY EARLY INFECTION.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH HIM
IS WE'RE GONNA GET HIM SET UP FOR TREATMENT.
BUT HE'S OTHERWISE HEALTHY,
AND I THINK HE'LL DO JUST FINE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
I'M THANKFUL THAT WE CAUGHT IT IN THE NICK OF TIME.
WHERE DID YOU ALL COME FROM?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
YOU'RE A GODSEND.
[ LAUGHS ]
I THINK GOD SENT HER TO HELP ME.
AND I THANK GOD FOR THAT, FOR SENDING AN ANGEL TO MY LIFE
BECAUSE WITHOUT HER,
I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THE THINGS SHE DOING.
Mariah: MURRAY REPEATEDLY TOLD US HOW MUCH HE APPRECIATED US,
AND IF HE ONLY KNEW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE HIM.
MURRAY AND I MET FOR A REASON, AND, UM...
[ SIGHS ]
...THAT MAN REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DID TOUCH MY HEART A LOT.
Tia: SO, YESTERDAY RANDY PROVED HIS TALENT WITH A TOOL BELT,
FIXING THE WAREHOUSE DOOR WHEN NO ONE ELSE COULD.
TODAY HE'S SHOWN THAT HE'S JUST FANTASTIC WITH THE DOGS.
TRIPLE O.G. MASON JOHNSON.
MASON, YOU'RE AN OLD GANGSTER, HUH, MASON?
BEEN AROUND A FEW TIMES, HUH?
HE TALKS TO THEM. HE SINGS TO THEM.
HE'S FANTASTIC WITH THEM.
LONNIE. HUH?
WHO LOVES YOU? YOU WANT THAT?
I TALK TO THE DOGS BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT LISTENERS.
I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE.
I THANKFUL TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S A TOUGH JOB, BUT I ENJOY IT.
AND YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON "CLEANING YOUR KENNEL."
YOU KNOW, THESE DOGS ARE DEPENDING ON ME.
YOU'RE NEXT, PETUNIA.
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'VE EVER ACTUALLY WORKED AT AN ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER...
NONI, PLEASE.
PLEASE, BABY.
...I SPENT HALF OF MY LIFE IN A CAGE THAT SIZE.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.
I KNOW THE ANXIETY, THE NERVOUSNESS, THE AGITATION.
I'VE BEEN THERE.
OH, THAT'S IT.
THAT IS IT. THAT IS A WRAP.
JUST GOT TO PUT AWAY A FEW THINGS.
LEAVE IT. I'LL GET IT.
I GOT YOU. LEAVE IT.
[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]
[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]
HELLO.
YES, SIR.
THE PAROLE OFFICER, HE SAID HE'D BE HERE IN AN HOUR.
HE'S COMING HERE?
YEAH. HE SAID HE'S ON THE WAY.
SO, RANDY JUST INFORMED ME THAT HIS PAROLE OFFICER
IS ON THE WAY TO THE WAREHOUSE.
AND JUDGING BY THE LOOK ON RANDY'S FACE,
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD VISIT.
I NEED YOU TO TALK TO HIM.
Tia: I WILL. YEAH, I'LL TALK TO HIM.
OKAY.
THE LAST TIME I HAD A VISIT FROM A PAROLE OFFICER IN CALIFORNIA,
MY HUSBAND, AREN, ENDED UP BACK IN PRISON DOING 15 YEARS.
Tia: WHEN RANDY'S PAROLE OFFICER SHOWED UP,
MY HEART WAS IN MY STOMACH.
WHEN MY HUSBAND'S PAROLE OFFICER
CAME TO CHECK ON HIM BACK IN CALIFORNIA,
IT ENDED UP WITH HIM BACK IN PRISON,
AND HE'S STILL THERE TO THIS DAY.
I'M TRYING NOT TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS
AND JUST TAKE THIS STEP BY STEP.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD.
AND...
YOU KNOW, HE'S HERE,
AND, YOU KNOW, HE WALKS THE DOGS IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND, YEAH, I'LL SHOW YOU.
WE'LL GO THROUGH HERE A LITTLE BIT.
THE PAROLE OFFICER WANTED ME TO WALK HIM AROUND THE WAREHOUSE
AND SHOW HIM WHAT RANDY DOES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
Tia: OH. YOU'RE ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
HE WASN'T THERE TO SIMPLY TAKE RANDY AWAY.
HOPEFULLY, HE DOESN'T SEE ANYTHING
THAT MAKES HIM CHANGE HIS MIND
BECAUSE RANDY NEEDS THIS PLACE AND THIS PLACE NEEDS RANDY.
THIS WHOLE PLACE WAS FLOODED.
SO HE STARTED IN THAT CORNER
AND STARTED GETTING THE CONCRETE SEALER,
AND HE'S WORKING HIS WAY AROUND THERE.
HE'LL START ON THIS WALL NEXT.
THAT'S KIND OF LIKE BEEN HIS PROJECT.
AFTER HE CLEANS KENNELS IN THE MORNING,
THAT'S WHAT HE DOES IN THE AFTERNOONS,
SO, MULTI-TALENTED, YEAH.
