As the popularity of the show entitled Pitbulls and Parolees keeps soaring, some people are curious where the current location of Villalobos Rescue Center featured on Pitbull and Parolees is located. The reasons why they want to know about it could be varied. Some might want to apply to the rescue as a volunteer while some others might want to visit the place and join the tour.
According to the official website of Villalobos Rescue Center, this rescue center is currently located in Louisiana in the city of New Orleans and in the rural or country environment of Assumption Parish. The place of the rescue is close to New Orleans. If you are from New Orleans, it will only take about an hour and half for you to reach the rescue center.
In 2011, the founder of Villalobos Rescue Center named Tia Torres had a plan to move the rescue center to a small town called Tehachapi, California. It is located around 75 north of where it had operated in Agua Dulce. She thought it was the best place for the rescue to move there as the Pit Bulls in Kern County and in a prison facility in town were a lot. Not only that, her idea was also supported by the fact that there was a great number of the newly released inmates that were looking for the things to make life.
Villalobos Rescue Center managed to get all the proper permits. Unfortunately, it did not go as planned as Kern County did not grant permission for them to conduct their business in the remote area of Old West Ranch, Tehachapi. It happened at the last minute. It was such an unfortunate thing for Tia and everyone in the rescue. She gave everything, even her own savings, for the Tehachapi project yet all the money and energy were wasted. At the time, there was nothing that they could do except from staying at the Agua Dulce location.
Due to the rules about kennel permits getting really strict and not cheap in Los Angeles County, on November 12, 2011, Villalobos Rescue Center made a public announcement that everything would be moved from California to keep the rescue runs. There were some options to choose from. In the end, they chose Louisiana as the new home as they reckoned their efforts when they survived Hurricane Katrina. From the first plan, they finally made an entire move after a year.
On the first day of 2012, Tia Torres landed in the state of Louisiana with the other 30 people and a total of 160 dogs. The new place for the dogs is located in the Upper 9th Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition to the place, Villalobos Rescue Center has some other locations that are spread in southern Louisiana.
For anyone who loves animals, especially dogs, and wants to visit Villalobos Rescue Center to be a volunteer, here is a few things to take note:
- You can only be a volunteer on Saturday. If the weather is bad on the day you are supposed to be a volunteer, you can try next time as the event will be canceled because the facility is all outdoors.
- According to the official website of Villalobos Rescue Center, the rescue is located at 5541 Hwy 1, Napoleonville, LA. 70390. Coming to the location without notifying beforehand is not recommended. In addition, the gates will be locked on the other days aside from Saturday.
- Every volunteer will start their activity from 10 AM to whenever.
- Keep in mind that everyone is not allowed to bring personal or service dogs.
- As a volunteer, you are prohibited to take pictures of the dogs and facilities or anything. However, you are allowed to take photos from a distance and be respectful. Avoid shoving the camera to the dogs or to the people at the rescue. Do not make the dogs feel uncomfortable. When the dogs are bothered, running away is not the best solution. Instead of running away, you have to handle the situation well.
- For Villalobos Rescue Center, reserving a spot is needed. You can write a request and send it to pitbullsandparolees@gmail.com. Do not forget to include the date that you would like to be a volunteer and how many in your group.
If you have time on Saturday and do not know what to do, applying to be a volunteer at Villalobos Rescue Center might be a good idea. You can bring your close ones and do a good deed together with you.
If you want to visit Villalobos Rescue Center as a tourist, you will have to remember these followings:
- Tours will be canceled if there is heavy rain as the streets flood very badly.
- It is stated that the address of the New Orleans location is 4525 N. Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans LA 70177.
- Every tour will last about 20 to 30 minutes.
- If you want to join the tour, you have to arrive by 2:45 PM to make the last tour at 3 PM.
- Unlike applying as a volunteer, there is no need for you to make a reservation.
- There is no admission fee. However, donations are always welcome and needed.
- Do not bring your personal or service dogs as it is not good for not only the ones at the rescue but also your dogs.
- Do not make the dogs and the people who work there uncomfortable (including family of the owner and the TV staff).
- Taking pictures are allowed in distance and but taking these close to the dogs or even shoving the camera to them are prohibited.
- Do not make the dogs fight with each other.
The main key of everything is to be respectful so you can be respected by others. If you understand every point above and you have free time and the weather is also good, you can try to visit it.
