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YES.
COMING UP ON "PIT BULLS & PAROLEES"...
A DOG IS RECOVERING AT THE ANIMAL EMERGENCY CENTER
AFTER BEING PULLED FROM A DRAINAGE PIPE.
A DOG TRAPPED UNDERGROUND IN MEMPHIS...
THE DIRT STARTED CRUSHING HIM.
...GETS AN UNEXPECTED ASSIST FROM AN NBA ALL-STAR.
HEY, LITTLE MAN.
Tia: OH, HE'S SCARED.
COME ON, GRIZZLY.
THEN AN OVERLOOKED PUPPY'S CHANCE AT A HOME...
Katie: OH, MY GOODNESS. HE'S CUTE.
...HAS FEISTY OBSTACLE IN ITS WAY.
Tia: SHE LIKES HER PERSONAL SPACE. SHE WILL WARN DOGS.
OKAY, OKAY.
COME ON, GRIZZLY.
AND GETTING A DOG THROUGH NEW ORLEANS' FRENCH QUARTER...
GOOD BOY.
...FORCES A FAVORITE PAROLEE TO STEP UP.
DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING.
DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING.
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.
MOVING TO NEW ORLEANS WAS A RISK,
BUT I JUST KNEW IT WAS RIGHT.
I TRUSTED MY GUT,
AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I EVER MADE.
THE SAME COULD BE SAID ABOUT HIRING OUR PAROLEE EARL.
YOU KNOW, BRINGING ON A GUY WITH JUST ONE FUNCTIONING ARM
WITH SUCH A PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOB
WAS A GAMBLE, BUT IT PAID OFF.
GOOD GIRL.
AND HE'S HERE, YOU KNOW, FROM SUNUP TO SUNDOWN.
[ High-pitched voice ] I'M JUST HAPPY GIRL.
I'M JUST HAPPY GIRL.
NO COMPLAINTS. NO QUESTIONS.
JUST A LOT OF HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO THESE DOGS.
[ Normal voice ] COME ON, MAMA.
I THINK IT REALLY HELPED THAT I PARTNERED UP EARL WITH DAMEON
WHEN HE FIRST STARTED HERE.
ONCE YOU GET THE ROUTINE OF IT...
GONNA GET BETTER WITH THE GATE.
YEAH, IT'S GONNA GET SUPER-SMOOTH, MAN.
THE TWO OF THEM BONDED INSTANTLY,
AND THEY PRETTY MUCH HAVE BEEN INSEPARABLE EVER SINCE.
THAT WAS, UNTIL TODAY.
DAMEON IS HEADING BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
BACK WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE,
DAMEON WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.
HIS PAROLE OFFICER WAS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL
AND GAVE HIM A PASS TO COME OUT HERE AND WORK.
SO, NOW HE HAS TO GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA
AND FINALIZE SOME PAPERWORK
AND HOPEFULLY GET HIM OFF PAROLE AND FINALLY MAKE HIM A FREE MAN.
BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS MAKE IT EASY,
AND WHEN DEALING WITH CALIFORNIA PAROLE,
IT CAN GET REALLY FRUSTRATING.
I'LL BE BACK.
SO, YOU'RE GONNA HEAD BACK TO CALI AND TACKLE THE SYSTEM.
YEAH. I GOT TO GO TACKLE IT ONE MORE TIME.
SO, YOU JUST GOT TO GO BACK, CHECK IN.
HOPEFULLY, EVERYTHING'S OKAY.
GET IN CONTACT WITH HIM.
YEAH.
Dameon: I'M SAD LEAVING NEW ORLEANS,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW I'LL BE BACK.
WELL, I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME, TIA.
I'LL TALK TO YOU IN A FEW DAYS, ALL RIGHT?
FOR SURE.
SO, DAMEON SEEMS PRETTY CONFIDENT,
BUT THE LAST TIME THAT MY HUSBAND, A.J.,
WENT TO CHECK IN WITH HIS PAROLE OFFICER,
HE ENDED UP BACK IN PRISON, DOING A 15-YEAR SENTENCE
ON A CRIME THAT ONE OF OUR OTHER PAROLEES COMMITTED.
SO YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SO, WITHOUT DAMEON HERE, IT JUST MEANS
THAT WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO WORK A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
BUT AT LEAST TODAY,
I GET TO DO THE ONE THING THAT MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE,
AND THAT'S GETTING ONE OF OUR DOGS INTO A NEW HOME.
A LOCAL GIRL NAMED KATIE
IS COMING TO SEE IF SHE CAN FIND A COMPANION FOR HER PIT BULL.
HOW ARE YOU?
YEAH.
HI!
MY NAME IS KATIE. I'M FROM NEW ORLEANS.
AND I CAME TO VILLALOBOS TODAY TO ADOPT MY SECOND PIT BULL,
TO GO ALONG WITH MY FIRST FEMALE PIT BULL.
WHAT'S HER NAME?
OH, BOY. THAT'S A MOUTHFUL.
[ LAUGHS ] YES.
BEFORE I GOT *** FOOTS,
I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE HAD COME FROM.
SHE WAS IN VERY BAD SHAPE. SHE HAD A BROKEN LEG.
SHE WAS VERY MALNOURISHED. SHE WAS SCARED OF EVERYONE.
THE FIRST THREE DAYS I HAD HER, SHE DIDN'T OPEN HER EYES.
PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS
WAS MY FIRST ROOMMATE, WHO HAD ANOTHER DOG.
IT WAS, LIKE, HER BEST FRIEND, AND HE JUST MOVED AWAY, SADLY.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON
WHY I CHOSE NOW TO GET ANOTHER DOG
IS BECAUSE HE REALLY WAS, LIKE, HER BEST FRIEND.
I'M ASSUMING THAT MEANS THAT SHE LIKES OTHER DOGS.
YES AND NO.
SHE'S NOT A DOG THAT IS INSTANTLY, LIKE,
RIGHT.
*** FOOTS HAS A TENDENCY TO BE DOG-AGGRESSIVE.
SOMETIMES SHE'S GOOD. SOMETIMES SHE'S NOT GOOD.
SO I'M HOPING TO FIND A GOOD MATCH FOR HER TODAY.
SHE TAKES A LITTLE BIT TO WARM UP
'CAUSE SHE'S VERY APPREHENSIVE OF A LOT OF THINGS.
Tia: KATIE EXPLAINED TO ME HER TEMPERAMENT.
SHE CAN BE A LITTLE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES ON THE APPROACH
WHEN IT COMES TO MEETING OTHER DOGS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT DOG.
IT'S JUST LIKE MATCHMAKING.
OKAY, SO, LET ME GET ALL MY STUFF
AND WE'LL GO OUTSIDE AND WE'LL GO UNDER THE BRIDGE.
YOU WANT TO MEET SOME FRIENDS? YOU WANT A NEW BROTHER?
