1 00:00:00,901 --> 00:00:02,301 [upbeat music playing] 2 00:00:11,946 --> 00:00:14,747 [laughs] I'm just trying to say "Hi" real quick. 3 00:00:14,815 --> 00:00:18,417 [narrator] Tonight, on a special episode of Pit Bulls and Parolees... 4 00:00:18,419 --> 00:00:19,618 Oh, you want to go? Okay, okay. 5 00:00:19,620 --> 00:00:20,953 Come, baby girl! 6 00:00:21,255 --> 00:00:23,222 Oh, God! 7 00:00:23,224 --> 00:00:24,323 We'll take Walter to his new home! 8 00:00:26,827 --> 00:00:28,260 [narrator] ...our past becomes present. 9 00:00:32,933 --> 00:00:34,099 [groans] 10 00:00:35,803 --> 00:00:37,068 -[man] i gotta do it. -I know. 11 00:00:37,638 --> 00:00:39,538 [narrator] From the initial spark of rescue... 12 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,407 [woman] Hang on, hang on, hang on. 13 00:00:42,910 --> 00:00:44,510 [narrator] ...to our ever growing mission... 14 00:00:44,512 --> 00:00:45,811 [woman] Okay, someone's screaming. 15 00:00:45,813 --> 00:00:46,512 [dog growling] 16 00:00:48,015 --> 00:00:49,248 [woman] Got her! 17 00:00:49,250 --> 00:00:50,516 [narrator] ...and what lies ahead for our future, 18 00:00:51,118 --> 00:00:52,484 From our highest highs... 19 00:00:52,486 --> 00:00:54,219 Get on, get the [bleep] out of here. 20 00:00:54,221 --> 00:00:56,121 The first thing I grabbed was my baby. 21 00:00:56,123 --> 00:00:57,523 [narrator] ...to our lowest lows. 22 00:00:57,525 --> 00:00:58,424 You're gonna be okay. 23 00:00:59,427 --> 00:01:00,725 Comfortable? 24 00:01:00,727 --> 00:01:02,528 [narrator] It's everything that's made us who we are. 25 00:01:04,331 --> 00:01:06,331 This is the story of the Villalobos. 26 00:01:09,103 --> 00:01:10,102 [upbeat music playing] 27 00:01:13,107 --> 00:01:15,607 [dogs barking] 28 00:01:15,609 --> 00:01:19,044 [Tia] For over 20 years, we have been rescuing 29 00:01:19,146 --> 00:01:20,813 the most maligned breed of dog in the world, 30 00:01:20,815 --> 00:01:22,114 which is the pit bull. 31 00:01:22,116 --> 00:01:25,451 But it all started when I.. 32 00:01:26,921 --> 00:01:29,521 took in three dogs that happened to be wolf dog mixes. 33 00:01:30,724 --> 00:01:33,959 Thus, the name Villalobos, which translates to 34 00:01:34,027 --> 00:01:34,860 "village of wolves." 35 00:01:35,629 --> 00:01:38,197 At the time, I did not know 36 00:01:38,199 --> 00:01:39,565 who my godfather was. 37 00:01:40,401 --> 00:01:42,201 My dad whips out an eight by ten, 38 00:01:42,203 --> 00:01:45,637 black and white eight by ten of the Wolf Man. 39 00:01:46,607 --> 00:01:48,607 This exact picture, actually. 40 00:01:48,609 --> 00:01:52,544 And he went on to explain to me that my godfather was Lon Chaney Jr., 41 00:01:52,646 --> 00:01:55,114 the actor who played the Wolf Man. 42 00:01:55,116 --> 00:01:57,816 And people then began to say "Oh, it's in your blood." 43 00:02:02,590 --> 00:02:05,023 You know, the old movies with Lon Chaney Jr., 44 00:02:05,025 --> 00:02:06,792 he was very misunderstood in the movies. 45 00:02:06,794 --> 00:02:10,162 You know, he was cursed and he was actually a nice guy. 46 00:02:10,264 --> 00:02:12,898 That's just like a real wolf 47 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:15,300 I compare it a lot to 48 00:02:15,302 --> 00:02:17,035 how people talk about pit bulls. 49 00:02:17,037 --> 00:02:19,104 They are both victims of the myth. 50 00:02:19,106 --> 00:02:21,306 So, we didn't have much of an adoption rate, back then 51 00:02:22,042 --> 00:02:23,809 So, I thought, well... 52 00:02:23,811 --> 00:02:26,745 let's try something different. Let's take on pit bulls. 53 00:02:26,814 --> 00:02:31,016 [laughs] It's like... [mimics a gunshot] you know. Nobody wanted them, either. 54 00:02:31,018 --> 00:02:33,619 So, here I was, stuck with these two different dogs that, like, 55 00:02:33,621 --> 00:02:35,220 had notorious reputations. 56 00:02:37,625 --> 00:02:39,057 Don't be shy, okay? 57 00:02:39,593 --> 00:02:40,425 You're handsome. 58 00:02:41,128 --> 00:02:42,127 Yeah. 59 00:02:42,863 --> 00:02:44,630 No, he's just... He's bomb proof. 60 00:02:44,632 --> 00:02:47,933 -[both exclaiming] -He's cute. 61 00:02:47,935 --> 00:02:52,604 [speaking foreign language] Yes, you are. You're a trouble maker. 62 00:02:52,606 --> 00:02:55,908 [Tia] I swore I would never get back into the whole wolf and wolf dog thing. 63 00:02:55,910 --> 00:02:58,043 And then, a few years ago... 64 00:02:58,512 --> 00:03:00,345 [Tia speaking] 65 00:03:00,447 --> 00:03:02,514 They're actually in their trucks and he's behind you. 66 00:03:02,516 --> 00:03:04,950 I see he's in his truck up the road. 67 00:03:04,952 --> 00:03:06,919 [Tia] The guy was kind of li a backyard breeder. 68 00:03:06,921 --> 00:03:09,354 He had like 16 or 17 wolf dogs. 69 00:03:09,423 --> 00:03:12,958 He got arrested. His wolf dogs were left in his yard. 70 00:03:13,027 --> 00:03:14,059 And they were all getting loose. 71 00:03:14,628 --> 00:03:16,195 I'm like, no. 72 00:03:16,197 --> 00:03:19,131 I'm not, I'm not doing this I'm not going back down that road. 73 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:21,466 And she said, "I'm begging y 74 00:03:22,536 --> 00:03:25,537 because law enforcement is here and their shotguns are loaded." 75 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:27,706 Okay, so they're standing down over there? 76 00:03:28,008 --> 00:03:29,207 Yes. 77 00:03:29,209 --> 00:03:31,643 [Tia] I had until dark to catch all these dogs 78 00:03:31,712 --> 00:03:34,313 or they were going to start taking matters into their own hands. 79 00:03:36,150 --> 00:03:37,616 [Tia] Pull the gate shut! Pull the gate shut! 80 00:03:37,618 --> 00:03:39,051 Run! Get in. Run. 81 00:03:39,152 --> 00:03:40,852 Hold it shut. Hold it tight. Hang on. 82 00:03:40,888 --> 00:03:41,954 Hang on. Hang on. 83 00:03:44,291 --> 00:03:45,757 [man speaking] 84 00:03:45,825 --> 00:03:48,660 -[Tia] Okay, you're okay. Hey, baby. Here, baby. -[dog whimpering] 85 00:03:48,762 --> 00:03:49,828 -Hold on. -[dog whimpering] 86 00:03:50,431 --> 00:03:51,163 Okay. 87 00:03:51,265 --> 00:03:52,364 [man speaking] 88 00:03:55,202 --> 00:03:57,469 [woman 1] Oh, my God, there's four more here. 89 00:03:57,471 --> 00:03:59,104 [woman 2] Four? 90 00:03:59,106 --> 00:04:01,340 So we were there till 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock in the morning. [laughs] 91 00:04:01,441 --> 00:04:02,574 And caught all of them. 92 00:04:03,344 --> 00:04:05,010 And that started us back into it again. 93 00:04:05,012 --> 00:04:09,114 [dogs howling] 94 00:04:09,516 --> 00:04:10,949 [woman speaking] 95 00:04:12,820 --> 00:04:14,219 Mmm. [laughs] 96 00:04:14,221 --> 00:04:16,822 Wow! I'm getting really emotional right now. 97 00:04:18,058 --> 00:04:19,658 [sniffles and sighs] 98 00:04:23,230 --> 00:04:24,662 [upbeat music playing] 99 00:04:24,664 --> 00:04:27,232 [Tia] You know, it's pretty sentimental, you know. 100 00:04:27,334 --> 00:04:29,134 Getting back to where we began. 101 00:04:29,203 --> 00:04:31,603 Kind of slipping back into the wolf dogs again. 102 00:04:32,306 --> 00:04:33,505 For a brief moment... 103 00:04:33,507 --> 00:04:35,841 To bam! We end up in Texas. 104 00:04:37,945 --> 00:04:38,944 [dogs barking] 105 00:04:38,946 --> 00:04:40,412 [sighs] Oh, man. 106 00:04:41,215 --> 00:04:43,548 This is so bad. This is so bad. 107 00:04:43,617 --> 00:04:46,752 About 50 plus wolf dogs were left abandoned. 108 00:04:46,820 --> 00:04:49,321 The man who owned these dog had been there for years. 109 00:04:50,291 --> 00:04:51,623 He was basically like a... 110 00:04:52,459 --> 00:04:54,226 large scale backyard breeder 111 00:04:55,029 --> 00:04:56,528 [dogs barking and snarling] 112 00:04:56,530 --> 00:04:57,663 It's okay. 113 00:04:57,764 --> 00:05:00,265 Those dogs were left alone for a week 114 00:05:00,301 --> 00:05:02,200 to two weeks to fend for themselves. 115 00:05:03,404 --> 00:05:04,803 They got hungry. They got desperate. 116 00:05:05,205 --> 00:05:06,705 [dog whimpering] 117 00:05:06,707 --> 00:05:08,540 Okay, let her down, let her down, let her down a little bit. 118 00:05:08,609 --> 00:05:11,310 There were loose dogs everywhere. 119 00:05:11,312 --> 00:05:13,445 Some had broken out of the enclosures, you know, 120 00:05:13,514 --> 00:05:14,413 trying to survive. 121 00:05:15,316 --> 00:05:17,449 So hot. So humid. 