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COMING UP ON "PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES"...
Tia: HE'S RIGHT THERE. OH, MY GOD.
...A FACE-OFF WITH A DANGEROUS DOG...
[ DOG GROWLING ]
THIS IS URGENT.
THEY NEED TO GET TOGETHER A DOG KENNEL NOW.
I LEFT TANIA OVER THERE KEEPING THE DOG BAITED.
AW, DON'T GROWL AT ME, PLEASE?
[ DOG GROWLING ]
THEN A BROKEN DOG'S ONE SHOT AT A HOME
TAKES AN UNTHINKABLE TURN.
Jake: ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10,
10 BEING LIKE THE WORST THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN,
WHERE IS HE AT?
9.999.
WOW.
THAT'S A BIG FELLA.
AND A NEWEST PAROLEE WORKS HARD TO KEEP UP.
ALABAMA WAS ONE OF OUR HEAVY PULLERS.
CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN.
Dameon: YEAH. YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
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.
Tia: WHEN I DECIDED TO MOVE VILLALOBOS TO NEW ORLEANS
THERE DEFINITELY WAS A LOT OF WHAT-IF'S.
WHAT IF WE DON'T FIT IN?
WHAT IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MANPOWER TO RUN THINGS?
AND THANKFULLY WE GOT THE ANSWERS TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS,
AND THEY WERE ALL GOOD.
OUR GRAND OPENING WAS A HUGE SUCCESS,
THAT WE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SHOW UP
JUST TO GIVE US A WARM WELCOME.
WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER UNEXPECTED GUEST SHOW UP.
JERRY, WHERE'S YOUR TOY?
WHERE'S YOUR TOY? FIND ONE. FIND A TOY.
JERRY, THE GERMAN SHEPHERD.
HE WAS RUMMAGING THROUGH OUR TRASH,
AND WE WEREN'T GOING TO LEAVE HIM OUT THERE ON THE STREET, SO WE TOOK HIM IN ANYWAYS.
HI, JERRY. YOU GETTING A BATH?
YEAH.
JERRY TURNED OUT TO BE NOTHING BUT A BIG BABY.
HE JUST COULD NOT HANG OUT IN THE KENNELS.
SO WE BROUGHT HIM INTO THE OFFICE
WHERE HE'S BECOME MY NEW OFFICE BUDDY.
HE'S NOT A PIT BULL, BUT HE'S A COOL DOG.
GOOD BOY, JERRY.
WHILE IT'S GREAT HAVING A DOG AROUND THE OFFICE,
IT'S STILL ANOTHER MOUTH TO FEED.
SO IT'S A RELIEF THAT I HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TODAY
TO GET ANOTHER DOG ADOPTED OUT.
HEY.
COME ON IN.
COME ON IN EVERYBODY.
TODAY'S POTENTIAL ADOPTION IS A SINGLE MOM AND HER SEVEN KIDS.
I THOUGHT I HAD A LOT WITH FOUR KIDS.
Jake: I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT WAS A BIG FAMILY THAT WAS COMING.
YES, JAKE COMES FROM A FAMILY OF NINE.
IT'S TRUE.
JUST RECENTLY, THIS FAMILY LOST THEIR PIT BULL TO CANCER.
I HEAR THAT YOUR OTHER PIT BULL JUST PASSED
THAT YOU HAD FOR A LONG TIME.
WOW. YOU HAD IT SINCE IT WAS A PUPPY?
WHAT WAS HIS NAME?
SNOOP? I HAD A DOG NAMED SNOOP ONCE.
WE DID.
I HAVE HAD HIM LONGER THAN I'VE HAD SEVERAL OF MY CHILDREN.
HE WAS JUST A WONDERFUL, LOYAL, AND DEVOTED DOG TO THE FAMILY.
GREAT WITH KIDS.
CUDDLED WITH US AT NIGHT, WATCHED TV.
PART OF THE FAMILY, SLEPT IN THE BED, YOU KNOW?
I DON'T THINK HE KNEW HE WAS A DOG. [ LAUGHS ]
UNEXPECTEDLY, CANCER HAD COVERED HIS WHOLE BODY,
AND THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO PUT HIM TO SLEEP.
YEAH, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE DOGS
AND SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF A SELECTION
FOR YOU GUYS TO MEET.
OKAY?
WE COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HERE.
WE CAN'T WAIT [CHUCKLES] FOR A DOG TO COME HOME.
I'M GOING TO HAVE HIM BRING OUT BRANDY FIRST.
BRANDY IS A DOG THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US BY HER OWNERS
AFTER SHE CONTINUED TO GET OUT OF THEIR YARD.
SHE'S BEEN REALLY GOOD IN THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW,
AND SHE'S BEEN REALLY WELL CRATE-TRAINED.
GREAT WHEN YOU TAKE HER OUT.
SHE'S GOT SOME REALLY GOOD QUALITIES ABOUT HER.
SUPER-DUPER SWEET.
POOR BRANDY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SHOWN HER...A LOT.
AND WHENEVER WE GET AN ADOPTER WITH KIDS,
"THIS IS THE DOG. THIS IS THE DOG.
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE KIDS' DOG."
AND BY NO FAULT OF HERS, SHE JUST GETS PASSED OVER
AND THEY PICK ANOTHER DOG OF OURS.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, "OKAY."
HI, BRANDY. COME SAY HI.
WELL, YEAH, YOU KNOW ME. COME SAY HI TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
NO, YOU KNOW US. I KNOW. I KNOW.
YES, YOU KNOW US. I KNOW.
WHEN JAKE BROUGHT BRANDY OUT, IT HURT ME A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE SHE SEEMED NOT AS INTERESTED IN THE CHILDREN
AS THE CHILDREN WERE TO HER.
WHAT?
JAKE WILL STAY IN THERE WITH THEM.
WHEN I WAS WATCHING BRANDY WITH THE KIDS,
I JUST SAW HER KIND OF WANDER OFF A FEW TIMES.
SHE'LL JUST RUN AROUND, HUH?
BRANDY.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SWEETHEART?
BRANDY IS A GREAT DOG.
AND I KNOW SHE'S REALLY GOOD WITH KIDS,
BUT I GUESS SEVEN OF THEM WERE JUST A LITTLE TOO MUCH FOR HER.
WELL, LET'S PUT HER AWAY
AND WE'LL BRING OUT CONTESTANT NUMBER TWO.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
COME ON.
COMANCHE WE GOT OUT OF AN ANIMAL SHELTER IN LOS ANGELES.
NO HAIR. JUST BOWLEGGED.
LEG PROBLEMS AND HIP PROBLEMS.
JUST A BROKEN DOG.
NEVER HAD ANYBODY REALLY WANT TO ADOPT HIM
BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE LOOKED.
