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COMING UP ON "PIT BULLS & PAROLEES"...
THEY DONE DUMPED A DOG IN THE DAMN DUMPSTER OUT HERE.
LET'S GO, MAN.
...TO SAVE A DOG DUMPED IN AN UNTHINKABLE SITUATION.
[ DOG YELPING ]
BUT A VERY SPECIAL DOG GETS THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME.
Kelsey: YOU'RE SO CUTE.
OH, MY GOSH. HE'S SO CUTE. I'M ALREADY IN LOVE.
YOU WANT TO TRY? YOU WANT TO TRY THE BEACH?
BUT WILL SHE BE ABLE TO HANDLE A BEACH-GOING LIFESTYLE?
Man: UH-OH.
YOU JUST GO DOWN THE SECOND ONE.
AND A CALL FOR HELP...
A LOT OF PEOPLE USE "TOUGH" DOGS TO PROTECT THE DRUGS.
...LEADS THE TEAM INTO DANGEROUS TERRITORY.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEONE WAS GONNA POP OUT OF THIS HOUSE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SITUATION WE WERE WALKING INTO.
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.
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
Tia: SO, WE GOT A CALL ABOUT A DOG THAT HAD BEEN TIED UP
ON AN ABANDONED PIECE OF PROPERTY
DOWN IN THE LOWER NINTH WARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS ONE GOOD NEW ORLEANS DOWNPOUR
AND THIS DOG COULD BE SITTING IN A LOT OF WATER.
YOU KNOW, IF HE'S TIED UP, HE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE.
SO THIS COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH.
Orlando: SO, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE FIRST RIGHT
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BRIDGE.
IT'S VERY COMMON FOR THESE KATRINA-RIDDEN HOUSES
THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED TO HOUSE SOME UNSAVORY CHARACTERS.
NO.
NO. THAT'S GOOD.
WE'VE LEARNED SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE USE
THESE ABANDONED HOUSES TO STASH THEIR DRUGS
AND THEN CHAIN A "TOUGH" DOG TO THE OUTSIDE
TO PROTECT THE DRUGS.
TURN HERE? THE CORNER HOUSE?
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE ABANDONED HOUSES -- TO US,
THEY MIGHT LOOK ABANDONED -- PEOPLE ARE STILL USING THEM.
Tia: I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEONE WAS GONNA POP OUT OF THIS HOUSE
AND GET PISSED OFF.
OH, HERE IT IS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SITUATION WE WERE WALKING INTO.
OH, PUPPY.
HI. WOW!
WOW.
I SAW WHAT APPEARED TO BE A VERY YOUNG DOG.
HI. [ SMOOCHES ] HI.
YOU COULD JUST TELL FROM A DISTANCE HE WAS SWEET,
HE WAS HAPPY WE WERE THERE.
YOU KNOW, HE WANTED US TO HELP HIM.
Matt: WOW, HE IS GORGEOUS.
GOD, JUST STANDING HERE IN THE RAIN WITH A BIG OLD CHAIN.
IT'S OKAY, BUDDY.
HERE, UNDO THAT ONE. OH, IT'S TIGHT.
TAKE IT OFF. WOW.
AND YOU GUYS CAN SEE HE'S BEEN HERE A WHILE.
IT'S ALL SMASHED DOWN.
THE GROUND HAD BEEN SMASHED DOWN
AND NOT JUST FROM BEING THERE ONE DAY.
SO, THIS LITTLE PUP HAS BEEN SLEEPING OUT IN THIS RAIN.
DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE DECENCY TO CHAIN HIM UP INSIDE THE SHED.
Matt: YEAH, RIGHT?
THERE'S A SHED RIGHT THERE FOR SHELTER.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT PUTTING IT IN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT POSSESSES PEOPLE TO DO THIS.
THE RESCUE THING'S KIND OF NEW TO ME.
AND I TELL YOU, EVERY TIME I'VE CAME ON ONE,
I'M JUST BLOWN AWAY AT THE THINGS --
THE STUPID THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO WITH THESE ANIMALS.
LET'S TAKE THIS TO ADD TO OUR WALL OF SHAME.
I MEAN, THE THING IS THIS.
HEALTH-WISE, WEIGHT-WISE, HE'S NOT TOO BAD OFF.
THAT BEING SAID, THE DOG WAS STILL CHAINED UP
OUT IN THE RAIN, NO SHELTER.
GOING BY WHAT THE NEIGHBOR SAID,
THAT SHE'S BEEN HEARING A DOG BARKING FOR QUITE A LONG TIME,
AT THAT POINT, I DIDN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE OWNER.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE DOG.
COME ON, LITTLE PUPPY.
IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME
IF THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HE WAS DRAGGING AROUND.
IN THIS YARD.
HE'S LIKE, "GET ME OUT OF HERE."
LOOK AT HIM. "GET ME OUT OF HERE."
CLAUDE.
YES.
I JUST LOOKED UP AND SAW THE STREET SIGN
ON THE CORNER WHERE THE HOUSE IS AT, ST. CLAUDE.
CLAUDE AFTER ST. CLAUDE.
COME ON, BUDDY. COME ON.
COME ON. GOOD BOY.
SO, WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE WAREHOUSE,
THE FIRST THING I DID WAS CHECK THIS DOG FOR A MICROCHIP.
OH, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHIP.
WHEN IT TURNED OUT THAT OUR NEW DOG CLAUDE
DID NOT HAVE A MICROCHIP,
THAT'S ACTUALLY WHEN THE REAL CRAZINESS BEGAN.
ALL RIGHT, I GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT THIS DOG.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
MOST PEOPLE ASSUME AFTER WE RESCUE A DOG,
YOU KNOW, WE JUST GRAB HIM, PUT HIM IN A KENNEL.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
Matt: VALENTINE'S UP FRONT.
SO HER KENNEL'S EMPTY.
HER KENNEL IS EMPTY. YES, MA'AM.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE ENVIRONMENT IS AS PLEASANT
AS IT CAN BE WHEN WE BRING A NEW DOG IN.
[ BARKS ]
MOVE SOCKS DOWN THERE.
AND THEN PUT HER ON THE END.
THAT WAY IT'S NOT AS SCARY.
OKAY, YOU'RE FINE. COME ON.
HOLD HIM OFF, LIKE, OVER THERE BY THE FAN.
Tia: FINDING A SPOT FOR A NEW DOG HERE
IS LIKE PLAYING WITH A RUBIK'S CUBE.
IT'S LIKE EVERY SINGLE MOVE HAS TO BE THOUGHT OUT.
TAKE HIM OUT, PUT HER HERE, PUT HIM BACK.
YES, MA'AM.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
WE HAVE TOO MANY DOGS.
HOW IS GIMMELS? HOW IS HE WITH OTHER DOGS?
YOU KNOW, DOES HE SEEM TO LIKE THEM OR NO?
HE DOESN'T EVEN CARE.
