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COMING UP ON "PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES"...
Tia: THIS POOR DOG.
[ GASPS ] OH, MY GOD.
...A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE.
OH, MY GO-- OH, MY GOD.
OVER THE YEARS, MY FAMILY, THE PAROLEES, AND OUR VOLUNTEERS
HAVE PUT THEIR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO RESCUING DOGS...
GET THEM OUT OF THERE.
...AND TRYING TO FIND THEM FOREVER HOMES...
OH, GOD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
...AND THIS LINE OF WORK CAN REALLY TAKE ITS TOLL.
Tia: IT'S GOING BACK TO THE FENCE! NO!
"I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE IT ANYMORE."
OH, DAMN IT!
WE'VE NEVER HAD MUCH TIME TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS
AT VILLALOBOS...
OH, MY GOD. ANNOYING.
...BUT THIS YEAR IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
THE KIDS ARE THROWING A HOLIDAY PARTY.
[ LAUGHS ] JUST LIKE YOU.
WE'LL REVISIT SOME OF OUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS...
AND ENCOUNTER A FEW UNEXPECTED SURPRISES.
[ SINGING IN SPANISH ]
AWW.
ALL UP NEXT ON A SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION
OF "PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES."
[ LAUGHTER ]
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.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ "JOY TO THE WORLD" PLAYS ]
ARE YOU SO HAPPY NOW? WHY ARE YOU SO HAPPY?
Orlando: CHRISTMAS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAYS.
EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T GET THE SNOW OUT HERE IN NEW ORLEANS,
WE STILL PARTY.
OOH!
Mando: ALL RIGHT! LET'S DO THIS.
IT'S CHRISTMAS ALREADY,
AND NOW THAT MY FAMILY AND I ARE HERE LIVING IN NEW ORLEANS
WITH OUR FRIENDS AT VILLALOBOS...
SEE?
...IT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE WE'RE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
RELAX.
Tia: WELL, IT'S CHRISTMASTIME AGAIN.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, HOLIDAYS ARE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DAY.
AND THAT MEANS CLEANING KENNELS,
FEEDING DOGS, AND GOING ON RESCUES
BECAUSE THAT STUFF DOESN'T STOP FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
FOR US, THE ONLY JINGLE BELLS WE HEAR
ARE THE SOUND OF OUR DOG TAGS,
AND I'VE GOT ABOUT 200 OF THOSE.
SO, I'VE GOT OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT BESIDES CHRISTMAS.
HEY! BE NICE!
SHH! STOP IT!
I WOULDN'T SAY THAT MY MOM IS A TOTAL GRINCH...
RELAX.
YOU'RE CAUSING A BAD ENVIRONMENT.
...BUT CHRISTMAS HAS NEVER BEEN A BIG DEAL TO MY FAMILY.
ALL RIGHT. TRY THIS OUT.
BACK IN CALIFORNIA, WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE CHRISTMASES.
IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY MAKE ME MAD
'CAUSE I WAS JUST KIND OF USED TO IT.
BUT WHEN WE MOVED TO NEW ORLEANS,
THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE FOR ME, MY SISTER, AND MY BROTHERS.
THAT FIRST YEAR, MY MOM WAS STILL BACK IN CALIFORNIA,
AND WE WERE ALL HERE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
AND I THINK WE KIND OF JUST WANTED
TO HAVE OUR OWN LITTLE MINI CHRISTMAS.
WE GOT A TREE, AND WE DECORATED IT,
AND IT WAS REALLY COOL.
I REMEMBER THAT WE SENT A PICTURE TO MY MOM
OF US ALL AROUND THE TREE.
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?"
SO YOU WANT ME TO GRAB THOSE BLANKETS, OR NO?
YEAH.
THIS YEAR, WE DECIDED WE'RE GONNA HAVE A HOLIDAY PARTY,
AND MY MOM'S GONNA BE THERE WHETHER SHE LIKES IT OR NOT.
Tia: WHEN I HEARD THAT THE KIDS
WERE PLANNING SOME SORT OF CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION,
MY FIRST NATURAL REACTION WAS, LIKE, UGH!
NOW I HAVE TO TAKE AN EXTRA SHOWER AND PUT ON CLEAN CLOTHES,
BUT THE KIDS ARE REALLY INTO IT,
SO I THOUGHT, "ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'LL PLAY ALONG. I'LL GO."
IT'S FOR THEM. IT'S NOT FOR ME. IT'S FOR THEM.
THIS IS SO CUTE.
Orlando: YOU DON'T EVEN LIKE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS.
I KNOW, BUT THIS IS FUN, AT LEAST.
Tania: I CAN'T SAY THAT I'VE THROWN MANY HOLIDAY PARTIES,
BUT I DO KNOW THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE DO NEED...
MY MOM LOVES ALLIGATORS.
WE SHOULD GET A COUPLE OF THESE ALLIGATORS.
...DECORATIONS.
OH, MY GOD. ANNOYING.
PERFECT FOR YOUR MOM.
OH, MY GOD.
THAT SKELETON WREATH IS SWEET.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A 40-OUNCE IN HERE SOMEWHERE.
I THINK PICKING OUT DECORATIONS THAT AREN'T TOO CHEESY
AND ARE KIND OF TRUE TO OURSELVES...
HE'S WEARING MY COLOR.
...MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP MY MOM
GET INTO THE SPIRIT A LITTLE BIT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. Y'ALL COME BACK AND SEE US.
YEAH, OF COURSE.
THANKS.
AS LONG AS WE DON'T TELL HER
HOW MUCH WE SPENT ON THESE DECORATIONS,
I'M PRETTY SURE WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
AH! OH, MY GOD.
SERIOUSLY.
WHEN MARIAH AND I FIRST STARTED PLANNING THIS DINNER,
WE MEANT FOR IT JUST TO BE A LITTLE SMALL GET TOGETHER.
[ LAUGHS ]
BUT OUR EXTENDED FAMILY IS A LOT BIGGER NOW.
WE ALL HAVE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS,
AND WE ALL HAVE CLOSE FRIENDS HERE IN NEW ORLEANS
AND FROM CALIFORNIA,
SO THE GUEST LIST BLEW UP PRETTY QUICK.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY -- THE MORE THAT MERRIER --
SO LET'S JUST HOPE MY MOM AGREES.
EARL!
[ ALL CHEER ]
THE PARTY CAME TOGETHER EXTREMELY WELL.
MY MOM IS NOT A PARTY PERSON,
SO I WILL BE SURPRISED IF MY MOM EVEN SHOWS UP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ ALL CHEER ]
Tia: WHEN I WALKED IN,
THERE WAS DEFINITELY A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAN I EXPECTED.