I WAS A LITTLE ANTSY, A LITTLE NERVOUS.
DOING PAROLE QUITE A FEW TIMES --
IT'S THEIR JOB TO STAY ON TOP OF GUYS LIKE ME, I GUESS.
YEAH.
THAT'S ALL.
OKAY. COOL.
FROM WHAT I SAW TODAY, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
IT'S A VERY -- LOOKS LIKE A VERY WELL-ORGANIZED,
VERY WELL-MAINTAINED PROGRAM,
AND IT'S EXCELLENT FOR GUYS IN RANDY'S SITUATION.
IT GIVES HIM SOMETHING TO DO DURING THE DAY,
AND IT KEEPS HIM OCCUPIED.
I'M NOT USED TO PAROLE OFFICERS BEING --
THEY'RE ALL LIKE OLD AND GROUCHY.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. THERE YOU GO.
THERE YOU GO. YEAH.
NO, WE'RE HERE.
WE'RE HERE SEVEN DAYS, YOU KNOW.
Randy: I'M TRYING TO BE ONE OF HIS EASIEST PAROLEES.
ME COMING UP, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT, YOU KNOW,
"HEY, I AIN'T GONNA BE NOTHING BUT A CROOK.
"I AIN'T GONNA BE NOTHING BUT A DRUG DEALER.
I AIN'T GONNA BE NOTHING BUT A GANGBANGER."
BUT WITH TIA, SHE SEES THAT, YOU KNOW,
I GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO OFFER THE WORLD
THAN JUST ALL NEGATIVE.
Tia: THANK YOU. NICE MEETING YOU.
OKAY. OKAY.
[ LAUGHS ]
NO, IT IS NOT TIME FOR ME TO START USING ONE.
SO DON'T GET ANY IDEAS.
ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, DANA, AND HER MOTHER, DIANA,
ARE COMPLETELY IN LOVE WITH ONE OF OUR DOGS, MR. MEANOR,
AND THEY WANT TO ADOPT HIM.
THE ONLY ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT DANA'S STEPDAD USES A WALKER.
SO I DO HAVE SOME IMPORTANT TESTING AND TRAINING TO DO
BEFORE I KNOW THIS ADOPTION'S EVEN POSSIBLE.
SOME DOGS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH, LIKE, PEOPLE ON CRUTCHES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I BROKE MY FOOT AND TRIED TO USE A CRUTCH,
SOME OF THE DOGS WERE BARKING AT ME, WHEELCHAIRS.
SO I WANT TO SEE HOW HE'S GONNA REACT.
SO LET ME GET SOME TREATS FIRST, AND THEN I'LL GET HIM.
MR. MEANOR'S BEEN SHELTERED, YOU KNOW,
LIVING IN OUR KENNEL FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GOING TO REACT
TO THIS BIG METAL THING, YOU KNOW, MOVING TOWARDS HIM.
I MEAN, THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO IS HE SHOWS SOME FEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, FEAR CAN LEAD INTO FEAR AGGRESSION.
AND ANY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR CAN SINK THIS ADOPTION.
ACTUALLY MOVE WITH IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
GO OVER HERE WHERE ITS SMOOTHER.
MISTER, LOOK. COME HERE.
AND HE DOESN'T CARE.
COME HERE, BUDDY.
COME HERE. [ SMOOCHES ]
COME HERE.
HE DOESN'T EVEN NOTICE IT. [ LAUGHS ]
THANKFULLY MR. MEANOR
DIDN'T SHOW ONE BIT OF ANYTHING AGAINST THE WALKER.
ACTUALLY, HE WANTED TO GO FOR A REAL WALK.
I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP.
HE DOESN'T CARE. MISTER.
LOOKED THE OTHER WAY. LOOKED THAT WAY.
SO AT THAT POINT, I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE'S GONNA BE ABSOLUTELY FINE."
HE'S GOOD TO GO.
WE STILL HAVE THE HOME CHECK.
AND NO MATTER HOW MANY THINGS
GO RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING,
IT JUST TAKES ONE WRONG THING
TO POSSIBLY MAKE AN ADOPTION FALL THROUGH.
AH!
ALL RIGHT. NOW WHERE DO WE WANT TO PUT IT?
WE NEED TO TURN IT FACING WHICH WAY?
THAT WAY.
IT'S BEEN AN EXTREMELY ROUGH WEEK WITH MURRAY, BROWNIE,
AND HIS DOG, RED, THAT PASSED AWAY.
LOSING RED WAS HEARTBREAKING,
BUT IT DID FORCE US TO TAKE BROWNIE TO THE VET.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH HIS HEARTWORM IN TIME
AND GET HIM ON A TREATMENT PLAN.
YEAH.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
NOW WE'RE BUILDING BROWNIE A KENNEL
SO THAT HE'LL BE OFF THE CHAIN FOREVER.
COME HERE, BROWNIE. GOOD BOY.
Murray: MARIAH WAS A GODSEND
TO COME TO MY RESCUE AND TRY TO HELP ME.
AND I APPRECIATE IT TO THE HIGHEST.
BROWNIE BOO. HI, HONEY.
YOU LIKE THAT? YOU LIKE THAT?