OH. LET'S MOVE GIMMELS.
WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO PUT THE DOG,
SO WE WAS PRETTY MUCH PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH THE DOGS,
MOVING THEM AROUND, SWITCHING THIS ONE HERE
'CAUSE YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW,
IT'S ON THE SIDE OF DOGS THAT'S GONNA GET ALONG.
WE'LL GET CLEAN BLANKETS AND STUFF FROM THERE.
I'LL TAKE ONE OUT OF MY CRATE, TOO.
THEN WE'LL MOVE CLAUDE OVER HERE.
OKAY.
SO, FROM BEING INCARCERATED,
I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN A CELL FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME,
THE PERSON THAT'S ON THE SIDE OF YOU
REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE ON YOUR SANITY.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
OH, MY GOD.
SOMEHOW, WE ALWAYS MAKE IT WORK.
Tia: HI, CLAUDE.
OH, LOOK, JOY-JOY. YOU GUYS ARE TWINS!
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
AT LEAST YOU WON'T GET RAINED ON NOW.
ADD HIM TO THE PILE.
JUST WHEN ONE FIRE DRILL ENDED, ANOTHER ONE BLEW UP.
I GOT ONE.
WILL CAME AROUND THE CORNER
AND SAID THERE WAS A DOG AROUND THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
Will: THE DOG'S IN THE DUMPSTER, HOMIE.
THEY JUST DUMPED IT IN THERE, I GUESS.
GET IT.
Matt: WILL RAN UP, COULDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING,
BUT WE COULD TELL FROM THE TONE OF HIS VOICE
THAT HE REALLY NEEDED SOME HELP.
[ DOG YELPING ]
SO, AS WE GOT CLOSER, WE COULD HEAR THE DOG YELPING.
I WAS LIKE, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
[BLEEP]
YEAH.
JUST WALKING IN, JUST DOING MY THING, AND I HEAR SOMETHING.
[ DOG YELPING ]
IS THAT HER BARKING?
I LOOK DOWN AND, LO AND BEHOLD,
THERE'S A LITTLE BEAGLE IN THERE.
COME ON.
Toney: MY GOD, MAN.
IT WAS, LIKE, REAL HEARTBREAKING
JUST TO SEE THAT ANIMAL IN THERE.
COME ON, BABY. COME ON.
Matt: GOOD GIRL.
THAT IS MESSED UP, MAN.
THEY, LIKE, THREW HER IN A DUMPSTER.
Matt: SHE DEFINITELY LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS JUST DUMPED THERE.
IT MAKES ME FEEL PISSED OFF TO SEE THAT, DUDE.
AND IT REALLY GOT UNDER MY SKIN REAL BAD.
Will: I'M GONNA TAKE YOU OUT.
ALL GOD'S CREATURES ARE PRECIOUS IN THEIR OWN WAY.
AND THEY TOOK ONE AND JUST THREW IT IN THE TRASH --
LITERALLY A DUMPSTER.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, BABY.
T.C., COULD YOU GO GET SOME WATER, PLEASE?
YEAH, I GOT IT.
YEAH, GO AND GET SOME WATER, DUDE.
Toney: YOU KNOW HOW THIS NEW ORLEANS HEAT GETS.
IT GETS REAL HOT.
YOU KNOW, THAT JUST COULD BE EXCRUCIATING, YOU KNOW?
IT COULD LEAD TO, LIKE, THAT DOG'S DEATH.
Tia: OH, THIS POOR OLD DOG.
YOU SAID THE RIGHT THING 'CAUSE IT'S --
POOR OLD DOG.
OH, MAMA.
YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THIS IS SHOCKING TO ME.
BUT THE UGLY REALITY IS,
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A CITY THAT'S SO OVERRUN WITH DOGS,
YOU JUST CAN'T BE SHOCKED ANYMORE.
Matt: POOR BABY.
SHE NEEDS A BATH. SHE'S COVERED IN MUD.
Tia: OH, GOD.
JUST BECAUSE WE'RE PRIMARILY A PIT BULL RESCUE
DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GONNA TURN THIS DOG AWAY.
NO DOG DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE GARBAGE.
YOU'RE OKAY, OLD LADY.
THE FIRST THING WE WANTED TO DO IS COOL HER DOWN WITH THE HOSE
AND JUST MAKE HER FEEL BETTER.
I KNOW, MOMMY. I KNOW.
Matt: YOU KNOW, SHE WAS ALL SAD AND SWEET.
BUT WHAT WAS REALLY COOL WAS SHE JUST LET US,
YOU KNOW, DO WHAT WE HAD TO DO.
SHE DIDN'T GIVE US ANY PROBLEMS.
SHE WAS JUST THE SWEETEST THING EVER.
CLOSER TO HER. CLOSER TO HER.
YEAH. THANK YOU.
TIA DECIDED TO NAME HER JUNE
'CAUSE IT'S LIKE A GRANDMOTHER NAME.
HUH?
GOT A TUMOR.
THAT'S [BLEEP] HUGE LIKE A GOLF BALL.
Will: WHILE I WAS WASHING HER,
I FOUND WHAT SEEMED TO BE A GROWTH.
YOU GOT ANY MORE OF THEM GROWTHS ON YOU, HUH?
WHAT'S THIS?
THAT'S ANOTHER ONE RIGHT THERE. THAT'S THE EXACT SAME THING.
THEN I FOUND ANOTHER ONE ON HER HINDQUARTER.
LOOKS LIKE SOME GROWTHS.
WILL QUICKLY POINTED OUT SOME LUMPS AND BUMPS ON HER.
IT WAS A LITTLE WORRISOME.
WE'LL GET HER SOME FOOD AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE HER TO THE VET.
WITH AN OLDER DOG ESPECIALLY,
IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO WAIT ON.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
HEY, MAMA.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DOGS COME THROUGH HERE.
THEY ARE REALLY BEAT UP -- PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY.
IT TAKES A LOT TO BRING THESE DOGS BACK AROUND.
GOOD BOY, TANK.
IT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GOOD
TO SEE THESE DOGS GO FROM SCARED TO TRUSTING.
IT REALLY MAKES ME HAPPY AND GIVE ME PURPOSE.
[ LAUGHS ] COJO!
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
GIVING THESE GUYS ALL I HAVE,
BUT IT'S REALLY GETTING *** MY BODY.
GEE...
I HAVE ONE USABLE ARM,
SO EVERYTHING IS REAL CHALLENGING FOR ME.
GOOD GIRL. GOOD GIRL.
I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE THESE DOGS NEED ME.
IT'S YOUR MAGGIE. IT'S YOUR MAGGIE.
I DO FIND WAYS TO MAKE DO
BECAUSE I NEVER LET THESE DOGS DOWN NOR MISS TIA.
IT IS A STRUGGLE EVERY DAY.
AND I REALLY DON'T LIKE GOING TO THE DOCTOR,
BUT I AM GIVING IT A LOT OF THOUGHT
BECAUSE MY SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE.
