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COMING UP ON "PIT BULLS & PAROLEES"...
WELL, HOW COME I FEEL LIKE THIS HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE?
WHAT CHANGED?
...WITH EVERYONE GETTING PULLED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS,
TANIA'S LEFT IN CHARGE...
THAT TRASH BAG RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN PUT IT IN THERE.
...AND A DOG LEFT FOR DEAD STOPS EVERYTHING IN ITS TRACKS.
SHE FOUND THIS DOG LAST NIGHT.
OH, MY GOD.
[BLEEP]
Mando: COME ON, FIASCO.
THEN A PIT BULL AND GERMAN SHEPHERD
EACH GET A SHOT AT A HOME.
HEY, BUDDY.
Tia: OKAY, HERE WE GO. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
AND BOTH NEED TO GET READY FOR THEIR NEW LIFESTYLES.
OKAY, GERRY. WE'RE GONNA SPEED UP.
[ LAUGHS ]
THEN A VISIT FROM TWO PRISON OFFICERS...
THIS WAY, WE JUST SHOW THEM AROUND JUST THE FRONT HERE.
YEAH, I CAN SHOW THEM THE FRONT.
...PUTS INMATE MATT IN THE HOT SEAT.
I'M NERVOUS. I'M IN WORK RELEASE.
YOU KNOW, I'M OUT HERE FREE. I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP.
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: THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS HAS GIVEN US A LOT.
IT'S GIVEN US A PLACE TO KEEP OUR RESCUE GOING.
IT'S GIVEN US A LOT OF SUPPORT.
IT'S ALSO GIVEN US SOME GREAT WORKERS.
WHAT'S UP, MA?
EARL WAS THE FIRST LOCAL PAROLEE THAT WE HIRED,
AND HE HAS BEEN A TRUE BLESSING.
THEN RECENTLY, WE GOT OUR FIRST ACTUAL INMATE -- MATT.
HE CAME TO US THROUGH DIXON PRISON,
AND ALTHOUGH WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE
HOW IT WAS GOING TO WORK OUT HAVING AN ACTUAL INMATE,
HE HAS BEEN A GREAT WORKER.
YEAH, YOU READY FOR THE MEDS, HUH?
YOU READY FOR THEM, HUH?
WHEN I THINK BACK TO THE FIRST DAY
I CAME TO VILLALOBOS AND MET TIA,
I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH THIS PLACE WOULD REALLY AFFECT ME.
NEED SOME HELP?
NO, I GOT IT.
I WAS 12 THE FIRST TIME I GOT ARRESTED FOR STEALING --
SARDINES, OF ALL THINGS.
AT ABOUT 17, GOT BUSTED FOR POSSESSION OF ***
AND MARIJUANA AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM AS A CONVICTED FELON.
I GOT SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS.
THE WHOLE TIME YOU'RE THINKING THAT THIS IS THE FUN LIFE.
IT DOESN'T DO NOTHING BUT TEAR YOUR LIFE APART.
THAT'S IT.
VILLALOBOS DEFINITELY HAS GIVEN ME A SENSE OF PURPOSE,
AND IT'S HELPED CHANGE MY LIFE.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
ONE THING THAT I'VE REALLY BEEN FOCUSING ON
IS PUTTING MY VET TECH KNOWLEDGE TO USE.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE A PART
OF THE PRISON'S VET TECH PROGRAM,
WHERE WE HAD A PROFESSOR FROM LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
COME AND JUST TEACH US THE BASICS.
SO, I FIGURE, SINCE I HAVE THESE SKILLS,
I MIGHT AS WELL PUT THEM TO USE.
SO, I'VE BEEN HELPING TIA OUT EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW,
HANDING OUT THE MEDS AND JUST TENDING TO ANY DOGS
THAT NEED A LITTLE EXTRA CARE.
COME HERE, BIG MAN. COME HERE.
[ SMOOCHES ]
AWW. GOOD BOY.
GOOD BOY, MAN.
YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE VALUABLE HERE,
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO IT.
BUT ALL THE DOGS ARE LOOKING FINE.
THEY'RE LOOKING HEALTHY.
THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS VERY DEPENDABLE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH OF THESE DOGS.
THEY'RE EVEN SMELLING BETTER. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
GREAT JOB.
HEY, MAN, I APPRECIATE THAT, MAN.
MOST DEFINITELY.
I'VE BEEN GETTING GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE GUYS
THAT'S BEEN AROUND HERE A LONG TIME,
SO I JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
SUCH A GOOD GIRL.
Tia: EVEN THOUGH WE'RE PRIMARILY A PIT BULL RESCUE,
NOWADAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE WE RESCUE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
OPOSSUM.
Earl: OOH.
YES, WE'VE EVEN TAKEN IN SOME STRAY MISFIT RODENTS.
ISN'T HE CUTE?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
I FOUND HIM IN THE BACK.
THAT THING IS DIRTY.
HE'S NOT DIRTY.
BUT WE ALSO TAKE IN ALL SORTS OF OTHER CREATURES --
SMALL DOGS, CATS, KITTENS.
YOU NAME IT, IT ENDS UP HERE.
AND THUS WAS THE CASE OF GERRY THE GERMAN SHEPHERD.
Tia: LOOK, GERRY.
YOU GETTING A BATH? YEAH.
GERRY ACTUALLY LIVED WITH HIS OWNER OUT IN THE SWAMP,
AND AFTER HIS OWNER GOT EVICTED FROM THEIR HOME,
HE WAS LEFT BEHIND TO FEND FOR HIMSELF.
NO, GERRY, NO!
DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE WAS LEFT BEHIND BY HIS OWNER,
IT APPEARED THAT HE, AT LEAST, WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF,
AND HE LIVED INDOORS.
SO, GERRY DIDN'T DO WELL IN A KENNEL ENVIRONMENT.
HE IS VERY SENSITIVE.
SO, WE MADE HIM OUR OFFICE DOG.
HE JUST BECAME A PART OF THE EVERYDAY ROUTINE,
AND FOR THE SAKE OF SOUNDING LIKE A CRAZY DOG PERSON,
WHEN I'M TALKING AND I LOOK OVER AND LOOK AT HIM,
AND HE JUST HAS LIKE A HUMAN QUALITY ABOUT HIM.
YOU WANT TO PULL HIS -- AND SAY, "IS THERE A PERSON IN THERE?"
BECAUSE HE REALLY SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND.
BUT GERRY IS A "TRUE" GERMAN SHEPHERD.
GO GET THAT BALL.
[ BALL SQUEAKING ]
GERMAN SHEPHERDS ARE PROTECTORS.
A LOT OF TIMES, THEY WILL TAKE CHARGE
AND BECOME VERY TERRITORIAL
AND POSSESSIVE OVER WHAT IS THEIRS.
YOU'RE NOSEY.
YOU'RE NOSEY.
SO, GERRY STARTED SHOWING A LOT OF THESE BEHAVIORS,
AND BEING IN THE OFFICE
WHERE THERE WAS SO MUCH ACTIVITY GOING ON,
IT JUST WASN'T A GOOD PLACE FOR HIM TO BE.
SO, WE HAD TO MOVE GERRY OUT INTO THE KENNEL AREA,
AND HE WASN'T REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
CAN'T SAY I BLAME HIM.