AND AFTER BEING HERE IN NEW ORLEANS A VERY SHORT TIME,
CALL IT THE MAGIC OF THE CITY OR THE HUMIDITY AND THE WEATHER,
BUT HE TURNED INTO A FLUFFY WHITE SNOW BUNNY,
AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE HIM A SPECIAL TREAT.
COME ON, COMANCHE.
HI, BUDDY. COME ON.
WOW. WOW.
Norah: OH, MY GOSH.
COME ON. COME HERE, BOY.
THE KIDS ARE JUST LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, HE LOOKS LIKE SNOOP."
AND I WAS LIKE, "AAH," BECAUSE UNBEKNOWNST TO ME,
THEIR DOG SNOOP THAT PASSED AWAY
WAS ALMOST THE SPITTING IMAGE OF COMANCHE.
[ GASPS ] OH, WOW.
GOD, HE'S REALLY PRETTY.
YEAH, HE WAS A BEAUTIFUL DOG.
Norah: I'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN ANY DOGS THAT LOOKED LIKE SNOOP,
SO SEEING COMANCHE, AND HIM RESEMBLING SNOOP,
I FEEL LIKE, "WOW, THIS WAS MAYBE JUST MEANT TO BE."
MY CHILDREN SEEMED TO JUST EMBRACE HIM INSTANTLY.
HE HAD NO HAIR WHEN WE GOT HIM. LIKE A PINK, HAIRLESS RAT.
SO THIS ALL LIKE NEW HAIR JUST ALL STARTED GROWING BACK.
HE'S ALSO GOT WHAT THEY CALL LUXATING PATELLAS,
WHICH MEANS HIS ELBOWS POP IN AND OUT.
HE HAS SLIGHT DYSPLASIA ON ONE HIP,
BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM.
Tia: COMANCHE HAS SOME ISSUES WITH HIS HIPS.
UP UNTIL NOW, IT'S NEVER REALLY BOTHERED HIM,
BUT I STILL HAVE TO TELL THE FAMILY EVERYTHING.
AND THE GREAT THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE KIDS, THEY DON'T JUDGE.
WOW! YOU'RE SO CUTE.
DON'T DRAG HIM.
Young Boy: I LIKE THIS ONE.
HE'S A SWEETIE.
HE LIKES YOU.
THE KIDS REALLY GRAVITATED TOWARD COMANCHE.
EVERY TIME THEY MOVED, HE MOVED.
EVERY TIME THEY SCOOTED, HE SCOOTED OVER.
THAT LOOKS LIKE SNOOP'S NOSE.
HIS EARS AND HIS COLOR REMIND ME OF SNOOP.
IT MADE ME LOVE COMANCHE A LITTLE MORE.
I THINK WE HAVE A WINNER. [ CHUCKLES ]
HE'S REAL CUDDLY.
HE LOVES TO CUDDLE.
AW.
LIKE A FLUFFY BUNNY, HUH?
Norah: COMANCHE JUST SEEMED TO WANT TO BE A PART OF THEM,
AND THEY WANTED TO BE A PART OF HIM,
LIKE THEY DID WITH SNOOP.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF STUFF I'M USED TO SEEING IN MY HOME.
I THINK COMANCHE'S OUR CHOICE, SO...
OKAY.
WHILE I'M THRILLED THAT THE FAMILY WANTS COMANCHE,
I STILL HAVE TO DO THE HOME CHECK
BEFORE WE MAKE IT FINAL.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
Tia: WE'LL TALK TO YOU IN A FEW.
ON TOP OF THAT, COMANCHE'S GOT HEALTH ISSUES.
THIS FAMILY JUST LOST A DOG TO CANCER.
AND THE LAST THING I WANT FOR THEM
IS TO TAKE ON A DOG
THAT'S JUST GOING TO BRING THEM MORE HEARTBREAK.
SO I'M GOING TO HAVE JAKE TAKE COMANCHE TO THE VET
JUST TO MAKE SURE HE'S HEALTHY ENOUGH FOR THIS FAMILY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
VILLALOBOS RESCUE CENTER.
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS HERE.
ONE IS, THIS DOG MIGHT DIE OUT THERE.
BUT TWO, WHEN SHE TELLS ME HE'S GROWLING WHEN YOU GET TOO CLOSE,
THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD.
I'LL ACTUALLY GO OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY.
OKAY. OKAY, YOU'RE WELCOME.
THIS IS A SITUATION
THAT REQUIRES OUR ABSOLUTE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
ALL RIGHT, READY? YOU WANT TO GET THE GATE?
SINCE TANIA HAS THE MOST HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE,
I'M BRINGING HER ALONG.
IT'S THE BEST SHOT I HAVE AT RESCUING THIS DOG.
SHE CAN GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR HIM BREATHING VERY HEAVY.
PROBABLY FROM HEARTWORM.
SO IF IT DOESN'T GET TREATED, IF HE DOESN'T GET CAUGHT,
HE WILL DIE OF HEARTWORM DISEASE.
YOU KNOW, RESCUES, IN GENERAL, ARE STRESSFUL ENOUGH,
BUT ADD ON TO THAT, I'M NEW HERE TO THE CITY.
I DON'T HAVE MY BEARINGS YET.
"DEAD END," IT SAYS.
DAMN IT.
YOU LOOK THAT WAY, I'LL LOOK THIS WAY.
LIKE LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
UGH.
YEAH.
Tania: NO.
HE'S RIGHT THERE. OH, MY GOD.
WAIT, WAIT. WAIT, DON'T MOVE.
IS HE DEAD?
OH, MY GOD, ARE YOU [BLEEP] KIDDING ME?
HE'S ALIVE.
HI, BUDDY. HI.
I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS DEAD.
GRAB A CANE.
A CANE IS JUST A DETERRENT.
DOG COMES AT US, YOU HOLD THE CANE UP.
ANY DOG HANDLER THAT'S GOING TO SAY,
"I'M NOT SCARED OF ANY DOG," THAT'S A FOOL.
THE THING THAT I NOTICED VERY QUICKLY
WAS HIS HEALTH WAS EXTREMELY BAD.
OH, GOD.
OH, MY GOD.
OKAY.
THE WHEEZING AND THE COUGHING
AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE HARD TIME BREATHING,
IT ALL POINTS TO HEARTWORM.
GOOD BOY. GO OVER HERE WITH ME.
GET BEHIND ME. GET BEHIND ME.
[ DOG WHEEZING ]
MY MAIN CONCERN WAS THAT THE DOG DID NOT RUN OFF.
CHASING THIS DOG DOWN WOULD HAVE PROBABLY KILLED HIM.
SNIFF. SNIFF.
SNIFF.
SNIFF.
SNIFF.
[ DOG WHEEZES ]
MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE, HE WAS EXTREMELY FOOD-DRIVEN.
LOVED THE TREATS.
YOU KNOW, CAME RIGHT TO US, TO A POINT.
[ SMACKS LIPS ]
COME HERE. COME HERE.
