Pitbulls and Parolees is an American reality television series on Animal Planet. Began in 2009, the series focuses on the Villalobos Rescue Center (VRC), a rescue for dogs, especially pitbull dogs. The mission of the show is to combat misconceptions about pitbull dogs and other similar dogs (frequently referred to as "bully breeds"), and to give employment and a stable transition for recent parolees who are attempting to return to society.
Relocation – Where is Villalobos Moving to?
In the year of 2011, Tia Maria Torres had planned to move Villalobos to Tehachapi, California, around 75 miles north of where it had operated in Agua Dulce. It appeared to be a good place for Villalobos Rescue Center to relocate with the overabundance of Pitbull dogs in Kern County and a prison facility in town, with newly released inmates looking for job.
Villalobos Rescue Center got all the proper permits, but at the final moment Kern County did not give permission for the rescue to conduct their business in the remote area of Old West Ranch, Tehachapi. Tia Maria Torres lose all of her personal savings spent on the Tehachapi project. Finally, Villalobos Rescue Center was forced to remain at the Agua Dulce location.
The rules about kennel permits were becoming increasingly strict and also expensive in Los Angeles County. On November 13, 2011, to survive financially, the rescue announced that they would be moving the facility out of California. After considering several locations, the non-profit group select Louisiana for their new home. It took nearly one year to make the entire move complete.
On January 1, 2012, Tia Maria Torres arrived with the last group. The group consists of 30 dogs of the total 160 dogs. It make the state of Louisiana is one and only permanent location. The location of new rescue and adoption facility is in the Upper ninth Ward of New Orleans (Louisiana) with many other satellite locations scattered throughout southern Louisiana.
The 10th season of Pitbulls and Parolees began airing in winter 2018 – 2019. This show regularly airs on Animal Planet weekdays at 12 PM and 1 PM EST. On June 15, 2020, it was announced that the 16th season would premiere on July 25, 2020.
Villalobos Is Leaving California
The dream of moving Villalobos Rescue Center (VRC) to Tehachapi, California is no longer happening. After spending countless days and money preparing for what was to be a paradise for Pitbulls dogs, Kern County denied their permits to operate at the last minute. This was occur after they had been told with each step in the process. Also, the Kern County Sheriff’s Dept got involved by sending the county commissioners a three page letter saying that they were dangerous. Their good work in Los Angeles County meant nothing to these people.
Although being denied permits to run a business out of the Tehachapi property, there was nothing that said they could not run a sanctuary for their old dogs there. Thus, they held their heads high and began to make plans to have their loyal employee, Mando and his family move there to run the sanctuary. To do something good with the property gave it a goal and all the hard work would not be in vain.
According to the research, on September 4, 2011, a small plane crashed in front of the house in Tehachapi and then burst into flames. Within some minutes their Pitbull Sanctuary was a burning inferno. It was the second fire to hit their Tehachapi property in a year. The fire from last year barely missed them, but this one took everything. An Oak trees that once stood tall for some years were nothing but tall, black toothpicks now. The indoor kennel building was nothing, but crumpled metal and the contents nothing but ashes and dust. Thankfully, there were no dogs, and everyone was safe.
So, Villalobos Rescue Center was forced to remain at their old location in Agua Dulce, California until something could be found. In this past year, the rules and the regulations for running a kennel business in Los Angeles county changed and became more strict and more expensive. Later, there were those angry brush fires which continued to get closer and closer with each blaze. Someone was sending them a message. Between the loss of the Tehachapi property and the growing expenses to survive in Los Angeles County, they decided to make a life altering decision, Villalobos Rescue Center is leaving California.
After 18 years of operating in Los Angeles County, they have already begun their journey to leave California and will be setting up in two locations. One location will be a sanctuary for their unadoptables and their senior dogs, while the other location will be their rescue and adoption center. Though the two locations are going to be some states away from each other, they are going to still continue to function as one organization. Other big change in regards to the move is that for the first time in Villalobos history, their rescue or adoption center will be open to the public on a walk-in basis. Also, it will serve as a “K-9 Welfare Center” for the neighborhood. The sanctuary is going to be run out of a donated 50 acre ranch and also will serve as a peaceful oasis for their seniors and unadoptables.
Background of Pitbulls and Parolees
Pitbulls and Parolees describes the day-to-day operations at the Villalobos Rescue Center (VRC). Tia Maria Torres Torres started the shelter in Agua Dulce, California. In the year of 2011, the shelter relocated to the Greater New Orleans in Louisiana. Episodes commonly feature some stories, and usually include both a dog rescue and an adoption. Also, episodes feature Tia Maria Torres and her family, including the two daughters Tania and Mariah, adopted twin sons Kanani and Moe, their wives Lizzie and Mariah and the parolees who work for the rescue, doing daily care training duties and pit bull rescue missions.