SO, I'M ON MY WAY TO DO THE HOME CHECK FOR MR. MEANOR.
AND, I HAVE TO ADMIT, I'M FEELING A LITTLE PRESSURE.
I KNOW DANA.
SHE COMES EVERY SATURDAY.
SHE'S BUILT UP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS DOG.
YOU KNOW, IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
I'M THINKING, "WHAT IF HER YARD'S NOT RIGHT?"
YOU KNOW, "WHAT IF MR. MEANOR
DOESN'T REACT WELL TO HER STEPDAD?"
THIS PUTS ME IN A REALLY BAD POSITION.
IT'S LIKE, "YIKES."
THIS IS NOT SOMEONE'S HEART THAT YOU WANT TO BREAK.
Tia: SO, I'M ON MY WAY TO DANA'S HOUSE,
AND I'VE GOT MY FINGERS CROSSED.
SO THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON THIS BOTH FOR MR. MEANOR,
WHO I THOUGHT MIGHT END UP BEING A LIFER HERE,
AND FOR DANA, WHO'S NOT JUST A RANDOM ADOPTER.
SHE'S ONE OF OUR REGULAR VOLUNTEERS,
AND SHE'S BECOME A REALLY CLOSE FRIEND.
I JUST REALLY HOPE THERE'S NO SURPRISES AT THE HOME CHECK.
[ KNOCKING ]
Dana: HELLO.
HELLO.
IN. [ LAUGHS ]
HEY, MAN.
HE'S LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.
"YOU HUMANS ARE CRAZY.
LET ME IN. LET ME IN."
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HERE, WHERE YOU GOING, BUDDY?
WHERE YOU GOING?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
YOU LIKE THE COLD FLOOR?
"OH, MY GOD. I LIKE THE COLD FLOOR."
YOU LIKE THAT? YOU LIKE THAT?
LOOK AT THIS. TOY BOX.
YEP.
OH.
AND HIS PICTURE WAS UP ON THE WALL.
OH, COME ON. REALLY?
I DON'T EVEN HAVE MY KIDS' PICTURES UP ON THE WALL.
WE WERE WAITING.
CUTE.
COME ON. LET'S GO MEET YOUR PARTNER.
GO MEET YOUR PARTNER.
SO, THE FIRST THING WE DID WHEN WE WENT IN THE BACKYARD,
WAS WE GOT TO MEET DAD.
SO, I STILL NEED TO SEE IF MR. MEANOR
IS GONNA HAVE ANY NEGATIVE REACTION
TO DANA'S STEPDAD'S WALKER.
SAY HI.
THIS IS MR. MEANOR.
HE'S GONNA BE YOUR BUDDY.
MR. MEANOR WENT RIGHT UP TO HIM
LIKE THEY'D KNOWN EACH OTHER THEIR WHOLE LIFE.
AND HE BARELY EVEN NOTICED HIS WALKER.
AWW. IT'S A CUTE YARD.
WHAT YOU SEE?
THE YARD WAS BEAUTIFUL -- THE GRASS, A LITTLE POOL,
A LITTLE SWIMMING POOL FOR HIM TO PLAY IN IF HE WANTED TO.
YOU GOT YOUR LITTLE FENCES UP.
CUTE.
AND YOU HAVE THIS ALL THE WAY AROUND.
FENCING WAS VERY SECURE.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS GONNA GET OVER THAT FENCE.
Dana: GET USED TO THE YARD, HUH, MAN?
GRASS IS GOOD.
[ Laughing ] MR. MEANOR.
IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAD DESERT, AND THERE WAS NO GRASS.
GRASS IS GOOD. WE LOVE LOUISIANA.
SCRATCHING YOUR BACK, MAN.
Diana: OH, THAT'S FUNNY.
YOU KNOW, IN CALIFORNIA,
OUR DOGS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT GRASS WAS.
WE LIVED IN THE DESERT,
SO THIS IS REALLY -- A REALLY COOL MOMENT.
LIFE IS GOOD.
LIFE IS GOOD -- GRASS.
HE LIKES GRASS.
I REALIZED THAT HE REALLY WAS -- YOU KNOW, HE WAS MINE.
THAT'S A GOOD MAN.
YOU LIKE YOUR YARD, HUH?
AND HE'S GONNA LIVE THE LIFE
HE SHOULD'VE BEEN LIVING ALL THESE YEARS.
OH, LOOK AT YOU. GRASS STAINS ALREADY.
GRASS STAINS ALL OVER YOUR WHITE ALREADY.
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS,
MR. MEANOR HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT WITH DANA.
IT'S LIKE SHE RAISED HIM FROM A PUPPY.
PRETEND LIKE YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME.
PRETEND.
THIS DOG THAT I THOUGHT MIGHT POSSIBLY SPEND THE REST
OF HIS LIFE AT VILLALOBOS LIVING IN A KENNEL
NOW HAS A BIG, GREEN, GRASSY YARD
AND HIS OWN LITTLE SWIMMING POOL.
IT'S AMAZING, AND THIS JUST PROVES ONCE AGAIN
THAT I CAN'T GIVE UP ON ANY OF THESE DOGS EVER.
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