[ DOG GROWLS ]
THIS ONE'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
SO TANIA AND I ARE TRYING TO RESCUE A DOG
SUFFERING FROM WHAT LOOKS LIKE A REALLY SEVERE CASE OF HEARTWORM.
BETWEEN THE PAIN HE'S GOT TO BE IN
AND MORE THAN LIKELY THE MISTREATMENT HE'S RECEIVED
BY HUMANS...
COME HERE. COME HERE.
[ DOG GROWLS ]
...WHATEVER LITTLE TRUST HE HAD FOR US
HAS JUST GONE OUT THE WINDOW.
SO WITH HIM, HE WILL TAKE FOOD.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS COME BACK.
WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A KENNEL.
HIM, I CAN CATCH IN A KENNEL.
SOME PEOPLE USE CATCHPOLES TO RESCUE DOGS,
AND THAT'S THEIR PREFERENCE.
I JUST HAPPEN TO BE SOMEONE
THAT'S JUST NOT COMFORTABLE USING THEM.
YOU KNOW, DOGS CAN PANIC,
AND THE NOOSE TIGHTENS UP, AND YOU CAN CHOKE A DOG OUT.
ANY EXTRA STRESS COULD EASILY KILL THIS DOG,
SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS ONE SLOW.
TO ADD SOME MORE MANPOWER, YOU KNOW,
OF COURSE, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE TWINS, MARIAH.
OKAY, SOMEBODY ANSWER THE [BLEEP] PHONE.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
LIKE, NOBODY'S GOING TO ANSWER THE PHONE.
SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE YOU HERE,
UNLESS YOU WANT TO DRIVE THIS VAN BACK?
Tania: I JUST DON'T WANT TO NOT GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR, THOUGH,
SO THEN WE'LL LEAVE YOU HERE?
ALL RIGHT.
Tia: YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU JUST KEEP HIM HERE BY GIVING HIM TREATS.
WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF TREATS.
NOW I'M NOT JUST WORRIED ABOUT THIS DOG,
BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT TANIA.
I KNOW SHE CAN TAKE CARE OF HERSELF,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HER
WITH A SICK AND UNPREDICTABLE DOG ALONE
ANY LONGER THAN I HAVE TO.
YOU HUNGRY?
GOOD.
GOOD BOY.
I'M ON MY WAY BACK. THIS IS, LIKE, URGENT.
THEY NEED TO GET TOGETHER A DOG KENNEL, LIKE NOW.
A GATE PANEL, A BACK PANEL,
AND TWO LONG PANELS IF WE HAVE THEM.
WHATEVER SIZE, WHATEVER.
ZIP TIES AND A LONG ROPE.
[ DOG GROWLS ]
AW, DON'T GROWL AT ME, PLEASE?
MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE A LITTLE NICER.
Tania: HE WAS GROWLING AT ME ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME.
HE'S HAD VERY LITTLE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE,
AND THE KEY IS TO GET HIM TO TRUST ME AND NOT TO BITE ME.
GETTING A LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.
Tia: YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUSHING. I GOT THE TWINS.
WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING CONTRAPTIONS,
THEY ARE THE MASTERS.
Kanani: YEAH.
I LEFT TANIA KEEPING THE DOG BAITED.
OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? CHICKEN, HOT DOGS.
I HAVE TO NOW CONVINCE THIS DOG TO GET INTO THIS TRAP.
READY?
WHERE'S SISSY?
DOWN HERE.
OH, HE'S RIGHT THERE.
BUT HE WON'T LET ANYBODY GET NEAR HIM.
THE ONE BENEFIT TO LEAVING TANIA BEHIND
IS THAT SHE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME
TO BUILD UP SOME TRUST WITH THIS DOG.
[ DOG GROWLING ]
MAYBE WE CAN BUILD IT RIGHT HERE, OKAY?
BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE SCARED WHEN THEY START BUILDING,
I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM THE BETTER STUFF NOW.
MY FIRST CONCERN WAS, YOU KNOW,
ONCE THE TWINS STARTED PULLING OUT ALL THE MATERIALS
WHEN WE GOT THERE, THIS DOG WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF.
IT'S A BUSY AREA. THERE WAS CARS DRIVING AROUND.
THERE WAS THE BRIDGE. THERE WAS THE RIVER WITH THE BOATS.
I'M LIKE, "OH PLEASE," YOU KNOW, "NOTHING HAPPEN TO SCARE HIM."
ANY EXTRA STRESS OR EXCITEMENT COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR THIS DOG.
HE'S VERY FOCUSED ON YOU.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE HIM FOLLOW YOU INTO THIS THING.
YEAH.
YOU WALK BACKWARDS SO HE FOLLOWS YOU.
HE'S INTO YOU, OKAY?
COME ON, BUDDY.
IF WE GET HIM IN HERE, JUST SLIDE THAT THING OVER, OKAY?
DELICIOUS.
KEEP GOING. KEEP GOING. KEEP GOING.
NO?
NOW TOSS ONE IN. TOSS IT IN THE FENCE.
THERE YOU GO.
DON'T MOVE IT YET. DON'T MOVE IT YET. HERE.
[ SMACKS LIPS ] HEY.
OOH.
CLOSE IT. CLOSE IT. CLOSE IT.
YOU GUYS, HURRY, PLEASE.
SWEET.
OKAY, HOLD IT. HOLD IT. HOLD IT.
ZIP TIE. ZIP TIES!
I KNOW. I KNOW.
I WOULD HATE ME, TOO.
ONCE I GET AN ANIMAL CONTAINED IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT,
YOU TAKE A CRATE
AND VERY SLOWLY, CALMLY CORNER THEM.
DON'T LET HIM -- DON'T LET HIM JUMP UP!
IT'S OKAY, BUDDY. IT'S OKAY.
[ DOG WHEEZING ]
CLOSE THE GATE.
COME HERE.
TURN YOUR HEAD. TURN YOUR HEAD.
YOU'RE OKAY.
YOU'RE OKAY. YOU'RE OKAY. THERE WE GO.
NOW WE'RE OKAY.
SO NOW WHAT I WANT TO DO, MOE,
IS I WANT YOU TO PUSH THE CRATE TOWARDS HIM
AND SEE IF WE CAN JUST GET HIM TO GO IN ON HIS OWN.
I GOT HIS HEAD.
SCOOP HIM IN.
YEAH, OKAY, JUST -- JUST YOU -- I GOT HIM.
I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO FIGHT ANYMORE.
Tania: THERE YOU GO.
GOOD JOB.
SUCCESS.
LISTENING TO THIS DOG'S BREATHING AND HIS COUGHING,
IT WAS OBVIOUS IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HEART
AND THE LUNGS --
ORGANS OF THE BODY THAT YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH.
SO HE HAD TO GO TO THE VET IMMEDIATELY.