COME ON, GERRY.
SO, WE PUT OUT A MESSAGE OUT TO SOCIAL NETWORKING,
JUST CALLING ON GERMAN SHEPHERD LOVERS.
WE JUST NEEDED TO FIND A PERSON
THAT REALLY LOVED GERRY FOR WHAT HE WAS.
THANKFULLY, WE HAVE AN ADOPTER COMING IN TO LOOK AT GERRY.
HI, FRANK.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
YOU TOO. THIS IS EARL.
EARL, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
Frank: I'M FRANK. I LIVE IN MILTON, LOUISIANA.
I'M HERE TO LOOK AT, HOPEFULLY, MY NEXT BEST FRIEND, GERRY.
HAVE A SEAT.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL GERMAN SHEPHERDS.
GOT MY FIRST WHEN I WAS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD.
GERRY WOULD BE MY SEVENTH, IF HE GOES HOME WITH ME.
I'VE BEEN AROUND DOGS MOST OF MY LIFE.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO GERRY,
I'M LIKE, "YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU."
GERMAN SHEPHERDS AS A WHOLE, EACH HAS THEIR OWN PERSONALITY,
AND YOU'LL FIND THAT SOMETIMES
YOU ACTUALLY THINK THAT THEY'RE THINKING
ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING.
MM-HMM.
THEY'RE SMART AND THEY'RE LOYAL.
I LOST MY LAST DOG, CAESAR, A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK.
CAESAR WAS MY LAST AND BY FAR WAS PROBABLY THE BEST.
HE WAS MORE OF A FRIEND THAN HE WAS A PET.
EVERY MORNING,
HE WOULD BE WAITING AT THE GATE WHEN I WAS LEAVING.
THERE'S A VOID NOW THAT I THINK HE'S STILL THERE,
BUT HE'S NOT -- THAT YOU REALLY MISS.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT HIM?
FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME ABOUT YOU GUYS.
HE HAD SAID YOU ALSO HAD SOME GERMAN SHEPHERDS HERE,
SO I WENT ON THE WEBSITE AND FOUND HIM THERE.
HE'S GOT GREAT EYES.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
EVER SINCE I FIRST SAW THE PICTURE OF GERRY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIS EYES, HE'S A GOOD DOG.
LET'S GO RUN AND GET HIM.
GERMAN SHEPHERDS ARE VERY EMOTIONAL
AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY LOYAL.
THEY REALLY NEED TO BOND WITH SOMEBODY.
COME ON, BUD.
YO, G. WHAT'S UP, GERRY?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WHAT DO YOU THINK, BUDDY?
Earl: GERRY.
HEY, BUDDY.
I WOULDN'T GIVE YOU THAT.
YEAH.
YEAH, YOU SMILING.
GERRY JUST SAT, LIKE A STATUE.
HE WAS JUST FOCUSED ON FRANK,
AND IT WAS LIKE LIGHTNING WAS FLASHING
ABOVE BOTH OF THEIR HEADS.
YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, BUDDY.
HE IS.
YOU GOT A GOOD HEART, TOO, HUH?
YEAH. DOWN.
THAT'S A GOOD BOY.
Frank: WE SEEMED TO CONNECT RIGHT OFF THE BAT,
JUST LIKE IT WAS A CONNECTION FROM THE GET-GO.
GO ON. GO ON.
[ TOY SQUEAKING ]
Tia: GOOD BOY.
OH. WELL.
[ LAUGHS ]
EXCUSE ME.
I'LL JUST GO SIT DOWN AND MIND MY OWN BUSINESS.
WITHIN MINUTES, IT WAS LIKE WE DID NOT EXIST.
FRANK WAS HIS WHOLE WORLD.
OH, MAN.
YOU TWO HAVE A MOMENT.
JUST REMEMBER WHO TOOK YOU OUT OF THAT SWAMP, GERRY.
TO WATCH THE RELATIONSHIP RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES
UNFOLD AND DEVELOP WAS PRETTY AMAZING.
THAT'S IT, BOY.
WHAT GERRY NEEDED WAS JUST TO FIND THAT SOMEONE.
HE KNEW FRANK WAS THE ONE.
Tia: WE'LL GET HIM READY.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, HE'S GOT A HOME.
WELL, I CAN SEE THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WE HAD NO CHOICE BECAUSE THE DECISION WAS MADE
WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES.
AND HE GETS UP, AND HE JUST FINALIZES THAT.
I MEAN, LIKE, REALLY, GERRY?
Frank: HE AND I HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED IT.
HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO BACON AND EGGS ON SATURDAY MORNING.
I THINK HE'S READY TO COME, AND I'M READY FOR HIM TO BE THERE.
THANK YOU.
Tia: FRANK LOVES TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME
OUT ON THE WATER AND FISH.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST DEPENDS. SOME DOGS TAKE TO THE WATER GREAT.
OTHERS JUST CAN'T STAND IT.
SO, TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE GERRY TO A BOAT
AND SEE HOW HE DOES.
OBVIOUSLY, I HOPE FOR GERRY'S SAKE THAT HE ENJOYS IT.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
SNICKERS!
Tania: MY MOM LEFT WITH EARL THIS MORNING
TO DO SOME BOAT TESTING WITH GERRY,
AND WHENEVER SHE LEAVES,
I ALWAYS GET A LITTLE MORE STRESSED OUT.
THAT TRASH BAG RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN PUT IT IN THERE.
IT'S DIRTY.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO WATCH OUT
FOR THE DOGS, VISITORS, OUR WORKERS.
EVERYONE NEEDS SOMETHING, AND I DO MY BEST TO KEEP UP.
WELL, HOW COME I FEEL LIKE THIS HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE?
WHAT CHANGED?
AND THEN SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DROP EVERYTHING.
HEY, TANIA?
YEAH?
THE LOOK ON HEIDI'S FACE WHEN SHE ASKED ME FOR HELP,
I MEAN, IT TOLD ME THAT SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG.
OH, MY GOD. [BLEEP]
Tania: OH, MY GOD.
IT'S SAD.
WHERE DID YOU FIND IT?
Alyssa: ON ST. CLAUDE, LIKE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BARS.
REALLY?
OH, MY GOD. THAT'S REALLY [BLEEP] SAD.
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE DOG, IT WAS --
IT ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE THE DOG WAS BURNED OR SET ON FIRE.
HE HAD NO HAIR AT ALL.
HI. YOU'RE SO SAD.
AWW.
Alyssa: I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK,
AND THERE WAS A PUPPY
JUST RUNNING BACK AND FORTH IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC,
SO I STOPPED AND PUT HIM IN MY CAR.
AND HIS SKIN WAS REALLY HOT AND FEVERISH,
AND HE HAD BLISTERS.
HOW OLD DO YOU THINK HE IS? LIKE SIX MONTHS, MAYBE?
YEAH, HE'S REALLY YOUNG.
Tania: I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE HOW BAD THIS DOG LOOKS.
IT'S SAD BECAUSE HE'S JUST BEEN RUNNING AROUND THE STREETS
LIKE THAT, SO IT'S PRETTY HEARTBREAKING.