IT WAS NICE TO SEE
SOME NEW FRIENDS THAT I'VE MET SINCE I'VE MOVED HERE,
LIKE DEPUTY SHERIFF TREVOR...
YES, I DID.
...AND OUR REALLY GOOD FRIEND RITA EARL,
WHO TRAVELED ALL THE WAY FROM LOS ANGELES JUST TO BE HERE.
RITA'S BEEN ADOPTING FROM US FOR YEARS.
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME.
WE LIKE TO CALL HER SAINT RITA
BECAUSE SHE ADOPTS ALL OF OUR OLDER DOGS,
WHICH HAVE DIFFICULT TIMES GETTING HOMES.
SO SHE IS JUST THE BEST.
LOUISE WAS THERE, MANDO AND RUBY,
AND SOME OF OUR PAROLEES AND VOLUNTEERS.
THE ONE THING THAT I CAN SAY IS THAT IT WAS CERTAINLY FESTIVE.
HO HO HO HO!
[ LAUGHTER ]
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING?
I'M HUNGRY. WHERE'S MY FOOD AT?
YOU KNOW, FIRST MANDO COMES IN DRESSED LIKE SANTA...
OH, GOD.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...
[ LAUGHTER ]
...AND THEN ORLANDO CAME IN...
BEEN SO GOOD THIS SEASON.
...SO, SOMEHOW, WE ENDED UP WITH TWO SANTAS...
HO HO HO HO HO!
Tia: ...ONE A LITTLE LESS APPROPRIATE THAN THE OTHER.
[ SINGING IN SPANISH ]
HE'S A LITTLE TWISTED.
[ GLASS CLINKING ]
Tia: UH-OH!
[ LAUGHTER ]
LIKE, WE HAVE SACRIFICED ALMOST EVERYTHING.
WE DRIVE USED VEHICLES,
WEAR TORN-UP CLOTHES SMELLING LIKE PEE AND POOP ALL DAY LONG,
BUT YET WE GET ALONG THE WAY WE DO, SO I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Tia: ORLANDO LIKES TO TALK JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TALKING,
SO I WASN'T SURPRISED WHEN HE DECIDED TO GIVE A TOAST.
GUYS, GUYS, GUYS.
OHH!
BUT WHEN RITA STOOD UP, IT WAS UNEXPECTED.
WHILE I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A TOAST, I DO HAVE A SURPRISE.
Orlando: YEAH!
Rita: MY NAME IS RITA EARL, AND I GUESS YOU COULD CALL ME
THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER FOR VILLALOBOS.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF PHOTOS OF THE DOGS,
MOSTLY FOR THE WEBSITE TO HELP THEM GET ADOPTED
AND SOMETIMES JUST FOR FUN.
I FEEL LIKE VILLALOBOS IS MY FAMILY.
SO I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL
FOR THEM FOR CHRISTMAS.
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING DOGS
THAT HAVE COME INTO MY LIFE BECAUSE OF YOU...
OHH.
...WHAT I'VE DONE, TIA,
IS I TRIED TO CONTACT ALL OF THE ALUMNI OUT IN CALIFORNIA,
AND I TOOK PICTURES OF EVERYBODY TO SHOW YOU HOW THEY'RE DOING.
[ APPLAUSE ]
HURRY!
[ LAUGHTER ]
WE HAVE FRENCH FRY AND PANCAKE.
[ ALL "AWW" ]
Tia: WE RESCUED PANCAKE AND FRENCH FRY
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOJAVE DESERT.
NOW, THESE WERE THE ONES WE FOUND IN THE BOX.
WHEN THEY ROAD THE MOTORCYCLES,
AND YOU WERE ON A MOTORCYCLE, TOO.
IT WOUND UP BEING ONE OF OUR BIGGEST RESCUE OPERATIONS EVER.
THE MOJAVE DESERT IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE.
FOR THIS RESCUE, WE NEEDED EVERY BIT OF MANPOWER,
WOMANPOWER, AND HORSEPOWER THAN WE EVER HAD BEFORE.
I MEAN, WE WERE SEARCHING HIGH AND LOW, MAN.
IT'S A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
I DON'T KNOW. LET'S LOOK IN BUSHES.
Louise: WHY ARE WE ALWAYS HUNTING FOR PUPPIES?
I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S A BOWL RIGHT THERE, MOM.
WHERE?
RIGHT THERE. THERE'S PUPPIES RIGHT THERE.
WHAT?!
OH, MY GO-- OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.
HERE.
OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.
OH!
UGH!
Mariah: OH, YOUR HEART. SHE'S SCARED.
LET'S GET THESE GUYS BACK, AND LET'S GO LOOK FOR MOM.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR YOUR MAMA. WHERE'S YOUR MOMMY?
UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER HOURS OF SEARCHING,
PANCAKE AND FRENCH FRY'S MOTHER WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
THIS POOR DOG.
THE FACT THAT WE COULDN'T GET THE MAMA DOG WAS HEARTBREAKING.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE WERE ABLE TO RESCUE HER TWO LITTLE PUPPIES,
PANCAKE AND FRENCH FRY, LITTLE BRINDLE PIT BULL MIXES.
THEY HAD THE BEST PERSONALITIES.
THEY WERE PERFECT.
[ ALL "AWW" ]
[ Chuckling ] OH, TOGETHER!
IT WAS A REUNION WITH THE TWO.
IT WAS REALLY SWEET.
PANCAKE AND FRENCH FRY
WERE ADOPTED BY TWO DIFFERENT FAMILIES,
BUT THEY LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO EACH OTHER
WHERE THEY GET TO SEE EACH OTHER ONCE IN AWHILE,
AND THAT'S VERY RARE.
OH, LOOK AT THE LOVE. LOOK AT THIS.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS, TOY SQUEAKING ]
Kellee: WITH PANCAKE AND FRENCH FRY BEING BROTHERS,
WE'VE GOT AN EXTENDED FAMILY NOW.
WE LOVE TO GET THEM TOGETHER FROM TIME TO TIME
AND HAVE A REUNION,
AND CORRIE AND SEAN HAVE BECOME, LIKE, OUR FAMILY,
AS WELL.
OH, MY GOD. GREAT.
Corrie: FOR CHRISTMAS, WE HAVE A TRADITION.
WE HAVE ALL OF OUR FRIENDS OVER. WE HAVE A TREE-TRIMMING PARTY.
WE WALK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE FARM AND GET A TREE,
AND HE ALWAYS GOES WITH US AND WEARS HIS ANTLERS.
Sean: BEGRUDGINGLY.
YEAH. BEGRUDGINGLY.
THIS IS GORGEOUS!
I LOVE IT. OKAY, WE'RE DONE.
YAY!
Jake: LOOK HOW EXCITED HE IS.
...WE CATCH UP WITH ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PIT BULLS
WE'VE EVER HAD.
