
On Sundays, we like to dig around for fun stuff. We have a ball! (Literally.)
Happy Update!: A couple of years ago, we posted this appreciation of Villalobos Rescue Center and the Animal Planet series that follows their work and the adoptable dogs in their care. We were fond of Ruby, an American Bulldog, who appeared on the show and recently we heard that Ruby is adopted and living a great life! Here’s a note from Ruby’s mom! “Ruby is now in wonderful health and living in Arizona. We adopted her after seeing her on the TV program. We are retired and she goes every place with us.” We’re so happy for Ruby and her new family!
We’ve become big fans of the Animal Planet series “Pit Bulls & Parolees.” Now in its second season, the reality show follows the work of Villalobos Rescue Center (VRC), the largest Pit Bull rescue facility in the country. Founded and run by Tia Torres, VRC rehabilitates Pit Bulls who have been abused and/or abandoned and works to find homes for the dogs—no matter how long it takes.

Tia Torres, founder of Villalobos Rescue Center and star of “Pit Bulls & Parolees.” Image via Animal Planet.
Much of the show is filmed at VRC’s high desert location about an hour northeast of Los Angeles where between 150-200 Pit Bulls are cared for. Torres is aided by her two daughters and two sons, along with staff and the employees who make up the other half of her rescue mission and the show’s title, “Pit Bulls & Parolees.”
In 2006, Torres added the “The Underdawgz” program to VRC to help parolees transition back to being productive members of their communities. (The idea formed after Torres met her husband, who was then in prison. Unfortunately, he is once again incarcerated.) The show currently features seven parolees who work on the 10-acre VRC property feeding the dogs, cleaning the kennels and learning how to train the Pit Bulls to ready them for adoption.
VRC has found a way to truly specialize in second chances for both dogs and people and from what we can see they work damn hard at it! Not only are we really digging their efforts but we love the balance of tough and caring personalities on the show and the chance to see all the beautiful dogs in VRC’s care.
One of the dogs featured in last night’s episode was Ruby, an American Bulldog. VRC rescued Ruby (formerly Tundra) after Southern California Bulldog Rescue alerted Torres to the dog’s tragic circumstances. Ruby had been used as a bait dog by the despicable human creatures who force dogs to fight.
Thankfully, Ruby has recovered from her severe physical injuries and is now ready to find a forever family that will give her the special love and care that she so deserves. Ruby exuded such charm during her scenes on the show that I practically had the urge to pet the television!
Watch clips from “Pitbulls & Parolees” and find its TV schedule here. Read about the compelling background stories of Torres and her crew here. Find out more about VRC (which is now located in New Orleans) including how you can help, here.