YEAH, WHENEVER WE TAKE A DOG IN,
WE TAKE IT STRAIGHT TO THE VET, JUST TO GET HIM CHECKED OUT.
THANK YOU.
I JUST CAN'T KEEP HIM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
I CAN'T GET SUPER EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT
BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET SUPER EMOTIONAL, YOU DON'T DO YOUR JOB RIGHT.
COME ON, BABY. GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR BRINGING HIM.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS CLEARLY A DOG
THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO THE VET, YOU KNOW, NOW.
IT COULD BE MANGE, IT COULD BE SCABIES, ALSO,
AND THAT'S CONTAGIOUS, AND THAT CAN INFECT OUR DOGS.
SO, WE HAVE TO LOAD HIM INTO A CRATE,
KEEP HIM AWAY FROM ALL OF OUR DOGS,
AND RUSH HIM TO THE VET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
GERRY, YOU ARE NERVOUS.
Tia: YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE STRESS
THAT COMES IN DAY AFTER DAY
WITH TAKING CARE OF ALMOST 300 DOGS HERE AT THE RESCUE,
YOU KNOW, BEING OUT ON THE WATER IS JUST GONNA BE
A GREAT STRESS RELIEVER FOR ME, PERSONALLY.
THANKFULLY, WE HAD SOMEONE DONATE A BOAT TO US,
AND WE WERE ABLE TO USE IT FOR GERRY'S BOAT TESTING.
I THINK I'M MORE NERVOUS THAN GERRY.
EARL. I DON'T KNOW.
HE JUST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HE WAS REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
YOU'VE BEEN IN A BOAT, RIGHT?
YOU ARE FROM LOUISIANA, AND YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN A BOAT?!
NEVER BEEN IN A BOAT.
Earl: HONESTLY, I WAS A LITTLE FREAKED OUT.
ALREADY, MY BALANCE IS NOT TOO GOOD,
AND FOR ME TO BE CLIMBING INSIDE OF A BOAT
WITH THREE OTHER PEOPLE AND A DOG,
I KNOW THIS WAS GONNA BE A REAL ADVENTURE FOR ME AND GERRY.
IT'S NOT THAT DEEP.
THAT'S GOOD.
THE GATORS ARE NOT TOO BAD HERE.
GATORS!
YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT?
AHOY!
[ CHUCKLES ]
AS FUN AS IT SOUNDS GOING OUT ON THE RIVER...
COME ON, GER. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
COME ON, BUD.
...WE HAD TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE WORST.
THIS MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT GERRY WOULD LIKE.
COME ON, BUD.
GOOD BOY.
Earl: COME ON, GERRY.
HOLD ON. DON'T GO ANYWHERE YET.
PUT HIS LIFE JACKET ON.
I'LL HOLD HIM.
YOU'LL HOLD HIM IF HE PULLS YOU IN.
NO.
HE BETTER PULL ME OUT, TOO.
JUST AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION,
WE PUT GERRY IN HIS VERY OWN DOGGY LIFE VEST.
OH, LOOKIT. YOU EVEN GOT YOUR OWN WHISTLE.
[ BLOWS WHISTLE ]
YOUR LITTLE DOGGY WHISTLE.
JUST IN CASE, GERRY. JUST IN CASE.
WE'RE GONNA GO SLOW. NO SPEED RACING.
IT'S OKAY, BUD. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, GER.
ALL RIGHT, DUDE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
SO FAR, SO GOOD. [ LAUGHS ]
[ BARKING ]
GERRY IS REACTIVE TO OTHER DOGS.
THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT BARKED AT US ALONG THE RIVER,
AND, YOU KNOW, GERRY DID NOTICE.
BUT HE DIDN'T TRY AND JUMP OUT.
HE ACTUALLY STAYED PRETTY CALM.
COME HERE. YOU'RE OKAY. YOU'RE OKAY.
IT WAS PRETTY COOL.
WANT TO TRY TO PICK IT UP A LITTLE?
A LITTLE BIT OF SPEED. YEAH?
OKAY, GERRY. WE'RE GONNA SPEED UP.
I ASKED KANANI TO REV UP THE ENGINE A LITTLE BIG HIGHER
ON THE BOAT AND GO A LITTLE BIT FASTER
TO SEE WHAT GERRY'S REACTION WAS.
AND I ACTUALLY THINK GERRY WAS DOING BETTER THAN EARL WAS.
GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB!
DOING A GOOD JOB!
HE DID REALLY WELL.
HE DIDN'T EVEN CARE.
[ LAUGHS ]
SEE GERRY JUST, YOU KNOW, PUT HIS EARS BACK
WITH THE WIND JUST BLOWING HIS FACE
AND, YOU KNOW, CLOSE HIS EYES A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT, I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE'S GONNA BE A GREAT BOAT DOG."
SO, I THINK FOR EARL AND GERRY'S FIRST TIME IN A BOAT, NOT BAD.
NOT BAD AT ALL.
[ CHUCKLES ]
GOOD BOY, GERRY.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
NO, FOR YOU!
[ LAUGHTER ]
NOW WE'RE JUST GONNA GET GERRY SPIT SHINED
AND GET HIM ALL READY AND HEAD ON OUT TO FRANK'S PLACE,
AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET GERRY FINALLY INTO A HOME.
Mando: TANIA WASN'T ABLE TO LEAVE THE RESCUE,
SO MATT AND I BROUGHT THE DOG THAT GOT DROPPED OFF TO THE VET.
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
Matt: WHEN I FIRST SAW THE DOG, HE LOOKED PRETTY BAD.
HIS SKIN WAS PINK.
IF IT'S SCABIES, THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S TRANSMITTABLE TO OTHER DOGS, HUMANS.
IT'S HORRIBLE.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE HAVING LICE 10 TIMES WORSE.
AWW. BUDDY.
GOOD DOG.
BUT IN TRUE PIT BULL FORM, HE'S ROLLING THROUGH IT,
WAGGING HIS TAIL, HAPPY AS CAN BE, EXCITED.
THAT'S WHAT IS, LIKE, SO AWESOME ABOUT THE PIT BULL BREED.
THEY'RE JUST, LIKE, HAPPY ALL THE TIME.
IS HE REAL ITCHY?
YEAH, 'CAUSE HE'S LIKE NIPPING ON STUFF.
YEAH.
THIS IS MY WORST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS.
I'M GONNA SCRAPE HIM FOR SCABIES,
WHICH THE SCABIES MITES -- THEY'RE HARDER TO FIND,
AND THEY LIKE TO STAY KIND OF MORE ON THE SURFACE.
AND THEN THE DEMODEX,
WHICH I KNOW YOU KNOW IS THE ONE THAT'S NOT CONTAGIOUS,
IS THE ONE THAT LIKES TO LIVE DEEPER,
AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE HAVE TO SCRAPE THEM
SO THEY BLEED A LITTLE BIT.
I'M SUSPICIOUS THAT HE HAS SCABIES,
WHICH IS AN INFECTIOUS PARASITE
THAT'S CAUSING ALL THE ITCHING AND THE SKIN INFECTION.
LET ME GO LOOK AT THESE REAL QUICK
AND SEE IF I CAN FIND ANYTHING.
Matt: SO, SHE'S GONNA TAKE THE SAMPLE BACK AND TEST IT.