KANANI'S MAKING CREATURE EYES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU GUYS NEVER TOLD ME THIS PART OF THE STORY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO...
Orlando: WE DIDN'T WANT TO WORRY YOU. [ LAUGHS ]
WE DECIDED TO DO A HOLIDAY PARTY THIS YEAR,
AND NOT ONLY DID MY MOM SHOW UP, SHE'S ACTUALLY STAYED.
I THINK THAT THE PICTURES THAT RITA BROUGHT,
THAT'S THE REASON THAT MOM ENDED UP STAYING.
SO THE NEXT DOG IS CREATURE.
[ ALL "AWW" ]
Man: I LOVE HIM ALREADY.
CREATURE IS A PIT BULL THAT WE RESCUED BACK IN CALIFORNIA
WHO JUST HAPPENS TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE A GARGOYLE.
HE'S GOT CLIPPED EARS, A BIG MOUTH,
AND A CHOPPED-OFF TAIL.
HE'S GOT ONE OF THOSE FACES THAT ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE.
KANANI'S MAKING CREATURE EYES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
KANANI! JUST LIKE YOU.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE -- HE KEPT GETTING PASSED UP.
THEY WOULD WANT TO ADOPT,
AND THEN IT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR SOME REASON.
HOW ARE YOU, TIA? NICE TO MEET YOU.
FIRST, WE MET A POTENTIAL ADOPTER AT A PET EXPO
WHO SEEMED LIKE A SURE THING...
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO TELL YOU, HE'S A VERY MELLOW DOG.
AND AS SOON AS I SAW HIM, I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.
...UNTIL HE SUDDENLY CHANGED HIS MIND.
AW, MAN. HE BAILED ON US.
THAT SUCKS.
THEN, WE MET A GREAT FAMILY WHO REALLY WANTED CREATURE...
I LIKE HIM A LOT.
...BUT THE WALL AROUND THEIR YARD
TURNED OUT TO BE WAY TOO LOW,
AND IT WAS JUST AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR HIM.
IT WON'T WORK OUT. HE'LL JUST -- HE'LL BE GONE.
SO THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, EITHER.
WE WERE JUST HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING THIS DOG ADOPTED.
I KNOW. I'M SORRY, BUDDY.
BUT THEN, AFTER THE EPISODE AIRED,
EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR CREATURE.
CREATURE BECAME, LIKE, THE BIGGEST CELEBRITY CANINE EVER.
HE JUST BECAME, LIKE, THE DOG EVERYBODY WANTED TO HELP.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC SAW THAT FACE,
THEY SAW HIM GETTING PASSED UP,
AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL FOR HIM.
AND WE GOT SO MANY ADOPTION APPLICATIONS AFTER THAT.
SO MANY.
"ME AND OUR THREE KIDS." ALL RIGHT.
NOPE. OTHER DOG.
"CATS? NO. I HATE CATS."
[ LAUGHTER ]
THIS IS KIND OF COOL. I LIKE THIS ONE HERE.
ISAIAH. ISN'T THAT SOMETHING...?
IT'S BIBLICAL.
HE'S A SINGLE GUY, WORKS OUT OF HIS HOME.
OH, LOOK AT THAT.
BACKYARD'S ALREADY SET UP, DOGGY DOOR THROUGH THE GARAGE.
WHERE IS HE?
BEAVERTON, OREGON.
HE SAYS HE'S SOCIAL BUT NOT TOO SOCIAL.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE CREATURE.
WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
LET'S HOPE HE'S BETTER LOOKING THAN CREATURE.
AWW.
HI, CREATURE. HI.
HI, BUD.
Tia: ISAIAH AND CREATURE SEEM LIKE A REALLY GOOD MATCH,
BUT BEFORE WE COULD FINALIZE THE ADOPTION,
WE GOT SOME REALLY BAD NEWS.
LOUISE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THROWING THE BALL FOR HIM.
THAT'S WHEN SHE FIGURED IT OUT.
SHE THREW THE BALL, AND HE COULDN'T FIND IT,
AND HE WASN'T EVEN OLD YET.
IT'S OKAY, LOVER.
HE'S ALL DONE.
SO HE HAS A PROBLEM CALLED P.R.A.
AND P.R.A. STANDS FOR "PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY."
Louise: IT'S A GENETIC DISEASE THAT MEANS
THAT HIS VISION WILL DETERIORATE THROUGH HIS LIFE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO TREATMENT FOR IT.
WHAT DO WE SAY?
LIKE, BY THE TIME HE GETS TO 10,
HE'LL PROBABLY BE BLIND, OR, I MEAN, I'M --
YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD TELL YOU
EXACTLY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT THINGS ARE ALREADY HAPPENING.
ONCE WE LEARNED THAT CREATURE WAS GOING BLIND,
OUR HEARTS JUST SANK.
ISAIAH WAS A YOUNG GUY,
AND CREATURE DIDN'T EXACTLY HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WERE EXPECTING IT TO WORK OUT.
[ Ringing ]
ISAIAH?
HI, THIS IS TIA WITH VILLALOBOS RESCUE CENTER.
WHEN I CALLED ISAIAH AND TOLD HIM ABOUT CREATURE'S EYESIGHT,
I WAS ACTUALLY SHOCKED AT HIS REACTION.
ONCE ISAIAH TOLD ME
THAT HE STILL WANTED TO ADOPT CREATURE...
WHEW.
...ALL THE PIECES JUST FELL INTO PLACE.
MARIAH AND JAKE DROVE CREATURE ALL THE WAY UP TO OREGON,
AND HE JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS NEW HOME.
[ LAUGHS ]
Jake: LOOK HOW EXCITED HE IS.
CREATURE WAS ADORABLE.
HE WAS LIKE A LITTLE GIRL JUST RUNNING AROUND.
OH, HE SEEMS EXCITED.
HE IS. HE'S SO HAPPY.
WHAT? WHAT?
AWW.
ARE YOU HAVING FUN?
INTERESTING THAT A DOG WHOSE SIGHT IS GOING AND FADING,
THAT IS HIS --
THAT'S WHAT CAPTURES YOU IN THAT PICTURE
IS, LIKE, HIS EYES.
THOUGH CREATURE IS STARTING TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS
SEEING AT NIGHT,
HE IS STILL DOING GREAT DURING THE DAY,
AND HE AND ISAIAH ARE INSEPARABLE.
COMING UP...
OH, IT WAS CRAZY.
...ONE OF OUR MOST CHALLENGING RESCUES EVER...
NO! DAMN IT!
I LITERALLY MISSED HER BY THIS MUCH.
...AND HOW THAT DOG IS DOING TODAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Tania: ONCE RITA STARTED BRINGING OUT THE PICTURES,
I COULD SEE MY MOM JUST START TO LOOSEN UP
AND GET A LITTLE HAPPIER.
AND THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER.
MY MOM CAN BE REALLY STUBBORN SOMETIMES,
BUT IF ANYTHING CAN MAKE HER IN A BETTER MOOD, IT'S DOGS.
Rita: IS BUFFY.
OH, BUFFY.
OH, BUFFY IS RIGHT.
THE BUFFY RESCUE IN SACRAMENTO WAS, BY FAR,
ONE OF THE HARDEST RESCUES WE'VE EVER DONE.
BUFFY WAS THE RESCUE THAT I THINK I ALMOST CRIED OVER
BECAUSE IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING.
WE WERE STUCK OUT -- OH, WAIT, WAIT. HOLD ON. HOLD ON.
THERE WAS A HIGHWAY, A HIGHWAY,
AND THEN A FIELD THAT WAS JUST, LIKE, CUT UP, LIKE, DIRT
AND STUFF LIKE THAT,
SO IT WAS LIKE WE WERE, LIKE, STUMBLING OVER ROCKS,
AND, LIKE, JUST, LIKE -- OH, IT WAS CRAZY.
I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN I SAW BUFFY'S PICTURE.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING I DID. I LAUGHED.
SHE LOOKED SILLY, SHE HAD THAT BANANA IN HER MOUTH,
AND SHE LOOKED SO GOOFY.
AND THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT WAS, "OH, REALLY?
ARE YOU HAVING A GREAT TIME?
BECAUSE YOU PUT US THROUGH HELL."
YOU COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A WORSE SCENARIO
TO CATCH A FERAL DOG.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING WORKING AGAINST US, TOO.
YEAH, EVERYTHING IS --
THE HEAT, YOU GOT THE FREEWAY.
THAT FIELD IS -- YOU CAN'T EVEN RUN ON IT.
I SEE HER.
SURE AS HELL, WE TURN AROUND, AND THERE SHE IS.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SHE WAS ABLE TO HEAR WHAT WE WERE SAYING.
BUFFY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST DOGS I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
REMEMBER THAT WAS, LIKE, THE FIRST TIME
WE TRIED THAT TECHNIQUE OF BUILDING THE BIG ENCLOSURE?
AND YOU HAD TO USE YOUR NINJA SKILLS
AND SNEAK UP ON THERE AND SLAM THE GATE SHUT?
YEAH. YEAH.
WE TAKE THE ORANGE FENCING,
CONNECT THE ENDS TO THE GATEWAY OF THE KENNEL.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF THAT WAS, IF SHE DIDN'T GO INTO THE KENNEL,
WE AT LEAST, HOPEFULLY,
HAD HER CONTAINED WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION FENCING.
THE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT I WANTED TO DO
WAS TO ATTACH THE LINE TO THE KENNEL GATE
AND STRETCH IT OUT AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE
SO THAT I COULD HIDE.
THAT WAS PERFECT.
AS WE WERE KIND OF REGROUPING AND GOING OVER A PLAN,
IT WAS LIKE A PHANTOM -- SHE JUST APPEARED.
HEY, HOW'D SHE GET THERE? WHAT THE [BLEEP]
HOLY CRAP.
WE GOT TO GET INTO POSITION WITHOUT HER SEEING US.
WE KNEW THAT EVERY TIME SHE LOOKED,
DROP THE GROUND AND HIDE.
SHE TURNED AWAY, WE STARTED CRAWLING AGAIN.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE BEING ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
OKAY, KANANI, GO! KANANI, GO!
COME ON. COME ON. GO. GO.
NO, NO, MAMA. NO, NO, MAMA! NO, NO, MAMA!
I SAW WHAT WAS COMING. SHE SAW A BREAK.
BACK TO THE FENCE! GO BACK TO THE FENCE!
OH, NO! OH, DAMN IT!
I WAS TRYING TO BEAT HER, BUT SHE WAS SO QUICK.
OH, MY GOD. FRUSTRATING. FRUSTRATING.
I LITERALLY MISSED HER BY THIS MUCH.
SHE JUST WENT WHOOSH.
BUFFY RAN US INTO THE GROUND.
BUT I WASN'T GONNA GIVE UP.
YEAH, SHE'S GOING NORTH. SHE'S ALMOST AT POLE ONE NOW.
SHE'S WALKING.
Mo.
Shh. She's coming. Shh.
SHE'S GOING IN.
SHE'S AT THE KENNEL DOOR.
SHE'S EATING HER FOOD. SHE'S EATING HER FOOD. GO.
Kanani, go. Go! Run! Run!
WHERE ARE THEY?
OH, GOOD. THEY GOT HER.
OKAY, THEY GOT HER! OH, GOD.
IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF TO CATCH HER.
SUCH A RELIEF. YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
OH, MAMA, IT'S SO OKAY.
COME ON, SWEETIE. COME ON.
IT'S ONLY GONNA GET BETTER FROM HERE.
BUT WE CAUGHT THE DOG.
BUT WE CAUGHT THE DOG. [ LAUGHS ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
BUFFY NOW LIVES WITH HER FAMILY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
AND THEY'RE ALL DOING GREAT.
AND LATWANDA.
[ ALL "AWW" ]
UGLY LATWANDA!
TWAN.
LATWANDA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST RESCUES
WE DID HERE IN THE SOUTH.
WE WERE IN THE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AREA
TO RESCUE ONE DOG,
AND, AS WE WERE LEAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
HE COMES THIS LITTLE BLACK MIXED-BREED DOG
LIMPING AND RUNNING DOWN THE SIDEWALK.
HEY, LOUISE, GET IN.
LOUISE AND I WERE LIKE, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
THIS POOR DOG.
[ GASPS ] OH, MY GOD.
Louise: THOSE ARE PRETTY BAD.
'CAUSE SHE CAN STILL OUTRUN US.
[BLEEP]
BUT SHE'S GONNA GET TIRED EVENTUALLY.
STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP. SHE JUST STOPPED.
STOP.
OKAY. PUT THE CAMERA DOWN. PUT THE CAMERA DOWN.
AND I'M LIKE, "WE'RE GONNA DIE. WE'RE GONNA DIE.
THIS DOG IS GONNA GET US KILLED."
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID, THOUGH?
Louise: WE WANT TO HELP HER.
WE'RE A PIT BULL RESCUE,
SO WE'RE GONNA HELP HER GET SOME MEDICAL HELP.
Man: WHAT'S UP WITH HER LEG? ARE Y'ALL GONNA FIX HER LEG?
YEAH. YEAH.
Tia: WE WERE NEW TO THE SOUTH BACK THEN.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
THEY WERE SCARY-LOOKING DUDES,
AND WE WERE IN A "BAD PART OF TOWN."
AND THEN IT WAS JUST LIKE THESE GUYS TURNED OUT TO BE SO NICE.
ONE OF THE GUYS, TWAN, HE WAS JUST THE SCARIEST-LOOKING DUDE,
AND HE WAS THE SWEETEST ONE.
HE DEFINES BIG OLD TEDDY BEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT RESCUE IS WHAT MADE ME REALIZE
WE WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACE HERE IN THE SOUTH.
NOW LATWANDA IS LIVING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
WITH HER FAMILY
AND IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HAPPIEST DOGS WE'VE EVER HAD.
AND WE NAMED HER AFTER THE GUY ON THE PORCH -- TWAN.
LATWANDA.
Orlando: LATWANDA. THAT'S AWESOME.
THAT'S A GREAT NAME.
COMING UP...
YOU'RE EVEN BETTER LOOKING THAN YOUR PICTURE.
...ONE OF OUR FAVORITE ADOPTERS...
YAY!
...DELIVERS SOME UNEXPECTED NEWS.
SHE SENT ALONG A LETTER FOR YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ]
OH, THAT'S SUCH A CUTE PICTURE.
Orlando: YEAH, THAT PICTURE WAS GREAT.
I GOT TO ADMIT
THAT WITH ALL THE PHOTOS THAT RITA BROUGHT IN WITH HER,
THE CHRISTMAS PARTY WAS TURNING OUT
TO BE A LITTLE MORE FUN THAN I EXPECTED.
I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE ALL THE WORK THAT RITA PUT IN
GETTING IN TOUCH WITH ALL OF THE ADOPTERS
AND GETTING THESE PHOTOS TOGETHER.
IT WAS REALLY COOL.
WE HAVE TIFFANY OF TIFFANY AND GEORGE MICHAEL.
OH! REMEMBER THE LITTLE PUPPIES,
THE LITTLE BLUE PUPPIES THAT YOU GUYS WENT --
THAT WAS ME AND MARIAH. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
KANANI WENT ON THAT.
IT WAS ALL OF US.
TIFFANY AND GEORGE MICHAEL HAD BEEN ABANDONED
IN THIS DILAPIDATED OLD HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES
THAT I SAW MY KIDS OUT ON A RESCUE ALONE.
I KNEW MARIAH AND KANANI COULD HANDLE IT,
ALONG WITH OUR PUPPY PERSON, LOUISE.
I'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY BAD SITUATIONS,
BUT THE CONDITIONS OF THIS HOUSE --
PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST I'VE SEEN.
Mariah: IT WAS THE HOUSE THAT HAD FECES, LIKE, THIS FAR.
THAT WAS INSANE.
Louise: OH, MY GOD! OH, MY GOD. THIS HOUSE.
EW. IT STINKS.
OH, MY GOD.
THE STENCH IN THAT HOUSE WAS COMPLETELY HORRIFIC.
OH, MY GOD.
WHERE ARE THESE PUPPIES, DUDE?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT THERE'S [BLEEP] EVERYWHERE.
IT WAS FILTHY
AND NOT EVEN JUST STUFF PILED UP EVERYWHERE BUT FILTH.
EW! I JUST STEPPED ON [BLEEP]
Louise: IT WAS SOMETHING OUT OF "HOARDERS."
IT WAS A HEALTH HAZARD FOR US AND FOR THE ANIMALS.
SO THE PRESSURE WAS ON TO FIND THESE PUPPIES
AND GET THEM OUT OF THERE AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD.
GET THEM OUT OF THERE.
OH, MY GOD.
Mariah: THEY WERE ACTUALLY IN THE ROOM THAT HAD THE MOST FECES IN IT,
OF COURSE, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THERE
AND NOBODY'S TAKING CARE OF THEM.
THE ENTIRE FLOOR WAS JUST STACKED UP WITH FECES.
IT WAS HORRIFIC.
GIVE ME.
THAT SMELLS SO BAD.
IS THAT IT? THAT'S IT, RIGHT?
OH, MY GOD.
THIS STINKS SO BAD.
UGH. UGH.
HOW OLD ARE THEY NOW?
ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS.
YEAH.
GEORGE MICHAEL IS NOW LIVING IN SAN DIEGO.
AND TIFFANY IS IN LOS ANGELES WITH HER OWNERS, DENISE AND TOM.
OKAY. SMILE!
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS, TOY SQUEAKS ]
TIFFANY. GOOD SMILE!
WE THINK OF TIFFANY AS A GIFT. SHE KEEPS US ON OUR TOES.
Tom: GET IT, GIRL! GET IN THERE!
AND SHE'S FULL OF LIFE.
AND SHE'S BEEN A BLESSING TO HAVE AROUND.
OKAY, SMILE!
BEAUTIFUL!
Tia: YOU KNOW, SEEING TIFFANY GROWN UP, IT'S PRETTY SURREAL.
SHE'S BECOME THIS BEAUTIFUL BLUE DOG,
AND IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE THAT SHE'S STILL IN THE SAME HOME
HAVING A GOOD LIFE AND EVERYBODY LOOKS HAPPY.
REMEMBER THEM COMING OUT? "OH, MY GOD."
AND -- AND THE KITTENS.
Mariah: OH, THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
WE WERE WALKING OUTSIDE, AND YOU COULD HEAR SOMETHING,
AND THERE WAS JUST KITTENS SITTING IN A BOX.
OH, MY GOD.
[ GASPS ] OH, MY GOD. LOOK AT THEIR EYES.
AYE YAI YAI.
THEIR EYES WERE COMPLETELY SHUT FROM ALL OF THE GOOP
AND BEING OUTSIDE AND BEING SICK, I GUESS.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, APPARENTLY WE'RE TAKING CATS.
WHEN WE FOUND THOSE KITTENS,
I HAD NO IDEA HOW I WAS GONNA CONVINCE MY MOM TO KEEP THEM.
THE LAST THING THAT WE NEEDED WERE MORE MOUTHS TO FEED.
OH, GOD. SHE'S GONNA HATE ME.
YEAH, WE HAVE A PRESENT FOR YOU.
WE FOUND SOMETHING ELSE.
Kanani: BEFORE YOU FINISH, IT WASN'T MY IDEA.
IS IT ALIVE?
Louise: YEAH. HOPEFULLY. AND IT'S NOT AN "IT."
IT'S A "THEM."
A "THEM"?!
WELL, THEY'RE THE RIGHT COLOR FOR YOU.
OH, COME ON!
OH!
THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT THAT RESCUE --
THE BOX OF KITTENS THEY BROUGHT BACK.
WHY DIDN'T YOU BRING BACK
SOME INFANT CHILDREN WHILE YOU WERE AT IT?
OKAY, NEXT ONE.