YOU WANT A NEW BROTHER?
THIS ADOPTION IS ALL ABOUT *** FOOTS FINDING
A DOG THAT MAKES THE RIGHT CONNECTION WITH HER.
IN THE PIT BULL WORLD AT LEAST, YOU KNOW,
FEMALE DOGS DO TEND TO GET ALONG BETTER WITH OTHER MALE DOGS,
AS OPPOSED TO ANOTHER FEMALE DOG.
SO IT'S FINDING THE RIGHT MIX.
IT'S FINDING THE RIGHT PERSONALITY.
IT'S FINDING THE RIGHT AGE, THE RIGHT TEMPERAMENT, THE RIGHT SIZE.
ALL THESE THINGS FACTOR INTO PARTNERING UP DOGS TOGETHER.
OKAY. I'LL TAKE HER.
Katie: SHE'S NEVER GOTTEN IN A FIGHT FIGHT.
SHE LIKES HER PERSONAL SPACE.
SHE WILL WARN DOGS, LIKE, YOU KNOW...
I DON'T BLAME HER FOR THAT.
WHEN EARL COMES OUT WITH A DOG,
WE'LL JUST HAVE YOU GO OFF TO THE SIDE.
I ASKED EARL TO HELP ME WITH THIS ADOPTION.
HE'S BEEN ON KENNEL DUTY EVER SINCE I HIRED HIM.
HE'S A REALLY HARD WORKER, AND HE'S SO GOOD WITH THE DOGS.
SO HE'S DEFINITELY EARNED HIS RIGHT
TO PITCH IN AND HELP US WITH AN ADOPTION.
Earl: THIS IS MY FIRST MEET-AND-GREET.
I THINK SHE SEES MY DEDICATION
NOT ONLY TO HER AND THE VILLALOBOS RESCUE
BUT TO THE DOGS, ALSO.
AND I THINK SHE SEES THAT.
Tia: SO, I ASKED EARL TO BRING OUT COAL FIRST.
COAL WAS BROUGHT TO US BY A GOOD SAMARITAN
WHO FOUND HIM ON THE STREET HERE IN NEW ORLEANS.
AND IT WAS PRETTY APPARENT
THAT HE WAS THE VICTIM OF A DOG FIGHT.
HIS FACE WAS LITERALLY RIPPED OFF.
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT.
THEY HAD TO DO PLASTIC SURGERY
AND GET PIECES OF FLESH AND MUSCLE
AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER --
JUST A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE TREATMENT OF THIS DOG.
AND DESPITE THAT, HE JUST TURNED OUT TO BE
THE KINDEST, MOST FORGIVING DOG YOU'LL EVER MEET.
BUT AS NICE AS HE IS,
THERE'S STILL NO GUARANTEE THAT THESE TWO WILL GET ALONG.
THIS IS COAL. HANDSOME COAL.
Katie: HE IS BEAUTIFUL.
COME ON, MOMMY.
[ GROWLS ]
[ BARKS ]
SO, RIGHT OFF THE BAT,
*** FOOTS SEEMED A LITTLE NERVOUS AROUND COAL.
THAT ONE MAY BE A LITTLE TOO MUCH!
Katie: COAL IS BIGGER THAN *** FOOTS,
AND I THINK HE WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING WHEN HE JUMPED ON HER.
HE'S JUST A BIG DOG, AND I THINK SHE NEEDS A DOG
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT... A LITTLE BIT MORE PULLED BACK.
YOU DID GOOD. YOU DID GOOD.
Tia: COAL IS GREAT WITH OTHER DOGS,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A BIT MUCH.
SO, AT THAT POINT, I KIND OF DECIDED THAT [CLICKS TONGUE]
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE WITH THOSE TWO DOGS.
SO, WE'LL TAKE HIM BACK,
AND THEN WE'LL GET OUT THE PUPPY -- ROCH.
YEAH.
COME ON. COME ON, ROCH. COME ON.
SEEING HOW *** FOOTS
WAS INTIMIDATED BY COAL AND MAYBE HIS SIZE,
I DECIDED TO SWITCH DIRECTIONS
AND BRING OUT A SMALLER, LESS INTIMIDATING DOG.
WHO'S THAT LITTLE GUY?
ROCH IS ONE OF THE DOGS
THAT WE CAUGHT UNDER THE HOUSE ON ST. ROCH.
HI, LITTLE PUPPIES.
HE WAS VERY, VERY SKITTISH AT FIRST.
YOU POOR LITTLE THINGS.
OH, THEY'RE SO AFRAID.
NOW HIS CONFIDENCE HAS BUILT UP QUITE A BIT.
WE FIGURE, YOU KNOW, HE'S A SMALL PUPPY, AND WE THOUGHT
MAYBE THAT WOULDN'T BE AS THREATENING TO *** FOOTS
AND MAYBE THAT SHE WOULD ACCEPT HIM QUICKER.
Katie: HE'S SO TINY.
*** FOOTS, BE NICE TO HIM. BE GENTLE.
EASY, EASY. COME ON, MOMMY.
IT'S OKAY. WHO'S THAT LITTLE GUY?
*** FOOTS' BODY LANGUAGE WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
SHE WAS COMPLETELY OPEN TO PLAY AND A LOT MORE AT EASE.
"THIS IS SOMEBODY I CAN PUSH AROUND."
I KNOW, RIGHT?
*** FOOTS AND ROCH -- YOU KNOW, IT WENT PRETTY WELL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
ROCH. HEY, ROCH. HEY, ROCH.
IT'S A DIFFERENT THING,
AND I'M A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT A PUPPY
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR TEMPERAMENT AS WELL.
Tia: SO, KATIE, YOU KNOW, FOR REASONS OF HER OWN, DIDN'T REALLY WANT A PUPPY.
YOU KNOW, SHE WANTED A DOG THAT WAS A LITTLE MORE MATURE --
JUST SOMETHING THAT SHE KIND OF ALREADY KNEW
HOW IT WAS GONNA TURN OUT.
SO I THOUGHT OF THE PERFECT KIND OF IN-BETWEEN OPTION.
COME ON, GRIZZLY.
Tia: GRIZZLY IS ONE OF THE 20 9th WARD PUPPIES THAT WE TOOK IN
LIKE OUR FIRST WEEK IN NEW ORLEANS.
GRIZZLY GOT HIS NAME BASED ON HIS LOOKS AND HIS TEMPERAMENT --
YOU KNOW, GRIZZLY BEAR.
ADD TO THAT HIS PERSONALITY.
OUT OF ALL THE PUPPIES, HE WAS THE ONLY ONE
THAT JUST KIND OF HAD, LIKE, THIS ***, LAID-BACK,
LITTLE SLOW PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIOR, JUST LIKE BEARS.
BUT HIS LOW-KEY TEMPERAMENT AND PERSONALITY
MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED AGAINST HIM IN THE PAST
BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN PASSED UP TWICE FOR AN ADOPTION.