I'VE SEEN WHAT DOGS WITH SCABIES GO THROUGH.
IT COULD BE PRETTY ROUGH, SO I'M HOPING THAT HE'S NEGATIVE.
THE LITTLE GUY DEFINITELY DESERVES A BREAK.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, DEFINITELY HAS THE DEMODEX MITE,
BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY SCABIES, SO THAT'S GOOD.
WHEN THE DOCTOR SAID THAT HE HAD DEMODEX, IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.
IT WAS A SENSE OF RELIEF BECAUSE MANGE COULD BE PRETTY BAD.
DEMODEX ISN'T SO BAD, AND IT'S TREATABLE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NONCONTAGIOUS.
WE NEED TO KEEP HIM ISOLATED
FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT AT THIS POINT.
WE NEED TO GET HIS SKIN A LITTLE BIT BETTER UNDER CONTROL
AND GET HIM A LITTLE BIT HEALTHIER.
SO, THEY'RE GONNA KEEP HIM AT THE VET FOR A FEW NIGHTS,
JUST TO GIVE HIM A QUIET PLACE TO STAY,
BUILD UP HIS IMMUNE SYSTEM.
SO, THIS WILL BE LIKE A SPA TREATMENT FOR HIM
TO GET TO STAY FOR A FEW NIGHTS
BEFORE HE COMES BACK TO VRC WITH US.
Tia: I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MATT'S FORMER SUPERVISORS
AT DIXON PRISON,
AND I LET THEM KNOW FROM TIME TO TIME HOW HE'S DOING.
BUT TODAY THEY DECIDED TO COME DOWN HERE TO NEW ORLEANS
TO CHECK ON HIM THEMSELVES, AND THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR MATT.
MATTHEW.
Matt: YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF NERVOUS --
COLONEL SMITH AND SERGEANT TANNER
COMING BACK HERE TO SEE ME.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I'M DOING A GOOD JOB.
THESE ARE THE GUYS THAT KIND OF SHOWED ME THE ROPES
AND, YOU KNOW, GAVE ME THE INITIATIVE TO DO GOOD.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME
THAT THEY APPROVE ON HOW I'M DOING HERE.
I'M ANXIOUS. I NEED THIS TO GO WELL.
Tia: WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IS MAYBE JUST SHOW THEM AROUND JUST THE FRONT HERE?
YEAH, I CAN SHOW THEM THE FRONT.
WELL, THEN, I'LL GO WITH YOU.
COME ON.
Matt: MY FORMER SUPERVISORS ARE HERE TO SEE ME TODAY,
AND I WANT THEM TO BE IMPRESSED
ON HOW I'M DOING HERE ON THE OUTSIDE.
THIS IS THE AREA I STARTED OFF IN.
THE DOGS ARE MORE CALM.
IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME, AND I NEED THIS TO GO WELL.
HOW MANY DOGS DO YOU HAVE UP IN THIS SECTION HERE?
26 BETWEEN HERE AND THERE.
SO, DO YOU TAKE CARE OF ALL 26 BY YOURSELF
OR DO Y'ALL BREAK UP ROUTINES?
WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE IN EACH SECTION.
Smith: MATT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS DOING WELL.
LOOKS WELL-ADJUSTED HERE.
I KNOW HE'D BEEN LOCKED DOWN FOR A FEW YEARS,
AND THAT'S KIND OF TOUGH FOR SOMEONE TO ADJUST THIS QUICK.
SHE GAVE ME A JOB HERE,
AS LONG AS I CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WHEN I GET OUT.
I'M PRETTY PROUD OF HIM, PROUD OF WHAT HE'S DONE,
AND WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED.
IT KIND OF SETS THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE NEXT GUY TO COME OUT.
COLONEL SMITH GAVE HIM A SHOT AT THE SHELTER,
AND HE WENT FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP.
I MADE HIM, WHAT I CALL, OUR DIRECTOR OF CANINE SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, HE IS THE GUY IN CHARGE OF ALL THE DOGS,
BUT HE'S ALSO GOT GOOD LEADERSHIP SKILLS --
VERY GOOD LEADERSHIP SKILLS -- AND A GOOD WAY WITH PEOPLE.
Matt: IT MADE ME FEEL REAL GOOD
WHEN TIA WAS TALKING REALLY HIGHLY OF ME, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE THESE GUYS ACTUALLY ARE THE ONES
THAT GOT ME INVOLVED IN THIS.
THEY TAUGHT ME A LOT OF STUFF. THEY KEPT ME ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
I'M LOVING IT OVER HERE.
HE ROCKS IT HERE. HE ROCKS IT HERE.
REPEAT OFFENDERS ARE CONSTANTLY COMING BACK,
AND YOU THINK, "ALL RIGHT, THIS GUY HAS A CHANCE.
HE'S NOT GONNA COME BACK."
YEAH, IT KIND OF MAKES YOU SMILE.
YOU'RE IN TROUBLE IF YOU COME BACK.
Tia: IT TAKES AN ENTIRE VILLAGE TO RAISE ONE BOY,
AND IN THIS SITUATION, IT WAS A COMBINED EFFORT.
GOOD SEEING YOU.
BYE, GUYS.
IT WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OF LOUISIANA
WHO PUT TOGETHER THESE DOG PROGRAMS WITHIN THEIR PRISONS.
IT WAS DCI WHO TAUGHT MATT ABOUT THE DOG STUFF AT THE PRISON.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, IT WAS VILLALOBOS RESCUE CENTER
JUST KIND OF SEWING UP THE WHOLE PACKAGE.
Matt: A LOT OF GUYS DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT CHANCE --
YOU KNOW, A GOOD JOB THAT THEY LOVE TO DO.
THIS IS A JOB THAT I LOVE DOING.
I ENJOY THE PEOPLE HERE.
SHE'S GIVEN ME A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY,
WHICH, COMING OUT OF PRISON, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED.
Tia: SO, THIS MUST BE OUR LUCKY WEEK.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN ADOPTER COMING ALL THE WAY FROM TEXAS
TO MEET ANOTHER ONE OF OUR DOGS -- DUDE.
I MEAN, HOW GREAT WOULD THAT BE
TO ADOPT OUT TWO DOGS IN ONE WEEK?
ALEX, HI.
TIA. NICE TO MEET YOU.
ARMANDO.
I SPECIFICALLY CAME DOWN
FOR A DOG I SAW ON THE WEBSITE BY THE NAME OF DUDE.
HE STRUCK MY ATTENTION FROM THE PICTURES THAT THEY HAD
AND HIS PRETTY AMAZING STORY.
YOU ARE FROM AUSTIN.
UH, JUST NORTH OF AUSTIN -- GEORGETOWN.
THERE'S A LAKE GEORGETOWN,
AND I LIKE HIKING OUT THERE -- JOGGING AND SWIM IN THE LAKE.
YOU LOOK VERY HEALTHY AND PHYSICALLY FIT.
THANK YOU.
DAMN IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'M WORKING ON IT. I'M WORKING ON IT.
SO, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH HAVING DOGS. OKAY.
I'VE HAD A ROTTWEILER FOR 10 YEARS.
I HAD TWO MASTIFF-SHEPHERD MIXES.