122 00:05:18,152 --> 00:05:19,951 Then it was the terrain. 123 00:05:19,953 --> 00:05:22,521 The trees and the bushes and the weeds. 124 00:05:22,523 --> 00:05:23,455 What the hell, man. 125 00:05:24,158 --> 00:05:25,957 So, it was a mess. 126 00:05:26,059 --> 00:05:28,560 Come on! Oh, there you go. Good boy! 127 00:05:28,629 --> 00:05:30,462 The property in Texas 128 00:05:30,564 --> 00:05:34,800 is now on record as being the largest rescue effort 129 00:05:34,802 --> 00:05:35,734 we've ever done. 130 00:05:35,803 --> 00:05:37,202 [dogs barking] 131 00:05:37,204 --> 00:05:38,503 Okay, someone's screaming. 132 00:05:38,505 --> 00:05:39,771 -[dog snarling] -[woman] That one. 133 00:05:39,773 --> 00:05:41,473 Okay, hold on, hold on. 134 00:05:41,475 --> 00:05:44,943 Some huge idea has to come into my head that just figures this out. 135 00:05:45,012 --> 00:05:45,944 [dog barking] 136 00:05:46,347 --> 00:05:47,212 There we go. 137 00:05:47,915 --> 00:05:49,014 There has to be a miracle. 138 00:05:50,818 --> 00:05:55,020 I basically... signed papers to buy the property. 139 00:05:55,923 --> 00:05:57,255 Got 30 days to raise the money, 140 00:05:57,324 --> 00:06:01,226 but I work well under pressure. [laughs] 141 00:06:01,228 --> 00:06:04,196 When I realized that I was going to have to buy that property in Texas 142 00:06:04,198 --> 00:06:07,099 in order to keep those wolf dogs safe, 143 00:06:07,101 --> 00:06:08,533 I knew I had to raise money 144 00:06:08,635 --> 00:06:10,836 It's literally one t-shirt design, 145 00:06:10,904 --> 00:06:13,205 one t-shirt design. 146 00:06:13,207 --> 00:06:16,608 If not for the public donating money, 147 00:06:16,610 --> 00:06:18,410 couldn't have done it. Could not have done it without them. 148 00:06:19,546 --> 00:06:22,214 So, that is who built Villalobos, Texas. 149 00:06:22,216 --> 00:06:24,716 It is the donors and the fan and the supporters. 150 00:06:25,953 --> 00:06:28,286 Some of the dogs rescued from that situation were 151 00:06:28,288 --> 00:06:30,522 one that Mariah kept, which is Athena. 152 00:06:30,524 --> 00:06:33,458 She was the first dog to be rescued off that property. 153 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,460 They found Athena as a pupp 154 00:06:35,562 --> 00:06:36,962 under a truck, and she had been shot. 155 00:06:37,030 --> 00:06:38,930 I didn't think she was going to make it, but she di 156 00:06:39,433 --> 00:06:40,532 Come here. 157 00:06:42,403 --> 00:06:44,936 [Tia] When you call Mariah on the phone, 158 00:06:44,938 --> 00:06:48,707 "Yeah, Mummy, hold on. Shh! What are you doing? What are you doing? No!" 159 00:06:48,709 --> 00:06:49,508 What? 160 00:06:50,043 --> 00:06:51,710 [gibberish] 161 00:06:52,713 --> 00:06:55,046 She's definitely a handful. 162 00:06:57,851 --> 00:07:00,218 Black was a fan favorite. 163 00:07:00,220 --> 00:07:03,655 Uh, because he started off as this big, scary, like, a werewolf. 164 00:07:03,757 --> 00:07:04,823 I mean, he's a big boy. 165 00:07:04,825 --> 00:07:06,958 [Black barking and howling] 166 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,428 But, now he is like, 167 00:07:09,430 --> 00:07:11,730 the total, total ladies' man 168 00:07:11,732 --> 00:07:13,765 He loves the ladies. 169 00:07:13,834 --> 00:07:17,903 He knew he had to be the protector of that property. 170 00:07:17,905 --> 00:07:21,239 It's like, you can let your guard down now, buddy. We got this. 171 00:07:21,308 --> 00:07:22,808 And, that's how he is now. 172 00:07:28,115 --> 00:07:31,550 You know, we have just enough wolf dogs 173 00:07:31,651 --> 00:07:34,519 that are super social, that we can use for educatio 174 00:07:34,521 --> 00:07:37,155 and for people if they want come tour and volunteer. 175 00:07:38,058 --> 00:07:40,525 [woman makes kissing noises] 176 00:07:41,528 --> 00:07:42,861 [woman] Oh, yeah. 177 00:07:43,764 --> 00:07:46,198 [Tia] And then, the rest that are just not into peopl 178 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,001 They're at the back of the property. They never have to see anybody. 179 00:07:50,003 --> 00:07:51,636 They're going to live a very private life, 180 00:07:51,705 --> 00:07:52,838 a very comfortable life. 181 00:07:52,906 --> 00:07:54,573 That's what that place is fo 182 00:07:54,575 --> 00:07:58,310 It's for them to just know that they have a forever place. 183 00:07:59,513 --> 00:08:01,446 Now, having the location in Texas, 184 00:08:02,416 --> 00:08:03,315 we're back full circle. 185 00:08:04,051 --> 00:08:05,817 We are Villalobos again. 186 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,220 [barks] 187 00:08:09,656 --> 00:08:13,024 [Tia] Get ready to leave, guys! Get ready. 188 00:08:13,026 --> 00:08:15,527 Mom, we're in Louisiana! 189 00:08:15,629 --> 00:08:17,562 [Tia] We didn't come to Louisiana, 190 00:08:17,664 --> 00:08:18,864 like, with blinders on. 191 00:08:18,932 --> 00:08:19,631 Oh, my God! 192 00:08:19,733 --> 00:08:21,533 Maybe it's stuck. 193 00:08:21,602 --> 00:08:23,301 We knew how bad it was. 194 00:08:23,303 --> 00:08:25,103 [woman] Oh, my God! 195 00:08:25,105 --> 00:08:27,339 -[woman] He would have been scratching and infection and-- -[man] Yeah. 196 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,741 [Tia] We just didn't know how bad it was. 197 00:08:29,843 --> 00:08:30,609 [woman speaking] 198 00:08:31,612 --> 00:08:32,511 [Tia] Oh, my God. 199 00:08:40,254 --> 00:08:42,220 [dogs barking] 200 00:08:42,556 --> 00:08:43,989 Hi, Anthony. 201 00:08:45,125 --> 00:08:48,059 [Tia] When we realized we had to move from California, 202 00:08:48,128 --> 00:08:49,561 you know, it was due to several things. 203 00:08:49,630 --> 00:08:52,030 Natural disaster after natural disaster. 204 00:08:53,901 --> 00:08:54,833 Oh, God! 205 00:08:55,836 --> 00:08:57,402 [Tia] It was due to economic 206 00:08:57,404 --> 00:09:00,005 Donations were drying up drastically. 207 00:09:00,007 --> 00:09:05,043 The guidelines and the rule for having a dog kennel were changing drastically. 208 00:09:05,045 --> 00:09:07,312 [man] Our vote is no. 209 00:09:07,314 --> 00:09:09,314 All this combined just... 210 00:09:09,316 --> 00:09:11,316 I said, "We can't, we can't survive here." 211 00:09:11,318 --> 00:09:14,319 Get ready to leave, guys! Get ready. 212 00:09:16,056 --> 00:09:18,623 You know, when thinking about where we were going to 213 00:09:18,625 --> 00:09:20,225 plant ourselves for the res of our lives, 214 00:09:20,227 --> 00:09:23,061 you know, we just kept circling back to the same place. 215 00:09:23,697 --> 00:09:25,229 New Orleans. 216 00:09:26,133 --> 00:09:28,600 It really all began when we took in about sixty dogs 217 00:09:28,602 --> 00:09:30,435 abandoned from Hurricane Katrina. 218 00:09:30,537 --> 00:09:32,604 That experience bonded us to this city. 219 00:09:37,177 --> 00:09:39,210 Mom, we're in Louisiana! 220 00:09:44,718 --> 00:09:46,718 [Tia] You know, we kind of hit the ground running when we got here. 221 00:09:50,123 --> 00:09:54,259 I think the biggest surprise for me was the fact that 222 00:09:54,328 --> 00:09:57,062 we were able to have a pit bull rescue in the middle of New Orleans 223 00:09:57,130 --> 00:09:59,130 We've never had, like, a building. 224 00:09:59,132 --> 00:10:00,732 Everything we did was outdoors. 225 00:10:00,834 --> 00:10:05,236 Oh! Oh, my God it's so cute! 226 00:10:05,305 --> 00:10:07,105 I'm like, I love this place. 227 00:10:07,941 --> 00:10:11,009 Really? Did they make this for us? 228 00:10:12,045 --> 00:10:14,245 All right, everybody! Welcome to our home! 229 00:10:15,248 --> 00:10:18,450 [Tia] There was a pretty amazing transition. 230 00:10:18,518 --> 00:10:20,318 It was, like, so refreshing 231 00:10:21,521 --> 00:10:24,222 But, we didn't come to Louisiana, 232 00:10:24,224 --> 00:10:25,457 like, with blinders on. 233 00:10:25,558 --> 00:10:26,825 Or with rose colored glasses 234 00:10:26,827 --> 00:10:28,259 We knew what we were getting into 235 00:10:28,361 --> 00:10:31,730 because we had helped during the Hurricane Katrina efforts. 236 00:10:31,732 --> 00:10:33,498 So we knew how bad it was... 237 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:34,933 [Tia] Oh, my gosh. 238 00:10:34,935 --> 00:10:38,403 ...but we just didn't know how bad it was. 239 00:10:38,405 --> 00:10:40,805 -[woman 1] Oh, my God. -[woman 2] It's okay, baby, it's stuck. Look. 240 00:10:40,807 --> 00:10:42,040 [kisses] 241 00:10:42,042 --> 00:10:43,241 Hi, babies. 