Tania: WE SHOULD BE HAULING ***.
OH, MY GOD!
Tia: UGH.
POOR DOG.
YEAH.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.
IT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS DYING.
I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING THAT BAD IN MY LIFE. IT WAS BAD.
THIS IS BREAKING MY HEART.
I KNOW.
I FELT LIKE IT WAS A RACE --
MY VAN VERSUS HIS LAST BREATH...
[ DOG WHEEZING ]
OH, MAN.
[ WHEEZING STOPS, DOG THUDS ]
OH [BLEEP]
TANIA, GO BACK THERE QUICK.
...BECAUSE IT GOT REALLY QUIET.
LIKE, WE THOUGHT HE WAS DYING.
OH, MY GOSH.
[ DOG WHIMPERS ]
[ DOG WHEEZING ]
HE WAS OKAY, BUT THEN HE WOULD START UP AGAIN
WITH JUST THIS HORRIFIC HEAVING AND COUGHING.
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
I DIDN'T THINK HE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT.
HE'S NOT VERY FRIENDLY. [ CHUCKLES ]
OUR NEW VET, SOUTHERN ANIMAL FOUNDATION,
WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THEM DURING KATRINA.
SO WHEN WE BECAME RESIDENTS OF NEW ORLEANS,
WE CALLED ON THEM TO WORK WITH US AS OUR RESIDENT VET.
IN ORDER TO CHECK HIM...
YEAH. I WANT TO GET THE LEASH. WE CAN'T. HE'S SCARED.
WE HAVE TO GET HIM TRANQUILIZED ENOUGH
TO WHERE THE VET COULD LOOK AT HIM.
[ DOG BARKS ]
BUT THE FASTER AND QUICKER WE TRIED TO GET HIM SUBDUED,
THE WORSE WE MADE HIM BEHAVE.
OKAY, YOU WANT TO TRY THAT NOW? WHOOP.
YEAH, WE'LL HAVE TO USE THAT.
I'LL GET IT OUT. JUST A SECOND.
Tania: YOU KNOW, HE WAS GROWLING AT ME AND MY MOM.
HE WAS ACTUALLY GROWLING AT ALL OF US,
JUST BECAUSE HE'S SCARED.
HE DOESN'T KNOW IF WE'RE THERE TO HURT HIM
OR, YOU KNOW, OR DO BAD THINGS TO HIM,
BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHERE THE DOG CAME FROM.
OKAY, SHUT THE DOOR A BIT. EASY, BUDDY.
EVERYBODY READY?
Tia: HE'S DOING GOOD.
THAT'S IT.
OKAY. GOOD JOB.
Tia: ALL I WANT IS TO BE ABLE TO HELP THIS DOG.
YOU KNOW, HE'S OBVIOUSLY SICK AND SCARED
AND PROBABLY LEFT IN THAT FIELD TO JUST DIE ALONE.
I DON'T BLAME HIM AT ALL FOR LASHING OUT AT US.
WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH HUMANS HAVE HURT HIM IN THE PAST.
SO WAS THIS A BITE WOUND OR...?
OH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S LIKE A CHAIN OR SOMETHING, LIKE A WIRE.
HE'S CLEARLY SUFFERED ENOUGH ON HIS OWN,
AND I DO WANT TO SHOW HIM
THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS HUMAN KINDNESS.
BUT BEFORE I CAN DO THAT,
WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT WE CAN SAVE HIS LIFE.
Tia: AFTER FINDING THIS DOG ABANDONED IN A FIELD
WITH WIRE MARKS AROUND HIS NECK
FROM EITHER BEING CHAINED UP WITH THEM OR WORSE YET, CHOKED,
MY HEART'S JUST BROKEN, AND I WANT HIM TO LIVE,
BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW HIM
THAT NOT ALL HUMANS ARE BAD.
Dr. Jackson: OKAY, SO THIS, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AND SEE,
CERTAINLY HE DOES HAVE HEARTWORMS.
HERE'S HIS HEART.
HE'S GOT A LITTLE FLUID AROUND THAT.
HIS HEART SHAPE IS A LITTLE CHANGED.
Tia: HEARTWORM COMES FROM MOSQUITOES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A HEARTWORM PROBLEM IN CALIFORNIA,
AT LEAST WHERE WE WERE AT, BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE DESERT.
Dr. Jackson: YOU'RE SEEING THE RED BLOOD CELLS.
HE'S GOT MICROFILARIA, WHICH ARE THE BABY HEARTWORMS.
SEE ALL THAT MOVING AROUND?
THE WORMS ARE CREATED IN THE DOG'S HEART.
AND THEY JUST CONSUME THE HEART, CLOG UP THE ARTERIES,
AND IF NOT TREATED, WILL KILL A DOG.
SO HE'S GETTING A DOSE OF FUROSEMIDE OR LASIX
TO HELP BRING FLUID OFF THE CHEST.
TAKE HIM. LET HIM GO FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
AND LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH HIS BREATHING,
WITH HOW HE'S DOING ON THE MEDICATION
THAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU.
OKAY.
HE WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY DIED WITHOUT TREATMENT,
BUT EVEN WITH TREATMENT, IT'S NOT OVER YET FOR THIS DOG.
YOU KNOW, HEARTWORM TREATMENT CAN BE PAINFUL,
CAN BE LONG, CAN BE BRUTAL, CAN BE FATAL.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
IT IS SAID THAT I HAVE EYES IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD.
AND I WATCH PEOPLE.
AND I'VE SEEN EARL, EVEN WHEN EARL HASN'T SEEN ME.
THAT'S A BIG FELLA.
HE TALKS TO EVERY DOG.
HE SINGS TO EVERY DOG.
HE REALLY ENJOYS BEING AROUND THEM.
HEY, MY BOY.
EVEN WITH ONE FUNCTIONING ARM,
HE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A POWERHOUSE.
GOOD BOY.
GOOD BOY.
Earl: ME MAKING IT PAST MY FIRST WEEK
MAKES ME FEEL VERY GOOD.
HEY, BRANDY.
I VERY MUCH THINK I'M MAKING A CONNECTION WITH ALL THE DOGS
BECAUSE I MAKE IT A POINT, AFTER FEED, CLEANUP, YOU KNOW,
I'LL WALK AROUND AND GIVE EVERYBODY TREATS.
I TALK TO SOME OF MY DOGS.
SIT. GOOD BOY.
YOU KNOW, THEY SEE ME, THEY GET HAPPY.
THEY KNOW I'M THE MAN WITH THE POUCH.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY GIVE ME ANY TROUBLE DURING THE DAY,
THEY DON'T SEE THE POUCH.
EVERYBODY GOT THEIR TREATS.
GOT NO MORE.
GOT NO MORE!
MY PAROLEES ARE EXPECTED TO NOT ONLY CLEAN UP AFTER THE DOGS
BUT WALK THEM, TOO.