ANNIE, MY LAST PIT BULL, WAS THE OLDEST,
AND SHE OUTLIVED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
WOW.
ANNIE WAS 15 WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY.
ANNIE WAS MY PIT BULL.
THAT WAS MY PRIDE AND JOY.
ALL OF MY DOGS HAVE PASSED AWAY,
AND ANNIE WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT.
BOTH HER KIDNEYS WERE TOTALLY NONFUNCTIONING.
SHE HAD LOST 15 POUNDS,
BUT HER TAIL WAGGED THE WHOLE TIME.
SHE NEVER COMPLAINED.
SHE WAS DOING THAT FOR ME AND NOT FOR HERSELF.
SHE IS THE ONE THAT MADE ME REALIZE
THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT A PIT BULL WILL GIVE.
SO, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH THAT VOID.
THAT'S WHY TWO YEARS OF LOOKING AT DUDE ON YOUR WEBSITE...
[ CHUCKLES ]
I SPECIFICALLY CAME DOWN FOR DUDE.
IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE I FIRST SAW HIM ON THE WEBSITE,
AND THE LOOK HE HAS, IT JUST STRUCK WITH ME.
I'M NOT HERE TO RESCUE DUDE.
I'M HERE FOR DUDE TO FILL A VOID IN MY LIFE.
I'M HERE FOR DUDE TO RESCUE ME.
WHEN I GOT A CALL FROM THE ANIMAL SHELTER TO TAKE THIS DOG,
THEY SAID HE WAS A SPECIAL-NEEDS DOG,
AND WHEN THEY TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM,
I WAS LIKE, "WAIT A MINUTE. SAY WHAT?"
HE JUMPED OUT OF HIS APARTMENT WINDOW --
SECOND STORY -- AND BROKE HIS LEGS.
I WAS JUST LIKE, "AND THE DOG'S STILL ALIVE?"
I THINK THAT'S A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
HE DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK IT'S A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
IT DID NOT SLOW HIM DOWN ONE BIT.
I'M HOPING, OF COURSE, THAT WE CAN MAKE
A REALLY GOOD CONNECTION BETWEEN DUDE AND ALEX.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING HIM.
...BRING IN THE DUDE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
LOVE IT.
I MEAN, EVERYONE DESERVES HAPPINESS,
AND I JUST HOPE THAT BOTH OF THEM CAN FIND IT HERE.
HEY, BUDDY.
OH, YEAH. HE'S READY TO PULL.
OKAY, COME HERE, BUDDY.
YOU'RE OKAY. YOU'RE OKAY.
FIGURE IT OUT.
"LET ME SNIFF AROUND."
HEY.
HE JUST KIND OF LIKES TO DO HIS OWN THING.
RELAX, BUD.
IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
SOMETIMES WHEN THE DOGS COME OUT OF THEIR KENNELS,
IT CAN OVER STIMULATE THEM.
IT CAN BE DISTRACTING,
SO IT CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, A FEW MINUTES
FOR THE DOG TO ACTUALLY ACCLIMATE.
LIKE I SAID, RIGHT NOW HE JUST NEEDS A SECOND
TO KIND OF SEE WHERE HE'S AT.
DUDE -- HE WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE,
NOT REALLY CONCENTRATING ON ME.
TAKE IT ALL IN. HE'S A LITTLE NERVOUS.
IT'S OKAY.
Alex: IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS,
BEING THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS DOG
ON THE WEBSITE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
SURE, IT'S GONNA BUILD UP SOME TYPE OF ANTICIPATION,
MAYBE PUT HIM UP ON A PEDESTAL.
Tia: BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT'S KIND OF INTIMIDATING. IT IS.
DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONAL, TRUST ME.
ALEX DID COME ALL THE WAY FROM TEXAS TO MEET THE DUDE,
AND JUST LIKE WITH ONLINE DATING,
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THAT MUTUAL CONNECTION JUST ISN'T THERE,
AND I COULD SEE THAT ALEX DIDN'T QUITE GET THE CONNECTION
HE WAS HOPING FOR.
I COULD SEE HE WAS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE UPSET,
SO I SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE HE MEET SOME OTHER DOGS.
OKAY.
WELL, WE'LL TAKE HIM BACK, AND THEN WE'LL BRING OUT TAZ.
BRING TAZ?
COME HERE, COME HERE, COME HERE.
TAZ CAME FROM RIGHT HERE IN NEW ORLEANS.
TAZ WAS A KATRINA DOG.
VERY BUSY LITTLE DOG.
HE'S GOT A LOT GOING ON.
HAPPY TO BE OUT.
Alex: WHEN TIA TOLD ME THAT HE WAS PROBABLY 11 OR 12 YEARS OLD,
THAT WAS VERY SURPRISING
BECAUSE HE ACTED LIKE A 2 OR 3-YEAR-OLD DOG.
HI.
Tia: NO JUMPING. NO JUMPING.
HEY, TAZ.
I THINK TAZ WOULD TAKE A LOT MORE ATTENTION.
ALL RIGHT.
Tia: OKAY.
GRAB THE NEXT.
I'M REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT DOG FOR HIM.
I THINK HE'D BE A GREAT OWNER,
AND I DON'T WANT ONE OF OUR DOGS MISSING OUT
ON THE CHANCE TO GO HOME WITH HIM.
COME ON, TAZ.
Alex: IF I COME AWAY FROM HERE
AND DON'T HAVE A SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION,
IT WILL BE CRUSHING.
HEY, BUDDY.
I'M HOPING WHO I HAVE IN MIND NEXT
WILL BE MY "THIRD TIME'S A CHARM."
TAKE IT EASY. COME ON. THIS WAY.
Tia: ALEX CAME HERE HOPING TO CONNECT WITH ONE PARTICULAR DOG,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T TURN OUT THE WAY WE ALL WANTED.
SO, OF COURSE, I REALLY WANT TO FIND HIM
THE DOG THAT HE'S LOOKING FOR,
AND I'M HOPING THAT THE NEXT DOG -- FIASCO --
WILL BE THE DOG FOR ALEX.
FIASCO CAME FROM A PRETTY BAD ABUSE-AND-NEGLECT SITUATION
OUT NEAR MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI.
WE GOT AN E-MAIL ABOUT SEVERAL DOGS
THAT WERE CHAINED UP IN THE WOODS,
LITERALLY LIVING IN MUD AND SNOW.
THE OWNER HAD GOT SENT TO JAIL AND DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY
TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE CARE OF HER ANIMALS,
AND SOME LITERALLY JUST STARVED TO DEATH --
STARVED AND FROZE TO DEATH.
Mando: COME ON, FIASCO.
THIS IS FIASCO.
Alex: HEY, FIASCO.
HI. HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?
Alex: I LOVED HIS LOOK.
I LOVED HIS TEMPERAMENT.
HE'S A GOOD DOG. I LIKED HIM.
GIVE ME THAT PAW? HUH?
OOOH. I GET MORE THAN THAT.
I GET MORE THAN THAT. YEAH.
Mando: HE'S LIKE, "LET ME JUMP IN YOUR LAP."
THAT'S A GOOD BOY.
WHEN FIASCO LAID HIS UPPER BODY AND HEAD DOWN ON THE COUCH,
WE KIND OF MESHED, AND THAT WAS IT.