242 00:10:43,710 --> 00:10:46,578 Oh, my God! Wow. 243 00:10:46,580 --> 00:10:49,414 [Tia] I think one of the mai issues that we saw right awa 244 00:10:49,416 --> 00:10:51,216 once we moved to Louisiana, 245 00:10:51,218 --> 00:10:53,652 was the lack of resources available 246 00:10:54,855 --> 00:10:56,621 to people with animals, 247 00:10:56,623 --> 00:10:58,123 um, and to the animals themselves. 248 00:10:58,725 --> 00:10:59,991 It was just, um, 249 00:11:00,127 --> 00:11:02,927 very obvious that we were in a battle of our lifetime 250 00:11:02,929 --> 00:11:04,729 Oh, my God! 251 00:11:04,731 --> 00:11:07,165 -[woman] He would have been scratching and infection and-- -[man] Yeah. 252 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:08,333 [woman speaking] 253 00:11:10,537 --> 00:11:11,603 Oh, my God. 254 00:11:11,605 --> 00:11:14,706 There's one... there's three of them in here. 255 00:11:15,042 --> 00:11:16,207 No puppies. 256 00:11:16,209 --> 00:11:18,443 -There's six of them. -Ugh. 257 00:11:18,545 --> 00:11:20,245 Uh, what are we going to do with you? 258 00:11:20,313 --> 00:11:22,814 [Tia] It's a kind of a backhanded compliment 259 00:11:22,816 --> 00:11:24,516 when people say, "Oh, your business has grown 260 00:11:24,518 --> 00:11:26,518 Well, for a typical business, that's great. 261 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:27,384 But for us it's not. 262 00:11:28,155 --> 00:11:32,090 We have about, with us, 28 dogs. 263 00:11:32,526 --> 00:11:34,793 [Tia over phone] 264 00:11:34,795 --> 00:11:36,026 Yeah. 265 00:11:36,096 --> 00:11:37,729 You know, in California, we were in a very remote area, 266 00:11:37,731 --> 00:11:38,930 so we didn't have drop-offs. 267 00:11:38,932 --> 00:11:41,433 Like, we didn't have dogs dropped off to us, ever. 268 00:11:41,835 --> 00:11:43,368 Oh, my God. 269 00:11:43,370 --> 00:11:46,404 Here, in Louisiana, we get dogs dropped off all the time. 270 00:11:46,406 --> 00:11:49,741 -[man] Is he all right? -[woman] Please take her. I do not want her put down. 271 00:11:49,810 --> 00:11:53,845 Um, we have quadrupled the number of dogs that come in to us 272 00:11:53,914 --> 00:11:55,847 because of the amount of need that is out here. 273 00:11:56,950 --> 00:11:58,717 [woman 1 speaking] 274 00:11:58,719 --> 00:11:59,784 [woman 2] Okay. 275 00:11:59,786 --> 00:12:01,319 [woman] Is it breathing? Oh, yeah, it's breathing. 276 00:12:01,321 --> 00:12:02,620 It's just breathing really heavy. 277 00:12:02,622 --> 00:12:05,824 The biggest issue we have when it comes to adoption, 278 00:12:05,826 --> 00:12:07,425 and this is for all the dogs. 279 00:12:07,427 --> 00:12:09,327 It's fricking heartworm. 280 00:12:09,329 --> 00:12:11,229 [vet] It's a really, really high grade murmur. 281 00:12:11,231 --> 00:12:13,031 Sounds like both sides of the heart. 282 00:12:13,033 --> 00:12:16,935 99.999 percent of the dogs we've taken have heartworm. 283 00:12:17,003 --> 00:12:19,804 [vet] His heart is very enlarged from the heartworms. 284 00:12:19,806 --> 00:12:23,041 Now, the dogs are with us for months. 285 00:12:23,043 --> 00:12:25,310 Yeah, it's gonna be a couple of months before we can do anything 286 00:12:25,312 --> 00:12:27,712 -like other testing with them. -[woman] They're gonna be here for a while. 287 00:12:27,714 --> 00:12:28,646 They'll be here for a while. 288 00:12:28,748 --> 00:12:30,715 [Tia] So, as that's happenin 289 00:12:30,717 --> 00:12:32,250 more dogs are coming in. 290 00:12:32,352 --> 00:12:34,819 With more dogs, more manpower is needed. 291 00:12:34,821 --> 00:12:36,421 So, we have more employees. 292 00:12:36,423 --> 00:12:39,524 Now it's not just me and my kids and a couple of parolees. 293 00:12:39,526 --> 00:12:40,725 It's a lot. 294 00:12:40,727 --> 00:12:43,528 [dogs barking] 295 00:12:43,530 --> 00:12:45,463 You know, since moving to Louisiana, 296 00:12:45,532 --> 00:12:48,099 a big part of our rescue is taking in hound dogs. 297 00:12:48,101 --> 00:12:52,904 It's actually harder to get them homes than pit bulls for us. 298 00:12:52,906 --> 00:12:56,407 Which we just joke about it. I'm like, wait, wait, what just happened? 299 00:12:56,409 --> 00:12:57,909 [dogs howling] 300 00:12:57,911 --> 00:12:58,710 [laughing] 301 00:12:58,712 --> 00:13:00,311 Oh, my gosh! 302 00:13:00,313 --> 00:13:02,313 [laughing] 303 00:13:02,315 --> 00:13:04,315 [Tia] Hi, hi, baby. 304 00:13:04,317 --> 00:13:07,152 -This is the best ever. This is so cute. -[laughing] 305 00:13:07,220 --> 00:13:09,621 [Tia] We were first introduced to hounds 306 00:13:09,623 --> 00:13:12,724 when we moved out here to Assumption Parish. 307 00:13:12,726 --> 00:13:14,259 It's a rural area. 308 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:15,994 People hunt, people fish. 309 00:13:15,996 --> 00:13:18,963 And hound dogs are a part of the culture and the lifestyle out here. 310 00:13:18,965 --> 00:13:20,932 Pardon me, excuse me. No! Back! 311 00:13:21,034 --> 00:13:22,566 Being new to the hound world 312 00:13:22,568 --> 00:13:25,336 you know, you're like, oh, they're so cute. They got the droopy ears 313 00:13:25,438 --> 00:13:26,270 and this and that. 314 00:13:26,272 --> 00:13:29,641 Oh, my gosh, he's so teeny tiny! 315 00:13:30,010 --> 00:13:31,476 Here, Sal! 316 00:13:31,478 --> 00:13:33,945 -[woman 1] Look at how cute-- -[woman 2] Oh, my gosh, she prances! 317 00:13:34,013 --> 00:13:35,513 [woman 1] She's a really cute one. 318 00:13:35,515 --> 00:13:41,419 Hound dogs, all of them are just hairless wolf dogs. 319 00:13:41,421 --> 00:13:44,055 [dogs barking] 320 00:13:44,157 --> 00:13:45,824 [woman] All right, all right [dog barking] 321 00:13:48,228 --> 00:13:51,162 [indistinct chatter] 322 00:13:51,231 --> 00:13:52,363 [Tia] They're just spirited 323 00:13:52,432 --> 00:13:55,200 No. Don't. Oh, jeez 324 00:13:55,202 --> 00:13:58,102 Yes, that's the word when used for them. 325 00:13:58,104 --> 00:13:59,904 Um, they're a lot. [chuckl] 326 00:13:59,906 --> 00:14:01,506 Are you kidding me? 327 00:14:01,508 --> 00:14:05,510 They ate a hole in my house. 328 00:14:05,512 --> 00:14:07,745 You are lucky you are cute. 329 00:14:11,384 --> 00:14:14,018 When we first announced that we were moving here, 330 00:14:14,020 --> 00:14:18,723 everybody in California said, "What are you gonna do about the hurricanes?" 331 00:14:18,725 --> 00:14:20,825 [objects clattering] 332 00:14:23,496 --> 00:14:25,830 As much as we would love to say that we are prepared 333 00:14:25,832 --> 00:14:27,699 every year, every hurricane season, 334 00:14:27,701 --> 00:14:30,702 things change. You have to, like, adjust. 335 00:14:30,704 --> 00:14:33,638 The storm came [chuckles softly] about a day early. 336 00:14:33,707 --> 00:14:34,806 Our New Orleans locations 337 00:14:34,808 --> 00:14:37,308 are all officially under water right now. 338 00:14:37,310 --> 00:14:40,845 With each storm, we learned something new and so 339 00:14:40,914 --> 00:14:42,714 I would have to say with Ida, 340 00:14:42,716 --> 00:14:44,148 even though nobody got hurt 341 00:14:44,217 --> 00:14:46,751 nothing happened as far as the dogs or the humans go, 342 00:14:47,721 --> 00:14:49,420 it was a game changer for us 343 00:14:49,422 --> 00:14:50,955 Lot of storm damage. 344 00:14:51,024 --> 00:14:52,423 Okay, this is a lot. 345 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,761 [sighs] I think I'm gonna over here and cry. 346 00:14:56,863 --> 00:14:58,663 With this past hurricane that came through, 347 00:14:58,765 --> 00:15:00,698 lots of people became displaced 348 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:03,601 with their dogs and had nowhere to go. 349 00:15:03,603 --> 00:15:07,538 So in a pinch, we opened up our merchandise office in town 350 00:15:07,607 --> 00:15:08,706 for people and their dogs. 351 00:15:08,708 --> 00:15:10,508 It was rough, you know. 352 00:15:10,510 --> 00:15:11,542 So it gave me an idea 353 00:15:11,945 --> 00:15:13,278 and... 354 00:15:13,313 --> 00:15:16,147 Combining an evacuation center with a desire to have, 355 00:15:16,249 --> 00:15:18,616 like, an animal shelter intake location. 356 00:15:18,618 --> 00:15:21,853 We received a very generous donation. 