I'VE BEEN A LITTLE WORRIED
ABOUT HOW EARL WOULD MANAGE THAT WITH ONE ARM.
SOME OF THESE DOGS ARE STRONG,
BUT HE'S EARNED A CHANCE TO TRY.
HAVE YOU MET MY GIRL, ALABAMA?
YOU HAVEN'T MET HER?
GO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
HEY, BABY.
HEY, BABY.
Dameon: I SET "BIG EARL" UP WITH A FEISTY ONE, WHICH WAS ALABAMA,
BECAUSE SHE'S SHORT, SHE'S STOCKY.
ALABAMA IS ONE OF OUR HEAVY PULLERS.
CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN.
[ CHUCKLES ] AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
HE WAS JUST LIKE, "OH, I CAN'T STOP.
[ Laughing ] DAMN," LIKE, YOU KNOW?
SHE WAS JUST PULLING HIM.
Dameon: YEAH. YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
SIT DOWN.
GOOD GIRL.
SHE'S A BIG GIRL, MAN.
BIG BODY.
WATCH OUT -- WIDE LOAD.
SHE'S PRETTY STRONG, TOO.
SHE'S REAL STRONG.
EVENTUALLY, HE DID A GOOD JOB.
GOOD GIRL.
HE HAD FULL CONTROL OF THE DOG.
I GIVE HIM A NINE, MAN.
HE'S MOVING ALONG JUST FINE WITHOUT THAT OTHER ARM.
THIS A BEAST RIGHT HERE.
A GOOD BEAST.
YEAH.
Earl: I'M KIND OF GLAD THAT DAMEON INTRODUCED ME TO ALABAMA
OR LET ME WALK HER FIRST.
IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE GUYS.
BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE TASK LEFT FOR ME TO DO
AND THAT'S RECEIVE MY LEASH.
IT'S SYMBOLIZED TO ME
THAT YOU ARE NOW AN EMPLOYEE OF THE VILLALOBOS RESCUE CENTER.
I NEED MY LEASH.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
IT DON'T EVEN FEEL RIGHT.
YEAH, YOU NEED THAT BADGE, MAN.
WHEN I GET THE LEASH,
I WANT MY BOSS LADY TO FEEL LIKE I EARNED IT.
YEAH, EXACTLY.
I'M REALLY HOPING THAT A LEASH COME MY WAY VERY SOON,
BECAUSE THAT WOULD REALLY MAKE ME FEEL LIKE
I'M AN OFFICIAL PART OF THE TEAM.
[ SIGHS ]
THERE YOU GO.
[ VAN DOOR CLOSES ]
A COUPLE DAYS AGO,
A MOM AND HER SEVEN KIDS MET AND FELL IN LOVE WITH COMANCHE.
WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR HIM,
BUT APPARENTLY MIRACLES DO HAPPEN.
THERE YOU GO.
THE KIDS ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW DOG,
BUT COMANCHE'S HAD SOME HIP PROBLEMS IN THE PAST,
SO TIA WANTS ME TO GO HAVE HIM CHECKED OUT
BEFORE HE GOES TO A HOME.
[ MACHINE BEEPING ]
GOOD BOY.
ALL RIGHT, X-RAYS ARE DONE.
IF YOU LOOK AT HIS KNEES, YOU SEE HOW THEY'RE VERY THICK
AND KIND OF THE MARGINS LOOK PRETTY IRREGULAR.
AND YOU CAN'T REALLY MAKE OUT CLEARLY A JOINT SPACE.
UH-HUH.
THAT'S A NORMAL JOINT SPACE, LIKE IN HIS TAIL.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THERE.
BUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE BONY CHANGES AND THE THICKENING,
IT'S TOUGH TO EVEN MAKE THAT OUT IN HERE.
AND THAT'S FROM THE LUXATING PATELLA?
YEP. HIS RIGHT ONE IS PRETTY MUCH LOCKED OUT OF PLACE
AT THIS POINT.
Jake: AFTER THEY DID THE X-RAYS, FROM WHAT THE VET SAID,
IT WAS ACTUALLY WORSE THAN SHE THOUGHT IT WAS ORIGINALLY.
AS FAR AS MANAGEMENT, THE WAY TO CORRECT IT,
AT LEAST WITH THE KNEES, IS SURGICALLY.
I KNOW.
AND, ALSO, THE OTHER THING YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER
IS THAT THERE'S RECOVERY TIME INVOLVED IN SURGERY, TOO.
THAT DRAGS THINGS OUT PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.
Jake: SURGERY WITH A LONG RECOVERY,
IT'S LIKE GETTING PUNCHED IN THE STOMACH.
THIS FAMILY JUST LOST THEIR DOG TO CANCER,
SO HEARING THAT COMANCHE HAS SOME SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES
MAY BE TOO MUCH FOR THEM TO HANDLE.
Dr. Carr: SO [SIGHS] I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO TOUCH BASE
WITH THE ORTHOPEDIST, YOU KNOW,
TO GET A MORE ACCURATE PROGNOSIS.
COME ON. [ SMACKS LIPS ]
THE NEXT STEP IS TO GET COMANCHE TO THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
TO SEE EXACTLY HOW SEVERE THE PROBLEM IS.
BECAUSE IF IT'S BAD LIKE THE VET THINKS THAT IT IS,
IT'S GOING TO BE A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE TO GET HIM A HOME.
HE LOOKS NOT GOOD.
Tia: YEAH.
I WENT AND GRABBED TANIA
TO CHECK IN ON OUR LATEST RESCUE, GATOR.
WE NAMED HIM GATOR BECAUSE HE IS LIKE AN ALLIGATOR.
AFTER ALL HE'S BEEN THROUGH, HE IS DEFINITELY TOUGH.
OH, I FEEL BAD FOR YOU. COME HERE.
OKAY.
ARE WE GOING TO BE FRIENDS NOW?
I WAS THERE WHEN WE FOUND GATOR.
AND I HAD TO SIT THERE WITH HIM BY MYSELF.
HERE YOU GO.
HI. YOU'RE OKAY.
WE HAVE A LITTLE RELATIONSHIP,
EVEN THOUGH HE REFUSES TO ADMIT IT. [ CHUCKLES ]
THE THING IS
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S JUST GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE
AND HE'S JUST RELAXED
OR IF IT'S HIS HEALTH.
HE'S NOT COUGHING AS HARD AS HE WAS.
I'M LOOKING FOR ANY LITTLE GLIMMER OF HOPE RIGHT NOW
FOR HIM.
AND I'LL TAKE THAT...
OKAY, GATOR, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU REST.
OH, YEAH.
...BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T GET PAST HIS HEALTH ISSUE,
HE MAY NOT MAKE IT.
Jake: I JUST GOT BACK FROM TAKING COMANCHE TO THE VET,
AND IT REALLY WAS
ABOUT THE WORST NEWS WE COULD POSSIBLY GET.