THE MERIDIAN DOGS, THEY'RE SO UNFAZED BY WHAT HAPPENED.
THEY'RE JUST LIKE THE HAPPIEST, NICEST, DUMBEST, SWEETEST DOGS.
THEY'RE JUST LIKE THESE BIG DOOFY DOGS -- FIASCO ESPECIALLY.
I SEEM TO HAVE A BOND WITH FIASCO THAT I COULDN'T DENY.
IT WAS JUST WARM.
IT WAS A WARM, WARM FEELING FOR ME.
DUDE IS WHO I CAME DOWN HERE FOR.
THAT IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF ME GETTING DOWN HERE,
BUT SEEING FIASCO, HE IS A DOG THAT I CAN SEE MYSELF WITH.
AWW. THANK YOU.
THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU, FIASCO.
[ SMOOCHES ]
Tia: THIS WAS THE CONNECTION I WAS WAITING TO SEE.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT
OR IF YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT,
BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE, WHEN YOU DO, YOU KNOW.
YOU ARE GORGEOUS.
AND I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE HAPPY FOR FIASCO.
I REALLY, REALLY LIKE HIM.
JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
I HAD A REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TIME WHEN MY DOGS PASSED AWAY --
LEFT A VOID THAT I DIDN'T THINK I COULD EVER REALLY FILL,
BUT FIASCO LET ME KNOW THAT HE COULD DO THAT
AND THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO FEEL THAT LONELINESS
THAT I HAVE BEEN FEELING,
SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE MY DOGS ANYMORE,
AND FIASCO HAD A WAY OF SHOWING ME THAT.
WE'RE GONNA SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT, OKAY?
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT A HUGGER.
HEY, YOU'RE TAKING ONE OF OUR DOGS -- I WILL HUG YOU.
I WILL HUG YOU A LOT. [ CHUCKLES ]
I'M GLAD WE FOUND ALEX HIS DOG.
I'M GLAD FOR HIM.
I'M GLAD FOR FIASCO.
THEY'RE LUCKY, AND I'M LUCKY.
THIS WEEK, I'LL BE TAKING BOTH DOGS TO THEIR NEW HOMES,
SO ALL WE HAVE TO HOPE FOR NOW
IS THAT BOTH HOME CHECKS WILL GO OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.
KNOWING THAT WE HAVE
TWO DOGS POTENTIALLY GOING TO THEIR NEW HOMES,
I WAS HAVING A GREAT DAY.
THEN WE GOT SOME MORE GOOD NEWS.
WHILE WE WERE INTRODUCING FIASCO TO ALEX,
LOUISE PICKED UP THE HAIRLESS DOG WE NAMED RUSSELL
UP FROM THE VET.
SHE'S GOING TO KEEP HIM
UNTIL HE'S WELL ENOUGH TO COME BACK TO THE FACILITY,
AND MATT'S AGREED TO JUMP IN AND HELP
AND KEEP UP WITH RUSSELL'S MEDICATED BATHS,
EAR TREATMENTS, AND MEDS.
HE'S STARTING TO GROW SOME FUR BACK.
YOU'RE GETTING YOU SOME FUR ALREADY, MAN.
I DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD SHOW THAT MUCH IMPROVEMENT,
BUT HE'S STILL A LITTLE PINK, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY THAT BAD.
HIS HAIR'S STARTING TO GROW BACK.
THE SORES ARE GOING AWAY.
HE HAD A BUNCH OF BUMPS THAT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE ANT BITES.
YEAH, YOU LOOK A LOT BETTER NOW, HUH?
LAST TIME, WHEN WE WENT TO THE VET,
I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THAT HE HAD A BROWN PATCH.
OOH, MAN. THIS IS GONNA FEEL GOOD TO YOU, DUDE.
COUPLE MORE MONTHS, THIS DOG SHOULD BE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH. YOU LIKE THAT, HUH, MAN?
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE A DOG
THAT DOESN'T MIND GETTING A BATH.
THEY JUST LOOK SO ROUGH IN THE BEGINNING
AND WHEN YOU GET TO SEE THE OUTCOME OF IT,
IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD,
LIKE YOU ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING TO HELP SOMEBODY.
OH, SHAKE IT OFF, MAN.
HIS PERSONALITY'S SUPER COOL.
HE'S LIKE A LOVEABLE DOG, HAPPY ALL THE TIME,
AND HE NEVER STOPS MOVING.
IT'S HILARIOUS.
WHO'S A LITTLE BABY? I'M NOT A LITTLE BABY.
I'M NOT A LITTLE BABY.
YOU KNOW, BEING A PUPPY AND ALL,
IT DOESN'T REALLY BOTHER HIM TOO MUCH.
HE STILL SUPER EXCITED AND PLAYFUL.
SIT. NO.
GOOD BOY.
YOU KNOW, ONCE THIS DOG GETS BACK RIGHT --
HIS SKIN COMES ALL THE WAY GOOD, HIS HAIR STARTS GROWING OUT --
HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY TO LOVE THIS DOG
AND GIVE HIM A GOOD HOME.
GOOD BOY, GERRY.
Tia: SINCE GERRY'S ADOPTER LIVED CLOSE BY,
WE DECIDED TO DO GERRY'S HOME CHECK RIGHT AWAY.
WHEN THEY MET, IT WAS LIKE LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT,
WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR A GERMAN SHEPHERD
BECAUSE OF THEIR NEED TO BE BONDED
AND LOYAL TO THEIR PERSON.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S COOL.
YOU MY MAN. YOU MY MAN.
I'M GONNA MISS YOU, BIG GERRY.
I'M GONNA MISS YOU, BRO.
Earl: GERRY'S MY BUDDY, AND IT'S GONNA BE STRANGE
NOT SEEING HIS BIG EARS AROUND HERE.
YOU READY?
COME ON, DADDY.
HOW YOU LIKE THE BOW TIE?
I SAW THAT.
THAT'S REAL GENTLEMAN-LIKE, HUH?
VERY GENTLEMAN-LIKE.
I GOT HIM ALL DRESSED UP FOR THE BIG OCCASION.
NOW I'M READY TO SEND HIM OFF TO HIS NEW DADDY.
THERE YOU GO.
Tia: CONSIDERING THAT HE CAN'T BE OUR OFFICE DOG ANYMORE
AND GERMAN SHEPHERDS DON'T DO WELL IN A KENNEL ENVIRONMENT,
WE NEED TO GET HIM INTO A HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
AND HE MADE IT REALLY CLEAR
THAT HE WANTS THAT TO BE FRANK'S HOME.
I'M REALLY HOPING THAT NOTHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS HOME CHECK.
CONSIDERING THAT GERRY IS A GERMAN SHEPHERD
AT A PIT BULL RESCUE,
WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL BE
BEFORE A GUY LIKE FRANK COMES ALONG AGAIN?
THIS IS GEAUX GEAUX.
SHE IS ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF OLD.
SHE IS VERY PLAYFUL, STILL HAS A PUPPY MENTALITY.
SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES PLAYING WITH TOYS AND RUNNING AROUND.