357 00:15:21,955 --> 00:15:23,821 And we used it to purchase 358 00:15:23,823 --> 00:15:28,226 the old fire station here in Napoleonville, Assumption Parish. 359 00:15:28,228 --> 00:15:31,562 It's a super unique building 360 00:15:31,631 --> 00:15:33,464 The setup is really cool. 361 00:15:33,533 --> 00:15:37,602 We are looking so forward in putting this building togeth 362 00:15:37,604 --> 00:15:39,637 We know it's built really sturdy, 363 00:15:39,739 --> 00:15:43,041 it's got a ginormous generator, 364 00:15:43,109 --> 00:15:45,410 big enough to, like, power u the entire town. 365 00:15:45,412 --> 00:15:48,313 I think it's gonna be the ultimate building, 366 00:15:48,315 --> 00:15:51,215 and have so many different functions. 367 00:15:52,118 --> 00:15:53,418 We will be prepared for anything. 368 00:16:00,126 --> 00:16:01,926 [Tia] The million-dollar question I get a lot is, 369 00:16:01,928 --> 00:16:04,562 do you regret leaving California, I said not at all. 370 00:16:04,664 --> 00:16:06,297 The kids still work for . 371 00:16:06,299 --> 00:16:08,533 You know they all found thei significant others out here 372 00:16:08,601 --> 00:16:09,700 which is kinda cool. 373 00:16:10,737 --> 00:16:13,738 After years, I found my new sidekick. 374 00:16:13,807 --> 00:16:17,809 You know, after Duke passed away, you know, years went by, like, 375 00:16:17,811 --> 00:16:20,511 just no dog could compare to him. 376 00:16:20,513 --> 00:16:24,716 And then I find this floppy-eared dog swimming in a canal. 377 00:16:24,718 --> 00:16:26,050 You are not gonna believe this. 378 00:16:26,052 --> 00:16:28,152 I got goosebumps. I've been chasing this dog for weeks. 379 00:16:28,722 --> 00:16:29,754 -Really? -Yes 380 00:16:29,823 --> 00:16:31,723 So if we hadn't moved here, 381 00:16:31,725 --> 00:16:33,358 none of these things would have happened. 382 00:16:33,426 --> 00:16:34,859 So... 383 00:16:34,961 --> 00:16:36,928 Corny as it sounds, everything happens for a reason. 384 00:16:42,702 --> 00:16:45,603 There's is really nothing that you're gonna tell me that's gonna shock me. 385 00:16:45,605 --> 00:16:47,538 As long as you're taking good care of my dogs, 386 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:48,840 you and I will never have a problem. 387 00:16:48,908 --> 00:16:50,041 I want double kisses. 388 00:16:50,510 --> 00:16:51,576 Double kisses. 389 00:16:51,578 --> 00:16:53,711 [Tia] Besides learning responsibility, 390 00:16:53,713 --> 00:16:55,546 it allows these... 391 00:16:55,615 --> 00:16:58,149 people on parole to get out there into the world. 392 00:16:58,218 --> 00:16:59,317 [man] She's eating my face. 393 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:01,319 Oh, lord. 394 00:17:01,321 --> 00:17:02,653 [speaking indistinctly] 395 00:17:02,755 --> 00:17:03,621 [laughing] 396 00:17:05,625 --> 00:17:08,726 [country music playing] 397 00:17:10,864 --> 00:17:12,663 [dogs barking] 398 00:17:15,301 --> 00:17:18,403 So way back in 2006, 399 00:17:18,405 --> 00:17:21,406 my now ex-husband, AJ, got out of prison. 400 00:17:21,408 --> 00:17:24,942 And it was AJ's frustration of not being able to find a job. 401 00:17:25,011 --> 00:17:26,611 His parole officer... 402 00:17:26,613 --> 00:17:28,713 He says, "You know, you got that dog place. 403 00:17:30,050 --> 00:17:32,116 Why don't you just have these guys, like, volunteer 404 00:17:32,118 --> 00:17:35,019 and have AJ volunteer and at least learn some skills?" 405 00:17:35,422 --> 00:17:36,721 So, I'm like, 406 00:17:36,723 --> 00:17:37,955 "All right, I will try it." 407 00:17:39,059 --> 00:17:40,257 And that's how it happened. 408 00:17:47,734 --> 00:17:50,301 [Tia] You know, to me, I've always envisioned 409 00:17:50,303 --> 00:17:52,437 this place as being, like, a stepping stone. 410 00:17:52,538 --> 00:17:56,407 The dogs help you heal emotionally and spiritually. 411 00:17:56,409 --> 00:17:59,811 I wanna help you heal, you know, with success. 412 00:17:59,813 --> 00:18:02,413 You know, it's just something that I feel really passionate about. 413 00:18:02,415 --> 00:18:04,082 The first thing I always... 414 00:18:04,084 --> 00:18:05,683 tell guys when they come here, you know, 415 00:18:05,685 --> 00:18:08,419 there's really nothing that you're gonna tell me that's gonna shock me. 416 00:18:08,421 --> 00:18:10,054 As long as you are taking good care of my dogs, 417 00:18:10,056 --> 00:18:11,956 you and I will never have a problem. 418 00:18:12,025 --> 00:18:13,724 You know, we started off with wolves 419 00:18:13,726 --> 00:18:16,427 and you think about the reputation of them. 420 00:18:16,429 --> 00:18:17,962 [man] Easy. Hello, hello. 421 00:18:18,030 --> 00:18:19,964 [Tia] And from there we go to the pit bull. 422 00:18:19,966 --> 00:18:21,933 The most notorious, most maligned 423 00:18:21,935 --> 00:18:24,335 breed of dog in the entire world. 424 00:18:24,437 --> 00:18:26,437 When we started taking on parolees, 425 00:18:27,107 --> 00:18:28,106 it just kinda fit. 426 00:18:28,808 --> 00:18:31,342 Come here, good boy. 427 00:18:31,411 --> 00:18:33,411 [Tia] And the parolees, 428 00:18:33,413 --> 00:18:35,413 they felt very connected. 429 00:18:35,415 --> 00:18:36,948 [man] Ooh, good boy. 430 00:18:37,016 --> 00:18:38,683 The first parolee that we hired 431 00:18:38,685 --> 00:18:42,053 was actually the brother to one of my other employees. 432 00:18:42,956 --> 00:18:44,322 The word got out 433 00:18:44,324 --> 00:18:46,057 and then it just got explode from there. 434 00:18:46,726 --> 00:18:48,126 [country music playing] 435 00:18:48,128 --> 00:18:50,495 [indistinct conversation] 436 00:18:50,497 --> 00:18:52,730 When our show first came out 437 00:18:52,732 --> 00:18:55,466 I remember one of the main questions I used to get asked 438 00:18:55,535 --> 00:18:57,201 by viewers was 439 00:18:57,203 --> 00:19:00,204 "How can you trust those parolees around your kids?" 440 00:19:01,207 --> 00:19:02,440 And I would sit here and go... 441 00:19:03,443 --> 00:19:04,809 "Have you met my oldest daughter?" 442 00:19:04,811 --> 00:19:05,643 [yelling] 443 00:19:05,712 --> 00:19:07,912 [bleep] shut up for a second. 444 00:19:07,914 --> 00:19:10,748 [bleep] Damn it, I gave [bleep]. 445 00:19:10,816 --> 00:19:13,751 You can't make your schedule and whatever it is that you wanna take off. 446 00:19:13,820 --> 00:19:17,155 Because you do it quite often and that's [bleep]. 447 00:19:17,256 --> 00:19:19,757 Like, she could be a warden at a prison. 448 00:19:19,826 --> 00:19:21,559 -[Tania] Comprende? -Yes 449 00:19:21,661 --> 00:19:22,460 Thank you. 450 00:19:22,529 --> 00:19:23,794 [man speaking] 451 00:19:23,796 --> 00:19:25,463 -[Tania speaking] -[laughs] 452 00:19:26,533 --> 00:19:28,232 [man 1 screaming] Oh, my God. There he comes. 453 00:19:28,334 --> 00:19:29,901 [man 1 screaming] 454 00:19:29,903 --> 00:19:31,602 -[man 1] Oh. -[man 2] There is another one. 455 00:19:31,604 --> 00:19:34,405 [man 1] Get him, Monty. Oh, Monty. 456 00:19:34,407 --> 00:19:36,440 [Tia] I think we are very successful in California 457 00:19:36,442 --> 00:19:39,043 with the amount of parolees we were able to hire. 458 00:19:40,947 --> 00:19:42,613 And in moving to Louisiana, 459 00:19:42,615 --> 00:19:45,216 you know, of course, we continue the tradition 460 00:19:45,218 --> 00:19:49,253 and our mission and we've gotten some really great guys out of it 461 00:19:49,956 --> 00:19:51,622 -Hi. -How you doing? 462 00:19:52,125 --> 00:19:53,224 Come on down here. 463 00:19:53,226 --> 00:19:55,126 What I loved about meeting Earl 464 00:19:55,128 --> 00:19:57,428 and I felt it from the minute I met him. 465 00:19:57,430 --> 00:19:59,263 I said, you know what? He is one of the good ones. 466 00:19:59,332 --> 00:20:00,798 And he was just honest. 467 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,500 -Miss Tia, I'd do anything. -[Tia] Yeah. 468 00:20:02,502 --> 00:20:04,101 You know, it's just... 469 00:20:04,103 --> 00:20:06,604 Give me something to dedicate my time to... 470 00:20:06,606 --> 00:20:09,307 -All right -...I'll be dedicated to you. 471 00:20:09,309 --> 00:20:11,609 There are some people that I just wanna think about it for a minute, 472 00:20:11,611 --> 00:20:13,444 there are some people that I just know. 473 00:20:15,248 --> 00:20:17,315 And you are one of those guys I know. 474 00:20:17,417 --> 00:20:19,350 I'd like to offer you some work here. 475 00:20:19,452 --> 00:20:21,752 -Yes, ma'am. I'd love to be here. -Yeah, yeah. 476 00:20:21,854 --> 00:20:23,654 I'd love to be here. 477 00:20:23,756 --> 00:20:26,424 Come on. You gotta pick your legs up run. 478 00:20:26,426 --> 00:20:28,426 [woman laughs] Oh, my God, Earl. 479 00:20:28,428 --> 00:20:30,061 I'm killing it. [laughs] 480 00:20:30,162 --> 00:20:31,729 [Tia] This is not a job to him. 481 00:20:31,731 --> 00:20:33,798 This is just like his life. 482 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,900 The thing that makes Earl great with the dogs 483 00:20:35,902 --> 00:20:38,402 is because he truly enjoys their company. 484 00:20:38,404 --> 00:20:40,104 -[dog barking] -That's a good boy. 485 00:20:40,106 --> 00:20:41,339 That's a big fella. 486 00:20:42,041 --> 00:20:43,341 I am just so happy. 487 00:20:43,943 --> 00:20:45,409 I am just so happy. 488 00:20:45,411 --> 00:20:47,211 [Tia] What makes him successful 489 00:20:47,213 --> 00:20:49,013 is that he has fallen down 490 00:20:49,015 --> 00:20:51,816 several times and has gotten back up again. 491 00:20:51,818 --> 00:20:53,551 I think my favorite one is when he got a-- 492 00:20:53,619 --> 00:20:54,819 [laughs] 493 00:20:54,821 --> 00:20:57,755 He got arrested right here in Assumption Parish 494 00:20:57,790 --> 00:21:01,025 for a seatbelt ticket that he forget that he had. 495 00:21:01,027 --> 00:21:03,427 And I said, "Earl, that's embarrassing." 496 00:21:03,429 --> 00:21:04,462 But you know what? 497 00:21:04,464 --> 00:21:06,964 He is just like he's got to know he is honest. 498 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,666 Earl keeps tripping over these hurdles 499 00:21:08,668 --> 00:21:11,702 and he keeps getting up and starting over again and he keeps on doing it. 500 00:21:11,704 --> 00:21:13,938 You gonna be sober one day at a time. 501 00:21:18,044 --> 00:21:19,910 [Mariah] What's going on? I heard you've been leaving. 502 00:21:19,912 --> 00:21:23,214 We gotta communicate or else we think people are taking off for no reason. 503 00:21:23,216 --> 00:21:25,916 So you know the drill here. Communicate. 504 00:21:25,918 --> 00:21:27,051 -All right -[Mariah laughs] 505 00:21:27,153 --> 00:21:28,819 I know one of the most difficult things that 506 00:21:28,821 --> 00:21:32,623 my ex, AJ, had was that he didn't have good people skills. 507 00:21:32,625 --> 00:21:35,660 You know, when you're workin with these dogs, like, they don't know that. 508 00:21:35,728 --> 00:21:39,530 And they're so unconditional like, they just, like, "Hey, you're my friend." 509 00:21:39,532 --> 00:21:41,532 I mean, we've caught some of these guys 510 00:21:41,601 --> 00:21:43,634 when they think no one's looking, like, 511 00:21:43,703 --> 00:21:45,303 dancing and singing to the dogs. 512 00:21:45,305 --> 00:21:46,837 Sounds pretty cute. 513 00:21:46,906 --> 00:21:47,938 I want double kisses. 514 00:21:48,508 --> 00:21:49,407 Double kisses. 515 00:21:49,909 --> 00:21:51,509 Yeah. 516 00:21:51,511 --> 00:21:54,245 We deal with the public, we have dogs that go to the vet. 517 00:21:54,313 --> 00:21:57,648 So, you know, besides learning responsibility, 518 00:21:57,717 --> 00:22:02,053 it allows these people on parole to get out there into the world. 519 00:22:02,055 --> 00:22:03,821 You know, you learn to work with your fellow person, 520 00:22:03,923 --> 00:22:07,925 you know, and you learn how to get along 521 00:22:07,927 --> 00:22:09,360 with the outside world. 522 00:22:09,462 --> 00:22:11,696 -[all greeting] -Nice to meet you 523 00:22:11,698 --> 00:22:12,797 Nice to meet you, too. 524 00:22:12,865 --> 00:22:14,699 Well, we are gonna throw you right into it here. 525 00:22:14,701 --> 00:22:16,400 -You're gonna help take some X-rays, okay? -[woman laughs] 526 00:22:18,905 --> 00:22:22,206 [Tia] I hire these parolees unconditionally. 527 00:22:22,208 --> 00:22:23,741 Everybody gets that first shot. 528 00:22:23,843 --> 00:22:25,743 Good boy, man. 529 00:22:25,845 --> 00:22:27,778 [Tia] Throughout the years, we've had, 530 00:22:27,780 --> 00:22:30,214 you know, many parolees that have worked for us, 531 00:22:30,216 --> 00:22:32,616 some have gone on to become successful. 532 00:22:32,618 --> 00:22:34,051 Good job, Kirby. 533 00:22:34,153 --> 00:22:35,519 Some not so much. 534 00:22:36,589 --> 00:22:38,055 We get that question a lot. 535 00:22:38,057 --> 00:22:40,057 "How come you don't hire female parolees?" 536 00:22:40,059 --> 00:22:41,459 I'm like, "We do." 537 00:22:41,527 --> 00:22:42,960 Good morning. 538 00:22:42,962 --> 00:22:44,862 It's morning for you, right? 539 00:22:44,864 --> 00:22:47,798 You know, when I put out this social media post that said, 540 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,701 "Help wanted. Must have criminal record." 541 00:22:50,703 --> 00:22:53,504 Danny was one of the people that answered. 542 00:22:53,506 --> 00:22:56,040 -Hey! -[Danny] Hi! [laughs] 543 00:22:56,142 --> 00:22:58,709 [Tia] Danny will be working with Lizzy when she's out in the city. 544 00:22:58,711 --> 00:23:02,413 And then Danny also wants to help out here in Assumption Parish. 545 00:23:02,415 --> 00:23:04,582 You know, with the hiring of Danny, 546 00:23:04,584 --> 00:23:09,920 it makes her, basically, the first female former felo 547 00:23:09,922 --> 00:23:13,724 So that's kind of an exciting milestone for us. 548 00:23:13,726 --> 00:23:17,228 You know, I'm currently looking to hire some women to work 549 00:23:17,230 --> 00:23:19,830 at our wolf dog sanctuary in Athens, Texas. 550 00:23:20,333 --> 00:23:21,932 [dogs barking] 551 00:23:21,934 --> 00:23:24,201 The wolf dogs are not like 552 00:23:24,203 --> 00:23:26,103 the other dogs, they're very shy. 553 00:23:26,105 --> 00:23:28,005 They're very untrusting. 554 00:23:28,007 --> 00:23:32,143 So the female persona is les threatening to them. 555 00:23:32,211 --> 00:23:35,012 So girl power is on the way. 556 00:23:36,315 --> 00:23:39,116 Parolees, probationers, 557 00:23:39,118 --> 00:23:41,685 former felons, convicts, criminals, inmates, 558 00:23:41,687 --> 00:23:43,754 whatever you wanna call 'em 559 00:23:43,823 --> 00:23:45,890 they will always be a part of what we do. 560 00:23:45,892 --> 00:23:47,725 You know, we kinda make a joke about it. 561 00:23:47,727 --> 00:23:51,028 We say, you know, we are equal opportunity offenders 562 00:23:51,030 --> 00:23:54,031 It's just a... How we feel most comfortable 563 00:23:54,033 --> 00:23:55,433 So, um... 564 00:23:55,435 --> 00:23:58,702 "Help wanted. Must have criminal record." That's us 565 00:24:01,941 --> 00:24:02,973 [speaking indistinctly] 566 00:24:02,975 --> 00:24:05,242 Ella will be special needs. Absolutely. 567 00:24:05,311 --> 00:24:07,812 [Tia] So as the rescue grew. 568 00:24:07,814 --> 00:24:09,513 [Mariah] No, you are coming out. 569 00:24:09,515 --> 00:24:11,515 Stop, stop. You're out. Come on. 570 00:24:11,517 --> 00:24:14,051 [Tia] ...one of the biggest transformations 571 00:24:14,053 --> 00:24:15,319 Is my kids. 572 00:24:16,722 --> 00:24:17,922 [Tania] Got her. 573 00:24:17,924 --> 00:24:20,958 [Tia] There is absolutely no way 574 00:24:21,060 --> 00:24:23,027 that I could run this rescu without them. 575 00:24:30,102 --> 00:24:31,936 [phone ringing] 576 00:24:31,938 --> 00:24:33,003 [Tia] Villalobos rescue center. 577 00:24:33,506 --> 00:24:34,738 [woman over phone] 578 00:24:40,112 --> 00:24:42,713 [Tia] So, back when we lived in California, 579 00:24:42,715 --> 00:24:44,448 we didn't have that many dog 580 00:24:45,485 --> 00:24:47,718 And I had a lot more time. 581 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:49,053 The paper work. 582 00:24:49,055 --> 00:24:51,422 Computer work, emails, phone calls. 583 00:24:51,424 --> 00:24:53,757 This is Tia. You sent me an email. 584 00:24:53,759 --> 00:24:54,558 I run this ship. 585 00:24:59,732 --> 00:25:00,731 [woman] Hi, mama. 586 00:25:00,733 --> 00:25:02,132 [dog whimpering] 587 00:25:03,336 --> 00:25:04,968 Come here. 588 00:25:04,970 --> 00:25:06,937 [Tia] You know, I look back say, you know, I remember the days 589 00:25:07,006 --> 00:25:10,040 when I had more time to go out on all the rescues 590 00:25:10,175 --> 00:25:12,009 [both exclaiming] 591 00:25:12,011 --> 00:25:13,043 He wants out bad! 592 00:25:13,045 --> 00:25:14,745 [Tia] Handle all the adoptio 593 00:25:14,847 --> 00:25:15,813 This who you like? 594 00:25:15,815 --> 00:25:17,414 [man] Yeah, absolutely. 595 00:25:17,416 --> 00:25:18,616 [Tia] Did it all. 596 00:25:18,618 --> 00:25:19,783 It was a lot. 597 00:25:20,653 --> 00:25:23,521 When was the last time we had a road trip together? 598 00:25:23,523 --> 00:25:26,724 [Tania] Probably when I was born. On my way home from the hospital. 599 00:25:26,726 --> 00:25:27,958 [Tia] That hurt. 600 00:25:28,060 --> 00:25:29,627 It's hard being a single mom. 601 00:25:29,629 --> 00:25:30,728 Two hundred dogs and two kids. 602 00:25:31,831 --> 00:25:33,364 So what's the right thing to do? 603 00:25:33,432 --> 00:25:36,000 Stay home with the kids and go on welfare? 604 00:25:36,002 --> 00:25:39,036 Or work your ass off so they have what they need. 605 00:25:39,038 --> 00:25:40,404 You know, spend as much time with them. 606 00:25:47,613 --> 00:25:50,447 [Tia] So as the rescue grew 607 00:25:50,483 --> 00:25:54,118 it became pretty much impossible for me to 608 00:25:54,120 --> 00:25:55,819 keep up with everything on my own. 609 00:25:55,821 --> 00:25:59,623 So I did have to let some control go 610 00:25:59,625 --> 00:26:01,225 and allow my kids to step in to help me. 611 00:26:02,461 --> 00:26:03,227 Mariah get up. 612 00:26:03,963 --> 00:26:05,329 Now. Up, up. 613 00:26:06,599 --> 00:26:08,432 -Yeah -[dog barking] 614 00:26:08,501 --> 00:26:11,602 Mom, I totally forgot which dog I was supposed to move. 615 00:26:11,604 --> 00:26:13,404 Okay, I'm gonna try and tell two of you, 616 00:26:13,406 --> 00:26:14,705 so one of you will get it right. 617 00:26:14,707 --> 00:26:16,240 -Okay. [laughs] -All right 618 00:26:16,342 --> 00:26:17,608 Make him follow. There you go 619 00:26:18,644 --> 00:26:21,445 Don't [bleep]. It's getting in my shirt. 620 00:26:21,547 --> 00:26:22,546 [woman] Where am I putting him? 621 00:26:22,648 --> 00:26:25,215 [Tia] Ella would be special needs. Absolutely. 622 00:26:25,217 --> 00:26:26,417 -Really -[Tia] Yeah, he is a handful. 623 00:26:35,828 --> 00:26:37,528 [dogs barking] 624 00:26:37,530 --> 00:26:39,697 [Tia] It was quite a wakeup call 625 00:26:39,699 --> 00:26:41,098 when we got here in Louisian 626 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:43,434 with the amount of dogs that came at us 627 00:26:43,502 --> 00:26:47,805 that I had to let go of som of the control, 628 00:26:47,807 --> 00:26:50,207 and put trust in my kids, 629 00:26:51,043 --> 00:26:52,042 the employees, 630 00:26:52,511 --> 00:26:54,011 the parolees. 631 00:26:54,013 --> 00:26:56,814 There was no way that I could do this alone any longer. 632 00:26:56,816 --> 00:26:57,881 [dog barking] 633 00:26:57,883 --> 00:27:00,484 Like, I can have all the Post-it notes I want 634 00:27:00,486 --> 00:27:03,520 listed in order of importance 635 00:27:03,522 --> 00:27:05,522 of things that have to get done, 636 00:27:05,524 --> 00:27:09,660 and within the first 30 minutes of opening up my eyeballs, 637 00:27:09,762 --> 00:27:11,128 it's gone to hell in a ham basket. 638 00:27:11,130 --> 00:27:13,831 We just have a very chaotic life. 639 00:27:15,234 --> 00:27:16,500 When we moved to New Orleans 640 00:27:16,502 --> 00:27:18,736 not only did the number of rescues go up, 641 00:27:18,837 --> 00:27:21,405 but they seemed to become more difficult 642 00:27:21,407 --> 00:27:26,944 There are a million places for dogs to hide here in the city. 643 00:27:27,013 --> 00:27:28,746 You know, with Hurricane Katrina, 644 00:27:28,814 --> 00:27:32,149 a lot of the neighborhoods are still littered with abandoned houses, 645 00:27:32,184 --> 00:27:34,418 you know, old, torn-up buildings. 646 00:27:34,420 --> 00:27:38,822 It just makes it almost impossible to find these dogs. 647 00:27:38,824 --> 00:27:39,857 [dog barking] 648 00:27:39,859 --> 00:27:41,458 [Tia] Come on up, come on up, come on up. 649 00:27:41,527 --> 00:27:44,928 There were so many things that became quite the obstac for us 650 00:27:44,930 --> 00:27:49,933 to overcome, learn from, and work around and then, eventually, work with. 651 00:27:51,604 --> 00:27:54,038 [whispering] Get ready. Like, if she comes backward, 652 00:27:54,106 --> 00:27:55,506 so she comes backward... 653 00:27:55,508 --> 00:27:58,142 Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. It's on. 654 00:27:58,210 --> 00:27:59,810 Over her. It's on. 655 00:27:59,812 --> 00:28:01,278 Right at her. Right at her. 656 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:05,115 Okay. Now. Now. Now. 657 00:28:05,117 --> 00:28:10,421 You know, as the rescues became more complicated, uh, became more intense, 658 00:28:10,423 --> 00:28:11,889 our rescue team had to grow. 659 00:28:13,125 --> 00:28:16,660 [Mariah] No, no. Here, coming out. Stop. stop. Yeah, come on. 660 00:28:16,762 --> 00:28:18,028 Let's go! Let's go! 661 00:28:18,030 --> 00:28:19,430 [Tia] That included my kids. 662 00:28:19,432 --> 00:28:21,031 Come on, baby. It's okay. 663 00:28:21,033 --> 00:28:24,134 Earl, and Toney Converse, and just, the list goes on. 664 00:28:24,236 --> 00:28:28,238 And then, there were times when it included, like, every employee we had 665 00:28:28,340 --> 00:28:30,040 to rescue one dog. 666 00:28:30,109 --> 00:28:31,108 Lizzy is here? 667 00:28:31,110 --> 00:28:32,843 [woman] I can see her. 668 00:28:32,845 --> 00:28:34,945 [Tia] Push her in, don't let her come out this way. Just kind of get closed in. 669 00:28:34,947 --> 00:28:36,814 So I need you guys, yeah. All up along on the fence. 670 00:28:36,816 --> 00:28:38,215 All on the... right here. 671 00:28:39,418 --> 00:28:41,351 And when she sticks her head out, you'll grab her. 672 00:28:41,453 --> 00:28:42,252 [woman] Okay. 673 00:28:42,354 --> 00:28:43,454 I got her. 674 00:28:43,555 --> 00:28:44,721 Yeah, you're okay, Mama. 675 00:28:44,723 --> 00:28:46,557 Doesn't take that many people to catch a pit bull. 676 00:28:49,061 --> 00:28:51,929 When I had my accident and I shattered my entire leg, 677 00:28:51,931 --> 00:28:54,898 you know, my kids and some of the employees, 678 00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:57,234 you know, they just... they jumped right in. 679 00:28:57,336 --> 00:29:00,738 And... just, you know, handled business. 680 00:29:00,806 --> 00:29:06,143 People are looking to us to give them the perfect addition to their family. 681 00:29:06,245 --> 00:29:07,811 And that's a lot of pressure. 682 00:29:07,813 --> 00:29:09,813 [woman] Brian in the back and Jordan's by himself. 683 00:29:09,815 --> 00:29:12,249 And then everyone else, I think, has someone working with them. 684 00:29:13,519 --> 00:29:17,321 My kids have grown up in this life. 685 00:29:17,323 --> 00:29:20,424 And, so, they've learned so much. 686 00:29:20,426 --> 00:29:23,427 Uh, so much that they are able to determine 687 00:29:23,429 --> 00:29:26,530 what rescue technique is going to work the best. 688 00:29:27,066 --> 00:29:28,365 You want some cheese? 689 00:29:32,404 --> 00:29:33,704 Got her! 690 00:29:33,706 --> 00:29:35,339 Go, go, go, go, go. 691 00:29:35,407 --> 00:29:37,207 I'm stressing out right now. 692 00:29:38,410 --> 00:29:40,944 Yes. Oh, my God! Yes! 693 00:29:40,946 --> 00:29:42,146 Whoo! 694 00:29:42,615 --> 00:29:44,181 Hi, baby! 695 00:29:44,183 --> 00:29:47,484 Look, we're gonna put this around you... Hi, baby girl! 696 00:29:47,486 --> 00:29:49,253 [Tia] We learn as we go. 697 00:29:49,354 --> 00:29:53,423 These past six years, one o the biggest transformations 698 00:29:53,425 --> 00:29:55,259 is... my kids. 699 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:57,561 Well, earlier in California, we had around, like, 200 dogs. 700 00:29:57,663 --> 00:30:01,098 -It's completely doubled, we have almost 400 dogs now. -Wow. 701 00:30:01,100 --> 00:30:03,801 [Tia] There is absolutely no way 702 00:30:03,803 --> 00:30:06,603 that I could run this rescu without them. 703 00:30:06,605 --> 00:30:10,808 Is there a specific type of energy level that you guys are looking for? 704 00:30:10,810 --> 00:30:14,945 [Tia] They have come along so far since Season One. 705 00:30:15,014 --> 00:30:18,048 I have to believe that this lifestyle that I've chosen for my kids, 706 00:30:18,050 --> 00:30:20,851 and that my kids have agree to stay by my side with, 707 00:30:20,886 --> 00:30:23,053 will make them stronger... 708 00:30:24,223 --> 00:30:27,457 ...make them more compassionate for life 709 00:30:27,559 --> 00:30:30,260 and we're doing this for a reason. 710 00:30:35,134 --> 00:30:37,201 [speaking indistinctly] 711 00:30:37,203 --> 00:30:40,537 [Tia] Anybody who runs one of these small rural shelters, 712 00:30:40,639 --> 00:30:43,240 I'll tell ya, they are the ultimate heroes. 713 00:30:43,309 --> 00:30:44,574 [man] Oh, yeah. 714 00:30:44,576 --> 00:30:47,511 [Tia] I really love to be ab to give them hope. 715 00:30:51,150 --> 00:30:52,516 [upbeat music playing] 716 00:30:59,458 --> 00:31:01,058 [Tia] You know, when we moved to New Orleans, 717 00:31:01,126 --> 00:31:03,861 of course, our main goal was to help the dogs. 718 00:31:03,962 --> 00:31:07,598 But, part of our mission was also to help the people in the community. 719 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,933 -Hi, I'm Tia. Hi. -Hi. Nice to meet you. 720 00:31:10,002 --> 00:31:14,438 [Tia] I've always been drawn to wanting to help small rural country shelters 721 00:31:14,539 --> 00:31:16,640 Because that's how we starte 722 00:31:16,709 --> 00:31:19,610 In California, our location was so remote. 723 00:31:19,612 --> 00:31:23,614 Like, way down this dirt roa in the middle of the desert So we get it. 724 00:31:23,616 --> 00:31:26,650 And, being able to use the platform of the TV show 725 00:31:26,719 --> 00:31:29,519 to get these smaller shelter the help they need 726 00:31:29,521 --> 00:31:30,921 is something that I really enjoy doing. 727 00:31:30,923 --> 00:31:32,122 Hi, puppies. 728 00:31:42,501 --> 00:31:46,937 Dirt Road Rescue is a name that I gave 729 00:31:47,006 --> 00:31:49,806 toward my efforts to help small rural shelters. 730 00:31:49,808 --> 00:31:52,743 Small shelters that are way in the middle of nowhere 731 00:31:52,844 --> 00:31:55,812 that hardly get donations. 732 00:31:55,814 --> 00:31:58,148 -Look at you, how are you? -Good, good, good. 733 00:31:58,217 --> 00:32:00,817 -[woman] Hi, Mama! -You're okay, you're all right. 734 00:32:00,819 --> 00:32:02,920 -[Tia] When you're low on manpower... -[man] Yeah. 735 00:32:02,922 --> 00:32:04,054 [Tia] ...I mean, it's just hard. 736 00:32:06,825 --> 00:32:10,227 That debris is just falling on a daily basis. 737 00:32:10,763 --> 00:32:11,762 [man] Oh, yeah. 738 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:16,800 [woman] Holy moly! 739 00:32:16,802 --> 00:32:18,535 No wonder they needed help. 740 00:32:18,604 --> 00:32:22,005 Anybody who runs one of these small rural shelters, 741 00:32:22,007 --> 00:32:25,042 I'll tell ya, they are the ultimate heroes. 742 00:32:25,044 --> 00:32:27,344 It's gotta be so frustratin for them. 743 00:32:27,413 --> 00:32:29,813 You know, they don't have.. 744 00:32:29,815 --> 00:32:33,050 ...the foot traffic that some of these bigger metropolitan shelters have, 745 00:32:33,151 --> 00:32:34,651 you know, in these big cities. 746 00:32:34,753 --> 00:32:36,853 -Oh, some take longer than others. -[Tia] Yeah. 747 00:32:36,922 --> 00:32:39,957 -You got a variety of people, so... -[Tia laughs] 748 00:32:40,025 --> 00:32:43,994 [Tia] I want to be able to go to these small shelter and pair them up 749 00:32:43,996 --> 00:32:47,431 with a bigger shelter, in a bigger city. 750 00:32:47,433 --> 00:32:51,802 Then on a regular basis, you can keep pulling dogs from them. To give them hope. 751 00:32:51,804 --> 00:32:53,804 [woman speaking] 752 00:32:53,806 --> 00:32:56,073 -Okay, very good. -[man laughing] 753 00:32:56,075 --> 00:32:58,108 [speaking indistinctly] 754 00:32:58,110 --> 00:33:01,945 [Tia] You know, I try to help the ones that I can, but... 755 00:33:02,014 --> 00:33:04,214 you know, every day is a struggle for us as well. 756 00:33:04,216 --> 00:33:09,152 So, I really love to highlight them when I can 757 00:33:09,221 --> 00:33:13,223 It is overwhelming, but, you know, here you can see.. 758 00:33:13,225 --> 00:33:15,559 really how much of a difference you make. 759 00:33:15,627 --> 00:33:18,862 [Mariah] I can help you do her shots, and do other stuff. 760 00:33:18,930 --> 00:33:20,330 [man talking indistinctly] 761 00:33:20,332 --> 00:33:22,799 -No, no, no. You're not gonna pay for any of this. -All right. 762 00:33:22,801 --> 00:33:26,937 Out here, like, this entire parishes that don't have any shelter. 763 00:33:26,939 --> 00:33:29,172 [woman] This is kind of a new endeavor for this parish 764 00:33:29,174 --> 00:33:31,308 'cause they never had an animal control. 765 00:33:31,310 --> 00:33:34,344 They were stacked to the ceiling in wire crates. 766 00:33:34,413 --> 00:33:38,015 Everybody was two-plus to a kennel. Some kennels were three and four, like-- 767 00:33:38,017 --> 00:33:39,616 [Tia] Yeah, it's just... this is it. 768 00:33:39,618 --> 00:33:41,918 People that have never been here, 769 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:45,255 and you're on Facebook, and you're talking all your crap about, 770 00:33:45,323 --> 00:33:48,191 "All they have to do is just get their dogs spayed and neutered 771 00:33:48,193 --> 00:33:49,760 then we wouldn't have this problem." 772 00:33:49,762 --> 00:33:55,599 Some of these places... There's not a vet for a million miles. 773 00:33:55,601 --> 00:33:59,403 We've learned not to be judgmental. We've learned to listen, 774 00:33:59,405 --> 00:34:01,605 and just try to help and educate. 775 00:34:01,607 --> 00:34:03,940 Unless you're here and you see it, 776 00:34:04,042 --> 00:34:06,343 you have no idea what you're talking about. 777 00:34:06,445 --> 00:34:08,111 I want you to get a really good look 778 00:34:08,113 --> 00:34:11,748 that makes me very emotional to... 779 00:34:11,817 --> 00:34:13,450 see what we're up against. 780 00:34:16,121 --> 00:34:20,457 You know, the life of an animal rescuer, period It's a tough one. 781 00:34:20,559 --> 00:34:21,792 -[Tia] Hi. -[Donna] Hi, Tia, I'm Donna. 782 00:34:21,794 --> 00:34:23,527 [Tia] Hi, Donna. 783 00:34:23,529 --> 00:34:26,296 [Tia] You know, there's some good days, but I alway tell everybody. 784 00:34:26,298 --> 00:34:29,332 There's more bad than good. And that's just the truth. 785 00:34:29,401 --> 00:34:32,736 So, we've been able to visit these smaller shelters 786 00:34:32,838 --> 00:34:37,140 and do, like, Facebook live giving them exposure, tryin to get their dogs homes, 787 00:34:37,242 --> 00:34:39,509 offering what we can to help them, 788 00:34:39,511 --> 00:34:41,711 and just giving them the support that they need. 789 00:34:43,649 --> 00:34:46,917 I just took on another little project, here in Assumption Parish. 790 00:34:46,919 --> 00:34:53,723 Having a brand-new, beautifu custom-built, mobile vet clinic built for us 791 00:34:53,725 --> 00:34:58,061 where we will be able to go around to the small rural areas 792 00:34:58,130 --> 00:35:00,063 and do free spay and neuter programs. 793 00:35:00,132 --> 00:35:03,100 We are super excited about this spay and neuter mobile, 794 00:35:03,102 --> 00:35:06,703 because these small towns, a lot of them, 795 00:35:06,705 --> 00:35:11,241 don't have an animal sheltering system, or a local vet. 796 00:35:11,309 --> 00:35:14,978 So, to be able to drive from small town to small tow 797 00:35:14,980 --> 00:35:17,547 and spay and neuter people's dogs for free... 798 00:35:18,517 --> 00:35:20,417 I... I can't even tell you how excited I am. 799 00:35:24,056 --> 00:35:26,156 I wanna thank everybody for coming out right now 800 00:35:26,258 --> 00:35:28,325 to the Villalobos Rescue Center fundraiser. 801 00:35:29,328 --> 00:35:30,994 -[water splashing] -[people laughing] 802 00:35:30,996 --> 00:35:33,663 [Tia] Non-profit animal rescues will not make it without donations. 803 00:35:33,732 --> 00:35:34,798 Plain and simple. 804 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:36,299 -[indistinct chatter] -[woman] Thank you. 805 00:35:36,301 --> 00:35:37,534 -[people cheering] -[bell ringing] 806 00:35:37,603 --> 00:35:39,836 We are now open for business. 807 00:35:39,905 --> 00:35:43,940 [Tia] You do have to think outside the box, be super creative. 808 00:35:52,618 --> 00:35:56,553 [Tia] Non-profit animal rescues will not make it without donations. 809 00:35:57,623 --> 00:35:59,523 Just plain and simple. 810 00:35:59,525 --> 00:36:01,525 -[indistinct chatter] -[woman] Thank you. 811 00:36:01,527 --> 00:36:02,959 [Tia] Without... 812 00:36:03,028 --> 00:36:06,630 the public's help, fundraising, social media, 813 00:36:06,632 --> 00:36:09,499 without grants, without private donors, all that. 814 00:36:10,102 --> 00:36:11,034 They're not gonna make it. 815 00:36:12,738 --> 00:36:15,939 Every. Single. Day. 816 00:36:15,941 --> 00:36:17,640 Every single day. 817 00:36:17,642 --> 00:36:21,945 When I wake up, my mind is already, like, picking up something to do. 818 00:36:22,047 --> 00:36:22,812 To raise money. 819 00:36:25,217 --> 00:36:26,950 You okay? You're okay. 820 00:36:27,519 --> 00:36:28,752 You're okay. 821 00:36:28,853 --> 00:36:30,520 Let me try to get the leash out of the way. 822 00:36:30,522 --> 00:36:32,722 When you break down 823 00:36:32,724 --> 00:36:38,161 what it cost Villalobos a year to survive, 824 00:36:38,230 --> 00:36:41,698 it averages out to $13,000 a day. 825 00:36:41,700 --> 00:36:44,801 That's what, like, it costs the rescue to operate. 826 00:36:46,505 --> 00:36:49,206 We have tried various ways to raise money. 827 00:36:49,208 --> 00:36:55,045 We have been secretly working to create a incredibly large-scale event. 828 00:36:55,047 --> 00:36:57,814 And, uh, we're gonna give you all the money. 829 00:36:58,250 --> 00:36:59,815 Wow! 830 00:36:59,817 --> 00:37:03,954 From having a banquet fundraising event in Las Vegas... 831 00:37:03,956 --> 00:37:06,723 [man] We would like to present you, Tia... 832 00:37:06,725 --> 00:37:08,291 -with this check from us. -Oh... [laughs] 833 00:37:08,293 --> 00:37:12,696 For the small fee of $25,000. 834 00:37:12,698 --> 00:37:14,798 [Tia] ...to having a mini carnival. 835 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:18,001 First and foremost, we wanna thank everybody for coming out right now 836 00:37:18,003 --> 00:37:20,604 to the Villalobos Rescue Center fundraiser. 837 00:37:20,606 --> 00:37:24,441 -[water splashing] -[people cheering] 838 00:37:24,509 --> 00:37:28,612 [Tia] Uh, another way that we raised some extra funds was through doing calendars 839 00:37:29,314 --> 00:37:30,146 Oh, yeah. 840 00:37:31,350 --> 00:37:32,115 [screams] 841 00:37:32,117 --> 00:37:32,982 [man and woman laughing] 842 00:37:32,984 --> 00:37:34,017 [Tia] She's falling off her shoes. 843 00:37:34,519 --> 00:37:36,419 People love them. 844 00:37:38,724 --> 00:37:41,591 When I have people come to m and ask for advice 845 00:37:41,593 --> 00:37:46,229 on how to be successful in keeping their, you know, dog rescue going, 846 00:37:46,231 --> 00:37:48,732 you need to treat it like a business. 847 00:37:49,701 --> 00:37:52,602 Because if you don't, you will sink. 848 00:37:52,604 --> 00:37:55,505 So you do have to think outside the box, 849 00:37:55,507 --> 00:37:56,906 be super creative. 850 00:38:00,012 --> 00:38:03,813 We met this guy who owns a bar in Chaumet 851 00:38:03,815 --> 00:38:08,218 and we were thinking that it might be a good idea to take it over. 852 00:38:08,220 --> 00:38:12,656 So, the Tahyo Tavern, we came up with a little mission statement, 853 00:38:12,724 --> 00:38:14,624 little motto, that said, "You drink, they eat." 854 00:38:14,626 --> 00:38:17,360 -[all cheering] -[bell dinging] 855 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:23,099 [woman cheering] 856 00:38:23,101 --> 00:38:25,201 [Tia] Hey, it's New Orleans Alcohol is one of the main food groups. 857 00:38:25,203 --> 00:38:29,406 So, you drink, you feed the dogs. 858 00:38:29,408 --> 00:38:33,510 So, that's when we came up with the idea to open up our souvenir shop. 859 00:38:33,512 --> 00:38:36,012 [woman] Can I get some of these treats for my dog, please? 860 00:38:36,014 --> 00:38:37,113 [all laughing] 861 00:38:37,949 --> 00:38:40,216 And, our restaurant in the French Quarter. 862 00:38:40,218 --> 00:38:42,452 I saw that we have, like, the outdoor dog seating and stuff, 863 00:38:42,554 --> 00:38:44,054 but, do we have any, like, we don't have any, like, 864 00:38:44,056 --> 00:38:45,555 -dog stuff, right, on the menu? -No. 865 00:38:45,657 --> 00:38:49,426 [Tia] I wanted to be able t have outside businesses... 866 00:38:49,428 --> 00:38:50,994 I made doggie cupcakes. 867 00:38:50,996 --> 00:38:54,664 [Tia] ...that would help raise money to put towards the rescue. 868 00:38:54,733 --> 00:38:56,199 All right, he's into it. 869 00:38:57,803 --> 00:39:00,203 Once the pandemic hit, we were scared. 870 00:39:00,205 --> 00:39:02,806 Yeah, we started hearing things on the news, actually 871 00:39:02,808 --> 00:39:06,609 How non-profits were gonna suffer, especiall and I'm just like... 872 00:39:06,611 --> 00:39:07,944 Oh, my gosh. 873 00:39:07,946 --> 00:39:11,247 People lost their businesses, people couldn't go to work. 874 00:39:11,316 --> 00:39:14,517 Why donate your last dollar to us? 875 00:39:14,519 --> 00:39:17,520 It got real scary. It got real scary. 876 00:39:17,522 --> 00:39:21,725 Time to hook up all grandpas and grandmas. 877 00:39:21,727 --> 00:39:24,928 [Tia] I did manage to come u with one program that did help 878 00:39:24,930 --> 00:39:28,665 at least keep my restaurant staff going. 879 00:39:28,733 --> 00:39:30,800 And that was the program we called the Doggie Bag. 880 00:39:30,802 --> 00:39:35,939 This is Toney Converse from Villalobos Rescue Center who is bringing you some food. 881 00:39:35,941 --> 00:39:38,641 [Tia] When you donated to the Doggie Bag program, 882 00:39:38,743 --> 00:39:42,145 it paid for a meal that we prepared, 883 00:39:42,247 --> 00:39:45,315 that we then donated to the senior community 884 00:39:45,317 --> 00:39:46,950 down the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. 885 00:39:47,051 --> 00:39:49,052 How you doing? 886 00:39:49,054 --> 00:39:51,554 [Earl] Yeah, I think that's a full chop. 887 00:39:51,623 --> 00:39:55,759 [Tia] Earl and Toney Convers really took the Doggie Bag program to heart. 888 00:39:55,860 --> 00:39:59,662 They are in New Orleans, born and bred. Like, they kn the area. 889 00:39:59,731 --> 00:40:03,032 They're both so great with people in general. 890 00:40:03,101 --> 00:40:06,202 They didn't just bring a hot meal to somebody, 891 00:40:06,204 --> 00:40:08,738 but they brought happiness. And hope! 892 00:40:11,209 --> 00:40:13,042 When the Covid pandemic hit, 893 00:40:13,078 --> 00:40:15,211 we couldn't afford to keep paying rent. 894 00:40:17,115 --> 00:40:20,316 We made a very, very painfu decision to close our doors 895 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:23,520 So, we had to come up with, like, a plan B. 896 00:40:24,156 --> 00:40:25,355 See the old door? 897 00:40:25,457 --> 00:40:26,723 [woman] I want these candles in my house. 898 00:40:26,725 --> 00:40:28,491 -[indistinct conversation] -[laughing] 899 00:40:28,493 --> 00:40:30,727 [Tia] Many years ago when I first came to Assumption Parish, 900 00:40:30,729 --> 00:40:34,063 one of the first things I noticed was this amazing old building. 901 00:40:34,065 --> 00:40:37,333 So, I got a donation that helped me buy this old building, 902 00:40:37,402 --> 00:40:40,804 and we are now getting it fixed up, 903 00:40:40,806 --> 00:40:43,206 and turning into a little cafe. 904 00:40:43,208 --> 00:40:46,509 We're using the equipment from the tavern that we clos down in the French Quarter, 905 00:40:46,511 --> 00:40:49,846 and knowing that when you do spend money there, 906 00:40:49,914 --> 00:40:52,415 it will go to take care of the animals here in the parish. 907 00:40:52,417 --> 00:40:55,852 We're pretty close to being able to open up to the public. 908 00:41:01,927 --> 00:41:04,260 I think at this point with Villalobos, 909 00:41:04,329 --> 00:41:08,398 my plans are just to restructure it. 910 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:10,600 We're making some moves, 911 00:41:10,602 --> 00:41:12,936 both literally and figuratively. 912 00:41:16,208 --> 00:41:17,874 It's cute, right? 913 00:41:17,876 --> 00:41:19,142 We're trying to improve, and make things better for the dogs, 914 00:41:19,244 --> 00:41:21,110 and, um... and the people. 915 00:41:24,015 --> 00:41:27,350 My opening mission statement I still say it. 916 00:41:27,419 --> 00:41:31,421 I still hope that one day I do not have to rescue. 917 00:41:31,423 --> 00:41:33,723 Not because I won't want to 918 00:41:33,725 --> 00:41:37,360 but because there are no more dogs that need help 919 00:41:38,330 --> 00:41:40,230 You know, a girl can dream, I guess.