SO, NOW THAT HE'S OUT OF THAT CUTE, LITTLE PUPPY PHASE
AND KIND OF IN HIS TEENAGE MONTHS,
IT CAN BE HARDER FOR THESE DOGS TO FIND HOMES.
BUT HOPEFULLY, HE'LL BE A GOOD FIT FOR *** FOOTS.
COME ON.
OH, MY GOODNESS. HE'S CUTE.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO MEET, EARL. WE JUST WANT THEM TO WALK.
OH, BOY.
OOH.
DON'T LET THEM GET NEAR EACH OTHER.
YIKES.
COME ON.
Katie: AT FIRST, *** FOOTS WAS PRETTY HYPER,
WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL,
BUT I WAS KIND OF LIKE, "OH, LORD,"
YOU KNOW, "SHE'S GOING CRAZY.
SHE'S GONNA DRIVE THE OTHER DOGS AWAY."
YOU BEHAVE.
YOU BEHAVE. YOU BEHAVE.
Tia: SO, *** FOOTS KEPT PULLING TOWARDS GRIZZLY,
AND IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO THINK, YOU KNOW,
"IS SHE TRYING TO PLAY WITH THIS DOG,
OR IS SHE GONNA BECOME AGGRESSIVE WITH HIM?"
AND OUR ONCE-MELLOW LITTLE PUPPY WAS GETTING ALL FIRED UP, TOO.
EASY.
JUST KIND OF STAY THERE, EARL.
I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF LET HER CALM DOWN.
COME HERE. COME HERE. NO.
NORMALLY, I WALK THEM,
BUT THE WALKING IS STIMULATING HER TOO MUCH.
SO I JUST DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT
YEAH.
BECAUSE WE TAKE PRIDE IN REALLY KNOWING OUR DOGS
AND THEIR PERSONALITIES AND TEMPERAMENT,
I KNEW IN MY HEART OF HEART
THAT GRIZZLY WOULD BE A GOOD MATCH FOR *** FOOTS.
[ GRIZZLY WHIMPERS ]
IT'S OKAY.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
YOU'RE DOING OKAY.
OKAY. GOOD GIRL.
GOOD GIRL.
GOOD BOY, GRIZ.
JUST GOING BY *** FOOTS' AND GRIZZLY'S BODY LANGUAGE,
I COULD TELL THAT THIS WAS GONNA BE A GOOD MATCH.
NICE KISSES.
GOOD GIRL!
GOOD GIRL!
Katie: WHEN THE TWO DOGS FINALLY MET,
*** FOOTS DEFINITELY SEEMED HAPPY AND INTERESTED.
GOOD BOY, GRIZ.
WELL, THAT WAS A NICE LITTLE GREET.
YEAH.
Tia: SO, AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE DOGS DID WELL,
IT'S UP TO KATIE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO.
GRIZZLY ACTUALLY LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE MY ROOMMATE'S OLD DOG.
GRIZZLY, YEAH.
AFTER SEEING GRIZZLY INTERACT WITH *** FOOTS,
HE JUST SEEMS LIKE THE BEST FIT OUT OF ALL THREE OF THEM.
THANKS, TIA. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.
BYE, *** FOOTS. I KNOW HOW TO SAY YOUR NAME NOW.
SAY, "BYE." [ LAUGHS ]
Tia: NOW THAT WE'VE NARROWED IT DOWN TO GRIZZLY,
THE NEXT THING WE WANT TO DO IS WORK ON SOME TRAINING.
IN GRIZZLY'S CASE, IT'S SOCIALIZATION SKILLS.
YOU KNOW, THESE PUPPIES GREW UP IN OUR KENNEL,
AND HE HASN'T BEEN OUT AND ABOUT IN THE REAL WORLD.
SO I DECIDED THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
WAS TO TAKE HIM OUT INTO THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
AND START TO PREPARE HIM FOR HIS NEW HOME.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
VILLALOBOS RESCUE CENTER.
HEY! HOW YOU DOING?
DAMEON HAD TO GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA
AND CHECK IN WITH HIS PAROLE OFFICER
SO THAT HE COULD TRY TO GET OFF PAROLE.
SO, WHAT YOU UP TO IN CALIFORNIA?
I HOPE IT'S GOOD NEWS.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, ANY NEWS ABOUT PAROLE IS NEVER GOOD NEWS.
SO, DAMEON WENT BACK TO CALIFORNIA
TO DEAL WITH HIS PAROLE OFFICER.
SO, WHEN HE CALLED ME TO SAY THAT HE HAD NEWS,
MY HEART TOTALLY SKIPPED A BEAT.
OH, YOU'RE KIDDING?! OFFICIALLY?
OFF THE PAPER.
SO, I WAS THRILLED
WHEN DAMEON CALLED ME AND SAID THAT HE WAS OFF PAROLE.
WOW. THAT'S FANTASTIC.
I COULD NOT BE ANY HAPPIER FOR HIM.
WHEN I MET DAMEON, HE HAD JUST GOT DONE SERVING
A 14-YEAR SENTENCE FOR ARMED ROBBERY,
AND HE WAS JUST IN A REALLY BAD PLACE IN HIS LIFE.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW, THOUGH.
BUT NOW HE'S A FREE MAN.
[ CHUCKLES ] SO, YOU STILL WANT TO COME OUT HERE?
OKAY.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
'CAUSE WE STILL WANT YOU. WE STILL NEED YOU.
I JUST LOVE HEARING THE CONFIDENCE IN DAMEON'S VOICE.
THIS IS WHY I STARTED THIS PROGRAM.
EVEN IF IT'S ONE DOG AT A TIME, ONE GUY AT A TIME,
EVERY SINGLE SUCCESS MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE.
WELL, THEN WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
OKAY. OKAY.
I WILL.
OKAY. BYE-BYE.
DAMEON: Okay. Bye-bye.
HEY!
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
GEEZ, WHERE'S MY PHONE? I CAN'T EVEN FIND IT.
VILLALOBOS RESCUE CENTER.
THIS IS HER.
OH, COOL.
IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE?
OKAY. OKAY.
OKAY.
IS THAT LIKE A SEWER LINE OR SOMETHING?
IS THAT WHAT A GREENLINE IS, LIKE A SEWER --
OH, WOW.
SO, I'D ACTUALLY HEARD ABOUT THIS PIT BULL STORY ON THE NEWS.
A DOG IS RECOVERING AT THE ANIMAL EMERGENCY CENTER
AFTER BEING PULLED FROM A DRAINAGE PIPE.
RESCUERS SAY THE DOG WAS DEHYDRATED AND FRIGHTENED.
Tia: THIS POOR DOG WAS TRAPPED IN THIS SEWER PIPE --
I MEAN, COMPLETELY STUCK FOR TWO DAYS.
IT WAS A HORRIBLE SITUATION,
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW HE SURVIVED.
OH, SO, THE DOG'S AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER RIGHT NOW.
BEING THAT IT WENT THROUGH A HORRIBLE ORDEAL
AND WAS VERY TRAUMATIZED,
YOU KNOW, IT JUST DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE
OF GETTING A HOME STRAIGHT FROM AN ANIMAL SHELTER.
MM-HMM.
SO, IT'S THE OPINION OF THE PERSONNEL AT THE SHELTER
THAT MAYBE THIS DOG SHOULD GO TO A RESCUE ORGANIZATION
AS OPPOSED TO BEING ADOPTED OUT STRAIGHT TO THE PUBLIC.
OKAY.
OKAY. OKAY.
OKAY. WELL, THEN WE WILL ABSOLUTELY GET BACK TO YOU.
LET ME SEE WHAT I CAN DO, ZACH.
OKAY, YOU'RE WELCOME.
BYE-BYE.
I THOUGHT THAT NAME SOUNDED FAMILIAR.
THERE'S MORE TO THIS RESCUE
THAN JUST AN EIGHT-HOUR DRIVE TO SAVE THIS DOG.
IN THE PAST, WHEN A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE ABUSED PIT BULLS,
IT WAS A BIG STORY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE
WANTS TO GET INVOLVED AND MAKE IT A POSITIVE THING,
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M GONNA TURN AWAY.
THIS WAS A CHANCE TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD PIT BULL STORY
HIT THE MEDIA.
AND WITH THIS BREED, YOU KNOW, WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.
WHAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE
IS THAT THESE GUYS THAT ARE HIGH-PROFILE SPORTS FIGURES,
I'M ALWAYS THINKING TO MYSELF, "GOD, YOU HAVE SO MUCH POWER
TO, LIKE, CHANGE SOME OF THESE KIDS' PERCEPTIONS."
YEAH.
THE YOUNG BOYS AND STUFF.
SO, FOR HIM TO DO THIS,
IT'S REALLY SETTING A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE.
YEAH, THAT'S COOL.
SO, NOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HELP THIS LITTLE PIT BULL MIX,
YOU KNOW, AT LEAST HE HAS A CHANCE.
YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH ALREADY
THAT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HIM IN THE SHELTER
ANY LONGER THAN HE HAS TO BE.
SO, AS SOON AS I SORT OUT SOME THINGS HERE,
I WILL HIT THE ROAD AND HEAD OUT FOR MEMPHIS TOMORROW.
Dameon: THE DAY FINALLY CAME AND AFTER 14 YEARS OF PRISON,
THREE MORE ON PAROLE, I'M FINALLY A FREE MAN.
HEY! WHAT'S UP, TIA?
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO LAUGH OR WHAT TO DO.
ME NEITHER, RIGHT?
WHEN I LEFT, MY PLAN WAS ALWAYS TO COME BACK.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, TIA GAVE ME SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY
HERE AT THE CENTER, AND, I MEAN, I LOVE THIS PLACE.
I KNOW THIS IS A DUMB QUESTION, BUT DID YOU EVER SEE THIS DAY COMING?
I WAS HOPING THIS DAY CAME.
WELL, THE BIG QUESTION -- YOU READY TO WORK?
THAT'S WHY I CAME.
LET'S GET IT IN.
I LEARNED SO MUCH HERE AT THE CENTER,
AND, YOU KNOW, IT KEEPS ME WELL-GROUNDED.
THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE. THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.
Tia: SO, I'M HEADING OUT TO MEMPHIS,
AND I'M GONNA HAVE MARIAH TAKE OVER GRIZZLY'S TRAINING.
BEING THAT KATIE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE FRENCH QUARTER
AND GRIZZLY IS PROBABLY GONNA FIND HIMSELF
ON THE STREETS QUITE OFTEN,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE CAN HANDLE THE CHAOS.
Tia: HE'S GETTING A HOME.
SO THERE'S SOME THINGS I WANT TO WORK ON
AS FAR AS NOT SO MUCH HIS BASIC OBEDIENCE TRAINING,
BUT HIS SOCIALIZATION SKILLS.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE KIND OF FUN FOR YOU AND EARL
TO TAKE GRIZZLY DOWN TO THE FRENCH QUARTER.
I DON'T THINK IT GETS ANY BUSIER THAN THE FRENCH QUARTER.
BOURBON STREET'S A LOT FOR ME TO WALK DOWN, YOU KNOW?
I FIGURED IF HE COULD SURVIVE BOURBON STREET,
GRIZZLY WOULD MAKE IT NOT ONLY TO KATIE'S HOUSE,
BUT OUT IN THE WORLD.
I WANT YOU TO TRY THINGS LIKE ALLOW PEOPLE TO PET HIM,
TAKING HIM OUT A LITTLE BIT ONTO THE STREET
BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO BE TAKING HER DOGS OUT FOR WALKS.
WE HAVE TO SEE HOW HE'S GONNA BE.
TAKE ANOTHER DOG WITH YOU.
LOUIS.
YEAH, JUST BRING LOUIS WITH YOU.
Mariah: WE'RE BRINGING LOUIS JUST BECAUSE WE'RE HOPING
IT'S GONNA GIVE GRIZZLY THE CONFIDENCE THAT HE NEEDS
TO GET THROUGH HIS WALK IN THE FRENCH QUARTER.
ALL RIGHT, GO.
WHAT UP, BIG GRIZ?
Earl: THIS IS MY FIRST ADOPTION,
AND IT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GOOD
TO HAVE SOME EXTRA RESPONSIBILITIES AROUND HERE.
COME ON, GRIZ.
GRIZZLY WAS KIND OF SCARED GETTING IN THE VAN,
SO WE LITERALLY HAD TO PICK HIM UP AND PUT HIM IN.
OH, REALLY?
HE ALL RIGHT. HE ALL RIGHT.
Mariah: THIS ISN'T REALLY A GREAT START FOR GRIZZLY.
HE'S BEEN LIVING IN A KENNEL BASICALLY HIS WHOLE LIFE.
SO, AT THIS POINT, I'M JUST KIND OF WORRIED
HOW HE'S GONNA ACT ONCE WE GET HIM DOWNTOWN.
HELLO? WHAT'S UP?
COME ON IN, MR. DAMEON.
Tia: WHEN ONE OF MY GUYS MAKES IT OFF PAROLE,
IT'S A BIG DEAL AROUND HERE.
I MEAN, GETTING OFF PAROLE IS HARD ENOUGH,
BUT GETTING OFF CALIFORNIA PAROLE -- EVEN TOUGHER.
WE ALWAYS DO A LITTLE TRADITION THING HERE
AND GIVE OUR NEWLY PAROLED GUYS THEIR FREEDOM DOG TAGS.
THAT'S RIGHT. GO ON, PUT THEM ON ME.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
YES.
THAT SAYS YOU ARE NOW OWNED BY US
AND NOT THE CALIFORNIA D.O.C.
YEAH, YOU GOT ANOTHER NUMBER.
THE HANDING OUT OF THE DOG TAGS
IS A TRADITION THAT I STARTED A COUPLE YEARS BACK
WHEN I HAD THREE OF OUR GUYS GET OFF PAROLE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
AND I JUST WANTED TO CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESS.
YOU KNOW, FIRST IT WAS MANDO, THEN JAKE, AND THEN JOE,
AND NOW IT'S DAMEON'S TURN.
THESE TAGS IS TIGHT, TIA. I LIKE THESE.
AND I KNEW THAT DAMEON WOULD APPRECIATE THE DOG TAGS,
BUT I KNEW THAT HE WOULD LIKE HIS NEXT SURPRISE
JUST AS MUCH -- MAYBE EVEN MORE.
NOW THAT YOU'RE OFF PAROLE
AND FREE TO ROAM ABOUT THE COUNTRY AS YOU PLEASE,
I JUST GOT A RESCUE CALL
FROM SOMEONE YOU MIGHT FIND KIND OF COOL.
HIS NAME IS ZACH RANDOLPH.
YES!
ZACH RANDOLPH, NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYER.
YOU KNOW, I PLAY WITH HIM ALL THE TIME -- ON "2K SPORTS."
HE'S A COOL BASKETBALL PLAYER. THAT'S TIGHT.
HE JUST CALLED.
THERE'S A PIT BULL THAT WAS STUCK
IN, LIKE, A SEWAGE LINE OR A STORM DRAIN, LIKE A PIPE.
MR. RANDOLPH ASKED
IF I WOULD COME TO MEMPHIS AND HELP THIS DOG.
SO, YOU TAKING ME TO MEMPHIS?
I'M TAKING YOU TO MEMPHIS.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
GOOD, 'CAUSE WE'RE LEAVING TOMORROW.
ALL RIGHT.
I HOPE YOU LIKE ELVIS.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS, SITTING IN A CELL,
THINKING THAT I'M FIXIN' TO BE ROLLING OUT TO MEMPHIS,
MEETING AN NBA PLAYER.
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE RESCUING PIT BULLS.
THIS IS TIGHT. THIS IS AMAZING.
ALL RIGHT, THEN, WELL, GO DO SOME PACKING.
ALL RIGHT. THIS BEING ON PAROLE THING --
THIS THING IS WORKING OUT JUST FINE FOR ME.
I'M DIGGIN' IT. [ CHUCKLES ]
[ BELL CLANGING ]
Mariah: THE FRENCH CORNER IS THE HEART OF NEW ORLEANS.
IT'S THE BUSIEST, LOUDEST,
AND A LOT OF TIMES, THE CRAZIEST PART OF THE CITY.
FOR GRIZZLY, A DOG THAT'S PRETTY MUCH GROWN UP
AT A WAREHOUSE THAT IS MAINLY PEACEFUL,
THE FRENCH QUARTER IS GONNA BE A HUGE TEST FOR HIM.
COME ON. LET'S WALK A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S HOW MY MOM LIKES TO DO THINGS.
SHE WANTS TO PUSH THE LIMITS.
THAT WAY, WHEN A DOG GETS ADOPTED, THERE'S NO SURPRISES
AND WE KNOW THAT THE DOG IS 100% COMFORTABLE
IN ANY HOME THAT IT'S GONNA GO INTO.
COME ON, BABY.
WHEN WE'RE WALKING, 'CAUSE THERE'S GETTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE,
PAY ATTENTION TO HIS TAIL AND STUFF --
THAT HIS TAIL'S NOT TUCKED,
HE'S NOT SUPER SCARED OR ANYTHING.
YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO HIS BODY LANGUAGE
ALL RIGHT.
GRIZZLY SEEMED CALM AND CONFIDENT
AND WALKED REALLY WELL WITH LOUIS,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE KATIE, THE ADOPTER,
IS GONNA BE WALKING GRIZZLY WITH HER DOG.
[ SNORTS ]
THEN I SAW THE HORSE AND CARRIAGES LINED UP.
THEY'RE ALL OVER NEW ORLEANS.
SOME DOGS ARE EXTREMELY TERRIFIED OF THE HORSES.
SO, IF GRIZZLY'S GONNA HAVE AN ISSUE WITH HORSES OR MULES
OR ANYTHING BIGGER, IT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED TO KNOW BEFORE HE GETS ADOPTED.
STAY. HOLD HIM GOOD AND STAY OVER THERE.
COME ON, GRIZZLY.
HE'S NOT EVEN NOTICING.
NO. HE AIN'T PAYING THEM NO MIND.
GOOD BOY.
[ SNORTS ]
HE TRYING TO MAKE SURE LOUIS ON HIS SIDE.
UH-HUH. SEE? HE'S LOOKING AT HIM.
HE NEEDS A DOG TO FEEL OKAY.
COME ON.
GOOD BOY.
THANK YOU.
GRIZZLY DID GREAT BEING OUT IN THE WORLD,
EVEN WITH PEOPLE ON BIKES, LOUD MUSIC,
AND JUST THE CRAZINESS OF NEW ORLEANS.
HIS TAIL NEVER WENT BETWEEN HIS LEGS.
HE NEVER CROUCHED AND SHIED AWAY FROM ANYTHING.
A LOT OF OUR DOGS
COULDN'T HANDLE ALL OF THIS AT ONCE.
GOOD BOY.
Mariah: YOU'RE DOING GOOD!
COME ON, GRIZZLY.
Earl: HE'S DONE REALLY GOOD. THE PEOPLE DIDN'T AFFECT HIM.
THE LOUD MUSIC DIDN'T AFFECT HIM.
HE KEEPS LOOKING FOR LOUIS.
IF IT WAS ME RATING HIM, I'D GIVE HIM A 90
'CAUSE HE DONE GOOD.
YOU DONE GOOD, PUPPY.
Mariah: GRIZZLY DID GREAT WITH ALL THE CHAOS ON BOURBON STREET,
BUT WE'RE NOT DONE WITH HIS TESTING YET.
WE WANT TO TAKE HIM TO A LOCAL CAFĂ©
THAT IS REALLY POPULAR IN NEW ORLEANS.
WE WANT TO TEST HIM A LITTLE BIT WITH STRANGERS
AND SEE HOW HE REACTS AROUND FOOD.
I THINK IT WAS A GOOD PLACE TO END THE DAY...
COME HERE, GRIZZLY.
...JUST TO BE IN A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT,
TO SEE HOW HE WOULD REACT.
YOU CAN PET HIM.
GOOD BOY.
TWO YOUNG KIDS CAME UP AND WERE PETTING GRIZZLY.
Earl: HIS NAME'S GRIZZLY.
'CAUSE HE'S BROWN LIKE A GRIZZLY BEAR.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE'S GONNA BE BIG LIKE A GRIZZLY BEAR.
Mariah: THEY WERE SITTING ON THE FLOOR,
KIND OF IN HIS FACE, WHICH WAS A GOOD TEST FOR HIM,
AND HE WASN'T BEING OVERBEARING TO THEM,
HE WASN'T GETTING IN THEIR FACE AND PUSHING ON THEM OR ANYTHING.
SO I WAS PROUD.
HIGH FIVE.
DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING.
DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING.
THANK Y'ALL.
COME ON, GRIZZLY. YOU DONE GOOD, SON.
Mariah: OVERALL, GRIZZLY DID ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.
I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS GONNA BE MORE RESERVED.
HE PROVED ME WRONG.
AND I KNOW THAT HIS PROGRESS
IS ONLY GONNA GET BETTER AND BETTER,
ESPECIALLY ONCE HE GETS INTO HIS HOME.
THAT'S A GOOD PUPPY. THAT'S A GOOD PUPPY.
YOU READY TO HEAD OUT TO MEMPHIS?
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING? LET'S GET IT.
Tia: SO, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THIS MEMPHIS RESCUE THAN MEETS THE EYE.
ALMOST!
BEING ABLE TO REWARD DAMEON FOR GETTING OFF PAROLE IS HUGE,
BUT TO HAVE SUCH A HIGH-PROFILE ATHLETE
TO HELP US IN OUR MISSION IS PRICELESS.
BUT, OF COURSE, TO GET OUT TO MEMPHIS
TO HELP A SCARED LITTLE DOG IS THE BIGGEST REWARD OF ALL.
SO, NOW WE'VE JUST GOT TO GET THERE.
Tia: DAMEON AND I ARE ON OUR WAY TO MEMPHIS.
WE'RE MAKING THIS EIGHT-HOUR DRIVE
AFTER ZACH RANDOLPH, AN NBA PLAYER,
HAD CALLED ME ABOUT A LITTLE PIT BULL MIX
WHO HAD BEEN TRAPPED IN A SEWAGE PIPE FOR TWO DAYS.
SO, THIS IS YOUR FIRST TRIP AS A FREE MAN.
AS A FREE MAN.
WOW.
I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT, TOO.
[ LAUGHS ]
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE -- PAROLE, ALL IT IS
IS YOU'RE STILL BASICALLY INCARCERATED.
YOU'RE STILL IN JAIL.
YEAH, YOU'RE STILL IN JAIL, JUST OUT HERE IN THE FREE WORLD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.
THEY JUST THINK LIKE, YOU KNOW, GO TO JAIL,
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE ON PAROLE, AND THIS AND THAT.
BUT YOU REALLY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF --
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO.
IT FEELS GREAT TO BE ON THE ROAD,
BE FREE, ON MY WAY TO MEMPHIS.
I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE. SO I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.
Tia: SO, WE FINALLY MADE IT TO MEMPHIS.
WE JUST GOT WORD FROM THE SHELTER THAT THE LITTLE DOG --
HE WOULDN'T BE QUITE READY FOR US TO PICK UP.
SO ZACH SUGGESTED THAT WE MEET UP WITH HIM AT THE DRAINAGE PIPE
WHERE THIS LITTLE DOG WAS TRAPPED.
LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.
HEY, TIA.
HI, YOU'RE ZACH.
I LOVE THESE DOGS AND WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THIS BREED.
HOW YOU DOING?
FRESHLY OFF PAROLE. WE HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THAT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THIS IS CONNIE. THIS IS CAITLIN. THIS IS MARIO.
Mario: HEY, GOOD TO MEET YOU.
SO, THEN YOU HEARD --
Connie: WE HEARD THE DOG CRYING.
IMMEDIATELY, I WENT TO LOOK FOR WHERE THE CRY WAS COMING FROM,
AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A DITCH BESIDE ME.
THERE WAS A PIPE STICKING OUT OF THE DITCH,
AND I ASSUME THAT'S WHERE THE DOG WAS.
SO, INSIDE HERE?
YES. THERE'S A PIPE THAT RUNS UNDER.
HE HAD TO BE THERE... THEY WERE SAYING TWO DAYS.
I THINK HE WAS THERE LONGER.
MARIO, A CITY WORKER, WAS THE FIRST RESPONDER ON THE SCENE.
WE DUG OUT THIS WHOLE BANK AND LEFT IN THE TOP OF THE PIPE.
WOW!
ONCE THEY GOT THIS BIG CONCRETE PIPE CUT IN HALF,
THEN THE MUD AND THE SLUSH STARTED POURING DOWN.
THE DIRT STARTED GETTING SO THICK
THAT IT STARTED CRUSHING HIM.
IT'S SO UNBELIEVABLE THAT HE EVEN MANAGED TO SURVIVE.
AS IT WENT ON, I COULDN'T GET MUCH EYE MOVEMENT,
SO I STARTED SLAMMING THE SIDE OF THE PIPE
AND YELLING, "HEY! HEY!"
AND WHEN I WOULD SEE HIS EYES OPEN AND SHUT,
I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY THAT WAS WORKING TO DIG.
I SAID, "HE'S STILL ALIVE."
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE, COLLECTIVELY,
WHEN YOU STARTED TO GET HIM OUT?
FIVE TO SIX HOURS.
Connie: WHEN THE DOG WAS FREE FROM THE PIPE,
THE DOG WAS EXTREMELY SCARED, SKINNY, AND SCARRED UP.
HE LOOKED PRETTY BAD.
I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS THIS BIG OF A RESCUE EFFORT.
A LOT OF DOG LOVERS WERE HERE THAT DAY,
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T LEAVE.
THEY STAYED THE WHOLE TIME.
YEP.
WOW.
Tia: I MEAN, IT'S REALLY HEARTWARMING
TO THINK THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD CAME TOGETHER
TO HELP A LITTLE PIT BULL
AND AT THAT MOMENT NAMED HIM LUCKY.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM, IF IT WASN'T FOR MARIO,
YEAH. YOU'RE RIGHT.
WELL, LET'S GO MEET HIM AND GET HIM.
I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUS
THAT THIS LITTLE DOG HAS BEEN TO HELL AND BACK,
BUT HOPEFULLY, WITH US GETTING INVOLVED,
WE'RE THAT ONE LITTLE HOPE THAT HE NEEDS
TO SOMEDAY GETTING A HOME OF HIS OWN.
GOING INTO THE MEMPHIS SHELTER,
OR ANY ANIMAL SHELTER, FOR THAT MATTER,
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
ULTIMATELY, UNTIL WE GET EYES ON THE DOG OURSELVES,
WE JUST DON'T KNOW.
AND FINALLY, WHEN WE SAW HIM, IT WAS JUST...SAD.
HI, BABY.
OH, BUDDY.
OH, HE'S SCARED.
THIS POOR LITTLE DOG WAS JUST SCARED TO DEATH,
JUST CURLED UP AT THE BACK OF HIS KENNEL.
IT WAS JUST HEARTBREAKING.
HIS BEHAVIOR TELLS ME THAT HE'S LIVED WITH PEOPLE BEFORE.
RIGHT, RIGHT.
HE'S PROBABLY BEEN ON HIS OWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME,
BUT HE STARTED OFF IN A HOME.
YOU CAN TELL BY HIS BEHAVIOR,
LIKE, THE EARS GOING BACK 'CAUSE HE'S NERVOUS.
YEAH, HE'S NERVOUS, YOU KNOW?
YOU COULD TELL THAT HE WAS SO TRAUMATIZED
AT WHAT HE HAD BEEN THROUGH,
HE WOULDN'T EVEN GET UP TO WALK OUT THE DOOR ON HIS OWN.
HE'S VERY NERVOUS. HE'S SCARED, KIND OF NERVOUS.
BRINGING THAT DOG OUT OF THE SHELTER --
IT WAS A GOOD FEELING THAT WE HAD HIM NOW.
AND YOU JUST WANT TO HELP HIM
AND LET HIM KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
Tia: YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
THERE WE GO.
OKAY, LET ME... YEAH.
Tia: I KNEW THAT THIS WAS A BIG STORY HERE IN MEMPHIS,
BUT I HAD NO IDEA HOW BIG.
THE LOCAL MEDIA CAME OUT TO COVER HIS GOODBYE.
IT WAS NICE TO SEE THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY DOING
A GOOD STORY ABOUT A PIT BULL.
IT'S OKAY, BUDDY. IT'S OKAY.
GOING TO A GOOD HOME, BUDDY.
Zach: IT TOUCHED ME TO SEE THIS DOG ALIVE
AND SEE THAT IT'S ABOUT TO GO TO NEW ORLEANS WITH TIA
TO GET REHABILITATED, TO KNOW WHAT IT'S BE LIKE TO BE LOVED
AND HAVE A HOME AND GET TO HAVE ANOTHER LIFE AND GET TIME.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT NEEDED.
I GOT A CHECK I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO YOU
AND YOUR RESCUE CENTER -- $10,000.
OH, MY GOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH!
I SIGNED THE BACK FOR YOU.
Tia: IT WAS ONE THING
FOR ZACH TO JUMP IN AND WANT TO HELP THIS LITTLE DOG,
BUT THEN FOR HIM TO STEP UP
AND GIVE US A DONATION FOR THIS LITTLE DOG'S REHABILITATION
WAS JUST AN EXTRA ADDED PLUS.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF ATHLETE
THAT KIDS SHOULD LOOK UP TO AS A HERO,
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE DECIDED TO NAME THIS LITTLE DOG Z-BO,
WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE ZACH'S NICKNAME.
I GOT MY MAN DAMEON. IT'S A HAT FOR YOU, MAN.
THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. I'M-A SHOW YOU HOW TO WEAR THIS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
OFF PAROLE, ZACH RANDOLPH, RESCUING DOGS, MEMPHIS --
YOU KNOW, IT FELT GOOD, MAN. IT FELT GOOD.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WILL NEVER FORGET
ALL THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT WE MET IN MEMPHIS
THAT CAME TOGETHER TO HELP US WITH THIS LITTLE DOG.
SO, WITH THE NEW DOG COMING INTO VILLALOBOS,
IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET BACK TO NEW ORLEANS TO DO GRIZZLY'S HOME CHECK.
AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET ANOTHER DOG INTO A HOME OF HIS OWN.
Mariah: THIS IS SNICKERS.
HE CAME TO US IN 2004 FROM HURRICANE CHARLEY.
HE IS ABOUT 9 YEARS OLD NOW.
EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT GREAT WITH OTHER DOGS,
HE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL IN A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.
HE IS ALWAYS HAPPY.
HE HAS A VERY HAPPY LOOK ON HIS FACE,
AND I THINK HE CAN REALLY MAKE ANYONE SMILE.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SNICKERS
OR ANY OTHER VILLALOBOS PIT BULL, GO TO...
Tia: YOU KNOW, Z-BO HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT,
AND HE IS A LITTLE PIT BULL MIX.
AND THAT'S WHAT PIT BULLS ARE. THEY'RE RESILIENT.
Tia: SEE ALL THESE BITE MARKS?
THESE ARE ALL OLD BITE MARKS, LIKE A TON OF BITE MARKS.
I KNOW IT'S GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME,
AND WITH THE RIGHT CARE
AND WITH A LOT OF PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE,
HE'LL COME AROUND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
HI, BABY.
TODAY WE'RE HOPING THAT GRIZZLY ENDS UP IN A NEW HOME.
IT SEEMS LIKE SO LONG AGO
THAT MY MOM AND I RESCUED ALL THE PUPPIES.
WHEN WE GOT THEM, THEIR EYES WERE BARELY EVEN OPEN YET.
COME ON. UP.
THERE WE GO.
NOW THEY'RE ALL GROWN UP,
AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO GET THEM ADOPTED.
SO I'M GLAD THAT THIS LITTLE ONE THAT ALWAYS GETS OVERLOOKED
FINALLY HAS HIS CHANCE AT A FOREVER HOME.
SO, I'M GIVING HIM A BATH
SO HE LOOKS HIS BEST FOR HIS BIG HOME CHECK.
Tia: TODAY IS A BIG DAY.
EARL IS GOING ON HIS FIRST HOME CHECK,
AND GRIZZLY MAY GET A HOME OF HIS OWN.
BUT WE'RE NOT IN THE CLEAR YET.
*** FOOTS AND GRIZZLY OBVIOUSLY NEED TO GET ALONG,
BUT THIS TIME, THEY'RE GONNA BE ON *** FOOTS' TERRITORY.
I HOPE EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY FOR GRIZZLY BUT FOR ALSO EARL.
Tia: WE'RE GOING TO *** FOOTS' HOUSE,
WHICH IS WHERE A DOG CAN ACT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THEIR HOUSE, THEIR TERRITORY.
THEY STAKE THEIR CLAIM.
AND SOME DOGS WELCOME A NEW DOG INTO THEIR HOME;
SOME NOT SO MUCH.
SO, SHE MAY NOT BE OVERLY THRILLED
TO HAVE A DOG IN HER HOME.
WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT, AND HOPEFULLY, IT WORKS OUT.
THIS IS THE TOUGH PART OF THE ADOPTION,
WHEN YOU HAVE AN EXISTING DOG IN THE HOME.
KATIE SEEMS TO KNOW HER DOG REALLY WELL, AND SHE'S SAID
THAT SHE'S HAD DOGS THERE BEFORE AND IT WAS FINE.
SO WE'LL SEE.
I MEAN, I OBVIOUSLY WANT *** FOOTS TO ACCEPT GRIZZLY.
HE JUST KEPT GETTING PASSED UP
WHILE ALL HIS OTHER SIBLINGS GOT ADOPTED.
AND HE'S JUST SO CLOSE TO FINALLY GETTING A HOME.
HI, HI, HI, HI.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
YEAH. I SEE YOU. I SEE YOU.
Katie: I AM SO EXCITED, BUT I'M ALSO LITTLE APPREHENSIVE.
I HOPE *** FOOTS IS GONNA BE OKAY WITH A NEW DOG.
I REALLY HOPE HE'S GONNA BE HAPPY HERE,
AND HOPEFULLY, NOTHING WILL GO WRONG TODAY.
YEAH, I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING THE DOG INTO THE HOUSE.
YEAH.
SO, WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO IS INTRODUCE HIM OUTSIDE,
BUT IT'S SO HOT THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO BREAK THE NORM
AND JUST TRY TO INTRODUCE HIM RIGHT HERE ON THE PATIO.
I MEAN, IT'S THE ONLY SHADE WE HAVE.
WE ALWAYS BRING THE ADOPTER'S DOG OUT FIRST.
AND THEN OUR DOG AND THEIR DOG GOES FOR A WALK.
WELL, THE GROUND WAS JUST TOO HOT TO WALK DOGS.
IT WAS JUST TOO HOT OUTSIDE, PERIOD.
SO I HAD TO TAKE A CHANCE
AND GO BY WHAT KATIE TOLD ME ABOUT HER DOG'S BEHAVIOR --
THAT SHE'S USED TO DOGS COMING IN AND OUT ALL THE TIME --
COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT GRIZZLY IS JUST AN EASYGOING PUPPY.
COME ON, BUD.
AND I JUST CROSSED MY FINGERS THAT IT WAS GONNA GO WELL.
Earl: GOOD BOY, GRIZ.
WHO'S THAT? YOU REMEMBER THAT GUY?
COME ON.
[ BARKING ]
COME ON.
OKAY, WHY DON'T WE AT LEAST PULL HER AWAY
SO I CAN EVEN GET IN THE GATE?
Katie: YEAH. COME HERE.
COME ON. COME ON.
LET'S GO UP HERE. COME ON. LET'S GO UP HERE.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND. WATER.
YEAH. HE'S THIRSTY.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD.
ALL RIGHT. *** FOOTS, YOU REMEMBER HIM?
OKAY, OKAY. EASY. EASY.
*** FOOTS CAME OUT ACTING A LITTLE MORE GUNG HO
THAN SHE DID WHEN SHE FIRST MET GRIZZLY.
HEY.
I HAD TO BE READY TO STEP IN, IF NEED BE.
HEY.
Tia: EASY.
SHE'S VERY, VERY VOCAL WHEN SHE PLAYS.
YEAH? OKAY.
BE NICE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A PRETTY MEAN BARK...
SHE IS A SASSY-PANTS.
...WAS ACTUALLY JUST *** FOOTS' WAY OF PLAYING.
SHE'S A TALKER.
GRIZZLY JUST SEEMED TO KNOW IT
BECAUSE HE JUST DIDN'T REACT AT ALL.
IF GRIZZLY WAS NOT
THE TYPE OF DOG THAT JUST KIND OF DIDN'T CARE,
IT COULD START A FIGHT.
LIKE, MY PERSONAL DOGS -- IF A DOG DID THAT TO THEM,
EVEN THOUGH SHE'S PLAYING, MY PERSONAL DOGS,
IT WOULD BE LIKE "GAME ON."
I THINK THE FACT THAT GRIZZLY WAS SO CHILL
REALLY COMPLEMENTED THE WAY *** FOOTS IS.
SHE WAS REALLY ENERGETIC AND VERY PLAYFUL -- A LITTLE BIT PUSHY --
WHICH WAS THE PERFECT MATCH FOR A DOG LIKE GRIZZLY,
WHO JUST REALLY DIDN'T CARE.
LIKE, NOTHING BOTHERED HIM.
I THINK HE'S THE BEST MIX
BECAUSE IT JUST, LIKE, BOUNCES RIGHT OFF OF HIM.
YOU'RE SO NICE TO HER.
SO, NOW THAT *** FOOTS HAS ACCEPTED GRIZZLY INTO HER SPACE,
IT'S TIME FOR THE NEXT STEP.
LET'S GO AROUND THE SIDE FIRST.
AND THAT'S THE YARD CHECK.
[ CLICKING TONGUE ] COME ON.
COME ON, *** FOOTS. YOU WANT TO SHOW HIM YOUR YARD?
Tia: [ CHUCKLES ]
OH, GREAT.
MOST OF THE HOUSES HERE IN NEW ORLEANS
HAVE TINY LITTLE YARDS, IF AT ALL.
NOT ONLY WAS KATIE'S YARD HUGE --
SHE HAD A REALLY, TALL, SECURE FENCE.
SO IT WAS A GREAT SETUP.
Katie: I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE GRIZZLY EXPLORING IN MY BACKYARD
'CAUSE HE LOOKED REALLY HAPPY, AND IT WAS CUTE.
OKAY, WELL, LET'S GO INTO THE HOUSE.
COME ON, *** FOOTS.
COME HERE.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT SHE'S JUST, LIKE, LAYING DOWN
AND SHE'S LETTING HIM STAND OVER HER AND LICK HER FACE.
ME TOO. 'CAUSE THIS IS HER LITTLE TERRITORY RIGHT HERE.
Tia: THEY WERE KISSING EACH OTHER AT ONE POINT,
BUT WHAT MADE ME FEEL REALLY GOOD
WAS THAT *** FOOTS JUST LAID DOWN AND RELAXED.
WHEN A DOG CAN DO THAT, THAT TELLS YOU
THEY'RE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SURROUNDINGS.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY. YEAH?
YOU'RE LOOKING BETTER THAN I AM RIGHT NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW WHAT? BE GOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, TIA.
NO, IT'S GREAT. YOU READY TO HEAD OUT, BIG EARL?
[ SMOOCHES ] COME HERE, GRIZZLY.
KNOWING HE'S BEEN PLACED IN A BETTER PLACE,
IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL GOOD
THAT I WAS HELPING A PERSON GET A FAMILY MEMBER FOR LIFE.
Katie: I'M HAPPY.
I'M JUST READY TO START TRAINING THE DOGS TOGETHER,
GOING ON ADVENTURES -- I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED.
Tia: I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THINGS WORKED OUT FOR GRIZZLY
AND THAT EARL MADE IT THROUGH HIS FIRST ADOPTION
WITH FLYING COLORS.
BOTH OF THEM NEEDED THIS SECOND CHANCE.
FOR GRIZZLY, IT PAID OFF WITH A FOREVER HOME,
AND FOR EARL,
IT JUST PROVED THAT HE WAS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
THAT JUST NEEDED A PLACE TO BELONG IN ORDER TO SHINE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS