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COMING UP ON "PIT BULLS & PAROLEES"...
WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?
...A CALL TO RESCUE...
THE DOG IS, LIKE, LAYING ON A PILE OF CEMENT.
...LEADS THE TEAM TO A DANGEROUS INDUSTRIAL MAZE.
OH, BOY.
THEN A YOUNG PUP MAY HAVE FOUND HER FOREVER FAMILY...
HI. YOU'RE CUTE.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
...BUT TO CLOSE THE DEAL, SHE MUST PASS AN UNUSUAL TEST.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
AND AN UNEXPECTED CALL...
HELLO?
...ROCKS VILLALOBOS TO ITS CORE.
[ SOBBING ]
MY NAME IS TIA MARIA TORRES.
FOR 20 YEARS,
I'VE BEEN GIVING SECOND CHANCES TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.
I RUN A SANCTUARY.
IT'S FOR NEARLY 200 PIT BULLS,
THE WORLD'S MOST MISUNDERSTOOD BREED OF DOG.
AND IT'S FOR PAROLEES...
THE GUYS I HIRE BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL.
BUT I'M NOT FIGHTING THE FIGHT ALONE.
MY FAMILY SHARES MY PASSION.
AND IN OUR HOME, NEW ORLEANS,
THE CITY OF SECOND CHANCES,
MY MISSION IS TO RESCUE,
BUT MY HOPE IS ONE DAY I WON'T HAVE TO.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ DOGS BARKING ]
Tia: SO, IN ALL THE YEARS OF RUNNING VILLALOBOS,
I USUALLY MADE IT A POINT
NOT TO TAKE IN PUPPIES FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
BUT HERE IN NEW ORLEANS, I HAVE NO CHOICE.
THERE ARE PUPPIES EVERYWHERE.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT PUPPIES IS
THEY DO GENERATE LOTS OF ADOPTION APPLICATIONS.
BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE,
IT'S A LOT OF TIMES NOT ALWAYS THE RIGHT SITUATION FOR A PUPPY.
OH, THAT'S TOO CUTE.
INNOCENT LITTLE PUPPIES, YOU KNOW,
ULTIMATELY CAN END UP GROWING UP HERE
IF THEY DON'T GET A HOME FAST ENOUGH.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET THESE PUPPIES HOMES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM GROWING UP IN A KENNEL.
IT'S JUST SAD.
[ PUPPIES BARKING ]
SO, THANKFULLY, TODAY WE HAVE ADOPTERS COMING
ALL THE WAY FROM DALLAS TO SEE OUR PUPPIES.
AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL MATCH.
Carey: MY NAME IS CAREY.
I CAME HERE WITH MY HUSBAND, JOSH,
AND MY KIDS, KATE AND WAYLON.
AND WE'RE HERE TODAY
TO HOPEFULLY MEET OUR NEW FAMILY MEMBER.
HI. I'M TIA.
HI, JOSH.
CAREY HENDERSON.
CAREY. WHAT'S HIS NAME?
WAYLON.
OH, THAT'S A GREAT NAME. WAYLON JENNINGS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'M KATE.
KATE? THIS IS MY DAUGHTER MARIAH.
HI, MARIAH.
THIS IS TONEY. HE WORKS WITH US.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
FOR THIS ADOPTION,
I'VE ASKED MARIAH AND TONEY CONVERSE TO HELP ME OUT.
MARIAH GOT HER FIRST PIT BULL
WHEN SHE WAS THE SAME AGE AS THIS FAMILY'S DAUGHTER,
SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE.
LET'S GO SIT IN SOME SHADE.
SO, TONEY IS ONE OF MY NEW GUYS HERE,
AND HE HELPS WITH TAKING CARE OF THESE PUPPIES EVERY DAY.
AND HE'S EARNED HIS SHOT
TO HOPEFULLY SEE ONE OF THESE PUPPIES GET A FOREVER HOME.
YEAH, HOW YOU DOING?
I'M DOING FINE.
Toney: SINCE GETTING OUT OF PRISON,
VILLALOBOS HAS HELPED ME STAY ON TRACK.
HAVING GROWN UP PLAYING FOOTBALL,
IT JUST FEELS RIGHT BEING PART OF THE TEAM.
BOTH OF Y'ALL COWBOYS FANS?
Carey: OH, WE'RE NOT REALLY INTO FOOTBALL.
WE'RE MORE INTO MOTORCYCLES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WE ALL RIDE DIRT BIKES,
AND THE DOG'S PART OF OUR FAMILY.
SO, WE WANT TO INCLUDE THE DOG IN THAT SORT OF THING.
LET'S GO OVER JUST YOUR APPLICATION.
I WENT OVER IT.
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT PIT BULL EXPERIENCE
AND YOU'RE A FORMER PIT BULL FAMILY.
OUR MOST RECENT DOG WAS LOLA. WE HAD LOLA FOR 14 YEARS.
SHE WAS OUR FIRST BABY.
HER NAME WAS LOLA AFTER THE KINKS SONG
BECAUSE SHE LOOKED LIKE A WOMAN, BUT SHE WALKED LIKE A MAN.
AND THAT DOG WAS MY FIRST CHILD.
I LOVED THAT DOG.
AND THEN SHE RECENTLY PASSED AWAY?
SHE DID.
SHE PASSED AWAY FOUR WEEKS AGO YESTERDAY.
LOLA WAS DIAGNOSED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO
WITH AN INOPERABLE TUMOR,
SO WE REALLY THINK THE LAST YEAR OF LOLA'S LIFE WAS A GIFT TO US.
KATE AND WAYLON BOTH BASICALLY GREW UP WITH LOLA.
SO, I MEAN, THEY WERE PARTNERS.
OUR HOUSE WAS JUST SO...
Kate: QUIET.
...EMPTY WITHOUT A DOG THERE, YOU KNOW?
MY KIDS WERE VERY CLOSE WITH THE DOG.
MY SON WOULD JUST, LIKE, NUZZLE HIS FACE INTO THE DOG.
KATE WOULD TRY TO PUT
LEOPARD-PRINT SWEATERS ON THE DOG.
WHEN SHE WAS ASLEEP LAYING ON HER BED,
I LAID DOWN WITH HER MOSTLY.
Kate: WE'RE READY TO GET A NEW DOG.
IT'S TOO QUIET WITHOUT A DOG AT OUR HOUSE.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE THEIR FIRST PUPPY.
SO, THESE KIDS REALLY SEEM LIKE THEY'RE READY
TO BRING ANOTHER DOG INTO THEIR LIFE.
SO, WHEN THEY MEET THE PUPPIES,
I HOPE THAT THEY CAN FIND THE ONE THAT'S JUST RIGHT.
LET'S MEET SOME PUPPIES.
SO, I'VE DECIDED TO START
WITH THE PUPPIES WE CALL "THE BREAKFAST CLUB."
THEIR NAMES ARE BACON, EGG, SUGAR, AND TURKEY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THEY ARE THESE ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE,
TINY LITTLE 9-WEEK-OLD PUPPIES
THAT WE TOOK OFF SOME GUY
THAT WAS TRYING TO GET RID OF THEM OUT OF A CARDBOARD BOX.
BE FREE!
HOPEFULLY, ONE OF THESE LITTLE GUYS
IS GONNA GET A CHANCE TO GET OUT OF HERE
BEFORE IT HAS TO GROW UP HERE.
Kate: OH, MY GOSH! THEY'RE TOO CUTE!
IMMEDIATELY, KATE AND WAYLON BOTH WERE MORE THAN EXCITED.
OH, YOU WANT SOME ATTENTION.
I LIKE BACON AND SUGAR.
I LIKE THIS ONE.
Kate: MY TOP FAVORITES WERE EGG, SUGAR, BACON,
AND...
I FORGET THE OTHER ONE'S NAME.
IS THAT EGG? THIS IS CONFUSING ME.
LISTENING TO KATE AND WAYLON, YOU KNOW,
"I WANT SUGAR AND BACON."
BY THE TIME THEY GOT DONE, THEY WANTED ALL FOUR PUPPIES,
AND THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THEY SAID THEY WANTED THE OTHER ONE.
MOM, EGG LIKES ME. I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE HIM HOME.
KIDS ARE KIDS.
Mariah: THE SMALLER PUPPIES ARE GONNA BE MORE WORK, THOUGH.
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR SCREAMING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BITING.
YEP.
I WAS VISUALIZING SOME SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WITH THE LITTLE PUPPIES,
AND WE REALIZED THAT WE WANT A LITTLE OLDER PUPPY.
BETWEEN NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL WHICH PUPPIES WERE WHICH
AND THE MOM AGREEING WITH MARIAH OVER MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS,
I COULD TELL IT WAS PROBABLY TIME
TO MOVE ON TO SOME OLDER PUPPIES.
TANG AND HIS LITTLE BROTHER, WU,
CAME TO US FROM A GOOD SAMARITAN.
HIS BROTHER WU GOT ADOPTED,
SO OBVIOUSLY WE WANT THAT FOR TANG, ALSO.
TANG WAS EXTREMELY SMALL,
I MEAN, THE SIZE OF, LIKE, A KITTEN.
TANG BECAME EXTREMELY ILL,
AND WE THOUGHT AT ONE POINT WE WERE GONNA LOSE HIM.
WE TOOK HIM TO THE VET.
THEY HAD TO DO A LOT OF NURTURING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.
HE SAID, "UNH-UNH. I AM NOT READY TO LEAVE THIS WORLD RIGHT NOW.
"I'M GONNA STICK AROUND SO I CAN TERRORIZE SOME FAMILY
AND PUT A SMILE ON THEIR FACE,"
AND THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED HIM IN THE LINEUP TODAY
AND BROUGHT HIM OUT TO MEET THE HENDERSONS.
COME HERE. SEE THE PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T REALLY LIKE THE TOY?
WHERE YOU GOING?
COME HERE.
Kate: HE'S SO TINY.
[ SMOOCHES ]
Tia: COME ON, TANG.
[ WHISTLES ]
I WANTED A DOG THAT WAS FRIENDLY RIGHT AWAY,
AND TANG WAS A LITTLE SHY.
YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
COME HERE. COME HERE.
Tia: WHAT MAKES TANG REALLY GREAT IS
THAT HE'S JUST NOT ONE OF THESE PUPPIES
THAT GETS OVERLY AMPED UP LIKE A LOT OF PUPPIES DO
AND ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
BUT KATE AND WAYLON ARE YOUNG KIDS.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY, AND THEY MISS THEIR PLAYMATE.
AND THEY WANT A PUPPY THAT'S GONNA HORSE AROUND WITH THEM.
TANG MAY BE A LITTLE TOO MELLOW TO FILL THOSE SHOES.
HEY, BUDDY. [ SMOOCHES ]
HE'S FOUGHT SO HARD,
AND I'D LOVE TO SEE HIM IN A HOME,
BUT ONLY IF IT'S THE RIGHT FIT FOR HIM AND THE ADOPTERS.
FAT BOY. LITTLE FAT BOY.
SO, ONCE TANG HAD SOME TIME TO MEET THE FAMILY
AND PLAY WITH THE KIDS, THEN IT WAS ON TO THE NEXT DOG.
Mariah: HEIDI MARIE.
Tia: HEIDI WAS FOUND ONE MORNING TIED UP IN FRONT OF OUR GATE.
SOMEONE HAD DUMPED HER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
AND LEFT THIS LITTLE, DEFENSELESS PUPPY
JUST TO FEND FOR HERSELF.
BUT SHE HOLDS NO GRUDGES.
SHE'S JUST ONE OF THE SWEETEST PUPPIES WE HAVE.
Kate: YOU'RE CUTE.
Tia: THE THING I REALLY SEEING WAS
THAT THE KIDS SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE REALLY INTO HER.
AND HEIDI DIDN'T HESITATE FOR A MINUTE.
SHE SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS REALLY INTO THE KIDS, TOO.
SHE WAS SOAKING UP ALL THE ATTENTION AND LOVING IT.
SHE'S SO CUTE.
HEIDI WAS HAPPY. HER TAIL WAS WAGGING.
SHE WAS VERY FRIENDLY.
YOU'RE HAPPY. YOU'RE HAPPY.
THERE YOU GO, WAYLON.
HEIDI WAS REALLY POURING IT ON.
SHE'S A VERY SWEET DOG.
JUST SUPER SWEET.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, WAYLON?
A CUTIE, HUH?
Tia: I COULD TELL THAT THE FAMILY WAS CLICKING REALLY WELL WITH HEIDI.
SO, I WANTED THEM TO TAKE HER FOR A WALK
AND BASICALLY JUST TAKE HER FOR A LITTLE TEST DRIVE.
HEIDI MARIE.
[ SMOOCHES ]
Carey: TAKING HEIDI FOR A WALK WAS HELPFUL
BECAUSE WE REALIZED THAT WE COULD TAKE HER FOR WALKS,
WE COULD PLAY.
JUST LET HER RUN AROUND.
COME ON.
[ WHISTLES ]
WE LET HER OFF THE LEASH.
EVERY ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS --
KATE, WAYLON, CAREY --
KIND OF HAD A MOMENT WITH THE DOG
WHERE THEY WOULD RUN OFF,
AND THE DOG WOULD CHASE AFTER THEM.
Kate: HEIDI!
AND THEN SHE CAME RIGHT BACK TO US WHEN WE CALLED HER NAME.
ALL RIGHT. GO BACK! GO BACK!
COME ON, HEIDI!
HEIDI!
Mariah: HEIDI AND THE FAMILY CAME TOGETHER EXTREMELY WELL,
AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE HAVING A LOT OF FUN.
SHE'S PLAYFUL,
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING FUN FOR THE KIDS.
Josh: YES.
SHE'S SO PRETTY.
Toney: WHEN Y'ALL TOOK OFF RUNNING,
SHE WAS FOLLOWING YOU.
I BELIEVE THE KIDS SEEING THEMSELVES
LIKE THIS DOG BEING PART OF THEIR FAMILY,
AND IT JUST IMMEDIATELY CLUNG TO THE FAMILY
AND WAS PART OF IT.
SO, WHAT HAVE YOU DECIDED ON?
WE DECIDED WE'RE GONNA TAKE HEIDI.
YEAH.
SHE'S AN AWESOME DOG. WE'RE EXCITED.
Carey: HEIDI IS GONNA BE OUR NEXT DOG.
THAT IS, LIKE, INSANELY EXCITING.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET HER HOME.
THE FAMILY IS REALLY SET ON HEIDI,
BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO CHECK OUT WITH HEIDI
BEFORE WE DRIVE HER ALL THE WAY TO DALLAS.
THIS FAMILY IS INVOLVED IN DIRT BIKES,
SO WE WANT TO INTRODUCE HER
TO THE FEELING OF BEING AROUND THESE DIRT BIKES.
I DON'T BLAME A DOG FOR BEING AFRAID OF MOTORCYCLES,
ESPECIALLY DIRT BIKES.
THEY'RE JUST REALLY NOISY.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN REALLY TRAUMATIZE A DOG
IF YOU DON'T DO IT PROPERLY.
BYE-BYE.
WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS.
BYE, HEIDI.
I HOPE SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY WITH THIS
BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF KIDS
THAT ARE GONNA BE REALLY HEARTBROKEN
IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT.
COME ON, BUDDY.
SO, IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE
A POTENTIAL FOREVER HOME FOR HEIDI.
BUT SOME OF OUR DOGS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.
BIG BOY!
WE HAVE A DOZEN OR SO SENIOR DOGS
THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SO MANY YEARS.
FOR WHATEVER REASON,
THEY'VE BEEN PASSED UP BY ADOPTERS.
SO, WE DO OUR BEST TO HELP THEM LIVE OUT THEIR HAPPY DAYS
WITH OUR VILLALOBOS FAMILY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Tia: EVERY VOLUNTEER DAY, WE GIVE THESE GUYS
AND OUR OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS DOGS SOME EXTRA SPECIAL TREATMENT.
IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO PLAY AND GET WALKED
AND HAVE A LOT OF ONE-ON-ONE TIME.
SO CUTE! HOW ARE YOU SO CUTE?!
OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF THEM ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART,
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL
ABOUT THE TWO BULLDOG BROTHERS, CHEECH AND CHONG.
HEY! HEY!
THEY'RE ALMOST 300 POUNDS OF GOOFY MAYHEM.
AWW, YES.
MWAH!
HOW YOU DOING, CHEECHY?
THEIR GOOFINESS IS CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS,
AND NO MATTER HOW BAD OF A DAY YOU'RE GONNA HAVE,
ONCE YOU SEE THEM, IT JUST ALL GOES AWAY.
THOSE GOOFY FACES HAVE GOTTEN ME THROUGH SOME REALLY HARD TIMES,
WHICH IS IRONIC, BECAUSE WHEN I MET THEM,
IT WAS MY HEART THAT WAS BREAKING.
LOOKING AT THEM HUDDLED TOGETHER IN THAT TINY SHELTER CAGE
WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN.
THEY WERE JUST NUZZLED IN UNDER EACH OTHER'S NECKS,
JUST LEANING ON EACH OTHER AND PROTECTING EACH OTHER.
THAT DAY, I PROMISED THAT I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON THEM.
YOU HAVE CHEECH. THAT'S CHONG, OBVIOUSLY.
WE NEVER WANTED TO SEPARATE THEM BECAUSE THEY ADORED EACH OTHER.
AND AFTER TRYING A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THEM HOMES...
A LOT BIGGER THAN WHAT I WAS THINKING.
...WE JUST RESORTED TO THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY MIGHT BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME, IF NOT FOREVER.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT TOGETHER,
THEY COULD HAVE THE BEST TIME POSSIBLE.
SO, WE MOVED THEM BOTH OUT TO THE SWAMP HOUSE WITH THE TWINS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT WAS THEIR OWN LITTLE SLICE OF SWAMPY HEAVEN,
BUT IT WAS SHORT-LIVED.
Woman: THAT'S THE TWINS' HOUSE!
HURRICANE ISAAC CAME THROUGH AND PRETTY MUCH TOOK OUT
THE CHEECH AND CHONG HOUSE COMPLETELY.
YEAH, THEY ARE.
THERE WAS NO WAY THAT I COULD FATHOM
PUTTING THEM BACK IN THE KENNELS.
AWW.
SO, I ASKED MANDO TO TAKE THEM ON.
YES. YES.
I KNOW VOLUNTEER DAY ISN'T THE SAME AS GETTING ADOPTED,
BUT CHEECH AND CHONG LOVE ANY ATTENTION THAT THEY CAN GET.
AS LONG AS THEY WANT TO KEEP COMING, I'LL KEEP BRINGING THEM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Tia: VOLUNTEER DAY WAS BARELY OVER
BEFORE I GOT AN URGENT RESCUE CALL
ABOUT A PIT BULL LOOSE IN A CEMENT PLANT.
HEY, TONEY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?
SO, I GRABBED TONEY CONVERSE AND GOT ON THE ROAD.
AROUND HERE, THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO KNOW
WHAT THE NEXT MINUTE WILL BRING.
Tia: AFTER GETTING AN URGENT RESCUE CALL
ABOUT A DOG LOOSE AT A CEMENT PLANT,
I GRABBED TONEY CONVERSE AND GOT ON THE ROAD.
THERE'S A DOG IN A CEMENT PLANT OR SOMETHING.
LOOSE DOGS CAN LEAD TO ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE,
SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN A.S.A.P.
THEY SAY WHAT KIND OF CONDITION THE DOG WAS IN?
SHE JUST SAID THE DOG LOOKS REALLY SKINNY,
SAYS WE DON'T WANT TO CALL THE ASPCA
BECAUSE THEY'LL JUST PUT IT TO SLEEP.
IS THIS IT HERE? OH, BOY.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.
SO, PULLING UP TO THIS PLACE,
I SEE HOW BIG IT IS WITH ALL THE BIG TRUCKS
AND THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND ALL THE MACHINERY,
AND I THOUGHT, "WHAT HAVE WE GOTTEN OURSELVES INTO?
SO, NOW HE'S INSIDE THE PLANT?
MM-HMM.
HE'S INSIDE THE PLANT ON ONE OF THOSE STEPS OVER THERE.
I HOPE WE CAN GET TO THIS DOG.
IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, A DOG COULD JUST BOOK IT.
Tia: OH! [ CHUCKLES ]
HE JUST WAITED FOR US?
VERY FRIENDLY DOG.
OH, HI.
[ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH.
OH, HE'S HANGING OUT WITH YOU GUYS, HUH?
WHEN WE GO ONTO THESE RESCUE CALLS,
WE NEVER KNOW WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THEY HAD IT RIGHT.
IT WAS A PIT BULL, IT WAS A CEMENT YARD,
BUT THIS DOG WASN'T EXACTLY ON THE LOOSE.
OH, MY GOD. HOW CUTE!
HE HAD CONCRETE ON THIS LEGS
FROM JUST HANGING OUT WITH THE GUYS ALL DAY.
THEY EVEN JOKED AROUND
HOW HE HELPED THEM WITH SOME OF THE TRUCK WORK.
HE HAD GREASE ON HIS HEAD.
WHAT A SWEET DOG.
[ CHUCKLES ] THAT'S THE CUTEST EVER.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF SURPRISES ON A RESCUE CALL
THAT WE ACTUALLY APPRECIATE.
WE NICKNAMED HIM RED.
YEAH.
THE GUYS HAD NAMED HIM RED,
AND THEN, AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT,
I NOTICED THE NAME ON JOEY'S SHIRT WAS "BAKER."
BAKER RED. THAT'S HIS NAME.
BAKER RED?
Woman: BAKER RED.
Tia: KIDDING ASIDE, HE'S STILL A DOG THAT NEEDS OUR HELP.
AND SEEING HOW WELL-MANNERED THIS DOG IS,
I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
THAT HE MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE AN OWNER SOMEWHERE
THAT MAYBE JUST HE GOT LOOSE FROM.
SOMEBODY TAUGHT YOU TO SIT?
YOU SIT, BABY?
HE SAYS, "I JUST LOOK PRETTY. I DON'T GOT TO DO NOTHING."
OKAY.
Toney: SAY BYE.
COME ON. THEY'RE GOING WITH YOU.
COME ON. TAKE 'EM.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. SO MUCH.
COME ON, SILLY.
Tia: SO, WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT BACK TO THE WAREHOUSE
AND DO WHAT WE ALWAYS DO,
AND THAT'S SCANNING FOR A MICROCHIP
TO SEE IF HE POSSIBLY HAS AN OWNER.
WHAT I'M HOPING FOR IS
THAT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD A DOG THIS AWESOME, PLEASE,
I HOPE YOU'VE PUT A MICROCHIP IN THIS DOG.
WITH ONE LITTLE SCAN OF THE MICROCHIP SCANNER,
WE FIND THE OWNER, WE GET AN ADDRESS,
AND IT'S ONE LESS DOG THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP.
OKAY, COME HERE. LET ME SEE IF YOU'RE CHIPPED.
COME ON, BUDDY.
YEAH, HE'S GOT NOTHING.
"NO I.D. FOUND."
FINDING NO MICROCHIP, THOUGH VERY DISAPPOINTING,
I'M GLAD THAT AT LEAST HE'S SAFE AND WITH US
AND NOT ROAMING THE STREETS.
EVEN THOUGH OUR KENNEL IS NOT WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A HOME,
THEY'RE SAFE, THEY'RE FED,
THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF UNTIL THEY GET A NEW HOME OF THEIR OWN.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING.
LET ME TELL YOU HOW YOU KNOW IT'S A GREAT, STABLE DOG.
COMES INTO A SHELTER, ALL THIS NOISE AND STUFF,
AND HE'S LIKE, "EH, I DON'T CARE.
I'M GONNA HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT."
HE'S CHOWING DOWN, YOU KNOW, CHECKING THINGS OUT.
Toney: I REALLY LIKE HIM,
SO I PLAN ON SPENDING SOME TIME WITH HIM,
MAKING HIM REALLY HAPPY WHILE HE'S HERE.
BUT I'M HOPING WE'LL HEAR FROM SOMEBODY SOON.
EAT YOUR FOOD.
Tia: THEY MISSED THOSE.
WE'LL HAVE THE CEMENT PLANT PUT UP FLIERS,
AND WE'LL PUT THE WORD OUT.
AND I DO HOPE THAT SOMEBODY REALLY NICE
IS OUT THERE LOOKING FOR HIM.
THERE YOU GO.
Toney: I'M THANKFUL FOR VILLALOBOS HELPING ME GET ON MY FEET
SO NOW WHEN DOGS LIKE THIS COME AROUND,
I CAN HELP THEM IN RETURN.
YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THEM PRETTY BOYS.
YOU'RE GONNA WAIT FOR THE GIRLS TO COME TO YOU,
OR ARE YOU GONNA GO TO THEM?
BEING IN PRISON, ALL I HAD TO DO WAS TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.
SO, IT'S GOOD KNOWING THAT I'M TAKING CARE OF OTHER THINGS.
Tia: FIRST THING IN THE MORNING,
BEFORE THE SUN WAS EVEN ALL THE WAY UP,
MANDO SHOWED UP NEEDING TO TALK TO ME.
FOR MANDO TO BE HERE THIS EARLY, SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE UP.
CHONG THIS MORNING STARTED BLEEDING THROUGH HIS NOSE AGAIN.
LAST NIGHT, I NOTICED THAT CHONG WAS BLEEDING THROUGH HIS NOSE,
AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN.
SO, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED OUR VET AND WAS TOLD TO BRING HIM IN.
WHAT SHE SAYS WAS SHE THINKS THAT MAYBE IT COULD BE A TUMOR.
SHE'S NOT SURE.
SHE'S GONNA GET BACK TO ME WITH A PHONE CALL,
AND THEN I'LL KNOW MORE.
OKAY. SO, YOU HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM HER YET?
I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK ANYTHING YET.
CHONG HAD A BLOODY NOSE AND POSSIBLY A TUMOR HAD APPEARED.
SHE'S GONNA KNOW TODAY?
SHE'S SUPPOSED TO KNOW TODAY.
I'M JUST FRANTICALLY WAITING FOR HER TO CALL.
THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD BEAR TO SIT AROUND
AND WAIT FOR A CALL BACK FROM THE VET,
SO I JUST DECIDED TO GO UP AND SEE CHONG MYSELF
AND TALK TO THE VET FACE-TO-FACE.
LAST YEAR, THEY FOUND A MASS-CELL TUMOR ON CHONG.
WOMAN: This one does look particularly aggressive.
It is spreading through his body.
IT WAS SO AGGRESSIVE
THAT WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE.
I THOUGHT HE'D JUST BE LIVING OUT HIS LAST DAYS
WITH HIS BROTHER CHEECH AND THE TWINS OUT IN THE SWAMP.
COME ON. COME ON, CHEECH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Tia: BUT CALL IT THE MAGIC OF THE SWAMP,
A MEDICAL MIRACLE,
CHONG WAS GIVEN A REPRIEVE AND GIVEN BACK TO US.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS, DOC.
Tia: SO, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT WITH CHONG.
WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT CHONG'S CANCER COMING BACK
WAS A POSSIBILITY.
I JUST HOPE THAT THIS IS JUST NOT HIS TIME.
AND I HAVE TO HOPE THAT THIS NOSEBLEED IS JUST THAT --
A NOSEBLEED.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
I RECOGNIZE THE VET'S NUMBER, AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS,
"ISN'T SHE SUPPOSED TO BE CALLING MANDO?"
HER CALLING ME ACTUALLY MADE ME REALLY NERVOUS,
AND MY HEART STARTED RACING AND I STARTED SHAKING.
AND I NEEDED TO PULL OVER.
SO, I TOOK A COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHS.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
[ GASPS ]
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
Tia: AS I WAS HEADING TO THE VET
TO GIVE CHONG SOME LOVE AND SUPPORT,
I GOT A CALL FROM THE VET.
WHEN I SAW THAT NUMBER, I STARTED SHAKING.
I GOT VERY NERVOUS.
SO, I DECIDED TO PULL OVER, TAKE A COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHS,
AND RETURN THE CALL.
HELLO?
HELLO?
YEAH?
[ SOBBING ]
I HONESTLY THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD PULL THROUGH,
BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT MEDICAL CAN DO.
AFTER A CERTAIN POINT, THEN IT'S JUST A MIRACLE.
AND I GUESS CHONG WAS OUT OF MIRACLES.
[ SOBBING CONTINUES ]
I KNOW. I KNOW.
YOU HAVE NO REASON TO BE SORRY. YOU DID EVERYTHING.
YOU DID EVERYTHING.
OH, GOD.
[ SNIFFLING ]
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
BYE.
[ SNIFFLES ]
I WISH I COULD SAY AFTER DOING THIS FOR 20-SOME YEARS
THAT IT GETS EASIER,
BUT THAT WOULD BE A LIE.
IT JUST DOESN'T.
THESE DOGS ARE MY ENTIRE LIFE,
AND WHEN ONE IS TAKEN FROM US, IT HURTS.
AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO WALLOW IN MY SADNESS AND GRIEF,
WITH THIS LIFE, YOU JUST CAN'T.
YOU'VE JUST GOT TO BRUSH IT OFF, PUT ON YOUR GAME FACE,
AND KEEP GOING.
AND CHONG'S PASSING HAS GIVEN ME THE MOTIVATION
TO GET GOING ON A LONG-OVERDUE PROJECT
THAT WAS INTENDED FOR HIM, HIS BROTHER,
AND SOME OF OUR OLDER DOGS.
THE HOUSE OUT IN THE SWAMP WAS WHERE CHEECH AND CHONG CAME
AFTER CHONG'S HEALTH GOT SO BAD
THAT HE COULDN'T GO OUT IN THE KENNELS.
COME ON. COM ON, CHEECH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Tia: CHEECH AND CHONG LOVED IT. I MEAN, THEY LOVED IT.
THEY SPENT ALL THEIR TIME IN THAT MUDDY WATER.
AND CHONG GOT TO SPEND HIS LAST SUMMER HERE
IN BLISS WITH HIS BROTHER, CHEECH.
HE'S GONNA DO IT!
[ LAUGHS ]
Tia: I TOLD MANDO TO BRING CHEECH OVER
TO LET HIM DO A LITTLE STOMPING ON HIS OLD GROUNDS.
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY.
IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR HIM. THEY WERE INSEPARABLE.
I THOUGHT BEING OUT HERE
MIGHT HELP HIM FORGET ABOUT BEING ALONE.
GO, BUD. [ SMOOCHES ]
HE LOVED THE WATER.
YOU GUYS USED TO GO OUT HERE AND PLAY.
AND SURE ENOUGH, HE MADE A BEELINE FOR THE WATER.
THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED, HUH?
IT CONFIRMS WHAT I ALREADY KNEW,
AND THAT'S THAT WE NEED TO BRING LIFE BACK INTO THIS PLACE.
BUT THIS HOUSE IS IN SHAMBLES, AND I DEFINITELY NEED HELP.
SO, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN.
FROM SCRATCH.
IT'S TIME FOR ME TO START MAKING SOME PHONE CALLS.
WHILE I'M WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE GONNA HELP ME WITH THE HOUSE OUT IN THE SWAMP,
I'VE ASKED TONEY CONVERSE AND MOE
TO HELP ME DO SOME WORK WITH THE LITTLE PUP, HEIDI,
BEFORE SHE GOES TO HER HOME CHECK.
ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT THE HENDERSON FAMILY IS REALLY INVOLVED WITH
IS WEEKEND MOTOCROSS RIDING.
SO, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE IS NOT GOING TO GET SCARED
WHEN SHE HEARS THESE LOUD NOISES.
FOR ANYBODY WHO RIDES MOTOCROSS,
THEY KNOW THERE CAN BE A LOT OF CHAOS OUT THERE.
IF SHE'S NOT PREPARED FOR THE NOISE OF THESE BIKES,
SHE COULD EASILY GET SCARED, BOLT, AND GET HIT BY ONE.
TONEY, LET'S BRING HER OVER HERE TO OUR MOTOCROSS CAMPING AREA.
SO, WE SET UP A TYPICAL MOTOCROSS SCENARIO.
WE HAVE THE POP-UP TENT, THE LITTLE COOLER,
THE CAMPGROUND, AND HAPPY PEOPLE.
AND ONE LOUD DIRT BIKE RIDDEN BY MOE.
I ENJOY HELPING MY MOM OUT 100%, ANYTHING THAT SHE NEEDS.
IF IT'S ME RIDING MY BIKE ALL FUN LIKE TO GET A DOG ADOPTED,
THEN THAT'S WHAT I'LL GO OUT AND DO.
IS YOUR TAIL GETTING TIRED?
SHE'S WAGGING THAT THING.
I WANTED TO TAKE THIS IN STEPS.
I FIRST WANTED TO INTRODUCE HEIDI TO THE DIRT BIKE ITSELF
WITHOUT THE MOTOR RUNNING.
COME OVER HERE. [ SMOOCHES ]
COME HERE.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A LOT OF DOGS CAN BE SPOOKED
JUST BY THE MERE SIGHT OF THIS BIG METAL MONSTER.
I'M GOING TO USE TREATS TO TEACH HEIDI
TO ASSOCIATE THE DIRT BIKE WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE.
TREATS ARE GOOD, DIRT BIKE IS GOOD.
LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS THIS?
SHE WAS WAGGING HER TAIL. SHE SEEMED RELAXED.
EVERYTHING SEEMED SO FAR, SO GOOD.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO START IT UP HERE.
I'LL PROBABLY HAVE YOU PUSH IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT
AND START IT UP AND COME DOWN SLOW.
ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT MOTORCYCLES KNOWS
THAT THAT FIRST STARTUP, IT'S A BIG ONE.
SO, I HAD HIM TAKE HIS BIKE DOWN THE STREET AND START IT UP.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER, REVS ]
HEIDI DIDN'T SEEM FAZED AT ALL
BY THE SOUND OF JUST THE MOTOR RUNNING.
I THEN ASKED MOE TO BRING HIS BIKE
AND STAY PARKED AND LEAVE IT RUNNING
AND LET HEIDI COME UP TO THE BIKE.
[ SMOOCHES ] PUPPY.
COME ON, HEIDI. HEIDI, COME ON.
COME ON, BABY.
LOOK.
SHE HAD NO INTEREST IN THE TREATS.
SHE ACTUALLY SEEMED PRETTY TERRIFIED.
IF I CAN'T FIND A WAY
TO GET HER COMFORTABLE AROUND THIS DIRT BIKE,
THIS ADOPTION MIGHT NOT HAPPEN.
COME ON, HEIDI.
HEIDI, COME ON.
Tia: MOTORCYCLE TESTING WITH HEIDI STARTED OUT GREAT.
SHE DIDN'T REACT TO THE BIKE AT ALL WHEN SHE FIRST SAW IT,
AND WHEN MOE STARTED IT UP, SHE DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE.
BUT WHEN SHE GOT CLOSER TO THE BIKE WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING,
THAT'S WHEN THINGS CHANGED.
BUT THEN I HAD ANOTHER IDEA.
SOMETIMES ALL PUPPIES NEED IS A LITTLE BIT OF ENCOURAGEMENT
FROM AN OLDER AND MORE SECURE DOG.
SO, OF COURSE,
ONE OF MY FAVORITE GOOD OL' STANDBYS IS TANIA'S DOG, BLUIE.
HE LOVES OTHER DOGS, AND HE'S AFRAID OF NOTHING.
YOU GOT BLUIE HERE NOW.
ONCE HEIDI SAW BLUIE,
IT WAS JUST LIKE A WHOLE DIFFERENT HEIDI.
SHE GOT REALLY EXCITED.
SHE WAS FOLLOWING BLUIE AROUND THE MOTORCYCLE.
OH, YES.
IT WAS TIME TO UP THE ANTE A LITTLE BIT.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
THAT'S ACTUALLY GOOD. JUST KEEP HER DISTRACTED.
Woman: YAY!
GOOD JOB.
MOE WAS REALLY PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR HEIDI.
THAT'S A GOOD GIRL.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
SHE DIDN'T REALLY EVEN SEEM TO MIND.
LOOK.
SO, WITH TONEY GIVING HEIDI TREATS,
IT WAS REINFORCING THE POSITIVE ASSOCIATION
BETWEEN THE DIRT BIKES AND THE TREATS.
BUT AT LEAST NOW HEIDI WASN'T AFRAID TO TAKE THEM.
LOOK AT HER. NOW SHE'S DOING IT.
GOOD JOB.
THAT'S PROGRESS,
AND EVENTUALLY HEIDI WON'T NEED THE TREATS
TO BE AROUND THE DIRT BIKES.
IT'LL BE A PROCESS THAT THE ADOPTERS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE,
BUT AT LEAST HEIDI'S OFF TO A GOOD START.
THERE WE GO.
THANKS, BLUIE.
NOW ALL THAT'S LEFT IS THE LONG DRIVE TO DALLAS,
AND HOPEFULLY HEIDI AND THE HENDERSONS
WILL HAVE THEIR HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
YOUR FIRST DIRT BIKE EXPERIENCE.
MWAH!
GOOD GIRL.
Tia: LOSING CHONG WAS TOUGH, FOR SURE,
BUT I KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO FIX UP THIS HOUSE,
THIS PARADISE THAT CHONG LOVED SO MUCH.
IT'LL BE A REALLY GREAT PLACE
FOR CHEECH AND SOME OF OUR OLDER DOGS.
WHEN I CAME UP HERE AND SAW THE DISASTER,
I KNEW WE WERE GONNA NEED HELP, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE GOT.
IT'S THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE.
IT'S THE TWINS AGAIN AND THE MARINES AGAIN --
THE SAME GROUP
THAT HELPED US PUT THIS PLACE TOGETHER ORIGINALLY.
WATCH OUT FOR NAILS.
TODAY WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING BACK
FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER ISAAC CAME THROUGH,
KIND OF WIPED OUT ALL THE WORK WE DID.
IT'S KIND OF HARD
SEEING ALL THE WORK WE PUT INTO IT DESTROYED,
BUT IT'S GOOD TO COME BACK OUT HERE
AND FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Tia: THEY'RE GUTTING IT OUT, TEARING OUT THE WALLS.
DESTRUCTION.
PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT GOT WET FROM THE STORM
HAS TO COME OUT.
OH, LOOK AT THE FLOOR.
FROM THERE, WE'LL JUST REBUILD.
Woman: YEAH!
WE'RE JUST THANKFUL THAT TIA ENTRUSTED US
WITH SUCH A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT'S SO NEAR AND DEAR TO HER.
Mando: JUST TO BE AROUND THESE AMAZING PEOPLE
AND JUST SEE HOW COMMITTED THEY ARE
AND HOW HARD THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK,
I MEAN, THAT SAYS IT ALL RIGHT THERE.
Tia: OH, MY GOD!
HAVING THE MARINES HERE AND SOME OF OUR REGULAR LOYAL VOLUNTEERS,
IT JUST PUTS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A FESTIVE FEELING TO IT,
'CAUSE IT IS SAD BEING HERE.
BUT HAVING THEM HERE
AND EVERYBODY LAUGHING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME,
IT JUST GETS US THROUGH IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
Man: OORAH!
WE JUST WANTED TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING US TO COME INTO YOUR PROJECT.
WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE.
THAT WE'VE ALL SIGNED.
SO CUTE!
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE WORKING WITH YOU,
AND WE'D JUST REALLY LIKE TO THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING US TO BE OUT HERE.
Tia: MEGAN AND THE MARINES HAD A REALLY SWEET SURPRISE.
THEY GAVE ME A PLAQUE
THANKING ME FOR LETTING THEM COME OUT HERE
AND BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT.
AND IT'S SO THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
THE FACT THAT GUYS ARE OUT HERE AGAIN,
I MEAN, THIS IS OUR SECOND TIME DOING THIS.
SO, THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE AGAIN
HELPING US PUT IT BACK TOGETHER IS -- WE NEEDED YOU.
WE REALLY NEEDED YOU GUYS HERE, SO THIS IS GREAT,
AND WE WILL DEFINITELY BE PUTTING THIS OUT ON THE DOCK
FOR EVERYBODY THAT GOES DOWN THE RIVER TO SEE IT.
OH, MY GOD. IT'S SO CUTE.
I KNOW.
IT'S SO BEFITTING THAT IT JUST TURNS OUT
THAT THE MARINES' MASCOT IS A BULLDOG.
ENGLISH BULLDOG,
BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO CHEECH AND CHONG,
BEING AMERICAN BULLDOGS.
WE'LL TAKE IT.
COOL. WE'LL PUT THIS OUT HERE.
WE'LL PUT THIS ON THE PORCH WHILE WE'RE DOING THIS.
SO, BY THE END OF TODAY,
WE WILL SUCCESSFULLY HAVE THIS PLACE COMPLETED GUTTED.
AND AFTER THAT,
THE TWINS ARE GONNA BEGIN PUTTING THE PLACE BACK TOGETHER
AND MAKING IT A GREAT HOME FOR SOME OF OUR OLDER DOGS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THEM OUT HERE.
Mariah: THIS IS GIDGET.
SHE IS WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL A PLAB.
A PLAB IS A PIT BULL/LAB MIX.
GIDGET IS 11 YEARS OLD,
AND EVEN THOUGH SHE IS A LITTLE BIT OLDER,
SHE DEFINITELY HAS THE ENERGY AND THE PLAYFULNESS OF A PUPPY.
AFTER BEING WITH US FOR SO LONG,
GIDGET IS JUST READY TO BE IN A HOME OF HER OWN.
GOOD GIRL.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING GIDGET
OR ANY OTHER VILLALOBOS PIT BULL, GO TO...
UP. UP.
DOWN. DOWN. DOWN.
GOOD BOY.
SO, I'M SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED
THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT A CALL ON BAKER RED,
THE DOG THAT WAS FOUND AT THE CEMENT COMPANY.
BECAUSE HE'S SUCH A GREAT DOG AND A WELL-BEHAVED DOG,
I JUST ASSUMED THAT SOMEBODY OUT THERE WAS MISSING HIM.
WHAT'S UP, BIG SEXY?
BUT SINCE HE'S BEEN WITH US,
ALL THE GUYS HAVE BEEN TAKING REALLY GREAT CARE OF HIM.
Toney: NOBODY'S CALLED YET ABOUT BAKER RED,
SO I'VE BEEN TAKING TIME WITH HIM,
WALKING HIM AND TRAINING HIM ON THE OBSTACLE COURSE.
BAKER RED IS A GREAT DOG,
SWEET, PATIENT, AND I LOVE BEING AROUND HIM.
A LONG TIME AGO, THINGS GOT TOUGH
AND I SOLD DRUGS AND I PAID THE PRICE.
I WENT TO PRISON FOR CLOSE TO 12 YEARS.
WHILE I WAS INCARCERATED, I LOST MY MOTHER, MY BROTHER,
AND MY OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE NFL.
AND IT'S HARD NOT TO DWELL ON EVERYTHING I DON'T HAVE ANYMORE.
BUT WATCHING THESE DOGS IS INSPIRATIONAL.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IN THE PAST.
THEY JUST GO ON WITH THEIR DAYS.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
ARE THEY DOING ANYTHING GOOD WITH YOU?
YOU'RE SO CUTE!
ABSOLUTELY. I'M TRYING TO BRING HIM THROUGH THE CONES.
WHILE I MIGHT NOT MAKE IT TO THE PROS,
VILLALOBOS DOES REMIND ME
THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE MORE MEANINGFUL OUT THERE
FOR ME TO ACHIEVE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
GO. GO WALK.
TONEY CONVERSE IS A GREAT GUY.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE WANTS TO WORK WITH DOGS AS HIS LIFE GOAL.
IF IT IS, I'LL KEEP HIM FOREVER.
BUT THIS PLACE IS MEANT TO BE A STEPPING STONE.
IT'S TO HELP GUYS FIND A LANDING SPOT
AND ALLOW THEM TO GET READY FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
NO MATTER WHAT TONEY CONVERSE DOES WITH HIS LIFE,
I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE GOT TO BE A PART OF IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
AWW.
I'M MOTIVATED EVERY DAY
BY THE ALMOST 300 DOGS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CARE.
AND I AM THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A PLACE
FOR OUR OLDER DOGS TO LIVE OUT THE REST OF THEIR LIVES,
SURROUNDED BY THE MAGIC THAT I FEEL IS IN THE SWAMP.
HEY, HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
LOOK WHO IT IS.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
HI.
YOU'RE OKAY. COME HERE.
TODAY, THE TWINS RELEASED CHONG'S ASHES INTO THE RIVER
AS A WAY TO CELEBRATE OUR OLD DOGS.
[ CHEECH WHINING ]
WE MISS YOU.
OH.
HE WAS CRYING.
AS THE TWINS WERE OUT ON THE RIVER
AND MOE WAS POURING CHONG'S ASHES INTO THE WATER,
CHEECH BEGAN TO JUST WHIMPER.
[ WHINING CONTINUES ]
CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT.
I KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
HE KNEW.
YOU'RE IN A LOT BETTER PLACE NOW.
Kanani: I FEEL LIKE ME AND MY BROTHER NEED EACH OTHER
JUST AS MUCH AS CHEECH AND CHONG NEEDED EACH OTHER.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW CHEECH FEELS ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION.
I MEAN, IT'S LIFE, AND YOU JUST GO ON.
TO ME, THIS WAS THE START OF A NEW LIFE FOR CHEECH.
CHEECH MADE SACRIFICES FOR CHONG.
CHONG COULD NOT GET A HOME BECAUSE OF HIS CANCER.
WITH CHONG PASSING ON,
IT'S FINALLY HIS WAY OF SAYING, "HEY, BROTHER.
IT'S YOUR LIFE NOW."
OKAY.
THESE WERE CHONG'S...PAWS.
CHONG JUST HAS TO KNOW
THAT WHEN WE'RE OUT HERE STARING AT THE RIVER,
IT'S HIM OUT THERE WITH US, AND HE KNOWS IT.
I CAN FEEL HIM HERE.
WE'LL PUT THEM HERE
TO REMIND EVERYBODY HOW MUCH HE LOVED THE WATER.
GOOD JOB.
Mariah: I LOVE DALLAS, SO GETTING TO VISIT THAT CITY
PLUS DO A HOME CHECK IS A WIN-WIN FOR ME.
PLUS, I'VE ALREADY MET THE FAMILY,
AND I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE KIDS' FACES
WHEN THEY SEE HEIDI AGAIN.
I'M BRINGING TONEY
BECAUSE HE'S CARED FOR HEIDI SINCE SHE GOT TO VILLALOBOS
AND HE'S BEEN A PART OF THE ADOPTION SINCE THE BEGINNING.
Toney: THIS BEING MY FIRST HOME CHECK,
I'M JUST GONNA WATCH, LISTEN, AND LEARN.
HER MAMA, SHE HAS PUT HER TRUST IN ME
TO HELP MARIAH TAKE HEIDI TO DALLAS.
I'M ALSO LUCKY MY PAROLE OFFICER
HAS ALLOWED ME TO GO ACROSS STATE LINES.
HONESTLY, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.
I JUST HOPE EVERYTHING WORKS OUT.
Mariah: SO, WE MADE THE 7-HOUR DRIVE OUT TO DALLAS
FOR HEIDI'S HOME CHECK,
AND SHE DID ABSOLUTELY GREAT ON THE TRIP OVER.
NOW ALL WE CAN HOPE FOR IS
THAT THE HOME CHECK GOES JUST AS WELL.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S KIDS INVOLVED,
YOU JUST DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY REASON
THAT THE DOG HAS TO COME BACK WITH US.
THANK YOU.
HOW'S IT GOING?
HOW WAS THE TRIP, MAN?
Josh: IT'S A BIG DAY FOR THE FAMILY.
WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT A DOG FOR THE LAST MONTH,
SO IT'S GONNA BE GREAT TO HAVE A DOG AROUND THE HOUSE AGAIN.
KATE HAS BEEN JUMPING UP AND DOWN.
Mariah: I LIKE YOUR NECKLACE.
THANK YOU.
A COUPLE OF DAYS FELT LIKE A HUNDRED MILLION YEARS.
WELL, WE CAN GO IN AND CHECK OUT THE BACKYARD
AND DO ALL THAT, AND THEN WE'LL BRING HER IN.
ALL RIGHT. COOL.
THIS HOUSE IS SO PRETTY.
Mariah: THE HENDERSONS' HOUSE WAS GREAT,
AND WE WENT IN THE BACKYARD, AND IT WAS EVEN BETTER.
MY GOSH.
MY DOGS WOULD NOT BE MAD ABOUT THIS BACKYARD.
MY BACKYARD'S TEENY TINY.
BUT JUST BECAUSE A YARD IS BEAUTIFUL
DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S GONNA BE SAFE FOR ANY DOG.
WITH THESE KIND OF FENCES,
THE BIGGEST THING IS YOU CAN PUSH, LIKE, THROUGH THE BOTTOM.
SO, IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO WATCH
WHEN YOU'RE CHECKING WOODEN FENCES
TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THEM ARE LOOSE,
'CAUSE THE DOGS WILL PUSH THROUGH IT.
HEIDI THE PUPPY'S SMALL, CAN SQUEEZE THROUGH THINGS.
SO, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO GAPS
UNDER THE BOTTOM OF IT TO WHERE HEIDI CAN GET OUT.
THIS BACKYARD IS GREAT.
BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD PIT BULLS BASICALLY ALL THEIR LIVES,
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE CHECKING OUT PERFECT.
THIS FENCE IS REALLY WELL PUT TOGETHER, TOO.
WELL, YEAH. KEEP THE DOGS IN, RIGHT?
THIS IS A GOOD BACKYARD FOR THE DOGS.
MY DOGS WOULD LOVE THIS.
KEEP THE DOGS IN AND THE PEOPLE OUT.
YEAH.
MARIAH SAID HER DOGS WOULD LOVE THIS BACKYARD,
SO I FELT LIKE THAT WAS A THUMBS UP.
SO, WE CAN GO GET HER AND BRING HER OUT HERE.
'CAUSE AT THIS POINT,
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING WE NEED TO DO.
WHEN MARIAH WENT OUTSIDE TO GET THE DOG,
WE WERE ALL SO BESIDE OURSELVES WITH EXCITEMENT.
IT WAS HARD TO SIT DOWN IN THE CHAIR.
WAYLON COULDN'T EVEN STAY IN HIS SEAT.
EXCITED?
HELLO, PRETTY GIRL.
I GREW UP WITH PIT BULLS ALL MY LIFE,
AND I COULDN'T IMAGINE HOW MY LIFE WOULD BE
IF I DIDN'T HAVE ONE.
COME HERE, MAMA.
SO, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE KATE AND WAYLON'S FACES
WHEN THEY SEE HEIDI AGAIN.
OOH, YOU WENT UP THE STAIRS!
GOOD GIRL!
[ SMOOCHES ]
COME HERE.
HI.
HEIDI. HEIDI.
YOU'RE SO CUTE.
WATCHING KATE AND WAYLON'S FIRST INTERACTION WITH HEIDI
WAS REALLY HEARTWARMING AND SWEET.
HEIDI. COME HERE.
THEY WERE BOTH SO EXCITED.
KATE WAS BESIDE HERSELF.
Toney: SHE'S GONNA BE LOVED TO DEATH.
SHE'S SO CUTE.
SHE'S LIKE, "I WANT TO SEE THE REST OF THE YARD.
OKAY, HOLD ON.
BE FREE!
YEAH!
Toney: AS SOON AS SHE REACHED THAT BACKYARD,
IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE PROMISED LAND.
[ WHISTLES ]
YOU LIKE THAT.
JUST THE FEELING OF EVERYBODY SO EXCITED,
YOU KNOW, IT'S OVERWHELMING.
SHE HAS A TIGHT GRIP.
IT WAS JUST A GREAT FEELING.
GOOD GIRL.
EAT IT.
YEAH, SHE'S SO CUTE.
I'M SO HAPPY AND EXCITED FOR MY FAMILY.
WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING HEIDI HOME.
AND NOW THAT SHE'S HERE, WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT'S IT.
WE'RE GONNA GO, THEN. SHE'S YOURS NOW.
IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING Y'ALL.
WE'RE HAPPY FOR YOU AND HEIDI.
Toney: IT WAS ENJOYABLE JUST KNOWING
THAT SHE'S GOING TO A HOME LIKE THE HENDERSONS,
WHO'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF HER AND LOVE HER
AND PROBABLY GIVE HER A BETTER LIFE
THAN MOST OF US MIGHT EVER SEE.
HAVE FUN WITH YOUR NEW DAUGHTER.
WE WILL. WE'RE EXCITED.
BYE, THANK YOU.
SEEING HEIDI RUNNING AROUND HER NEW HOME AND HAVING FUN
MADE THAT LONG DRIVE OUT HERE SO WORTH IT.