[ SIGHS ] SO THEY DID X-RAYS.
HE DOES HAVE THE HIP DYSPLASIA.
BUT I GUESS THE PROBLEM IS
THAT SHE SAID THAT WITH THE LUXATING PATELLA
OH, GOD!
...IT WAS BASICALLY LIKE LOCKED OUT OF SOCKET,
LIKE HIS KNEECAP WOULD NOT GO BACK IN.
OH, MY GOD.
SHE SAID THAT SHE'S GOING TO SEND THE X-RAYS
TO THE ORTHOPEDIST,
SEE WHAT HE SAYS.
HER OPINION WAS THAT SURGERY WAS THE ONLY SOLUTION.
WOW.
I MEAN, IT MAY BE A SERIES OF SURGERIES, YOU KNOW?
OH, NO, IT'S GOING TO BE A SERIES OF SURGERIES, YEAH.
FINALLY GET SOMEBODY WHO WANTS HIM.
[ Chuckling ] RIGHT.
SO HE CAN'T GO TO HIS HOME.
TO THINK THAT WE CAME SO CLOSE TO GETTING HIM A HOME.
NOW THIS DOG COULD BE WITH US FOR ANOTHER YEAR TO TWO YEARS
GETTING SURGERIES.
AND IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY THE MOST HEARTBREAKING THING.
SO HOW FAST CAN HE GO TO THE ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST?
WELL, SHE WAS GOING TO --
SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO SEND THE X-RAYS OVER TO HIM
SO THAT HE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE, SEE WHAT HE THINKS.
THEN WE'LL TAKE HIM DOWN THERE SO THEY CAN CHECK HIM IN PERSON.
OH, MY GOD, THIS SUCKS.
YEAH, IT DOES.
SO NOW IT'S A WAITING GAME.
ALL WE CAN DO
IS JUST TAKE COMANCHE TO THE ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST
AND JUST HOPE THAT POSSIBLY, SOMEHOW
IT'S NOT AS BAD AS WE WERE TOLD.
Mariah: THIS IS ADRIANA. SHE'S ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD.
SHE WAS A PART OF THE HEMPSTEAD HOPEFULS
WHICH WAS A DOG FIGHTING CASE IN NEW YORK.
ONCE WE GOT ADRIANA,
WE ACTUALLY FOUND OUT THAT SHE'S NOT DOG-AGGRESSIVE.
SHE LOVES OTHER DOGS.
SHE'S VERY ENERGETIC AND FUN TO BE AROUND.
SHE NEEDS SOMEONE THAT'S VERY ACTIVE, JUST LIKE SHE IS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ADRIANA
OR ANY OTHER VILLALOBOS PIT BULL, VISIT...
TODAY I AM TAKING COMANCHE IN TO THE ORTHOPEDIST
SO THAT HE CAN CHECK HIM OUT.
COMANCHE'S BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR YEARS
BECAUSE OF HIS SKIN PROBLEMS,
AND NOW HE'S FINALLY GOT A SHOT AT GETTING A HOME.
FOR THAT TO GO AWAY BECAUSE OF HIS BAD KNEES,
IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING.
I GUESS MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW
WOULD BE THAT HE'S GOING TO TELL US
THAT COMANCHE NEEDS THE SURGERIES
AND THAT HE CAN'T GO TO HIS HOME.
THERE YOU GO.
Dr. Hancock: HEY. HOW YOU DOING?
THIS IS COMANCHE.
I'VE SEEN THE X-RAYS.
NOW HERE'S THE THING --
THE KNEES TEND TO BE THE MORE UNFORGIVING OF THE JOINTS.
OKAY.
AND PATELLAS ARE GRADED OUT ONE THROUGH FOUR.
GRADE-FOURS ARE THE WORST AND THE MOST SEVERE
AND HAVE THE WORST PROGNOSIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY,
WE'RE GOING TO HOPE THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
RIGHT.
Dr. Hancock: LET'S SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE KNEES.
SO I WANT YOU TO JUST KIND OF FEEL THIS HERE.
YOU'LL FEEL KIND OF TWO LITTLE RIDGES.
THAT'S WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE GROOVE.
Jake: THAT'S WHERE HIS KNEECAP IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
THAT'S WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
INSTEAD, IT'S WAY OVER HERE.
OKAY?
AND, IN ALL TRUTH, I REALLY... I CAN'T EVEN MOVE IT, YEAH.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A GRADE-FOUR ON THIS SIDE.
OKAY.
OKAY, LET'S ROLL HIM OVER.
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, BABES.
WOW. THIS ONE'S EVEN WORSE.
SO HERE'S HIS KNEECAP WAY OVER HERE,
AND THEN HERE'S HIS GROOVE WAY OVER HERE.
AND REMEMBER,
THIS AND THIS BUMP ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN A STRAIGHT LINE.
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE.
JESUS.
Jake: WHEN THE DOCTOR SHOWED ME WHERE THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE,
WHERE THEY ACTUALLY WERE, IT WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE [BLEEP]
I DID NOT REALIZE HIS LEGS WERE SO BAD.
SO LIKE ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10,
10 BEING LIKE THE WORST THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN,
WHERE IS HE AT?
9.999.
[ Laughing ] JESUS.
YEAH.
TO HAVE AN ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST TELL YOU
THAT THAT'S THE WORST THAT THEY'VE EVER SEEN,
IT WAS KIND OF A BLOW.
NOW, DO YOU SEE SIGNIFICANT LAMENESS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS?
NO.
OKAY.
I MEAN, HE SEEMS TO MOVE AROUND FINE.
HE DOES WALK FUNNY, BUT HE'S ALWAYS WALKED FUNNY.
SO I CAN'T REALLY COMPARE IT TO ANYTHING.
I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU HERE.
OKAY.
WHAT'S HAPPENED IS, OVER TIME AS HE'S DEVELOPED,
HE'S LET MOTHER NATURE MAKE HIS ALIGNMENT FOR HIM.
AND SO, HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BOWLEGGED
AND HAVE A FUNNY GAIT.
BUT IF THE DOG DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF CLINICAL SIGNS,
I USUALLY DON'T PUSH SURGERY FOR THEM.
OKAY.
OH, MAN.
WHAT'S IRONIC IS THAT COMANCHE'S KNEES BEING SO BAD
WAS BASICALLY THE BEST NEWS WE COULD'VE GOTTEN.
IT'S BEEN SO BAD FOR SO LONG
THAT HIS BODY HAS ALREADY COMPENSATED FOR IT.
OH, BUDDY.
WELL, THE BAD NEWS IS THAT YOU'RE ALL [BLEEP] UP,
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS
THAT YOU'RE SO [BLEEP] UP THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
THEY CAN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
YOU'RE OKAY. COME ON.
SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR SURGERY.
IT'S GREAT NEWS FOR COMANCHE.
BUT THE QUESTION IS,
WHO KNOWS HOW THE FAMILY IS GOING TO TAKE IT?
THEY MAY NOT WANT HIM KNOWING HOW SEVERE HIS PROBLEMS ARE,
SO WE'RE STILL NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.
COME ON, JOHNNY.
EARL HAS GONE OVER AND ABOVE.
AND HE'S ALWAYS TELLING ME,
"IF YOU NEED ME TO STAY LATE, MISS TIA,
IF YOU NEED ME TO COME ON A DAY OFF, MISS TIA, I WILL BE HERE."
WE GOT LUCKY WITH EARL.
WHAT A HANDSOME COUPLE YOU TWO MAKE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BUDDY?
I HEARD THROUGH THE VILLALOBOS GRAPEVINE
THAT EARL WANTED HIS OWN LEASH.
SO I FIGURED I COULD DO BETTER THAN THAT.
I GUESS IT'S GETTING KIND OF COLD THERE ON THE BUS
IN THE MORNINGS.
YES, MA'AM.
KEEP YOU WARM AND COZY ON THE RIDE HERE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
YOU KNOW, I GAVE HIM HIS HOODIE, AND HE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE,
BUT THEN I PULLED OUT THE BIG SURPRISE.
YOUR INDOCTRINATION WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE.
MOST NEW PAROLEES JUST GRAB ANY OLD LEASH LYING AROUND,
BUT EARL IS SO GENUINE.
HE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO ASSUME THAT HE COULD JUST HAVE ONE.
I MEAN, HOW DO YOU NOT LOVE THIS GUY?
IT'S OFFICIAL NOW.
THIS IS OFFICIAL NOW.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING ON.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING ON.
YOU ARE IN. NOW YOU'RE PART OF THE GANG.
UP HIGH.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
I HAD BUTTERFLIES BECAUSE IT SYMBOLIZED
THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS JOB.
I'M OFFICIAL.
I'M OFFICIAL, BRO.
YOU'RE A GOOD GUY, EARL.
NO PROBLEM.
YOU'RE A GOOD BOSS LADY, TOO.
EARL WAS BURIED TREASURE, AND WE FOUND IT.
Earl: IT MAKES IT OFFICIAL, BRO.
Jake: WELL, I'VE GOT NEWS.
BOTTOM LINE IS COMANCHE'S LEGS ARE SO JACKED UP
THAT THE VET ISN'T SURE THAT SURGERY WILL HELP HIM.
I KNOW.
HOW IS HE WALKING?
HE SAID THEY'VE BEEN SO MESSED UP FOR SO LONG
THAT HIS BODY HAS JUST ADJUSTED
TO THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T BOTHER HIM.
YOU KNOW, PIT BULLS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR TENACITY,
THEIR STABILITY, AND THEIR RESILIENCE,
AND THAT'S COMANCHE.
SO BASICALLY THE GOOD NEWS IS
HE DOESN'T THINK SURGERY WILL HELP.
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT CAUSING HIM ANY PAIN,
THEN HE SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
I KNOW THE KIND OF CONVERSATION I HAVE TO HAVE
YEAH.
MAYBE THE ADOPTERS WON'T WANT HIM ANYMORE,
YEAH.
I DON'T BLAME THEM.
WE'RE BASICALLY ADOPTING A CRIPPLED DOG TO THEM.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL FIGURE THIS CONVERSATION OUT.
OKAY.
UH-HUH.
COMANCHE'S PHYSICAL ISSUES DON'T JUST AFFECT COMANCHE.
IT'S THE KIDS I'M WORRIED ABOUT.
IT'S ONE THING TO DISAPPOINT AN ADULT,
BUT IT'S A WHOLE OTHER THING TO DISAPPOINT LITTLE KIDS.
[ Ringing ]
HI, NORAH?
Tia: SO WE LEARNED THAT COMANCHE DOESN'T NEED SURGERY.
BUT WHAT WE ALSO LEARNED IS THAT COMANCHE'S LEGS ARE SO BAD
THAT HE'S TECHNICALLY DISABLED.
IT'S JUST SUCH A SHAME, BECAUSE FOR SO MANY YEARS,
COMANCHE HAD A SKIN CONDITION AND NOBODY WANTED TO ADOPT HIM.
SO WE GET THAT CURED, AND NOW A FAMILY WANTS HIM,
AND NOW HE HAS THESE LEG AND HIP PROBLEMS.
AND IT'S JUST NOT FAIR.
I'M WORRIED THAT I'M ABOUT TO BREAK SOME HEARTS
WITH THIS PHONE CALL.
OKAY, HERE'S THE DEAL WITH COMANCHE.
HIS CONDITIONS IN HIS LEGS, YOU KNOW,
THEY SAID IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT HE WAS JUST BORN THIS WAY.
HE SAYS
THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL SURGERY IS EVEN GOING TO HELP HIM,
BUT HE ALSO SAYS
THAT HE DOESN'T REALLY APPEAR TO BE IN ANY PAIN, EITHER.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, LIKE I SAID,
WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, YOUR CHOICE.
BUT...
WELL, THAT WAS -- OKAY, THAT WAS NOT THE ANSWER I WAS EXPECTING.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, WELL, OKAY.
OKAY.
OKAY, NORAH. WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
THANKS.
BYE-BYE.
OKAY, NOW I CAN CRY.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOO! PHEW.
OKAY.
I HAVE HAD TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
AND FIND A DOG THAT'S PASSED AWAY IN ITS KENNEL, ALONE.
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING TO COMANCHE.
COME HERE, BUDDY.
GET BACK.
COME HERE, "MR. BOWLEGS."
LOOK AT YOU.
IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO TAKE ON A DOG LIKE COMANCHE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD THAT SHE SAID YES,
BUT NOW THINKING ABOUT IT, SHAME ON ME.
OF COURSE SHE SAID YES.
IT RENEWS MY FAITH IN HUMANITY.
GOING TO GO TO YOUR HOME?
ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO YOUR HOME?
YEAH.
AND NOW ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS THE HOME CHECK.
AND AFTER ALL OF THIS, I HOPE IT'S OKAY.
HELLO. HELLO.
SO TANIA HAS BEEN THE SOLE PERSON
THAT HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF GATOR.
AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE,
GATOR HAS JUST DONE A COMPLETE TURNAROUND.
OKAY, I NEED TO CLEAN YOUR HOUSE.
[ DOG BARKS ]
OW. OW! [ LAUGHS ]
HE'S ACTUALLY DOING VERY WELL.
HE'S BEING VERY SWEET, VERY PLAYFUL.
Tia: WELL, HIS BELLY HAS GONE DOWN.
Tania: YEAH, IT HAS.
WE'RE LIKE BEST FRIENDS NOW.
AW.
Tia: TANIA HAS A KNACK FOR THOSE WILD ANIMALS,
THOSE WILD DOGS.
I MEAN, SHE'S COMFORTABLE AROUND DOGS WITH THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR.
[ DOG PANTING ]
HI. YOU'RE OKAY.
Tania: IT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GOOD
THAT HE IS TRUSTING ME AND LOVING ME,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M THERE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM.
I THINK THAT SLOWLY BUT SURELY
HE WILL START TO TRUST EVERYBODY INDIVIDUALLY AND NOT JUST ME.
SO IT'S GOOD, BECAUSE THEN MORE PEOPLE CAN INTERACT WITH HIM
AND PLAY WITH HIM.
[ SMACKS LIPS ] I LOVE YOU.
DID YOU WANT ME TO LOAD COMANCHE?
YES.
COME ON, BABY BOY.
YOU READY TO GO?
ARE YOU READY TO GO?
SO TODAY IS COMANCHE'S BIG DAY.
HE'S GOING TO HIS POTENTIAL ADOPTERS,
AND IF ALL GOES WELL, HE IS THEIRS.
THERE YOU GO.
WANT TO GET THE GATE FOR ME?
YEAH.
TAKING COMANCHE TO HIS HOME CHECK,
THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY UPS AND DOWNS WITH HIM,
THAT I'M SCARED TO GET MY HOPES UP.
IT'S NEVER A DONE DEAL UNTIL THAT'S FINISHED.
AND WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THIS IS MORE THAN LIKELY
COMANCHE'S ONE SHOT ONLY AT GETTING A HOME.
SO, TODAY WE ARE BRINGING COMANCHE TO HIS NEW HOME.
Norah: YEAH.
OUT OF THE STREET, YOU ALL.
WAVE. [ LAUGHS ]
Norah: THE KIDS ARE SO EXCITED.
ALL WEEK THEY'VE JUST BEEN,
"WHEN'S HE COMING? WHEN'S HE COMING?"
AND TODAY, THEY KNOW TODAY IS THE DAY,
AND THEY ARE JUST SO EXCITED.
THEY CAN'T SIT STILL.
WHAT A GREETING. [ LAUGHS ]
HI. HI.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?
FOR WHAT?
COMANCHE!
COMANCHE WHO?
THE DOG.
OH, NO, I BROUGHT OTHER DOGS INSTEAD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU KNOW, WHEN I PULLED UP AND SAW NORAH AND ALL THE KIDS,
THAT'S INTIMIDATING FOR ME.
SO IT TAKES A REAL SPECIAL DOG
TO BE ABLE TO FIT INTO A FAMILY LIKE THAT.
I'M GOING TO BRING HIM OUT,
BUT LET HIM KIND OF SETTLE IN FOR A SECOND.
YOU KNOW, HE'S A LITTLE NERVOUS.
YOU LET HIM COME OUT AND JUST KIND OF SNIFF THE GRASS
AND STUFF, SEE WHERE HE'S AT?
OKAY?
Alyssa: HI, COMANCHE.
YOU READY TO COME OUT? COME ON.
DO YOU SEE HIM, GRAMMY?
WHAT ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT?
I WAS EXPECTING COMANCHE TO BE A LITTLE NERVOUS.
THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES HE'S BEEN IN THE CAR,
IT'S BEEN TO GO TO A SCARY VET'S OFFICE.
COMANCHE, HERE HE COMES.
SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT FIRST. COME ON.
OH!
[ LAUGHS ]
AW.
HI, COMANCHE.
"JUST FORGET THIS WAITING STUFF." [ LAUGHS ]
AW.
WELL, I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE A LITTLE SHY COMING OVER HERE,
BUT APPARENTLY I WAS WRONG. [ CHUCKLES ]
HEY, BUDDY.
Tia: THOUGH HE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS, HE LOOKED FOR THE CHILDREN,
BECAUSE THE CHILDREN GAVE HIM COMFORT.
THAT'S A REAL PIT BULL.
YEAH, COME RIGHT THIS WAY.
WHOO. WHOA, WHERE ARE YOU GOING THERE, BUDDY? [ SMACKS LIPS ] LET'S GO.
LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.
YOU'D NEVER KNOW HE HAS ANY LEG PROBLEMS, RIGHT?
[ LAUGHS ]
THE NICE THING ABOUT NORAH'S HOME
IS THAT SHE IS A FORMER PIT BULL OWNER.
THERE WERE JUST NO VARIABLES TO WORRY ABOUT.
THERE WERE NO OTHER PETS. THE YARD WAS VERY SECURE.
YOU KNOW, THE KIDS WERE JUST RIGHT WITH COMANCHE,
BECAUSE THEY'RE USED TO HAVING A DOG.
SO COMANCHE WAS BORN WITH SOME PROBLEMS
WITH HIS LEGS AND HIS BACK, OKAY?
THIS IS WHY HE HAS LIKE THIS LITTLE HUNCHBACK HERE.
AND HE WALKS KIND OF FUNNY, LIKE A COWBOY, OKAY?
SO YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY GENTLE AND REALLY PATIENT WITH HIM.
EVERYBODY CAN DO THAT, RIGHT?
RIGHT.
EVEN THOUGH COMANCHE HAD HIP ISSUES, HE'S OUR HEART.
HE'S DEFINITELY THE DOG FOR US. HIS HEALTH ISSUES DON'T MATTER.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING HE NEEDS,
WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM.
THAT'S WHAT FAMILIES DO.
Tia: JUST SOMETHING HE WAS BORN WITH.
WELL, HE'S STILL VERY HANDSOME.
YEAH, HE IS.
TO HAVE AN ADOPTER LIKE NORAH SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I DON'T CARE WHAT HIS PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS ARE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HIS ISSUES ARE."
THAT'S -- THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL.
AM I GOING TO HAND THE LEASH OVER TO YOU FOR NOW?
OKAY, COMANCH. I'M GOING TO GO.
I'M GOING TO GO NOW.
HE'S LIKE, "I DON'T CARE. GO."
NO ONE WANTS A LAST PET? THE LAST PET. YEAH.
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT COMANCHE'S ADOPTION PROCESS
HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY THE BIGGEST ROLLER COASTER RIDE
I'VE EVER BEEN ON IN MY LIFE.
YOU'RE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.
YOU'RE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.
I NEVER THOUGHT COMANCHE WAS GOING TO GET A HOME.
I JUST NEVER THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET A HOME.
HE NEVER EVEN GOT LOOKED AT.
IT WASN'T EVEN THAT SOMEBODY KIND OF WANTED HIM.
HE NEVER EVEN GOT APPLIED FOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, TIA.
OH...
Young girl: BYE, MISS TIA.
BYE. THANK YOU.
IT TOOK MOVING TO NEW ORLEANS TO HELP HIM GET A HOME.
HEY, COMANCHE. OOH, YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.
YOU'RE SO CUTE!
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