Rita: THE NEXT ONE IS SPOT.
THAT WAS OUR HURRICANE GUSTAV DOG, I THINK.
SPOT WAS ONE OF MANY DOGS SENT TO US
THROUGH A MASS RESCUE EFFORT DURING HURRICANE GUSTAV IN 2008.
SPOT'S ADOPTERS FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM
FROM THE MINUTE THEY SAW HIM ON OUR WEBSITE.
THEY SAW HIM, THEY WANTED HIM,
AND THEY DID WHAT IT TOOK TO GET HIM.
HI.
A LONG DRIVE?
YES.
THIS MOTHER AND DAUGHTER MADE SOME MAJOR LIFESTYLE CHANGES
JUST SO THEY COULD ADOPT SPOT.
WE JUST MOVED TO ALPINE, CALIFORNIA, TO THE CONDO PLACE,
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY ACCEPT ALL BREEDS.
THEY SEARCHED AND SEARCHED AND SEARCHED
UNTIL THEY FOUND A PLACE TO MOVE WHEN THEY COULD HAVE HIM.
THAT'S DEDICATION.
AWW, LOOK AT THAT BOY!
OH, SPOTTY.
YOU'RE EVEN BETTER LOOKING THAN YOUR PICTURE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WE WANT HIM.
PLEASE, WE WANT HIM. NOBODY ELSE CAN GET HIM.
WHEN ELIA AND HER MOTHER, MARIA, FIRST MET SPOT,
YOU KNEW IT WAS JUST MEANT TO BE.
HE'S OFFICIALLY YOURS.
YAY!
ARE YOU KIDDING? I'M GONNA CRY.
I KNOW!
IT WAS SO HEARTWARMING
TO SEE SOMEBODY CRYING OVER GETTING A DOG.
I'M GONNA LOSE MY EYELASHES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SOMETIMES YOU START TO FORGET
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GET THAT FIRST DOG.
IT'S LIKE, "OH, MY GOD! IT'S MY NEW BABY!"
IT'S LIKE THEY GAVE BIRTH.
DON'T CRY. YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME CRY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF HIM.
OF COURSE. BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR LOVING HIM.
TODAY IS ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE
BECAUSE SPOT IS OFFICIALLY OURS.
WE ALL ARE TOGETHER, AND HE'S HOME.
HERE'S THE DEAL -- I DIDN'T GET TO TAKE PICTURES OF HER,
SO SHE SENT ALONG A LETTER FOR YOU.
IT SAYS, "DEAR TIA, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN
"FOR LETTING ME HAVE THE EXPERIENCE
"OF MEETING YOU AND ALL THE VILLALOBOS CREW
"AND, OF COURSE, ALL OF YOUR WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DOGS.
"WE ADOPTED SPOT,
"AND HE'S BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF A BLESSING IN OUR LIVES.
"HE IS THE BEST DOG EVER --
"SO FULL OF LOVE, SO FULL OF LIGHT, AND SO FULL OF JOY.
"I WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER,
"AND I'M CURRENTLY UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY.
"I KNOW THAT THOUGH SPOT IS THE RESCUE DOG,
"IT IS TRULY HE WHO HAS RESCUED ME.
"WITHOUT HIM, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD THE STRENGTH
"AND THE JOY AND THE LOVE
TO GET THROUGH THIS AS EASILY AND AS SUCCESSFULLY AS I WILL."
Tania: IT WAS SWEET.
LIKE, IT MADE MY HEART SMILE
'CAUSE IT WAS SAYING THAT SPOT'S BASICALLY BEEN A HERO.
LIKE, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD.
"KNOW THAT SPOT IS TRULY LOVED AND TRULY CHERISHED.
LOVE, ELIA GOMEZ, MARIA GOMEZ, AND SPOT GOMEZ."
IT'S VERY COMMON TO USE THE TERM, "RESCUED THIS DOG."
WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME THAT, "NO, NO, THIS DOG RESCUED ME."
YAY! TO THE GOMEZ FAMILY!
TO THE GOMEZ FAMILY!
[ LAUGHTER ]
COMING UP...
OH, MY GOD.
...WE UNCOVER A SURPRISING NEW CHAPTER
TO ONE OF OUR MOST EMOTIONAL STORIES YET.
I HAD NO IDEA. NO IDEA AT ALL.
Rita: SO THE LAST UPDATE I HAVE FOR YOU
IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL.
ROXY MAMA.
OH, MY GOD.
ROXY MAMA AND HER PUPPIES WERE FIRST TAKEN IN
BY ONE OF MANDO'S OLD FRIENDS BACK IN CALIFORNIA.
[ DOG BARKING ]
WHEN ROXY TURNED OUT TO BE PRETTY AGGRESSIVE,
HE CALLED ME TO STEP IN AND HELP.
IF ONE OF US SLIPS UP, ONE OF US IS GETTING BIT.
THIS IS WHERE SHE'S GONNA -- WATCH YOUR HANDS.
WATCH YOUR HANDS! WATCH YOUR HANDS!
[ DOG BARKS ]
THERE WERE DEFINITELY SOME MOMENTS
WHERE THIS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT REALLY BAD.
BUT THANKFULLY,
WE MANAGED TO GET ROXY SAFELY SECURED INTO A CRATE.
I THOUGHT THAT ROXY'S BEHAVIOR WOULD SETTLE DOWN
ONCE WE GOT HER BACK TO VILLALOBOS,
BUT THINGS DID NOT IMPROVE.
OH, SHE WAS SO BAD. IT TOOK ME WEEKS.
WE COULDN'T EVEN GET IN HER PEN.
LIKE, I HAD TO JUST THROW FOOD IN THERE AND CLOSE THE GATE.
[ DOG BARKING ]
SO THEN, FINALLY, SHE GOT TO WHERE I COULD GO IN WITH HER,
BUT THERE WAS, LIKE, NO EMOTION.
LIKE, SHE JUST LET ME FEED HER, AND THAT WAS IT.
AND THEN WHEN I WOULD TAKE HER OUT TO WALK HER,
SHE JUST KEPT RUNNING.
SHE JUST, LIKE, RAN AND RAN,
AND SHE JUST WANTED TO GO. AND I'M, LIKE, PULLING HER.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" I KEPT SAYING.
LIKE, SHE KNEW SHE HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE.
Keli'i: MOM, HOW LONG DID WE HAVE HER FOR?
A YEAR AND A HALF.
AND ALL SHE WANTED TO DO WAS KILL EVERYBODY.
AND SO I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT? WE CAN'T ADOPT THIS DOG OUT.
THERE'S NO EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT WITH ME AT ALL."
AND THEN WE GOT AN E-MAIL.
HER OWNER RESURFACED AND TOLD US WHAT HAPPENED.
CHERYL ACTUALLY FOUND US
BECAUSE SHE SAW THE SHOW WHERE ROXY HAD BEEN RESCUED.
SHE'S BEGGING FOR HER BACK. SHE SAYS, "I LOVE ROXY.
I'M CLEAN AND SOBER NOW, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MY DOG BACK."
SHE GOT ARRESTED FOR DRUGS,
AND SHE LEFT ROXY BEHIND IN A HOTEL ROOM,
AND SO SHE JUST TOLD ME THE WHOLE STORY,
YOU KNOW, ABOUT HOW SHE ---
JUST ROXY AND HER WERE INSEPARABLE,
THAT'S ALL SHE COULD THINK ABOUT.
I WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL TAKE A CHANCE."
BUT I TOLD HER, I SAID,
"YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF.
DOGS DON'T REMEMBER ALL THE TIME.
AND IF THIS DOG DOESN'T REMEMBER YOU, SHE'S GONNA EAT YOUR ***."
WHEN WE DROVE OUT TO PALM SPRINGS,
WHAT HAD ME ON PINS AND NEEDLES
IS THAT ROXY'S HUMAN AGGRESSION WAS NO JOKE.
EVEN ON THE WAY TO THE REUNION,
ROXY MAMA WAS TRYING TO GET TO OUR PRODUCER.
[ DOG BARKING ]
CALM DOWN.
WHEN I GOT ROXY OUT OF THE VAN,
SHE WAS JUST YANKING ME EVERYWHERE.
CHILL OUT, MAMA.
THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE HOW THIS REUNION WAS GONNA TURN OUT.
OF COURSE, IN MY MIND, I'M THINKING,
"GOD, IS ROXY GONNA TRY AND BITE HER?
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ROXY GONNA DO?"
Cheryl: OH, MY GOSH. OH, MY GOSH.
ROXY! MAMA!
MAMA! HI, MAMA! HI, BABY GIRL!
Tia: OKAY.
HI, MAMA. [ SMOOCHES ]
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MY GOD.
THE REUNION BETWEEN ROXY AND HER OWNER, CHERYL, WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I HAVEN'T SEEN HER ACT LIKE THIS AT ALL.
Cheryl: [ Crying ] I LOVE YOU, MAMA.
I HAVE NOT SEEN HER ACT LIKE THIS ONCE SINCE WE'VE HAD HER.
I LOVE HER SO MUCH.
[ CRYING ]
YOU REMEMBER ME NOW, HUH?
WOW. SHE TOTALLY REMEMBERED YOU.
YEAH.
TOTALLY DIFFERENT DOG.
WHAT, BABY GIRL?
IT WAS AMAZING 'CAUSE SHE KNEW TRICKS
AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS, RIGHT?
SHE KNEW ALL THESE TRICKS, YEAH. YEAH.
YEAH. IT WAS CRAZY. I'M LIKE, "WHAT?"
JUMP. GOOD GIRL.
YAY!
YAY, ROX!
I HAD NO IDEA THAT DOGS COULD REMEMBER THAT FAR BACK.
NO IDEA AT ALL.
Tia: ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE WAS THAT HAPPY DOG AGAIN,
AND I THOUGHT, "WOW.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THIS BEHAVIOR OF HERS
WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS SO OVERCOME WITH GRIEF
OF BEING AWAY FROM HER OWNER."
HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF DOGS SIT IN ANIMAL SHELTERS
THAT ACT LIKE HER,
AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF GRIEF, DEPRESSION, AND SADNESS
BECAUSE THEIR OWNER DUMPED THEM?
IT'S SAD.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM ROXY'S STORY
IS THAT DOGS AND PEOPLE CAN CHANGE.
SHE WAS LIKE, "I AM NEVER, EVER LETTING GO OF HER AGAIN.
EVER."
AND HERE YOU GO.
THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
TO CHERYL AND ROXY!
WHOO!
KNOWING THE TOUGH TIMES
THAT CHERYL AND ROXY BOTH HAD TOGETHER,
TO LOOK AT THIS PHOTO AND SEE HOW HAPPY THEY BOTH ARE,
IT JUST WARMS YOUR HEART.
TALK ABOUT GIVING SOMEONE A SECOND CHANCE
AND A THIRD CHANCE -- THERE YOU GO. RIGHT HERE.
YEP.
PROBABLY MY FAVORITE RESCUE AND ADOPTION EVER.
THE BEST.
[ GLASSES CLINK ]
WE ALL WANT HAPPY ENDINGS.
...A MOVING CONFESSION HITS HOME
FOR MEMBERS OF THE VILLALOBOS FAMILY.
[ Voice breaking ] THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Louise: I NAMED THEM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Rita: I DO LIKE THE GEORGE MICHAEL.
TIFFANY. GEORGE MICHAEL.
Tia: SEEING ALL THE PICTURES OF THESE HAPPY DOGS,
IT REMINDED ME OF ANOTHER CHRISTMAS PHOTO
THAT I HAD GOTTEN.
WE MOVED TO LOUISIANA IN 2010.
AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED
THAT ALL OF MY KIDS HAPPENED TO BE OUT HERE IN NEW ORLEANS,
AND I WAS BACK IN CALIFORNIA.
I REMEMBER GETTING THE E-MAIL, "MERRY CHRISTMAS, MOM."
AND I OPENED UP THIS PICTURE, AND IT WAS ALL MY KIDS.
THE HAD GOT THIS UGLY CHRISTMAS TREE.
LIKE, IT WAS LIKE A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREE,
AND I REMEMBER THINKING, "OH, MY GOD.
ALL OF MY KIDS ARE TOGETHER IN A GROUP
HUGGING, SMILING, AND LOOKING HAPPY."
THAT'S WHEN I KNEW
THIS IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT HERE IN NEW ORLEANS.
OUR TIME HERE SO FAR HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN ALL SMILES.
THE BIG EASY HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT FOR VILLALOBOS,
AND I KNEW THAT NO ONE UNDERSTOOD THAT BETTER
THAN THE VERY PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS ROOM.
OKAY. OH, WAIT. OH, IT'S PLASTIC.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ GLASSES CLINK ]
HEY, SO SINCE OUR MOVE HERE TO NEW ORLEANS,
WE HAVE REALIZED QUITE QUICKLY
THAT GETTING INVOLVED WITH RESCUING THE DOGS HERE
HAS BEEN HARDER FOR US THAN WE EVER EXPECTED.
ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THAT WE'VE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH
WAS THE AMOUNT OF DOGS THAT NEED OUR HELP HERE.
I WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT, AS TOUGH AS I THOUGHT I WAS,
I AM NOT THAT TOUGH.
WE ALL WANT HAPPY ENDINGS,
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HEARTBREAK IN IT, TOO.
AND, RECENTLY, I FOUND MY DAUGHTER TANIA
REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME WITH WHAT WE GO THROUGH.
ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST SAID TO ME, "I'M READY TO BREAK."
SHE SAYS, "THE AMOUNT OF DOGS THAT NEED HELP IS OVERWHELMING.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE IT ANYMORE."
AFTER TANIA AND I SPOKE,
SHE POSTED SOMETHING ON THE INTERNET
THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.
AND I FELT IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT EVERYBODY AT THIS TABLE WOULD JUST GET.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO READ FOR EVERYBODY WHAT SHE WROTE.
"I OFTEN GET ASKED HOW I DO WHAT I DO,
"AND MY RESPONSE IS USUALLY 'BECAUSE IT IS MY PASSION,'
"BUT SOMETIMES I ASK MYSELF THE SAME THING.
"THE PAIN IS OFTEN SO MUCH MORE THAN I THINK I CAN ENDURE.
"I'VE BEEN IN AN INNER BATTLE LATELY
"WITH THE STRUGGLES AND THE PERMANENT VISIONS
"OF NEGLECTED DOGS OR DOGS THAT ARE LEFT
"AS IF THEY WERE MERELY A PIECE OF GUM
"THAT WAS SPIT OUT ON THE SIDEWALK.
"IN DOING RESCUE WORK,
"YOU KIND OF LEARN TO TURN A BLIND EYE
"TO THE THINGS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU ON A DAILY BASIS,
"NOT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HURT,
"BUT BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT HURTS YOU SO BAD
"THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOURSELF NUMB
"IN ORDER TO CONQUER THE NEXT DAY.
"THE OTHER DAY, WE FOUND THE SWEETEST, MOST LOVING LABRADOR
"TIED TO OUR FENCE.
"I'M VERY GOOD AT KEEPING STRONG,
"BUT TODAY WAS MY DAY TO BREAK,
"AND I CRIED TO MY MOM AND ASKED,
"'HOW DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?'
"AND SHE REPLIED, 'JUST LOOK AT ALL OF THESE DOGS
"'WE'VE TAKEN IN SINCE WE'VE MOVED --
"'THE SKINNIEST, NEAR-DEATH DOGS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
"'NOW THEY ARE ALL GOING TO HAPPY HOMES.
"'IF WE WEREN'T HERE, THEY'D STILL BE TIED TO THAT FENCE,
"BUT DEAD AND FORGOTTEN.'
"SUDDENLY, THE CLOUDS PARTED, AND I GOT A GLIMPSE OF HOPE.
"I FELT MY STRENGTH START TO TAKE OVER AGAIN.
"SHORTLY AFTER, I WALKED INTO MY HOUSE
"AND SAW MY BEAUTIFUL BLUE DOG CHEWING HIS TOY --
"THE MOST AMAZING BEST FRIEND A GIRL COULD ASK FOR.
"AND, AT THAT VERY MOMENT, THE CLOUDS NOT ONLY PARTED,
"BUT THE SUNSHINE ACTUALLY SMILED AT ME AND SAID,
"'EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY.'
"SO NOW MY ANSWER IS, 'I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE I LOVE IT.
"'I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE.
"'I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE I WANT TO SAVE THEM
THE EXACT SAME WAY THEY'VE SAVED ME.'"
RIGHT AS I GOT TO THE END, IT JUST HIT ME.
TANIA THINKS EXACTLY LIKE I DO, AND I THOUGHT, "SHE'S MY APPLE."
NOT ONLY IS TANIA TOUGHER THAN SHE REALIZES,
BUT ALL OF MY KIDS ARE TOUGHER THAN THEY REALIZE.
AND WITHOUT KIDS, WITHOUT MY FRIENDS,
WITHOUT ADOPTERS, VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS,
EVERYBODY, THERE IS NO WAY WE COULD DO THIS.
SO TO MY KIDS, TO OUR EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS,
TO THE REST OF OUR FAMILY,
TO THE COP I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE...
[ LAUGHTER ]
...THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
AND IF YOU GUYS EVER MOVE OUT, MY CHILDREN,
I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND BRING YOU BACK HOME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Orlando: YAY!
CHEERS.
I WANTED NOTHING, AND I MEAN NOTHING,
TO DO WITH THIS HOLIDAY PARTY
WHEN THE KIDS FIRST TOLD ME ABOUT IT,
BUT I WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT I'M GLAD THEY DID IT.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY FAMILIES GET TOGETHER LIKE THIS.
THE HOLIDAYS ARE A BIG DEAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT JUST ALLOWS THEM TO STEP AWAY FROM THAT DAILY GRIND
AND HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY LOVE.
BUT, FOR ME, THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE
ARE A PART OF MY DAILY GRIND.
AND THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WORTH CELEBRATING.
AND NOW MY KIDS HAVE PEOPLE THAT THEY LOVE, AS WELL.
TANIA IS NOW ENGAGED TO PERRY.
THE TWINS EACH HAVE GIRLFRIENDS.
AND MARIAH'S BOYFRIEND, STEPHEN, IS SUPERCOOL.
HIS BAND ACTUALLY CAME TO PLAY FOR US TONIGHT.
I THINK WHY I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS CHRISTMAS EVENT --
BECAUSE IT WAS DONE IN SUCH A TYPICAL NEW ORLEANS FASHION.
THERE WAS FOOD AND MUSIC AND JUST A WILDLY GOOD TIME.
IT WAS JUST A PARTY.
♪ YOU CAN'T SAVE MY SOUL ♪
WELCOME TO OUR HOME!
Tia: EVERYBODY HERE JUST CELEBRATES.
IT'S LIKE THE CITY IS IN A CONSTANT GOOD MOOD,
AND IT'S VERY INFECTIOUS.
WE DON'T EVEN HUG. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
NO, NOT EACH OTHER.
WE DON'T HUG AT ALL, ANYWAY.
MOVING HERE TO NEW ORLEANS
IS BY FAR THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING I'VE EVER DONE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
1, 2, 3, GO.
[ LAUGHS ]
MOM, THAT'S YOUR LINE.
FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS,
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM "PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES."
OKAY, LET ME TRY THIS ONE.
[ Laughing ] WAIT. DON'T DO IT YET.
MARIAH, IT'S NOT THAT FUNNY.
OKAY. STOP.
OKAY. STOP SNORTING.
GOD.
NO, NO. I GOT IT. I GOT IT! I GOT IT!
ORDER IN THE COURT!
FELIZ NAVIDAD!
WE GOT TO DO IT AGAIN.
NO MORE!
MY FACE IS BURNING.
OH.
I CAN'T LAUGH ANYMORE.
NOW YOU KNOW WHY I HATE CHRISTMAS!