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THIS SEASON ON "PIT BULLS & PAROLEES"...
GET OUT OF THERE BEFORE YOU GET KILLED.
[ GRUNTS ] [BLEEP]
...THE RESCUES ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER...
WE HAVE A PUPPY STUCK IN A DRAIN PIPE.
OH, MY GOD.
THERE THEY GO! [ GASPS ]
OH, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
NO!
...THE STAKES ARE HIGHER...
I WAS ADDICTED TO ***, AND TANIA SAVED MY LIFE.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
...BOUNDARIES ARE PUSHED.
Tania: I WAS HOLDING BACK TEARS
THE SECOND THAT I SAW THE DOGS CHAINED UP.
Tia: AS BAD AS THE SITUATION WAS THAT SHE CAME FROM,
IT'S LIKE A MIRACLE.
WITH OLD FACES AND NEW...
THIS IS MY SON, KALEEL.
WHAT?!
...WE'RE TAKING ON OUR MOST SURPRISING SEASON YET.
[ CAT YOWLS ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
TONIGHT ON "PIT BULLS & PAROLEES"...
Mike: THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE.
...A RESCUE IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY...
THERE ARE GATORS DOWN THERE.
WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST?
...MEANS RISKING LIFE AND LIMB.
WE'RE GONNA LOWER THE CRATE.
Matt: ONE SLIP FROM ME, AND IT'S OVER WITH.
Tia: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
THEN FROM BEHIND BARS...
[ DOGS BARKING ]
...COMES ONE INMATE WITH A SHOT AT REDEMPTION.
Matt: I HAVEN'T SEEN MY DAUGHTER IN FOUR YEARS.
I'M JUST TRYING TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON.
HI.
HI.
AND ONE MAN'S SUFFERING...
IT WAS A LEMON-SIZED TUMOR.
...BECOMES A SPECIAL DOG'S MISSION.
THIS PUPPY WAS PUT HERE ON THIS EARTH
TO HELP HIM GET THROUGH EACH DAY, ONE DAY AT A TIME.
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.
IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE WE MADE THE MOVE TO NEW ORLEANS,
AND WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.
WE'VE EMBRACED OUR NEW HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AMAZING CITY.
HEY, ORLANDO.
WHAT YOU NEED?
HELP MOE HOLD THIS UP.
Tia: BUT THIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH NEW ORLEANS
HAS HAD ITS CHALLENGES.
Woman: NATIONAL WEATHER...
Man: THE LEVEE WAS...
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Tia: HURRICANE ISAAC SHOOK THE CITY UP
AND TOOK US ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
THIS IS IT.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST STRESSED I'VE EVER BEEN.
WHEN YOU SEE HOW QUICKLY EVERYTHING CAN DISAPPEAR,
IT REALLY MAKES YOU TAKE
A GOOD, LONG, HARD LOOK AT LIFE IN GENERAL.
THESE STORMS HERE IN NEW ORLEANS
HAVE BROUGHT US ALL CLOSER TOGETHER.
CAN I GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT?
WE HUG MORE, WE LAUGH MORE.
IT JUST MADE US ALL APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE.
AAH, LUCKY!
[ LAUGHS ]
TURN IT OFF, LUCKY. TURN IT OFF!
SO, TOGETHER, THIS TEAM PICKED UP THE PIECES AND THEN SOME.
WE BUILT A FULLY FENCED-IN NEW ADOPTION AND TRAINING AREA
WHERE WE CAN TURN THE DOGS LOOSE
AND THEY CAN RUN AND JUST HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
AND SOME THINGS LIKE MY BEAT-UP OLD VAN ROSE UP
OUT OF THE DOWNPOUR AND IS BETTER THAN EVER.
OH, MY GOD! LOOK AT THE LIGHTS!
OH, MY GOD! [ LAUGHS ]
WE ALSO MOVED OUR SIGN TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
HEY!
[Laughing] YEAH!
OH, IT LOOKS SO GOOD!
Tia: SO, NOW THERE'S NO DOUBT WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE.
WE'RE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY NOW, AND WE'RE HERE TO STAY.
SO, NOW THAT EVERYTHING IS BACK IN ACTION,
WE'RE ABLE TO GET BACK TO
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO -- ADOPTIONS.
AND THIS ONE MAY TURN OUT
TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT I'VE EVER DONE.
HI.
HI.
THIS IS MY DAUGHTER.
HI. MARIAH.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
NICE TO MEET YOU.
Tia: THE ADOPTERS WE HAVE COMING TODAY --
A YOUNG MARRIED COUPLE, ANTHONY AND MELISSA --
HAVE A SPECIAL NEED.
OKAY, WELL, LET'S GO SIT DOWN THEN.
ABSOLUTELY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ANTHONY HAS CANCER,
AND HE'S LOOKING FOR A COMPANION TO HELP KEEP HIM GOING.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SITUATION.
I KNOW YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ONE OF THE PUPPIES.
WE'RE TRYING TO ADOPT A PUPPY 'CAUSE MY CONDITION,
HAVING CANCER AND EVERYTHING --
I WAS DOING MMA CAGE FIGHTING LAST YEAR.
DURING THE MMA CAGE FIGHT, FIRST HIT, IT DROPPED ME.
THE REF CALLS THE FIGHT 'CAUSE I'M JUST GETTING DRILLED
AND MY LEG'S FLOPPING AROUND.
LIKE, I REALIZED THAT I COULD NOT FUNCTION
MY LOWER HALF OF MY RIGHT LEG.
WENT TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY DECIDED TO DO A CT SCAN.
THEY COME BACK INTO MY ROOM AND HE TELLS ME,
"YOU HAVE A TUMOR IN YOUR BRAIN.
"WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE BACK SURGERY.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE BRAIN SURGERY."
I HAVE A SCAR ALL THE WAY ACROSS MY HEAD.
I DID THE RADIATION.
IT WAS A LEMON-SIZE TUMOR.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION WITH IT?
TERMINAL.
IT'S STAGE VI, GRADE 3.
THEY GAVE ME FIVE YEARS TO LIVE.
WOW.
I'M A FIGHTER, YOU KNOW?
YEAH.
BUT...THEN AGAIN, I DO HAVE IT AND IT'S THERE
AND IT BRINGS ME DOWN TO A DARK PLACE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HARD.
I CAN'T EVEN PULL HIM OUT OF IT, YOU KNOW?
THERE'S JUST NOTHING THAT CAN.
Melissa: AFTER SURGERY, ANTHONY WAS REALLY DEPRESSED.
HE DIDN'T DO A LOT OF THINGS.
HE COULDN'T DO A LOT OF THINGS.
WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK TO EACH OTHER SOMETIMES.
LIKE, HE WOULD JUST KIND OF BE THERE BUT NOT REALLY THERE.
THEN ANTHONY'S DOCTOR HAD SUGGESTED THAT HE GET A DOG.
RIGHT AFTER MY BRAIN SURGERY, I GOT HIM FOR A REHAB DOG.
OUR NEIGHBOR HAD SOME PUPPIES.
AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER ANTHONY HAD SEEN THE DOG,
IT WAS LIKE A COMPLETE CHANGE IN HIS WHOLE ATTITUDE.
AS SOON AS I SEEN HIM, I WAS LIKE, CHEBA.
HE STUCK BY MY SIDE THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW?
HE WAS MY LITTLE BUDDY.
I HAD ALL THIS DARK, GLOOMY, BLACK CLOUD OVER MY HEAD,
BUT I WAS STILL HAPPY LIKE THE SUN WAS SHINING RIGHT ON ME.
HE JUST HAD THAT EFFECT.
LIKE, HE WAS OUR BABY, YOU KNOW?
YEAH, HE WAS OUR BABY.
WE DON'T HAVE KIDS, SO WE HAVE --
HE WAS OUR KID, I MEAN, YOU KNOW?
SO, THEN WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
Anthony: WELL, THREE WEEKS AGO,
WE HEAR A GUNSHOT AND DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT.
ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER,
THERE WAS COMMOTION ON THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE.
SO, I GO TO THE DOOR AND THERE'S POLICE COMING IN MY GATE.
AND I GOT CHEBA IN MY LEFT HAND.
WELL, I WALK WITH A CANE.
SO AS SOON AS I OPEN UP MY DOOR, CHEBA WENT OUTSIDE.
I FELL AND I HEARD THE FIRST SHOT.
[ Voice breaking ] I SEE BLOOD POURING OUT HIS...
I'M SCREAMING, "PLEASE DON'T SHOOT MY DOG!
PLEASE DON'T SHOOT MY DOG!"
AND I HEAR A GUNSHOT.
AND HE TRIED TO RUN BACK TO ME, BUT CHEBA WAS HIT IN THE HEART.
YOU KNOW, THIS POOR KID HAD TO SIT THERE AND WATCH HIS DOG DIE,
YOU KNOW, CAUSED BY JUST A HORRIBLE MISTAKE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENS MORE THAN ONE WOULD LIKE TO THINK.
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE SEES A PIT BULL RUNNING AT THEM
AND REFLEXES CAUSED BY FEAR JUST TAKES OVER.
AND IN THIS CASE,
ANTHONY'S HEART WAS RIPPED OUT OF HIS CHEST.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GET OVER IT,
AND I JUST WANT TO MOVE ON FROM IT.
I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION I WAS
WHEN I WAS TOLD...I HAD CANCER.
AND I DON'T WANT TO FEEL LIKE THIS.
I WANT TO BE HAPPY AGAIN.
THE REASON WHY I'M DOING GOOD RIGHT NOW
IS BECAUSE I HAD CHEBA.
I KNOW.
IT'S NOT FAIR. IT'S JUST NOT FAIR.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I DON'T WANT ANTHONY TO GIVE UP, YOU KNOW?
AND I WANT HIM TO KEEP TRYING. AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
ANTHONY, HE'S A FIGHTER. LIKE HE SAID, HE'S A FIGHTER.
WE APPRECIATE THIS.
LIKE, THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED, YOU KNOW?
TO GET TO HAVE A CHANCE TO MAYBE ADOPT.
I WANTED A PUPPY SO I COULD HAVE THAT BOND, YOU KNOW?
TO GET THAT RELATIONSHIP TO WHERE IT'S FAMILY.
HE'S GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO FOCUS HIS LOVE IN.
Tia: IN ALL MY YEARS OF DOING ADOPTIONS,
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE RIDING ON
FINDING THE RIGHT DOG FOR AN ADOPTER.
SO, WE'RE GONNA GO GET THEM.
WHY DON'T YOU ALL JUST KIND OF GO OVER TO THE PUPPY PEN OVER HERE?
WE HAVE A NEW LITTER OF PUPPIES
THAT WAS FOUND IN A FIELD ALONG THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY.
SO, WE NEED TO FIND A PUPPY
THAT WILL CONNECT WITH ANTHONY THE WAY CHEBA DID.
AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE HAVE THAT ONE.
OHH! HI!
HEY, PUPPIES!
[ LAUGHS ] HI!
AS SOON AS I SEEN THE PUPPIES, I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, PERFECT.
THIS IS JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR."
WHAT'S HER NAME?
Tia: ANNA IS THE LITTLE ONE
RIGHT HERE WITH THE LITTLE TRIANGLE ON HER BACK.
ANNA. HI.
YEAH, YOU ARE.
YOU ARE. YOU'RE A DOLL.
[ Chuckling ] YEAH!
Anthony: WHEN I FIRST SEEN ANNA,
IT WAS THE SAME REACTION I HAD WHEN I SEEN CHEBA.
IT WAS JUST LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
JUST, WE CONNECTED IN THE EYES, YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
SHE REALLY DOES LIKE YOU A LOT.
Melissa: ANTHONY'S FACE WHEN HE SEEN ANNA --
OH, MY GOODNESS.
HE WAS JUST LIKE...
HE WAS LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE.
IT WAS AMAZING. I LOVED IT.
IT WAS AWESOME.
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? YEAH!
IT JUST MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM BEING HAPPY
'CAUSE I DON'T GET TO SEE HIM BEING HAPPY VERY MUCH.
OH, IT'S HER.
[ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS WHAT I NEED RIGHT HERE.
Tia: YOU KNOW, WE HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN
THAT ANIMALS HAVE THIS MAGICAL HOLD ON US, YOU KNOW?
THEY CAN HELP A HUMAN GET THROUGH
NOT ONLY PHYSICAL OBSTACLES
BUT ALSO EMOTIONAL OBSTACLES, AS WELL.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS IF SHE'S THE ONE THAT YOU LIKE,
WE'LL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS, SHE'LL BRING HER OUT,
AND WE CAN DELIVER HER LIKE DOMINO'S.
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS ADOPTION WORK.
I KEEP A TIGHT GRIP ON IT.
Tia: WATCH THIS STEP HERE.
ANTHONY, HE HAS TO WALK WITH A CANE.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE WALKS WELL NEXT TO A CANE
AND DOESN'T PULL AWAY ON LEASH.
SO, WE'LL GET ARRANGEMENTS TO --
WHEN WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING HER UP.
ANTHONY NEEDS OUR PUPPY
TO HELP HIM GET THROUGH THIS BATTLE HE'S IN.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS WORK,
NO MATTER WHAT.
OKAY. WHERE DO I BEGIN?
Earl: HEY, MISS TIA!
I WAS UNLOADING SUPPLIES FROM MY VAN WHEN EARL CAME TO ME
AND TOLD ME THAT HIS PAROLE OFFICER HAD CALLED HIM
AND TOLD HIM ABOUT A DOG.
WELL, HE SAYS THAT THE DOG IS IN THE HOUSE,
LIKE AN ABANDONED HOUSE, CHAINED UP.
LET ME SEE IF I HAVE MY BOLT CUTTERS.
I USUALLY CARRY BOLT CUTTERS IN HERE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHOSE DOG IT IS
OR WHERE IT EVEN CAME FROM AT THIS POINT.
BUT WITH IT BEING 100 DEGREES OUT,
CHANCES ARE HE'S NOT GONNA LAST VERY LONG IN THESE CONDITIONS.
HERE IN NEW ORLEANS,
THERE'S A LOT OF ABANDONED HOUSES LEFT OVER FROM KATRINA.
OH, SEE. LOOK AT THIS HOUSE, THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF DRUG DEALERS, A LOT OF CRIMINALS
KEEP THEIR DOGS, USING THEM FOR DOG FIGHTING
OR PROTECTING DRUGS OR OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THESE HOUSES.
14...
OH, A CONCRETE ONE.
WHAT PUTS THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF MY NECK STANDING UP
IS THAT AT ANY MINUTE WHOEVER PUT THIS DOG HERE COULD SHOW UP.
I GUESS THIS ONE HERE?
YEAH. IF WE CAN GO IN THROUGH HERE...
IS IT OPEN? NO.
GO DOWN THIS ONE.
YOU KNOW, IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS,
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA WALK INTO.
SHH.
HEY, PUP. PUPPY, PUPPY, PUPPY.
OH, MY GOD.
HEY, PUPPY.
Tia: SO, EARL GOT INFORMATION FROM HIS PAROLE OFFICER
THAT THERE WAS A DOG TIED UP IN AN ABANDONED HOUSE
IN THE NINTH WARD.
YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE GET DOGS TIED UP IN THESE PLACES,
IT DEFINITELY GETS YOUR GUARD UP.
HEY, PUP. HEY, PUP.
OH, MY GOD.
OHH!
Earl: WHAT'S UP, PUPPY?
OHH, YOU POOR THING.
WHAT'S UP, PUPPY?
HI, PUPPY.
AND THEN WE SEE THIS EMACIATED LITTLE PIT BULL,
JUST LIVING IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS.
HIS BONES WERE SHOWING THROUGH HIS SKIN.
[ GASPS ] OH, MY GOD.
UGH.
BUT IN TRUE PIT BULL FORM,
THERE WAS THAT TAIL JUST WAGGLING AND WIGGLING.
I KNOW. YOU'RE OKAY.
YOU WANT ME TO GET THE BOLT CUTTER?
NO, I THINK I CAN UNDO IT.
OH, PUPPY!
Earl: I THINK IF WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOT THERE, HOT AS IT IS,
HE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT MUCH LONGER WITHOUT ANY WATER.
UNLESS IT'S THE ZIP-TIE.
WE'LL CUT THE ZIP-TIE OFF WHEN WE GET THERE.
LOOK AT THE ZIP-TIE. LOOK AT THAT.
OH, MAN. IT'S FULL OF BLOOD.
IT'S FULL OF BLOOD. OH.
AFTER I LOOPED HIM AND THEN WENT TO GO CUT OFF HIS COLLAR,
IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED IT WASN'T A COLLAR AT ALL.
IT WAS A ZIP-TIE.
OH, GOOD JOB.
YOU KNOW, ZIP-TIES ARE VERY THICK, STRONG PLASTIC.
AND THIS ONE HAD CUT RIGHT INTO THIS DOG'S NECK
LIKE IT WAS RAW MEAT.
SIT. [ SMOOCHES ]
SIT.
"I DON'T KNOW NOTHING."
YEAH, HE JUST DONE IT. SIT.
OHH.
OH, GOOD PUPPY.
EARLY ASKED THIS DOG TO SIT, AND HE DID.
HOW SAD IS IT KNOWING THIS DOG
MUST HAVE, AT ONE POINT, BEEN SOMEBODY'S PET.
AND HE WENT FROM THAT TO THIS.
GET THIS BOY OUT OF HERE.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY LOVE THIS CITY AND THE SOUTH IN GENERAL.
BUT THERE IS NOT ONLY A HUGE PIT BULL PROBLEM,
BUT A DOG PROBLEM, AS WELL.
COME ON, MAN.
KNOW YOU READY TO GET OUT THIS HOT-*** HOUSE, MAN.
THERE IS SO MANY UNWANTED PETS AND NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES.
DAYS LIKE THIS CAN REALLY GET ME DOWN.
BUT IT'S JUST A REMINDER THAT
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE MEANT TO BE AND WHERE WE'RE NEEDED THE MOST.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
HUH?
HOW ABOUT I GET YOU A BATH
SO YOU CAN STOP ALL THAT ITCHING AND STUFF, BRO?
BE COOL.
WE NAMED HIM LOPEZ AFTER EARL'S PAROLE OFFICER.
ALL RIGHT.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH? OH, YEAH. I LIKE YOU.
YOU AIN'T SCARED OF WATER. I LIKE YOU.
I LIKE YOU. YOU MAKE IT EASY.
I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT EARL'S PAROLE OFFICER CALLED HIM.
THIS SWEET LITTLE DOG DESERVES
TO BE WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL CARE FOR HIM AND LOVE HIM.
LOOK AT ME NOW.
GET YOUR CLOSE-UP, BOY!
Tia: SO, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I VISITED DIXON PRISON
TO GIVE THEM SOME TRAINING TIPS
FOR THEIR IN-HOUSE ANIMAL SHELTER.
AND THIS MORNING, I RECEIVED A CALL
FROM ONE OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS
REGARDING ONE OF THE INMATES THAT I HAD MET THERE.
SUNGLASS PARTY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AS MUCH AS THIS IS TECHNICALLY MY RESCUE,
ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
TANIA AND MARIAH ALWAYS HAVE AN OPINION.
I VISITED DIXON PRISON.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AN ANIMAL SHELTER,
PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICEST ANIMAL SHELTERS
I'VE EVER BEEN TO.
WELL, ONE OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS --
ACTUALLY, THE ONE THAT RUNS THE PROGRAM --
HE E-MAILED ME AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED
IN HIRING ONE OF THEIR GUYS THAT'S IN THEIR PROGRAM.
IT'S ONE OF THE GUYS THAT'S GETTING OUT?
NO. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
I THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE WAS GETTING RELEASED
AND HE'D BE ON PAROLE.
RIGHT.
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY AN INMATE.
HE WOULD STILL BE INCARCERATED.
WHOA, CRAZY.
WE'VE NEVER WORKED WITH A GUY THAT WAS STILL AN INMATE.
AND I REMEMBER THIS GUY MATT.
HE HAD, LIKE, THE BEST SMILE EVER.
BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.
AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS IS GONNA WORK
WITH A GUY WHO'S STILL INCARCERATED.
THEY TOLD ME THERE'S CERTAIN RULES THAT HAVE TO APPLY.
HE WOULD GET DROPPED OFF BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO USE CELLPHONES WHILE HE'S HERE.
MOST OF THESE GUYS ONLY HAVE THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK.
SO, I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE, WHAT'S HE GONNA WEAR.
AS I'M EXPLAINING THIS TO TANIA AND MARIAH,
I REALIZE THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS
THAT EVEN I DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TO.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ALONG -- YOU KNOW, THE RESPONSIBILITY
GOING ALONG WITH HIRING SOMEBODY IN THIS POSITION.
BUT HE WAS GETTING TRAINED TO BE A VET TECH, ALSO?
MM-HMM.
THAT'S REALLY AWESOME.
I KNOW. THIS WILL BE --
THAT'S AN AMAZING PROGRAM.
Mariah: IF MORE PRISONS HAD PROGRAMS LIKE THIS,
IT WOULD MAKE IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR THESE MEN TO FUNCTION
ONCE THEY GOT BACK INTO SOCIETY.
YEAH, IT IS, AND YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE A FIRST FOR ME
BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN PUT IN THIS POSITION
AND I'VE NEVER HAD TO HIRE SOMEONE LIKE THIS.
ONCE AGAIN, MY KIDS MAKE ME PROUD.
AS MY BRAIN STARTS SPITTING OUT ALL THE PARTICULARS,
ALL THEY SEE IS A GUY
WHO NEEDS TO GET HIMSELF IN A BETTER PLACE.
AND THEY'RE RIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
WHEN'S HE STARTING?
TOMORROW.
SWEET. THAT'S EXCITING.
WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN MATT GETS HERE.
MAYBE IF HE WORKS OUT, WE'LL GET MORE FROM THE PROGRAM.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, BE GONE.
BYE, DAUGHTERS.
GOOD DAY!
SO, THIS MORNING, THE GUY FROM DIXON CORRECTIONAL
SHOWED UP RIGHT ON TIME.
Matt: MY NAME IS MATTHEW ELDRIDGE.
MY D.O.C. NUMBER'S 516978.
I GOT IN TO DRUG USE AT ABOUT 17,
AND THEN EVERYTHING JUST WENT, PFFT, DOWNHILL FROM THERE.
I GOT BUSTED FOR POSSESSION OF ***,
POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA,
AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM AS A CONVICTED FELON,
AND I TOOK A PLEA OF 10 YEARS.
AGAIN. HOW YOU DOING? HEY.
I WENT THE WRONG WAY.
THAT'S OKAY.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
AND SO, LAST NIGHT, I WAS UP ALL NIGHT TOSSING AND TURNING.
TIA, I HEAR SHE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OF A HARDASS,
SO I'M KIND OF REAL NERVOUS.
SO, YOU BEEN IN THAT PROGRAM FOR TWO YEARS?
ALMOST TWO YEARS, YES, MA'AM.
HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU HAVE?
I HAVE 15 MONTHS LEFT RIGHT NOW.
SO, EVERY DAY, THEN, YOU'LL COME...
WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR DEPUTY DROP HIM OFF.
SO, YOU CAN GET HERE, LIKE, AT 8:00?
ANY TIME YOU WANT HIM HERE, WE CAN GET HIM HERE.
I MEAN, I WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,
SO I DON'T EXPECT EVERYBODY ELSE TO.
HELL, I PREFER IT.
YEAH.
I'D RATHER BE HERE.
I LIKE THIS GUY ALREADY. SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
Tia: YOU KNOW WHAT? I ALREADY LIKE THIS GUY.
HE'S EVEN GOT SOME VET-TECH TRAINING
FROM THE PROGRAM THEY HAVE THERE INSIDE THE PRISON.
SO, YEAH. SO, TODAY I'LL JUST KIND OF SHOW YOU AROUND.
AND SO, WE GOOD?
YEP.
ALL RIGHT, BOSS.
SOUNDS GOOD.
Tia: SO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE HIM START WORKING,
AND AFTER A FEW DAYS, SEE IF HE FITS IN.
THIS IS, LIKE, WE'RE GONNA START YOU OFF IN HERE.
JUST BECAUSE THESE DOGS ARE BETTER BEHAVED.
Matt: TODAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY FOR ME AND ALSO MY FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAID IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT IN WORK RELEASE,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT IN THE WORLD.
Tia: THIS IS MATT.
HOW YOU DOING?
MATT.
MATT? EARL.
Earl: I DO KNOW THIS GUY'S STILL AN INMATE,
BUT HE DO DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE JUST LIKE I GOT ONE.
SAY, EARL? YOU GOT SOMETHING TO DO, MAN?
YOU CAN PROBABLY DUMP THE BUCKETS
AND SPRAY THEM UP IN THE BACK.
ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS FOR ME BEING IN PRISON
IS TO BE AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER.
CHLOE JUST TURNED EIGHT THIS YEAR,
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN FOUR YEARS.
HER MOM DOESN'T WANT HER
TO BE INVOLVED WITH ME IN THE PRISON SYSTEM,
AND WE'RE NO LONGER TOGETHER.
I STILL REMEMBER MY LAST VISIT WITH HER.
IT WAS THROUGH A GLASS IN A PARISH JAIL.
CHLOE HAD HER HANDS ON HER LIKE THIS
AND SHE WAS LOOKING AT ME ALL SAD.
AND I WAS LIKE, "BABY, WHAT'S THE MATTER?"
AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE SAID,
"DADDY, I WANT YOU TO COME HOME."
AND, YEAH, IT BROKE MY HEART.
THAT RIGHT THERE, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SEEN HERE, TOO,
SO THAT MEMORY JUST BURNS IN MY BRAIN
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
YOU NEED SOME HELP?
NO, I GOT IT.
ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE A STATISTIC
OF GUY GOES TO PRISON,
YOU KNOW, KID GROWS UP WITHOUT A FATHER.
I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW?
I WANT TO GET OUT AND LIVE LIFE.
ALL RIGHT, WHAT ELSE WE GOT, MY MAN?
POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION.
Tia: SO, MATT HAD BARELY BROKEN IN HIS POOP SCOOP
BEFORE I GOT A CALL FROM A GUY AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE
WHO SAID THAT A DOG HAD FALLEN INTO WHAT HE CALLED A HOLE.
HE SAID IT'S UNDER THE BUILDING.
THERE IS SOME DRY LAND THAT HE'S ON.
HE SAID THE DOG WAS NOT MOVING.
SO I ROUNDED UP THE TWINS AND MATT, TOO.
SO, DO YOU WANT TO JUST ALL GO IN MY VAN OR YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR TRUCK?
WE CAN TAKE THE VAN.
YEAH, WE CAN TAKE THE VAN.
ALL IN THE VAN?
YEAH.
Tia: I USUALLY WANT GUYS WORKING IN THE KENNELS
FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN A HEARTBEAT
BEFORE THEY GO OUT ON A RESCUE.
YOU KNOW, MY GUT FEELING TELLS ME THAT
THIS IS GOING TO BE A RESCUE THAT'S GONNA BE DOWN AND DIRTY.
AND WITH MATT BEING A GOOD, OLD COUNTRY BOY,
I THINK THIS IS THE RESCUE FOR HIM.
THIS WAS NOT JUST ANY OLD CONSTRUCTION SITE.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY FLORIDA AVENUE PUMPING STATION,
WHICH IS A HUGE FACILITY
THAT SITS BETWEEN THE LOWER AND THE UPPER NINTH WARD.
THIS AREA IS VERY COMPLEX.
THERE ARE MILES OF BRIDGES AND CANALS,
AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY RIGHT ALONG THE LEVEE.
AND WHERE THERE'S WATER...THERE'S GATORS.
AND DEPENDING ON WHERE THIS DOG IS STUCK,
HE COULD EASILY GET HIMSELF INTO A WHOLE LOT OF TROUBLE,
AND SO COULD WE.
I NEED TO GET YOU GUYS -- I GOT SOME HARD HATS AND VESTS.
'CAUSE THAT'S A CONTROLLED AREA.
OKAY, OKAY.
AS WE'RE SUITING UP,
MIKE EXPLAINS THAT THIS DOG FELL INTO AN INTAKE BASIN,
WHICH IS THE SPOT WHERE THE FLOODWATER COLLECTS.
YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW HE GOT IN?
Mike: HE HAD TO FALL THROUGH ONE OF THE HOLES
'CAUSE WE GOT A FEW HOLES IN THERE WHERE THE PUMPS GO.
THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE.
HOLY [BLEEP]
Mike: THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE.
Tia: HOLY [BLEEP]
I LOOKED DOWN, AND I JUST WENT, "OH, MY GOD."
THIS DOG HAD DROPPED 40 FEET.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN IN RESCUE.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, BUD.
THIS LITTLE BROWN DOG WAS SO TERRIFIED.
HIS EYES WERE OPEN, SO AT LEAST I COULD TELL THAT HE WAS ALIVE.
BUT HE'S GOT TO BE HURT.
Matt: GOOD THING HE'S GOT SOMETHING TO ACTUALLY LAY ON.
TO GET OUT OF THE WATER.
YEAH.
IT'S SO F--
THE WATER LOOKS ABOUT --
HE SAYS ABOUT FOUR FEET DEEP.
IN LOOKING DOWN THE HOLE, YOU COULD SEE THAT
IT WAS PART CONCRETE AND PART WATER,
AND THERE ARE GATORS DOWN THERE.
SO, WE HAD ALL THESE THINGS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION --
SAFETY FOR OUR PEOPLE AND THE SAFETY FOR THIS DOG.
WE HAVE A CRATE.
SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD HAVE TO GO DOWN THERE.
ONCE WE GET AHOLD OF HIM, GET HIM IN THE CRATE
AND THEN HOIST THE CRATE UP.
HE MIGHT PANIC AND BITE SOMEBODY JUST CARRYING HIM UP.
I'M GONNA TAKE THIS.
THERE'S A LADDER WE NEED TO GET.
THANKFULLY, MIKE BROUGHT A LADDER
THAT REACHED DOWN THE 40 FEET.
SO, IT TOOK ALL THE GUYS TOGETHER TO KIND OF MANEUVER
THIS LADDER AND GET IT DROPPED INTO THE HOLE
AND GETTING IT DOWN THE HOLE AND NOT HITTING THE DOG
AND NOT TRYING TO SCARE THE DOG.
SO, HI, BUDDY. COMING TO GET YOU.
COMING TO GET YOU, BUDDY.
WHO WANTS TO GO DOWN FIRST?
Moe: I'LL GO.
YOU GO FIRST.
KANANI, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO HOLD THE LADDER.
WE'VE RESCUED DOGS FROM THE SWAMPS,
CANAL, ABANDONED HOUSES,
BUT WE'VE NEVER ATTEMPTED ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS LIKE A CAVERN, 40 FEET DOWN INTO A DARK, WET TUNNEL.
AND THE TWINS DIDN'T EVEN BLINK AN EYE.
THEY WENT RIGHT DOWN IN IT.
ALL RIGHT, MOE.
SO, HOLD THAT LADDER FOR HIM, KANANI.
HE'S YOUR BROTHER.
WELL, I VOLUNTEERED MYSELF TO GO FIRST
DOWN THE SKETCHY LADDER INTO THE SKETCHY HOLE.
IT WAS A PRETTY VICIOUS DROP, YOU KNOW?
IT'S LIKE THREE OR FOUR STORIES.
JUST HOLD THE LADDER, MOE.
LET'S GET THAT CRATE DOWN TO HIM. MOE.
MOE!
Moe: YEAH?
WE'RE GONNA LOWER THE CRATE.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
YOU GOT IT, MOE?
YEAH, I GOT IT.
HEY, KANANI, GO DOWN THERE AND HELP HIM.
YOUR BROTHER'S COMING DOWN!
I'M GONNA SEND MATT DOWN AFTER YOU GUYS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, TODAY IS MY FIRST DAY STARTING HERE.
BUT SHE CAME AND GOT ME TO BE A PART OF A RESCUE.
I'M NERVOUS.
ALL RIGHT. IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS NOW.
Moe: WELL, THE DOG'S COMING RIGHT UP TO ME.
OH, MY GOD. HE'S RIGHT THERE NEXT TO MOE.
OH, MY GOD.
HE'S ALL RIGHT, MOE. HE'S SCARED.
THIS LITTLE BROWN DOWN ACTUALLY GOT UP FROM ITS FETAL POSITION
AND JUST WALKED OVER TO MOE LIKE, "HELP ME."
SEE IF HE'LL TAKE SOME TREATS FROM YOU, THEN LOOP HIM.
Matt: YOU KNOW, I GAVE HIM A COUPLE OF TREATS
JUST TO KIND OF MAKE HIM FEEL COMFORTABLE.
THEN I GOT DOWN, I'M GIVING HIM A FEW.
Tia: HE'S JUST SCARED.
THERE YOU GO.
GOT HIM? OKAY.
AND THEN WATCHING THE THREE OF THESE GUYS WORK --
VERY FEW WORDS WERE SAID BETWEEN THE THREE OF THEM.
THEY JUST ALL WORKED TOGETHER AS A TEAM
AND EVENTUALLY GOT THE LITTLE DOG INTO THE CRATE.
SEE, IT MIGHT SLIDE OFF.
THAT'S WHY I'M KIND OF AFRAID OF DOING IT THAT WAY
'CAUSE IT COULD SLIDE OFF.
Moe: SO, ONCE WE GOT THE DOG INTO THE KENNEL,
THE HARD PART WAS SEEING HOW WE WERE GONNA HOIST THE CRATE UP.
THOSE CRATES FALL APART.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
MATT?
Matt: YES, MA'AM?
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME UP HERE AND HELP ME HOIST --
I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO PULL HIM UP.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA HEAD UP THERE.
THIS IS YOUR ROPE.
ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. PULL IT UP.
SLOWLY.
Y'ALL READY?
YEAH.
WAIT.
HOLD ON, HOLD ON. HOLD ON. LET HIM GET BEHIND IT.
Matt: I'M PULLING IT UP, AND I'M JUST LIKE,
"MAN, I DON'T WANT IT TO SWING OUT."
YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO NOT GO TOO FAST,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE MY TIME 'CAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS
HOLDING THIS DOG UP IN THE CRATE LIKE THAT.
ONE SLIP FROM ME AND IT FALLS,
THE TWIN FALLS WITH IT, AND IT'S OVER WITH.
PULL?
Kanani: YEAH.
MOE, HOLD THE LADDER AT THE BOTTOM.
OKAY, BRING HIM YOUR WAY.
HOLD ON HERE.
COME ON UP, MOE.
THIS DOG FELL DOWN 40 FEET, SOMEHOW MISSED THE CONCRETE,
MUST HAVE LANDED IN THE WATER
BECAUSE HE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE INJURED.
I-I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE HE DID IT.
HE WOULD HAVE DIED DOWN THERE
IN, LIKE, THIS UNDERGROUND CRYPT, UNDERGROUND TOMB.
COME ON.
COME ON, BUDDY. COME ON.
LET'S WALK OUT LIKE A CHAMP. GOOD BOY.
OKAY.
GOOD WORK.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
OH, MATT, MAN, HE DID REALLY GOOD, REALLY CALM,
AND HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING.
Kanani: HOW TO HANDLE THE DOG.
WE ALL BANGED IT OUT TOGETHER, SO...
IT WAS REALLY COOL.
YOU COULD TELL HE HASN'T EATEN IN DAYS, MAN.
ALL HIS RIBS ARE SHOWING. YOU CAN SEE ALL HIS HIP BONES.
I'M NOT NO SUPERHERO OR NOTHING, BUT IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE,
YOU KNOW, YOU DONE A GOOD DEED, YOU KNOW?
THAT'S THE FEELING EVERYBODY WANTS, YOU KNOW?
LIKE, IT ALL WENT GOOD.
NOBODY GOT HURT. EVERYBODY'S SAFE.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE FEELS BETTER.
[Laughing] YEAH.
WE'LL NEVER KNOW ABOUT THIS DOG'S PAST
OR HOW HE ENDED UP DOWN IN THAT HOLE.
GOOD JOB, PUP.
ALL THAT MATTERS IS GETTING HIM BACK TO VILLALOBOS
AND WILL HOPEFULLY END UP IN A HOME OF HIS OWN.
IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK, ESPECIALLY FOR MATT.
AND WITH THIS BEING HIS FIRST RESCUE, I SAY HE PROVED HIMSELF.
WOW. THIS IS SO FANCY.
IT IS KIND OF STRANGE, YOU KNOW?
MATT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE HE'S A PART OF THE TEAM NOW.
AND INSTEAD OF STICKING AROUND
AND EXCHANGING STORIES AT THE END OF EACH DAY,
HE'S GOT TO GET PICKED UP BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
AND GO BACK INTO CUSTODY.
YOU GET TO RIDE IN THE FRONT OR YOU HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK?
I DON'T EVEN KNOW.
HI.
Matt: MAN, EVERYBODY HERE IS SUPER-NICE.
LIKE, I'M NOT USED TO THIS, YOU KNOW?
EVERYBODY THAT SAID -- THEY'RE LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU NEED?"
YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER JOB THAN THIS, REALLY.
THEY GOT ME SOME CLOTHES.
I GOT AN E-MAIL SAYING THAT I WAS ABLE TO BRING THIS BACK.
SO, HE'S GOT WORK CLOTHES.
SO, WE GAVE HIM SOME VILLALOBOS T-SHIRTS
AND SOME EXTRA WORK CLOTHES FOR HIS NEW JOB HERE WITH US
BECAUSE HE'S DEFINITELY GONNA NEED THEM.
LIKE MY TWINS, HE'S GOT A HUGE HEART.
AND HE'S JUST ANOTHER GUY THAT NEEDS A SECOND CHANCE,
AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO HIM.
OKAY, SO, SEE YOU TOMORROW?
YES, MA'AM. I'LL BE HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. GOODBYE.
AND THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING THESE DAYS,
THERE'S JUST NO TELLING
WHAT SURPRISE WILL BE WAITING FOR US TOMORROW.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
LOOK AT ALL YOUR BLING.
Tia: AFTER HEARING THE HEARTBREAKING STORY
OF ANTHONY'S CANCER DIAGNOSIS
AND THEN THE LOSS OF HIS BELOVED PIT BULL, CHEBA,
ALL I KNEW IS THAT WE NEEDED TO FIND A NEW COMPANION FOR HIM.
AND WE DID.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S COME OVER HERE.
YOU KNOW, ANTHONY NEEDS A CANE RIGHT NOW TO WALK.
SO WE'RE GONNA NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF TESTING.
ANNA.
GET TO HER ONE AT A TIME.
MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT LOUDER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ALL RIGHT, MARIAH.
I MEAN, I'VE ACTUALLY HAD DOGS THAT HAVE GONE AFTER, LIKE,
WHEELCHAIRS AND WALKERS AND A CANE SIMPLY OUT OF FEAR.
YOU KNOW, THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE.
IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHAT WILL SET A DOG OFF.
[ SMOOCHES ]
GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB.
IN THE MIDDLE NOW. READY?
GOOD JOB.
YOU'D BE SURPRISED. SOME DOGS WOULD BE GONE.
SO I DROPPED THE CANE TO MAKE SOME NOISE
AND TO SEE WHAT ANNA'S REACTION WOULD BE.
SHE'S MORE INTERESTED IN THE FOOD,
AND THAT'S HALF THE BATTLE RIGHT THERE.
SO, YOU ARE CANE TESTED [SMOOCHES] AND APPROVED.
I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL BY HOW GREAT ANNA DID.
SHE'S A REALLY, REALLY RELAXED AND CHILL DOG
AND I THINK THE PERFECT MATCH FOR ANTHONY.
YOU READY?
YOU READY?
HERE WE COME. [ SMOOCHES ]
NOW THAT ANNA HAS PASSED THE CANE TEST PERFECTLY,
WE JUST HAVE THE HOME CHECK TO DO.
WONDER IF I SHOULD KEEP THIS AROUND.
I MIGHT NEED IT SOME DAY.
TO BEAT PEOPLE WITH.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT.
YOU GOT TO COME GET IT.
[ SMOOCHES ] COME ON.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GET UP?
MY FIRST RESCUE WAS AMAZING.
WE LIFTED A SKINNY DOG OUT OF A 40-FOOT HOLE.
WE HAD TO LIFT HIM OUT BY HAND.
HE GOT CHECKED OUT AT THE VET.
IT'S A MIRACLE HE DIDN'T BREAK ANY BONES.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS HE'S REALLY SHY WITH PEOPLE.
HE'S DOING GOOD.
HE'S JUST, WHENEVER YOU GO IN THERE,
HE'S KIND OF STILL SHYING AWAY A LITTLE BIT.
SO I WANT TO START WORKING WITH BUILDING HIS TRUST WITH HUMANS
BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T GET HIM TO TRUST PEOPLE,
WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIND HIM A HOME.
RIGHT HERE. RIGHT HERE.
NOT UNTIL YOU LOOK. NOT UNTIL YOU LOOK.
IN PRISON, I WORKED IN A SHELTER
AND I WAS ALSO IN A VET-TECH PROGRAM.
I LEARNED SOME TECHNIQUES THERE
THAT HELPED BRING OUR MORE FEARFUL DOGS AROUND.
COME ON.
[ SMOOCHES ]
NO?
I WAS TRYING JUST TO GET HIM TO LOOK AT ME.
AS SOON AS THEY MAKE EYE CONTACT,
YOU GIVE THEM THE TREAT.
EYE CONTACT. [ SMOOCHES ]
ONE MORE TIME, MAN.
I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP ON HIM.
I'VE LEARNED NOT TO GIVE UP SO EASILY ON THINGS.
GOOD BOY, MAN.
AND THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT
SHOULD'VE WALKED AWAY FROM ME AT TIMES,
BUT I'M PRETTY GLAD THEY STUCK BY ME.
RIGHT HERE. IN THE EYES, MAN.
YOU MAKE THE EYES, YOU GET THE TREAT.
GOOD BOY! YEAH.
[ SMOOCHES, WHISTLES ]
RIGHT HERE.
GOOD BOY, MAN. GOOD BOY.
SO, IF HE'S SHOWING ME THAT THERE'S HOPE IN THERE,
I WON'T GIVE UP ON HIM.
YOU DID GOOD, MAN. NOT BAD FOR YOUR FIRST DAY, HUH?
WHAT UP, LO?
I'VE BEEN SPENDING A LITTLE TIME WITH MR. LOPEZ.
THINKING BACK TO WHEN WE RESCUED THIS GUY
OUT OF A HOT, ABANDONED HOUSE
WITH A ZIP-TIE CUTTING OFF INTO HIS NECK,
YOU REALLY WOULD THINK THIS GUY'D HAVE SOME ISSUES.
AND SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS LITTLE GUY HAS NO FEAR.
WHAT'S UP?
'SUP, E?
HEY, YOU JUST THE PERSON I NEEDED TO SEE.
I DO BELIEVE THERE'S A FAMILY OUT THERE FOR LOPEZ SOMEWHERE.
I BROUGHT MY CAMERA. I GOT IT.
THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING.
THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO
IS TO TAKE SOME PICTURES OF MR. LOPEZ
AND GET HIS PROFILE UP ON THE WEBSITE.
SO, YOU WANT TO TRY AND FIND A SPOT, LIKE, ON THIS, MAYBE?
I LOVE DOING PHOTOGRAPHY, SO GETTING TO DO THAT WITH EARL
AND KIND OF SHARE THE BOND BETWEEN LOPEZ AND EARL
WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
YOU GROWLING AT ME, EARL?
MNH-MNH.
[ LAUGHS ]
I WOULDN'T DARE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH LOPEZ LIKE EARL HAS,
SO GETTING TO SEE HIM TODAY,
HE JUST LOOKS HEALTHY AND HAPPY.
ALL RIGHT, PERFECT. GOT IT.
Earl: PERFECT.
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE WHAT A LITTLE LOVE AND CARE CAN DO.
HE IS VERY SWEET.
COME ON, LO.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Tania: THIS IS ZACH. HE'S ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD.
ZACH CAME TO US FROM TUSCALOOSA,
AND HE ACTUALLY LOST HIS BACK LEG
IN THE TORNADO THAT THEY HAD THERE.
DESPITE ONLY HAVING THREE LEGS,
HE IS FULL OF ENERGY AND VERY LOVING,
AND HE'S LIKE THE CUTEST DOG ON THE PLANET, HUH?
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING ZACH
OR ANY OTHER VILLALOBOS DOG, GO TO...
HI! HI!
YOU READY?
YOU READY?
THE DOG WE RESCUED IS DOING BETTER,
BUT HE'S STILL HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A HARD TIME.
RIGHT HERE. RIGHT HERE.
BUT OUR NEW GUY MATT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THIS DOG A LOT.
COME ON. LET'S GO THIS WAY.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD HE'S PUTTING THE TIME IN
BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE MATT HAS DONE ONE HELL OF A JOB.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
LOOK AT YOU.
Matt: CHECK IT OUT, BRO. THIS IS ALL NEW TO YOU, MAN.
EXPLORING.
GOOD BOY. GOOD BOY.
[ SMOOCHES ] COME ON.
I GOT TO GIVE MATT A LOT OF CREDIT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN DEALING WITH SHY DOGS,
IT TAKES A LOT OF PATIENCE.
COME ON, MAN.
I REALLY LIKE WORKING WITH HIM A LOT.
I'M ALWAYS WITH HIM. I TAKE HIM OUT AND WALK HIM.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING BEHIND BARS,
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE MY FREEDOM HERE.
SO I WANT THE DOGS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME.
THAT'S SOME TASTY CHICKEN.
YEAH, BOY. YOU EATING THAT UP.
OH, IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD THAT, YOU KNOW,
TIA GETS TO RECOGNIZE THE LITTLE BIT OF SKILLS THAT I DO HAVE.
I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH, YOU KNOW?
I'M NOT TRYING TO FOOL ANYBODY. BUT I HAVE A FEW SKILLS.
HOPEFULLY SHE'LL KEEP HER EYES ON THAT AND REALIZE THAT
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO AND I COULD POSSIBLY GET ME A JOB
HERE AT V.R.C. ONCE I GET OUT.
[ SMOOCHES ] YOU WANT TO WALK?
JUST TRYING TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON, DO BETTER THINGS,
YOU KNOW, AND HOPEFULLY MY DAUGHTER WILL SEE THIS
AND ONE DAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT BOND AGAIN.
Mariah: COME ON. [ SMOOCHES ]
Tia: SO, IT'S FINALLY TIME TO LOAD UP ANNA
AND TAKE HER TO HER HOME CHECK WITH ANTHONY AND MELISSA.
COME ON, LITTLE PRINCESS.
[ GRUNTS ]
WHEN WE DO AN ADOPTION,
THE HOME CHECK IS THE FINAL PHASE OF THIS,
AND IT'S A CRAPSHOOT.
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA WORK OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE GET THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
BECAUSE ANTHONY NEEDS OUR PUPPY IN HIS LIFE
TO HELP HIM GET THROUGH THIS BATTLE HE'S IN,
WE'RE GONNA DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS WORK.
Tia: SO, WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO ANTHONY AND MELISSA'S
TO DO THE HOME CHECK.
AND I HAVE TO ADMIT,
THIS ONE'S GOT MY STOMACH IN KNOTS.
THIS ADOPTION ISN'T JUST ABOUT ANNA'S FUTURE.
ANTHONY'S FUTURE IS RELYING ON THIS, AS WELL.
HEY!
[ LAUGHS ]
WE'RE SO EXCITED.
HI.
HI!
I COULDN'T WAIT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS GONNA BE OUR NEW BABY.
OKAY. WELL, THE DAY'S FINALLY HERE.
YES. WE'VE BEEN...
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD OUR HOPES AND HEARTS SET ON THIS,
SO HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING JUST GOES PERFECT.
HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING WITH YOU?
I GOT A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT COMING UP ON THE 17th.
THEY DO A SCAN EVERY THREE MONTHS,
BUT I GO IN AND THEY ASK ME HOW I FEEL.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
I CAN'T WALK, BUT I FEEL GOOD.
ANTHONY, HE'S A FIGHTER. YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE'S GOT A REALLY UPBEAT PERSONALITY,
AND THAT GETS YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES.
SO, LET'S GO OUTSIDE FIRST AND THEN JUST SEE THE AREA.
YOU WANT TO GO OUT BACK?
CAN WE GO OUT THE BACK?
Mariah: I SEE IT'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.
GOD, IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE!
AND THE FENCE IS NOT SUPER-LOW.
WELL, HERE'S THE THING.
AT THE SIZE THAT SHE IS NOW, SHE'LL BE FINE.
AND THERE'S A COUPLE SPOTS THAT I NOTICE THAT I LOOKED AROUND
THAT I'M JUST GONNA THROW SOME ROCKS AND DIRT.
I JUST WANTED TO DO WHATEVER IT TOOK
TO HELP BOTH ANTHONY AND OUR PUPPY ANNA.
SO, WE WENT AHEAD AND GOT YOU A LONG LINE.
Anthony: THAT'S AWESOME.
AND ALL IT IS IS IT'S JUST A 30-FOOT LEASH.
YOU COULD TAKE HER OUT WHEREVER, LET HER RUN AROUND.
YEAH, 30 FEET, SHE COULD FEEL LIKE SHE'S FREE.
A LONG LINE GAVE HER THE SENSE OF RUNNING FREE
WITHOUT GETTING AWAY,
YOU KNOW, JUST UNTIL THEY GOT THEIR FENCE FIXED.
Anthony: SINCE WE HAD SUCH A GOOD CONNECTION WITH ANNA
WHEN WE FIRST MET HER,
I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WAS GONNA HAVE THAT SAME CONNECTION AGAIN.
Mariah: COME ON.
Tia: SHE'S EATING GRASS ALREADY. COME ON.
HI, PRETTY.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
YEAH.
OH, LOOK AT HER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH, YOU A PRETTY GIRL.
ANNA CAME RUNNING RIGHT UP TO ME.
MY FAMILY'S COMPLETE AGAIN.
VERY GOOD.
Melissa: YOU COULD SEE HE IMMEDIATELY LIT UP.
LIKE, HE HADN'T BEEN REALLY THAT HAPPY
SINCE THE LAST TIME WE SEEN ANNA.
WHAT DO YOU SMELL?
Tia: OHH!
Anthony: OH, THAT'S SO CUTE.
YOU'RE LOVING THE GRASS, AIN'T YOU.
SHE DOES LOVE THE GRASS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH. YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.
I FELT LIKE ANTHONY WAS GOING TO EXPLODE.
HE WAS SO OVER THE MOON.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OH, SHE'S DOING SO GOOD.
YEAH, PERFECT, RIGHT?
YEAH. I LOVE IT. THAT'S PERFECT.
Anthony: I FEEL LIKE HAVING ANNA IN MY LIFE
IS GONNA GIVE ME MORE REASON TO FIGHT
BECAUSE AFTER CHEBA PASSED, I REALLY GAVE UP.
AND SO, I FEEL LIKE SHE'S GONNA BRING ME HAPPINESS
AND KEEP ME FIGHTING TO STAY HAPPY.
GOOD GIRL.
GOOD GIRL.
[ SMOOCHES ]
THERE SHE GOES.
YEAH. GOOD GIRL.
ANNA'S REALLY GONNA HELP ME START A NEW CHAPTER,
A NEW BOOK, A FRESH START.
SORRY. I SAT ON YOU REALLY FAST.
IT'S OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
FOR REAL. IT MEANT A LOT.
THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT IN THE SOUTH --
PORCH, GOT YOUR CHAIR, GOT YOUR FAMILY.
THIS IS AWESOME.
[ LAUGHS ]
Tia: YOU KNOW, ONE MIGHT LOOK AT US AND SAY, "WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IF ANTHONY DOESN'T MAKE IT?
WHY WOULD YOU SEND A DOG INTO THAT SITUATION?"
WE DECIDED THAT NO MATTER WHAT AMOUNT OF TIME
ANTHONY IS HERE ON EARTH WITH US, WHETHER IT BE MONTHS,
WHETHER IT BE A YEAR, WHETHER IT BE 5 YEARS,
WHETHER IT BE 10, 20, 80 --
THE AMOUNT OF LOVE, COMPASSION, AND HOPE
THAT OUR PUPPY CAN BRING ANTHONY IS WORTH THIS.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE SEEING THE LAST OF US.
THAT'S FOR SURE, OKAY?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS IF THIS PUPPY, ANNA,
SHE WAS PUT HERE ON THIS EARTH TO DO THIS JOB.
SHE WAS PUT HERE ON THIS EARTH
TO MOVE IN WITH ANTHONY AND MELISSA
AND TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH EACH DAY,
ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Melissa: COME HERE.
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