Matt: ME AND ORLANDO GRABBED JUNE,
AND WE TOOK HER TO THE VET TO GET HER CHECKED OUT.
COME ON, MAMA.
SO, WE KNOW THAT JUNE HAS A COUPLE OF LUMPS ON HER,
BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE
A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET CHECKED OUT AT THE VET.
Orlando: SHE'S GOT A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.
OKAY.
BUT SHE HAD THAT ON HER SINCE YOU GUYS PICKED HER UP?
OKAY.
AND SHE'S TAKING IN A LOT OF WATER.
AND JUST DRINKING AND DRINKING?
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT HER
YEAH.
CAN BE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS,
SO MIGHT NEED TO DO SOME BLOOD WORK ON HER.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HER, SEE IF WE CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT.
SO, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN TELL ME BESIDES HER DRINKING A LOT?
I MEAN, SHE'S BEEN OKAY?
EVERYTHING ELSE HAS SEEMED NORMAL.
SHE IS DEFINITELY NOT IN GREAT SHAPE.
SO, SHE'S, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY HAD SOME PUPPIES, FOR SURE.
AND I THINK SHE PROBABLY WAS USED AS A BREEDING DOG.
OH, SHE HAS EAR INFECTIONS.
SHE HAS YEAST INFECTIONS IN BOTH EARS -- NOT UNCOMMON.
WE SEE THAT DOWN HERE.
WE'LL SEE WHAT'S GROWING IN THERE.
BUT WHOEVER'S TAKING CARE OF HER
IS GONNA HAVE TO CLEAN THEM AND MEDICATE THEM.
UM...
SHE ALSO HAS A FEW LITTLE LUMPS ON HER THAT ARE NOT NORMAL.
IN PRISON WITH THE VET TECH PROGRAM I WAS IN,
YOU KNOW, WE SAW A LOT OF THESE THINGS, THESE GROWTHS.
THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS CANCEROUS,
BUT SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE VERY SERIOUS.
DEFINITELY DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HER,
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE ONE UP HERE, TOO.
I NEED TO GET A LITTLE SAMPLE OF THE MASS.
AND WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT,
BUT IT'S GONNA NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF.
FOR SURE.
IF IT'S A MALIGNANT TUMOR, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY
WHAT WE'LL DO THEN IS WE'LL TAKE CHEST X-RAYS
AND SEE IF IT'S JUST IN THAT ONE AREA
OR IF IT'S SPREAD ELSEWHERE.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO HER BLOODWORK TONIGHT.
AND THEN IF EVERYTHING LOOKS OKAY, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND FIX HER AND TAKE THAT MASS OFF TOMORROW.
SO, YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE HER OVERNIGHT?
YEAH, I'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW WHEN WE GET THE BLOODWORK BACK
AND THEN HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF HER.
THANK YOU.
BUH-BYE, JUNE. SEE YOU LATER.
SO, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT THIS DOG'S GOING THROUGH,
I REALLY HOPE WE GET SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT HER.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
Tia: YOU KNOW, NO ONE COULD EVER ACCUSE ME
OF CHOOSING THE EASY PATH.
RUNNING A RESCUE IS A LOT OF WORK.
NO MATTER WHERE THESE DOGS COME FROM
AND NO MATTER WHAT THEIR QUIRK IS, THEY'RE ALL VERY SPECIAL.
THERE IS A GROUP OF DOGS HERE THAT DO STAND OUT ON THEIR OWN,
AND THAT'S OUR SPECIAL-NEEDS DOGS.
THEY DON'T FEEL THEY HAVE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM.
THEY'RE JUST GOING ABOUT THEIR DAY LIKE ALL THE OTHER DOGS.
BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT FENCE
IS THEY CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO ADOPT OUT.
IT DOES WORRY US THAT SOME OF THESE SPECIAL-NEEDS DOGS
WILL BE HERE FOREVER AND NEVER GET HOMES.
AND TODAY, YOU KNOW, MAGIC IS ON OUR SIDE.
WE HAVE AN ADOPTER COMING
WHO HAS AN EXTRA SOFT SPOT FOR SPECIAL-NEEDS DOGS.
SO, TODAY WE HAVE KELSEY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
COMING IN TO MEET SOME OF OUR DOGS FOR ADOPTION.
HI.
TIA. THIS IS EARL.
KELSEY. NICE TO MEET YOU.
MY NAME IS KELSEY, AND I'M FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I RECENTLY JUST MOVED TO CHARLESTON FOR COLLEGE.
I LIVE WITH MY BOYFRIEND.
AND WE'RE READY TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNING A DOG.
Tia: I KNOW THAT YOU SHOWED SOME INTEREST IN SPECIAL-NEEDS DOGS,
JUST DOGS THAT MIGHT GET OVERLOOKED
BECAUSE OF A PHYSICAL HANDICAP.
Kelsey: ALTHOUGH ALL DOGS NEED LOVE,
I FEEL LIKE THESE DOGS MIGHT NEED A LITTLE EXTRA LOVE
AND CARE AND ATTENTION AND A LITTLE MORE RESPONSIBILITY,
WHICH I'M WILLING TO TAKE ON.
IT'S REALLY COOL THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SPECIAL-NEEDS DOGS
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'RE HARD TO FIND HOMES FOR.
HAVING SOMEONE LIKE KELSEY HERE IS SPECIAL.
SO, WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN FIND
THE RIGHT CONNECTION FOR HER
WITH ONE OF THESE REALLY DESERVING DOGS.
WE'LL START WITH COUNTRY GIRL.
COUNTRY GIRL IS A PIT BULL/AMERICAN BULLDOG MIX
THAT WE GOT OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
COME ON, MAMA.
COUNTRY GIRL, SHE JUST LOST HER LIMB A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO
AND SHE GETTING AROUND JUST FINE.
WE HAD TO HAVE HER FRONT LEG AMPUTATED
BECAUSE IT WAS JUST DEAD.
DESPITE THAT, THOUGH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
SHE'S FULL OF *** AND VINEGAR.
SHE LOVES TO WADDLE AROUND.
Tia: SHE IS.
HI, BABY. COME HERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
COUNTRY GIRL KIND OF LOOKED LIKE A COW, AND SHE WAS JUST SO CUTE.
OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF HER HAVING THE MISSING LEG
AND THE DAMAGED BACK LEG,
SHE PROBABLY CAN'T GO FOR, LIKE, LONG WALKS, YOU KNOW?
I'M MORE ACTIVE.
I LIKE TO GO ON RUNS IN THE MORNING OR TO THE BEACH.
I LIVE FIVE MINUTES FROM THE BEACH,
AND SO I'M HOPING TO BRING WHICHEVER DOG I ADOPT
TO THE BEACH EVERY MORNING AND WORKOUT
AND JUST RUN AND BE ACTIVE.
COUNTRY GIRL MAY NOT FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE.
WE WANT TO TRY TO GET THE RIGHT MATCH FROM THE BEGINNING.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE BOTH KIND OF RULED COUNTRY GIRL OUT.
THE NEXT DOG WE'RE GONNA BRING OUT IS ELKE.
YOU KNOW, ELKE IS YOUNG. SHE'S ABOUT A YEAR OLD.
FULL OF ENERGY.
SHE'S JUST A REALLY SWEET PIT BULL/HOUND MIX.
HER MOTHER GAVE BIRTH TO THE PUPPIES
IN A SHED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS.
AND A GOOD SAMARITAN FOUND THEM.
Tia: DOESN'T HAVE AN EAR.
SHE WAS BORN WITH ONLY ONE EAR.
HEY, IT'S YOUR PA.
I HAVE LITERALLY WATCHED THIS PUPPY GROW.
SHE'S GETTING BIGGER BY THE DAY.
FEISTY LITTLE GIRL.
OH, MY GOD. YOU WILD THING!
YOU WILD THING.
WHERE YOU GOING?
SHE'S EXCITED.
AS YOU COULD TELL BY HER ONE REMAINING EAR,
SHE'S DEFINITELY A HOUND MIX OF SOME SORT.
Tia: HER BROTHER DIRK GOT ADOPTED OUT ALREADY,
AND HE'S GOT A GREAT LIFE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE HER CHANCE, TOO,
TO FINALLY HAVE THAT.
WITH THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT ELKE HAS,
SHE'D MAKE THE PERFECT BEACH-RUNNING BUDDY.
Earl: ALL OVER THE PLACE.
COME HERE, PUPPY. COME ON. COME ON.
COME ON, COME ON, COME ON, COME ON. THERE YOU GO.
Kelsey: I WANT A DOG THAT'S ACTIVE,
BUT JUST THE FACT THAT SHE'S A PUPPY, SHE'S A LITTLE TOO HYPER FOR ME.
WITH MY SCHOOL AND WORK SCHEDULE,
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR A PUPPY.
SO, I DON'T THINK THAT SHE WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR ME.
COME HERE, PUPPY. COME ON. COME ON.
EVEN THOUGH KELSEY IS INTERESTED
IN ADOPTING A DOG WITH SPECIAL NEEDS,
WE STILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER DOG SHE PICKS OUT
STILL FITS THE CRITERIA FOR HER LIFESTYLE.
IT COULD BE TOUGH.
BUT I DO HAVE A THOUGHT ON A SPECIAL DOG THAT MIGHT BE RIGHT.
[ DOG BARKING ]
[ DOGS BARKING ]
WHEN KELSEY CAME LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL-NEEDS DOG,
IT WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.
BUT KELSEY NEEDS A VERY SPECIFIC DOG.
SHE NEEDS A DOG THAT'S GOT ENERGY AND HEALTHY ENOUGH
TO BE ABLE TO GO RUNNING ON THE BEACH WITH HER.
SO, I'M JUST HOPING THAT WE CAN FIND
THE RIGHT DOG WITH THE RIGHT CONNECTION.
WELL, LET'S GO GET THE NEXT DOG. PAULA.
SO, PAULA HAS A REAL SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.
SHE'S ONE OF OUR BEST EXAMPLES
OF A DOG THAT REALLY CHANGED FROM THE DAY SHE CAME IN TO NOW.
SHE ALREADY HAD ONE EYE MISSING.
WE HAVE NO IDEA, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED.
ONE OF THOSE MYSTERIES.
WHEN PAULA FIRST CAME TO US,
I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF HOPE.
SHE WAS VERY SKITTISH.
SHE WAS GROWLING AT EVERYBODY.
WE COULDN'T EVEN GET A LEASH ON HER.
SHE'S NOT HYPER,
BUT THEN SHE'LL TURN AROUND ON YOUR COUCH OR LAY AT YOUR FEET.
IT TOOK HER SOME TIME,
AND EVENTUALLY SHE JUST GOT COMFORTABLE,
A LITTLE BIT MORE CONFIDENT,
AND SHE STARTED TO COME OUT INTO HER OWN.
LITTLE PAULA ONE-EYE, SHE'S GOT EVERYBODY'S VOTE.
AWW.
JOLLY, HAPPY GIRL.
PAULA HAS BEEN IN MY SECTION SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
SHE LIKES TO BE CLOSE. SHE LIKES TO CUDDLE.
HI, PRETTY.
HAPPY GIRL RIGHT HERE.
BLEW ME OFF.
OH, YOU'RE SO GOOD.
YOU'RE SO CUTE. OH, MY GOD. SHE'S SO CUTE.
Tia: PAULA, WHEN SHE CAME OUT,
LITTLE HEARTS JUST STARTED TO, LIKE, FLUTTER
OUT OF, LIKE, KELSEY AND PAULA'S HEADS, YOU KNOW?
HI, PRETTY. HI.
I'M EXCITED.
UH-HUH.
AS SOON AS I SAW HER AND SHE CAME UP TO ME,
I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER.
AND I THINK THE FEELING WAS MUTUAL.
I THINK SHE KNEW WHERE HER HOME WAS.
WELL, LOOKS LIKE SHE LIKES ME.
I'M TAKING HER HOME.
GOOD GIRL. THAT'S SO GOOD.
GOOD GIRL. MM.
RIGHT.
YEAH.
SO, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE HER TO A BEACH WITH WAVES
AND SEE HOW SHE, YOU KNOW, REACTS.
I'VE HAD SOME DOGS THAT ABSOLUTELY FLIP OUT
AND RUN THE OTHER WAY.
I'VE HAD DOGS THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE SCARED OF THE WATER
AND DOVE STRAIGHT INTO THE OCEAN
AND JUST KEPT ON GOING TO JAPAN.
AS I'M EXPLAINING HOW THE HOME CHECK IS GOING TO WORK,
I'M JUST KIND OF WATCHING PAULA,
AND SHE'S JUST GLUED HERSELF TO KELSEY'S SIDE.
AND ALSO, I'M ASSUMING BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE
THAT YOUR BOYFRIEND'S GONNA BE OKAY WITH LIVING WITH A DOG.
WE BRING A DOG TO YOU.
WE HAVE TO HAVE HIM THERE
SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT HE'S INTO THIS.
HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL GO WELL, BUT GOD FORBID IT DOESN'T.
IT WOULD BE HEARTBREAKING
BECAUSE I'M ALREADY SO SET ON HAVING PAULA.
Earl: SEEING MISS PAULA GET A SHOT AT GETTING A HOME,
IT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.
AND JUST WORKING WITH THESE GUYS EVERY DAY,
IT'S A GREAT FEELING.
AND IT'S ALSO BEEN TAKING A TOLL ON MY BODY,
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BECOME A PROBLEM.
OH, MAN.
I DECIDED TO TAKE JACK FOR A WALK.
HE MAKES ME THINK OF MYSELF. I WISH I HAD THIS ENERGY.
I HAD A REAL BAD FOOTBALL INJURY WHILE INCARCERATED.
I'VE BEEN CARRYING THIS INJURY AROUND NOW
FOR MAYBE SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS.
I'VE TRIED DIFFERENT THINGS TO HELP WITH THE PAIN,
BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED LONG TERM.
AND I HAVEN'T BEEN FEELING TOO GOOD LATELY.
I'VE BEEN SUFFERING THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WITH MY ARM,
BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I'D BE IN SO MUCH PAIN
IF IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PARALYZED.
JUST BECAUSE MY ARM IS PARALYZED AND, YOU KNOW,
YOU MIGHT FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO FEELING IN IT, BUT I DO.
THE PAIN IS JUST GETTING WORSE AND WORSE EVERY DAY.
WHAT ABOUT THE DOCTOR? JUST GOT TO HIM, MAN.
YOU [BLEEP] CRASH SOMEDAY, DUDE.
HE JUST CAN'T GO AROUND WITH HIS ARM HURTING ALL THE TIME
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, THINK HE NEEDS TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.
YOU GOT TO GO CHECK IT OUT.
I DON'T REALLY DEAL WITH THE DOCTOR, PERIOD.
I USUALLY JUST -- YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
LET IT DO WHAT IT DO.
THE LAST DOCTOR I WENT AND SAW,
HE TOLD ME IT WASN'T PRETTY MUCH NOTHING HE COULD DO WITH IT.
SO I MADE MY MIND UP TO JUST ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES, MAN.
SO, I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT DAY FOR DAY.
YEAH, I GOT A BULLET IN MY HEAD BUT I DIDN'T LIKE DOCTORS,
BUT THEY GOT ME BACK WHERE I'M AT TODAY.
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE PARALYZED AND I'M NOT.
THAT'S DUE TO DOCTORS. MAN UP.
[BLEEP] IT AIN'T GETTING NO BETTER, MAN.
Earl: WILLIAM SAID IT'S ABOUT TIME I MAN UP.
AND I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT LIKE THAT,
BUT I GOT A LOT OF DOGS THAT DEPEND ON ME.
AND I DON'T NEED NO OBSTACLES.
I DON'T NEED TO BE SLOWED DOWN.
I REALLY DO NEED TO STEP UP AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
[ WHISTLING ]
FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN I'M IN PAIN.
SOMETHING GOT TO CHANGE.
I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS SINCE 2006.
YES, MA'AM.
THE LAST GUY I SAW,
HE BASICALLY TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, MY ARM WAS DONE.
THERE WASN'T REALLY MUCH HOPE FOR IT.
BUT I'M WILLING TO TRY JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.
SO, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD
A SHOULDER OR NECK INJURY SOME YEARS AGO.
YES, SIR.
WELL, I WAS PLAYING CONTACT FOOTBALL.
AND ME AND THE GUY HAD A HEAD-TO-HEAD CONTACT.
I HAD A NUMBNESS ON MY WHOLE RIGHT SIDE.
MY LEG WENT OUT FOR MAYBE 10 SECONDS.
OKAY.
AND HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT?
OKAY.
MY NAME IS DR. WILLIAM ALDEN.
I'M THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR HERE AT THE METROPOLITAN HEALTH GROUP,
WHICH IS A GROUP PRACTICE WITH ORTHOPEDIC PHYSICIANS
AND SOME OTHER INTERNISTS.
LATELY, MY ARM IS HURTING MORE THAN USUAL.
YEAH.
LET'S HAVE YOU GO AHEAD AND STAND UP.
HAVING DONE MY RESIDENCY IN A CHARITY HOSPITAL,
WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T AFFORD HEALTH CARE,
THAT HAD LET, YOU KNOW, CHRONIC CONDITIONS GO
FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
SO, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME
THAT I'VE SEEN THIS TYPE OF INJURY.
ANY PAIN AT ALL WHEN I DO THIS? CAN YOU FEEL IT?
YOU FEEL THE PRESSURE? OKAY.
HOW ABOUT IN THE BICEP OR TRICEP?
YEAH.
GOOD. YOU GOT FEELING.
Earl: THIS RIGHT ARM WOULDN'T MOVE, BUT HE DID SEE --
HE COULD FEEL MY MUSCLES TRYING TO FIRE OFF.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO DOWN TO THE SECOND FLOOR
AND GET SOME X-RAYS, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
I THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS UNDER AN X-RAY MACHINE
WAS PROBABLY IN 2007 SOMEWHERE.
SO, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
[ MACHINE BEEPS ]
Woman: RELAX.
IT JUST BROUGHT BACK OLD MEMORIES
FROM THE FIRST TIME THIS INJURY EVEN HAPPENED,
ALMOST TO THE POINT TO I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES, YOU KNOW?
JUST REMEMBERING HOW SCARED I WAS AT THAT MOMENT
ACTUALLY REALIZING I WAS PARALYZED.
ALL RIGHTY. YOU ARE DONE WITH ME.
THE NICE THING ABOUT THE X-RAY IS
IT SHOWS SOME GOOD SPACING,
NO COMPRESSION FRACTURES
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THE BONES.
WHAT I THINK IT IS, IS YOU PROBABLY HAVE A HERNIATED DISK
IN THE NECK AROUND THE FOURTH OR FIFTH VERTEBRATE,
AND THAT IS PUSHING ON THE NERVE.
AND IF YOU PUSH CONSISTENTLY ON THE NERVE,
IT CAN WEAKEN THE NERVE
AND THEN CAUSE SOME OF THE MOTOR FUNCTION IN THE ARM TO BE LOST.
USUALLY, THE LONGER THAT YOU WAIT,
THE PROGNOSIS IS NOT AS GOOD
AS IF YOU ACT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INJURY.
BUT HE DOES HAVE SOME FEELING IN HIS SHOULDER AND ARM,
WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN.
AND SO, WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS IF WE RELIEVE THE PRESSURE,
MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME FUNCTION BACK,
CERTAINLY PREVENT IT FROM GETTING WORSE.
I DO RECOMMEND THAT WE FOLLOW UP WITH AN MRI TO BE SURE.
THE NEXT STEP IS TO GET AN MRI OF THE NECK AND SHOULDER,
SEE IF WE NEED TO CONSULT A NEUROSURGEON
AND DO SOME TYPE OF SURGERY ON IT.
PERHAPS WE CAN GET SOME FUNCTION BACK.
BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT I COULD DO IS GIVE YOU
A SHOT OF AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
Earl: I AM WILLING TO GO ALL THE WAY WITH THIS,
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S GONNA HELP ME IN ANY WAY.
SO, I'LL JUST SEE WHAT HE SAY
AFTER HE GET THE REST OF THESE RESULTS.
YOU'RE OKAY WITH A LITTLE SHOT?
YEAH, RIGHT HERE?
WHAT? [ LAUGHS ]
HE SAID THE BIGGEST MUSCLE ON YOUR BODY,
SO I KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT.
OKAY, YOU READY?
NOW TELL ME IF YOU FELT THAT OR NOT.
ALL RIGHT.
THERE YOU GO.
Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY.
Tia: WHEN KELSEY MET PAULA,
I GOT TO SEE SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT I NEVER WOULD,
AND THAT'S PAULA GETTING A SHOT AT A NEW HOME.
OH, PAULA.
BUT WE NEED TO BRING PAULA
TO OUR LOCAL BEACH HERE TO DO SOME TESTING
BEFORE WE DRIVE HER ALL THE WAY TO SOUTH CAROLINA
FOR HER HOME CHECK.
OH, MY GOD. THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.
I'M HOPING THAT THE FACT
THAT PAULA DOES NOT REALLY LIKE BATH TIME
IS NO INDICATION OF HOW SHE'LL DO AT THE BEACH
BECAUSE THAT COULD BE A REAL DEAL BREAKER.
THIS IS EARLINA, AND IF YOU CAN'T TELL BY HER NAME,
EARL WAS THE ONE THAT FOUND HER.
EARLINA IS HOUSE-TRAINED, CRATE-TRAINED,
AND ABSOLUTELY LOVES OTHER DOGS.
ALL EARLINA NEEDS NOW IS A FAMILY OF HER OWN.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING EARLINA
OR ANY OTHER VILLALOBOS DOG, GO TO animalplanet.com/pitbulls.
Tia: OH, PAULA.
SO, PAULA'S GOT HER ONE-IN-A-MILLION SHOT
AT GETTING A NEW HOME.
AND I'M JUST HOPING THE BIG OLD OCEAN
DOESN'T GET IN THE WAY OF THAT.
COME ON. OH, GEEZ.
IT'S LIKE A WILD ANIMAL.
TODAY I BROUGHT MY DOG LUCKY WITH US.
WHEN TAKING A MORE RESERVED DOG OUT TO A SETTING
THAT CAN BE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THEM,
BRINGING ALONG A MORE CONFIDENT DOG
CAN REALLY JUST KIND OF MEND THOSE FENCES TOGETHER.
HE'S JUST SO EXCITED.
WAIT FOR PAULA. WAIT FOR PAULA.
RIGHT AWAY, EVEN WHEN SHE GOT ONTO THE SAND, YOU KNOW,
I LOOKED BACK AND PAULA HAD A LITTLE PEP TO HER STEP.
TAIL WAS UP AND SHE WAS ALMOST PRANCING.
COME ON, PAULA. LOOK AT HER.
I WAS LIKE, "OKAY. THIS IS GOOD."
BUT THE REAL TEST IS GONNA BE WHEN SHE SEES THAT WATER.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S JUST DIG IN, EARL.
ALL RIGHT.
I KNEW WHAT LUCKY WOULD DO.
ALL RIGHT, HERE I GO. WET SHOES AND ALL.
ONCE HE CAUGHT WIND OF WHERE WE WERE AND SAW THE WATER,
IT WAS JUST GONNA BE GAME ON.
OH. PBHT! REALLY, DUDE?
THERE'S SHARKS OUT THERE! COME --
[ LAUGHS ]
WHERE YOU GOING?
LUCKY IS A DOG THAT WILL GO ON AND ON AND ON.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LEASH ON HIM,
YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD TO GET A JET SKI
OR SOMETHING AND GO GET LUCKY.
COME ON. THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
COME ON.
HE AT LEAST GAVE HER SOME SORT OF A VISUAL
OF LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF FUN. COME ON IN.
COME ON, PAULA. WHOA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW PAULA'S GOING TO REACT.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER PAST.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S GOT A FEAR OF WATER.
OH, MY GOD. LOOK AT HER.
OH, MY GOD. THAT'S SO CUTE.
SHE DIDN'T EVEN HESITATE.
SHE JUST WENT RIGHT INTO THE WATER.
I MEAN, SPLASHING, JUMPING UP AND DOWN.
THE SMILE ON HER FACE, I MEAN, IT WAS PRICELESS.
IT WAS SUCH A HEARTWARMING
AND YET A VERY SHOCKING SURPRISE AT THE SAME TIME.
IT WAS REALLY SWEET TO SEE.
SHE'S DOING BETTER THAN ME.
Tia: WAIT. YOU'RE SCARED OF THE OCEAN?
YOU'RE SCARED OF THE OCEAN?
AT ONE POINT, I LOOKED UP AT EARL.
I JUST SEE THIS LOOK ON HIS FACE.
AND PAULA'S JUST LIKE GETTING INTO IT.
AND EARL KIND OF GOES, "OH, BOY."
IT'S JUST TOO MUCH WATER TO SWALLOW.
[ LAUGHS ]
Earl: MAIN THING IS GETTING THIS DOG A HOME.
BUT UNDERSTAND I'M NOT CRAZY.
I'M NOT GONNA JUST JUMP IN THERE AND CAN'T SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
NO. CAN'T DO IT.
WE AIN'T GOING WAY OUT THERE, HUH, MA?
HELL NO.
IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR US RIGHT HERE.
SO IT ALMOST BECAME WE HAD TO ACCLIMATE EARL TO THE OCEAN.
YOU KNOW, PAULA WAS LIKE, "COME ON!"
SHE LOOKS SO HAPPY.
OH, MY GOD.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
YOU WANT TO PLAY, HUH? SHE WANTS TO PLAY.
I'M NOT GONNA PLAY WITH YOU, GIRL.
Earl: UH-HUH.
EARL'S HAVING A LITTLE MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
DESPITE THIS BEING WORK, I MEAN, COME ON.
THIS IS LIKE FUN WORK.
I WAS LOOKING AT EARL, AND HE'S LAUGHING AND SMILING.
I'M LOOKING AT LUCKY AND WISHING I HAD A BOOGIE BOARD.
BUT THE REAL PLEASURE WAS WATCHING PAULA.
LOOK AT HER. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?
PAULA IS AROUND ME EVERY DAY,
AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN HER THIS HAPPY.
SO THAT MAKES ME BEYOND HAPPY.
GOOD GIRL, PAULA!
Tia: NOW WE'RE JUST GONNA WASH THE SAND OFF OF PAULA'S LITTLE FEET
AND GET HER READY TO GO
AND MAKE THAT TRIP OUT TO SOUTH CAROLINA.
AFTER HAVING A GREAT TIME AT THE BEACH,
I HAD TO GO TO THE VET TO PICK UP JUNE
AND GET THE RESULTS OF HER BIOPSY.
I CAME HERE TO GET THE ASSESSMENT ON JUNE THE BEAGLE.
SOUNDS GOOD. LET ME GO GRAB HER FOR YOU.
I'LL WAIT FOR HER.
LUMPS ON A DOG CAN BE A VARIETY OF THINGS.
BUT MY HEAD ALWAYS GOES STRAIGHT TO CANCER.
OH, MY GOD. SHE COMES PRANCING OUT.
HI. COME HERE.
YOU LOOK LIKE FRANKENSTEIN.
SO, GOOD NEWS.
IT IS JUST A BENIGN TUMOR CALLED A HEMANGIOMA.
AND IT'S SURGICALLY CURATIVE TO REMOVE THEM
WOW.
AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK NORMAL.
THE HEARTWORM TEST WAS NEGATIVE, SO...
GOD, SHE WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.
GOT HER TEETH DONE AND EVERYTHING.
WE CLEANED THEM.
SHE KIND OF GOT A FULL MAKEOVER.
YEAH, WE TOOK THE STITCHES OUT TODAY.
ALL RIGHT?
COMPARED TO WHAT JUNE'S BEEN THROUGH,
THESE SCARS ARE NOTHING.
OH, NO PROBLEM.
COME ON. YOU READY?
I'M JUST HAPPY THAT NOW SOMEONE GETS THE CHANCE
TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS GOOD OLD GAL, HER DROOPY EARS...
LET'S GO.
...AND JUST GIVE HER A CHANCE THAT SHE DESERVES.
Earl: TODAY IS A BIG DAY FOR ME.
I'M COMING IN TO GET THE RESULTS FROM MY MRI.
I AM KIND OF NERVOUS ABOUT IT.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THE DOCTOR TOLD ME
IT WAS POSSIBLE I HAD A HERNIATED DISC IN MY NECK.
EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT SOUND BAD,
IT IS THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO
BECAUSE THEY CAN FIX IT, CURE MY PAIN,
AND POSSIBLY GET SOME FEELING BACK IN THIS ARM.
MR. EARL. NICE TO SEE YOU.
SO, I'M REALLY ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT THE DOCTOR GOT TO SAY
'CAUSE IT CAN TRULY CHANGE MY LIFE.
MR. EARL. NICE TO SEE YOU.
COME ON IN.
THAT IS YOU.
WE FOUND WHAT'S CAUSING, WE THINK,
MOST OF THE WEAKNESS IN YOUR SHOULDER AND LOSS OF USE.
IF YOU SEE HERE ABOUT C6, THERE'S A DISC THAT'S HERNIATED.
AND THAT DISC IS PUSHING ON THE SPINAL CORD.
THIS IS GREAT NEWS BECAUSE ONCE YOU REDUCE
THAT PRESSURE ON THAT NERVE, YOU SHOULD GET SOME USE BACK.
WOULD THAT ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PAIN ALSO?
THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PAIN, AS WELL, MOST DEFINITELY.
BEING TOLD I HAD A HERNIATED DISC ON MY NECK
IS STRANGELY THE BEST NEWS I DONE HEARD IN A LONG TIME
BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE FIXED.
TRY TO SET YOU UP WITH AN APPOINTMENT
TO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, GET, LIKE, THE TEACHING SERVICES
AND NEUROSURGERY AND ORTHOPEDICS TO REVIEW YOUR CASE.
INITIALLY, I CAME TO THE DOCTOR TO IF MY PAIN COULD BE CURED.
BUT NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS
I THOUGHT I COULD POSSIBLY GET SOME FEELING BACK IN THIS ARM.
THEY'RE DONE ALL THE TIME.
AND USUALLY THE RESULTS
FROM THESE TYPES OF SURGERIES ARE VERY, VERY GOOD.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN NEW ORLEANS
PROVIDING HEALTH CARE
TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.
SO, I THINK HE WOULD HE A GOOD FIT FOR THE ACADEMIC SYSTEMS.
SO, WE'LL GET YOU TUNED UP LIKE A FINE OLD CAR
AND GET YOU BACK TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.
THAT'S WHAT I NEED. I NEED A TUNE-UP.
THANK YOU, DOC.
Earl: THIS IS A MAJOR HURDLE FOR ME
BECAUSE, ONE, I HAD ACCEPTED THE SITUATION FOR WHAT IT WAS.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT ONE DAY SOON,
MY DOGS WILL HAVE A WHOLE 'NOTHER EARL
WORKING IN THE KENNELS.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.
SEE YOU AGAIN.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE NEWS,
AND I KNOW THE FIRST PERSON I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH.
Earl: MAMA, YOU GOT A MINUTE?
OHH, MAN!
OH, WHAT?
OKAY, I SEE A SMILE ON YOUR FACE, SO I'M GONNA SIT DOWN FOR THIS.
Tia: I SAW THAT SMILE, BUT I WASN'T SURE
IF I WAS IMAGINING THINGS, YOU KNOW? I THOUGHT, "WAIT A MINUTE.
HE'S SMILING? THIS MIGHT BE SOME GOOD NEWS."
PRETTY MUCH, I HAVE A HERNIATED DISC IN MY NECK
THAT'S REALLY CAUSING THE PAIN THROUGH MY ARM.
IF HE RELIEVED THE PRESSURE OFF OF MY NECK,
THAT WILL RELIEVE A LOT OF PRESSURE IN MY ARM
AND POSSIBLY GET SOME FEELING BACK.
WOW.
SO...HE GONNA GET WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT KNOW SOME PEOPLE
AND, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
HE'S GONNA GET BACK WITH ME.
LOOKING AT EARL, HE JUST HAD THIS TWINKLE IN HIS EYE.
I'M PRETTY MUCH GONNA GO THROUGH WITH IT IF IT'S GONNA,,,
HELL YEAH.
IT'S SO COOL TO SEE EARL HAVE HOPE.
TO NOW THINK THAT THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
IS NO LONGER A TRAIN,
THAT'S REALLY COOL.
HE SAYS IT'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL SURGERY.
REALLY?
WOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF EASED THE LOAD A LITTLE BIT.
I'M WILLING TO GIVE HIM A SHOT.
I'M GONNA GIVE HIM A SHOT, SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
OH, MY GOD. THAT'S -- YEAH!
[ LAUGHS ] WHOA, YOU DON'T HUG. YOU DON'T HUG!
TALK ABOUT A GUY THAT DESERVES THE BEST NEWS EVER.
I MEAN, THIS IS A MAN THAT...
YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST -- HE'S GOLDEN.
AND I'M SO, SO, SO HAPPY FOR HIM.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT, MAMA.
YAY! HURRY UP AND GO TELL THE FAMILY.
Earl: RIGHT, RIGHT. ALL RIGHT?
WOW. FANTASTIC.
YAY, MR. EARL.
COME ON, PAULA.
[ SMOOCHES ] GET UP.
AFTER GETTING SUCH GREAT NEWS ABOUT MY ARM,
I'M FULL OF POSITIVITY TODAY,
WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE ME AND MISS TIA'S
LOADING UP TODAY FOR MISS PAULA'S HOME CHECK.
I'LL MISS HER, BUT I REALLY WANT THIS TO WORK OUT FOR HER.
IT'S TIME FOR HER.
CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT A NAMETAG.
Tia: I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THE DAY WOULD COME
THAT THIS ONCE VERY SHY LITTLE DOG
WOULD BE LOADING UP AND GOING FOR HER HOME CHECK.
I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT END UP IN THE KENNEL FOREVER.
THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE THAT SHE'D BE HERE
AND NEVER GET A HOME UNTIL KELSEY CAME ALONG.
SAY GOODBYE. BYE, NEW ORLEANS.
WHOA. [ CHUCKLES ] THAT WAS QUICK.
THIS HOME CHECK REALLY HAS TO WORK.
DOGS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS,
IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER FOR THEM.
AND WHO KNOWS? THIS COULD BE HER ONE SHOT.
Tia: SO, TODAY WE'RE HERE IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA,
TO DO THE ADOPTION OF PAULA.
COME ON, LITTLE ONE.
I KNOW. IT'S YOUR FINAL STOP.
WHEN PUTTING OUR DOGS INTO NEW HOMES,
WHETHER IT'S A HOUSE WITH A BIG YARD, AN APARTMENT,
WE HAVE TO FEEL THAT THEIR NEW OWNER
IS GOING TO TRULY LOVE THEM.
AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT KELSEY REALLY LOVES PAULA.
HI!
MY NAME IS KEVIN. I'M KELSEY'S BOYFRIEND.
AND WE'RE GETTING A NEW LITTLE MEMBER TO OUR FAMILY.
HI, PUPPY. [ CHUCKLES ]
Kelsey: EVER SINCE THE MEET AND GREET,
I WAS EXCITED FOR HER TO COME TO CHARLESTON.
SEEMED LIKE FOREVER.
Kevin: LOOK. YOU GOT A BIG BED. YEAH.
Tia: KELSEY AND KEVIN'S APARTMENT WAS NICE, WAS WELL KEPT.
BUT THEN I NOTICED THE BALCONY.
SO, DO YOU GUYS GO OUT HERE ON THIS BALCONY?
OKAY.
BALCONIES ARE ALWAYS AN ISSUE WHEN WE DO AN ADOPTION.
IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.
SHE'S NEVER BEEN A JUMPER, BUT OBVIOUS FOR SAFETY ISSUES,
IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE DOOR OPEN, MAKE SURE YOU'RE WITH HER.
YOU KNOW?
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT KELSEY AND KEVIN KNEW
THE OBVIOUS -- DON'T EVER LEAVE HER OUT THERE ALONE.
MY DOG LUCKY HE'D SEE THAT SQUIRREL RIGHT THERE...
[ KELSEY CHUCKLES ]
...AND HE WOULD THINK HE COULD GET TO IT,
AND HE WOULD JUMP OFF.
Kelsey: WE'LL NEVER HAVE PAULA OUT THERE BY HERSELF.
WE'LL ALWAYS BE OUT THERE WITH HER,
AND WE DON'T USUALLY KEEP THE DOOR OPEN,
SO THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.
COME ON, MAMA. WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
Tia: YEAH, I DON'T -- LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT GONNA BE AN ISSUE.
I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE AN ISSUE.
THE APARTMENT WAS GREAT,
BUT THIS HOME CHECK IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
WE STILL HAVE TO DO THE YARD CHECK.
BUT IN THIS SITUATION,
THEIR YARD IS, LIKE, THE COMMUNITY DOG PARK.
WOW. [ GASPS ] OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL. [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
IT'S A PRETTY, PRETTY AMAZING PLACE.
PAULA SCORED BIG TIME.
OH, MY GOD.
JUST SO PEACEFUL.
DON'T EVEN!
GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. KEEP IT COMING. KEEP IT COMING.
WE HAVE A WALKING TRAIL
LIKE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE COMPLEX, TOO,
IN THE BACK, SO I CAN WALK HER DOWN THERE.
YEAH, EARL AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER LIKE,
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
LIKE, "REALLY?"
BEAUTIFUL.
LOOK AT THIS.
I MEAN, THEY HAD A VIEW OF A POND WITH LITTLE DUCKS.
IT HAD A BARBECUE, IT HAD A PICNIC TABLE.
I MEAN, IT WAS A COOL PLACE FOR HUMAN BEINGS TO HANG OUT,
LET ALONE DOGS.
DO YOU LIKE IT?
[ SMOOCHES ]
Kevin: I THINK SHE'S HAVING A GOOD TIME.
SHE'S GOT TO SNIFF AROUND, SMELL ALL THE DOGS.
PAULA DID REALLY WELL.
SHE LIKED THE DOG PARK A LOT.
Tia: THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
COME ON, CUTIE.
AFTER BEACH TESTING PAULA WITH LUCKY AND EARL'S HELP
AND SEEING THAT SHE LOVED THE WATER,
I WANTED TO PUT IT TO THE TEST WITH KELSEY AND KEVIN.
AND WE HEADED OUT TO FOLLY BEACH.
[ SEA GULLS CRYING ]
ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS THE MOST UNIQUE HOME CHECK WE'VE EVER DONE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HI, LITTLE CUTIE.
I WAS WATCHING PAULA'S DEMEANOR BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
NOW SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER DOG WITH HER.
SO SHE WAS GONNA DO THIS ON HER OWN.
YOU WANT TO TRY? YOU WANT TO TRY THE SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH?
ADD TO THAT THE WAVES WERE A LOT BIGGER HERE AT FOLLY BEACH
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE SURFING.
SO, ALL THESE ARE ELEMENTS THAT CAN REALLY MAKE IT OR BREAK IT.
YOU GOT THE SHORTS ON.
BRING HER IN.
COME ON. COME ON, CUTIE.
YOU GO IN THE WATER? YOU LIKE THE WATER?
[ CHUCKLES ]
SHE DEFINITELY LIKES IT IN THE WATER.
YEAH, SHE DOES. SHE LIKES IT A LOT.
Kelsey: I THINK PAULA WILL LOVE
RUNNING WITH ME IN THE MORNING ON THE BEACH EVERY DAY.
SHE JUST LOVED THE SAND, LOVED THE WATER.
I'M JUST READY TO START OUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER.
WATCH OUT, SWEETIE. HECK YEAH.
Earl: ME AND THIS LITTLE GIRL HAVE A REAL SPECIAL BOND.
IT HURTS ME TO SEE HER LEAVE, BUT IN THE SAME TOKEN,
I'M HAPPY FOR HER BECAUSE I JUST KNOW
KELSEY AND KEVIN WILL GIVE HER THE LOVE SHE NEED.
Kevin: COME ON, PAULA.
Tia: THIS IS A DOG THAT CAME TO US WITH ONE EYE,
TERRIFIED OF EVERYTHING.
IN THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT,
"YOU KNOW WHAT? SHE'S NEVER GONNA GET A HOME."
I MEAN, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?
SHE'S GOT TWO PEOPLE THAT LOVE HER,
AN OCEAN FOR A BACKYARD,
AND A SMILE ON HER FACE THAT IS MORE THAN SPECIAL.
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