GEAUX GEAUX WOULD BE PERFECT FOR A FAMILY WITH OLDER CHILDREN,
JUST BECAUSE SHE HAS SUCH HIGH ENERGY.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING GEAUX GEAUX
OR ANY OTHER VILLALOBOS PIT BULL,
GO TO animalplanet.com/pitbulls.
Tia: SO, WE'RE AT FRANK'S TO DO THE HOME CHECK,
AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THIS ONE'S GOING TO BE SIMPLE.
YOU KNOW, GERRY IS A SENSITIVE DOG,
AND HE'S A DOG THAT HAS PARTICULAR NEEDS.
SO IT'S REALLY GREAT
THAT HE'S FOUND SOMEONE THAT HE CAN CONNECT WITH.
I JUST DON'T WANT ANYTHING
TO DERAIL HIS "HAPPILY EVER AFTER."
IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE.
HI. WELCOME TO DOWNTOWN MILTON.
IT'S ADORABLE. IT'S ADORABLE.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Frank: TODAY GERRY ARRIVES AT HIS NEW HOME,
AND I'VE BEEN ANTICIPATING HIS ARRIVAL FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW.
Y'ALL COME ON IN.
OH, IT'S NICE IN HERE.
HE EVEN HAS NEW BOWLS.
I SEE THAT. WOW.
LOOK AT THAT. HE'S ALL READY.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT FRANK
IS HE IS A LIFELONG AND DEDICATED DOG OWNER.
SO AS FAR AS HIS HOUSE WAS CONCERNED,
IT WAS LIKE ALREADY SET UP.
FOR ME, THE YARD IS ALWAYS THE CONCERN.
OH, THIS IS NICE.
IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 100 BY 150.
IT GOES ALL WAY TO THE FRONT.
IT'S SIX-FOOT CHAIN LINK ALL THE WAY AROUND.
OH, LET ME SEE THIS RIGHT HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN GET THROUGH IT.
OH, YOU'VE GOT WIRE UP THERE.
Frank: YEAH.
OKAY. I DIDN'T SEE THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS PERFECT.
YOU KNOW, FRANK HAS HAD GERMAN SHEPHERDS BEFORE,
AND HIS YARD AND FENCING WAS SET UP
TO KEEP A BIG DOG SECURE AND SAFE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT.
SO, WITH ALL THE NECESSARY BOXES CHECKED OFF,
IT WAS FINALLY TIME TO REUNITE THE TWO BACHELORS AGAIN.
Frank: HEY, GERRY.
[ CHUCKLES ] LOOK AT THAT!
HEY.
HEY. HOW YOU BEEN, BUDDY?
HUH? BEEN OKAY? YEAH.
Frank: GERRY CAME THROUGH THE DOOR AND RAN RIGHT UP TO ME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.
IT'S LIKE HE'S COMING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME,
AND I HOPE HE'S EXCITED TO BE HERE
AND THAT HE FEELS COMFORTABLE RIGHT FROM THE BAT.
ATTABOY.
I WASN'T SURE IF YOU ALLOWED THAT 'CAUSE HE LOVES IT.
OH, YEAH.
YEAH.
Tia: GERRY, OUR BIG TOUGH GERMAN SHEPHERD,
WAS ACTING LIKE THIS LITTLE PUPPY.
IT WAS SO COOL TO FINALLY SEE HIM
BEING JUST CAREFREE AND A SILLY DOG.
YOU SCORED, BUDDY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU SCORED.
IT WAS TOUGH WHEN WE HAD TO PUT CAESAR DOWN.
HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND,
BUT NOW THAT GERRY'S LIVING HERE IN THIS HOME,
I THINK WE'RE NOT ONLY GONNA FILL THAT VOID,
BUT CREATE A WHOLE NEW AND DIFFERENT FRIENDSHIP.
GO!
Tia: THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT FRANK HAS FOUND THE DOG THAT WAS MEANT FOR HIM
AND THAT GERRY HAS FOUND HIS FOREVER HOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH.
ALL RIGHT, FRANK. YOU GUYS HANG.
Y'ALL HAVE A SAFE TRIP.
BYE-BYE.
BYE-BYE.
THIS IS KIND OF EMOTIONAL.
Earl: I AIN'T LOOKING BACK.
THIS IS KIND OF EMOTIONAL.
I MEAN, I'M GONNA MISS HIM
HELPING ME ANSWER MY PHONE CALLS IN THE OFFICE,
BUT WHAT MAKES ME HAPPIEST IS SEEING ONE OF OUR DOGS
EXACTLY WHERE THEY BELONG -- IN A NEW HOME.
ATTABOY.
SEE, NOW YOU BACK HOME.
SO, I'M GLAD WE'VE GOT ONE ADOPTION DOWN.
SO, I JUST HAVE TO HOPE THAT THE LOVE CONNECTION
THAT ALEX AND FIASCO HAD WHEN THEY MET
IS STILL THERE WHEN THEY GET TO HIS NEW HOME.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
Mando: COME ON, BUDDY.
FIASCO'S PART OF ONE OF THE LARGEST
ABUSE CASES THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN,
AND AFTER BEING CHAINED UP
OUT IN THE FREEZING COLD TEMPERATURES
WITH 20 OTHER DOGS WITH NO FOOD, NO WATER --
SOME OF THE DOGS DYING --
HE IS FINALLY SO CLOSE TO GETTING HIS FOREVER HOME,
AND I JUST WANT THIS TO GO PERFECT.
WHAT'S GOING ON, FIASCO?
READY TO HEAD OUT?
YEAH, I THINK WE'RE READY.
WE'LL BE DRIVING OVER 500 MILES TO GET TO ALEX'S HOUSE IN TEXAS,
BUT TO GET FIASCO INTO A NEW HOME, IT IS SO WORTH IT.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO IT. HIT THE ROAD.
BUT THIS ADOPTION'S ALREADY HAD SOME BIG SURPRISES.
IF THIS HOME CHECK DOES NOT WORK OUT FOR HIM,
FIASCO WILL BE MAKING THAT LONG DRIVE BACK HOME TO LOUISIANA.
Tia: SO, TODAY WE ARE IN GEORGETOWN, TEXAS,
TO DO FIASCO'S HOME CHECK AND HOPEFULLY ADOPTION.
THIS IS VERY COUNTRY-LIKE, RIGHT?
IT'S COOL OUT HERE. IT'S REALLY NICE.
I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS.
ME, EITHER.
ALEX -- HE SEEMED LIKE A REAL PROPER CITY BOY TO ME.
LIKE, THIS IS THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
I ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WAS LOST.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A COUNTRY BOY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WELCOME.
ALEX, I DID NOT EXPECT THIS.
Mando: GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUDDY.
I WAS WRONG. THIS IS IT. THIS IS HIS PLACE.
HE'S GOT A COUPLE OF ACRES HERE.
THERE'S GOATS AND ALL KINDS OF LIVESTOCK.
I COULD FEEL THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD PLACE FOR FIASCO.
THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR ANY DOG.
YOU GUYS COME ON IN. COME ON IN.
Alex: I AM FEELING VERY, VERY ANXIOUS.
FIASCO, OF COURSE, CAN'T GET HIM OUT OF MY MIND.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HIM AGAIN
AND SHARING MY LIFE WITH HIM,
AND HOPEFULLY ALL THIS WORKS OUT.
THIS IS NICE.
I'M SO NERVOUS ABOUT THE HOME INSPECTION.
Alex: I AM VERY, VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THIS HOME CHECK.
THERE'S ALWAYS THOUGHTS IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD --
"OH, WHAT IF THIS ISN'T RIGHT? WHAT IF THAT ISN'T RIGHT?" --
'CAUSE I KNOW TIA IS VERY, VERY PARTICULAR
ABOUT WHERE SHE LEAVES HER DOGS.
OH, WELL, I DON'T CARE IF THE DOG LIKES IT.
I WILL STAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THIS IS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD."
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL HOME HERE.
THIS A BEAUTIFUL HOME. IT'S A WONDERFUL HOME.
THIS ONE WAS ANNIE'S, MY PIT BULL. SHE LOVED THIS.
THIS IS THE ONLY THING SHE'D EVERY PLAY WITH.
ALEX GAVE ME THE HISTORY OF THESE TOYS
AND HOW EACH ONE WAS A FAVORITE TOY
OF A DOG THAT HAD PASSED AWAY.
THIS ONE, NOBODY EVER PLAYED WITH.
HE'S LIKE, "I GOT THIS CHICKEN --
THIS STUFFED CHICKEN -- THAT NONE OF MY DOGS LIKED."
AND I WAS LIKE, "OH, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME."
THIS IS LIKE FATE
BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY LIKE FIASCO'S FAVORITE TOY EVER,
AND I THOUGHT, "OKAY, THIS IS A SIGN."
SO, LET'S GO INTO THE BACKYARD.
SO, THEN, WE ASKED HIM TO SHOW US THE YARD,
WHICH, TO US, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
OF THE HOME CHECK.
OH, LORD. THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
OH, YEAH.
[ GASPS ]
OH, YEAH.
WHEN YOU WALK OUT,
YOU JUST SEE NOTHING BUT A BEAUTIFUL FENCED YARD.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS A NICE SIX-FOOT-HIGH FENCE.
IT'S SECURE.
SHADED TREES.
WELL, LET'S WALK AROUND THE YARD.
I JUST WANT TO WALK AROUND AND JUST LIKE LOOK AT THE FENCE.
YOU KNOW, I LOOKED OVER IN THE CORNER,
AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"THAT FENCE LOOKS LIKE IT'S RAISED UP FROM THE GROUND."
IT'S LOOSE.
I MEAN, MY DOG WOULD BE OUT OF HERE.
SURE AS HELL, I PUSHED ON THE FENCE,
AND IT WAS LOOSE AT THE BOTTOM.
THE ONLY THING I MIGHT DO ABOUT THIS, AGAIN --
STAKE IT?
STAKE IT. THERE YOU GO.
JUST AS A PRECAUTION.
I WOULD JUST START OFF MAYBE WITH THE BACK FENCE
AND STAKE IT EVERY LITTLE BIT INTO THE GROUND.
SHE HAS A KEEN EYE. SHE LOOKS AT EVERYTHING.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD DO, AND I -- AGAIN, AS A PRECAUTION,
WITH THESE KIND OF GATES,
WHEN THERE'S NOT ANOTHER TENSION BAR HERE,
I PUT SOMETHING AROUND THE BOTTOM LIKE A CHAIN.
WHEN DOGS GO TO GET OUT OF A YARD, THIS IS WHERE THEY PUSH.
SO, IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO PUSH IT WITH MY FOOT,
THEN HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO PUSH IT WITH HIS HEAD, NO PROBLEM.
SHE POINTED OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I NEED TO DO,
AND I'LL TAKE CARE OF THOSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Tia: AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS
THAT AREN'T SO DETRIMENTAL THAT HE CAN'T STAY NOW, YOU KNOW?
SO, I TOLD ALEX NOT TO LEAVE FIASCO ALONE IN THE YARD
UNTIL THE FENCE WAS FIXED,
AND I KNOW HE'S GONNA DO EVERYTHING TO KEEP FIASCO SAFE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S GO BACK IN,
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE YOU GO GET HIM.
YOU WANT ME TO GO GRAB HIM?
HE'S A GREAT GUY,
AND I KNOW HE'S GONNA BE A RESPONSIBLE OWNER,
AND FIASCO IS GONNA HAVE A GREAT LIFE HERE.
COME ON, BUDDY.
YAY!
ALL RIGHT.
HEY, BUD.
Mando: HE'S ALL, "WHERE'S THE COUNTRY TIME LEMONADE?"
[ LAUGHTER ]
HEY, BUDDY. REMEMBER ME, HUH?
HEY. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WHEN I SAW FIASCO, IT WAS COMPLETE BLISS.
I MEAN, HE LOOKED AMAZING,
JUST LIKE I REMEMBERED WHEN I SAW HIM IN NEW ORLEANS.
YEAH, YOU ARE GORGEOUS. MM-HMM.
THAT BOND WAS STILL THERE.
I FELT THE SAME WAY I DID WHEN I FIRST SAW HIM.
OFFICIALLY HAND IT TO YOU.
Tia: I HAD MANDO HAND ALEX THE LEASH TO MAKE IT FINAL,
AND THAT'S WHEN FIASCO NOTICED THE CHICKEN.
IT'S HIS FAVORITE THING.
COME ON, DUDE!
HIS FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD.
A CHICKEN!
[ TOY SQUEAKS ]
CHICKEN.
YES. WE BROKE THE CURSE.
THAT'S IT.
WE BROKE THE CURSE.
THAT'S IT.
HE'S ALL YOURS NOW, BUD.
THAT'S ALL IT TOOK.
IT WAS KIND OF A MORBID, TWISTED REMINDER, YOU KNOW,
THAT WHEN THESE DOGS WERE CHAINED UP OUT IN MERIDIAN,
A LOT OF THEM SURVIVED ON THE LOOSE CHICKENS
THAT WERE OUT THERE.
I MEAN, THERE WAS FEATHERS EVERYWHERE,
AND FIASCO HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF THE DOGS
THAT WHEN WE PICKED HIM UP, HE WAS IN GOOD WEIGHT,
WHILE SOME OF THE OTHERS DIED OF STARVATION.
LUCKILY, THERE ARE NO CHICKENS AROUND HERE.
Mando: HOW DO YOU LIKE IT, BUDDY? HUH?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Alex: I'M THINKING HE'S LIKING IT.
WITHOUT HAVING A DOG HERE,
IT WAS JUST A HOUSE AND NOT REALLY A HOME.
NOW THAT FIASCO'S HERE WITH ME, IT'S GONNA BE A HOME AGAIN.
THAT HOLE THAT I HAD, I'M 100% SURE HE'S GONNA FILL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING HIM.
I LIKE WHEN THEY DO THIS, BY THE WAY,
WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN CARE THAT WE'RE LEAVING.
ALL RIGHT, BUD.
I KNOW THAT ALEX DIDN'T INITIALLY
COME TO VILLALOBOS TO MEET FIASCO,
BUT SOMETIMES, YOU JUST CAN'T MESS WITH FATE.
FIASCO WAS MEANT TO BE WITH ALEX,
AND THEY FOUND EACH OTHER.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
IT GIVES ME HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR DOGS
DO HAVE THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE SOMEWHERE OUT THERE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS