monicaei

'Pit Bulls and Parolees' shelter worker burglarized business while wearing show's merchandise, NOPD says | NOLA.com

I dont watch it and know nothing about them... Didn't even realize they were in New Orleans (9th ward? Seriously?) but this kinda behavior doesn't help pit bull rescue IMO

River

Villalobos used to be in California, but they relocated to New Orleans. They're a pit bull rescue that hires parolees to basically give them a chance to get back on their feet. Here's their website.

This guy fell off the wagon, robbed a store, and is back in jail. That's on him, not on the folks who hired him. I don't see how that reflects poorly on the Villalobos pit bull rescue, because the rescue itself had nothing to do with the robbery. They were the ones who gave this guy a job and a chance at a life, and he tossed it in the trash. I guess you can't save them all.

monicaei

It's more the "reality tv" aspect that bothers me. I've seen the website... Honestly, the "edgy" look coupled with the idea they are rehabbing felons and pit bulls just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Its like they are pandering to the lowest common denominator- making money off the "image" of the big bad pit bull.

Idk- I just think this isn't really helping. I doubt any OTHER rescue has people out there committing crime in their trademarked clothing. If it were shih tzu rescue I wouldn't really care, but pits have SUCH a bad rep to start with.

River

Yeah, I get what you're saying about the reality TV aspect. Still, Villalobos started rescuing dogs in 1991, long before Animal Planet got ahold of them. They do get a lot of negative attention because of the fact that they work with pit bulls and felons. But this is a rescue that's been in operation for more than 20 years. They've adopted out hundreds of dogs and are huge advocates for responsible pit bull ownership. They're also not parole officers for their employees, either. They can try to help, but if someone's going to go back to committing crimes, they can't really stop them.

I'm thinking Reality TV is really a double edged sword for these guys. Yes, it generates money to help them keep the rescue open, but Animal Planet is all about going for the edgy and controversial these days. Remember that show Deadly Attractions, about all the people who died in horribly gruesome ways after their exotic pets attacked them? And Animal Hoarders? They go for the sensationalistic, they do, and I think that's hurting how Villalobos is portrayed a bit.

As for the lowest common denominator, well, all I can say is positive incidents don't make good news. The same with pit bull attacks, this is going to get a lot of attention because the burglar is a parolee who is employed by a pit bull rescue. The papers will jump all over that. And they probably won't mention the purpose behind Villalobos, or that this man, not the dog rescue, was responsible for his own actions.

monicaei

Has it always been a "parolee" thing or is that just for TV?

Gotta admit... The "I owned a tiger and it ate me" show was addictive and disturbingly funny. What did they expect would happen? It's a tiger (or lion or gorilla or whatever) Does that still come on?

River

Villalobos started hiring parolees in 2006, the TV show started in 2009. So hiring parolees predates Animal Planet, although I don't know if the parolee angle was why AP picked up Villalobos for a reality TV show. They were big on showing pitbull rescues for a while. There was Pit Boss, and Pit Bulls and Parolees, both running at the same time. Plus Animal Cops, which, while it wasn't pit bulls, had several cities Animal Control units featured. So maybe it was an animal rescue kick they were on.

I actually don't have cable anymore, but I think Fatal Attractions is still running. It's on netflix for sure. That show honestly was a "what were you expecting when you brought that home?" And I'll fess up, I'm watching the episodes they have on netflix.

Jonesy'sMom

Why Parolees
"Torres reportedly began to employ parolees at the suggestion of her husband, Aren Jackson (A.J.), who had personally encountered the difficulties that many parolees experience in finding employment, after he was released from a 14-year prison term. "

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Jynx

When individuals bring nothing but drama to the table... Know it's time to let them eat alone. - Unknown

monicaei

I volunteer at a shelter, it's not a paying job. We do get the occasional DWI college kids needing community service hours, but that's it. And they aren't exactly "reliable".

Jazi

There was an episode that majorly turned me off where she was still going through with an adoption to a guy who wanted a "big mean-looking dog" as what he implied to be a status symbol. She ended up showing him the noisiest dog of the bunch but he didn't adopt that day. Left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth tbh. That was back in the first season and I haven't seen her do something like that since but... it's not something I liked seeing in the first place. Especially not for pits who already have so much media drama.

I dislike the Fatal Attractions show because they only show one side and they've named species incorrectly before. They've acted like these people getting injured by their snakes, for instance, were responsible owners when it turns out they were not and it was their own stupidity that got them hurt in the first place. Same with another episode I saw on a lady that had 4ish wolves... she was killed by them, but she ignored the signs that they were becoming unsafe for her to handle by herself... even after she got BIT ON THE ARM by one she still insisted on going into their enclosure alone to feed them. I believe this was after introducing a new male that the final attack occurred. It's a lot less "I bought a tiger omg it bit me" and a lot more "I'm dumb and bought a large exotic from what was likely an illegal dealer on a whim and have no idea how to properly take care of it also I'm potentially breaking the law".

The hyena episode, especially, was this... he bought a hyena from someone who didn't see a problem with his exotic hoarding, the fact that he lived in an apartment, or the fact that the kid had no job. Eventually the hyena ended up attacking him while he was trying to get it into a crate and he talked about how emotionally hurt he was. Nevermind how mentally stunted the poor hyena was (poor thing was self-mutilating) from being locked in a small apartment 24/7, not even out for potty breaks, for a year or so. "I don't know why he bit me," indeed

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ZeldaRules

I like the show but I don't agree with how the rescue operates. A pit bull rescue would be better off adopting out of foster homes and not outdoor runs. You can't truly gauge the temperament and personality of a dog in a home environment if it is subjected mostly to outdoor kennel life. Quality over quantity is more responsible when it comes to powerful breed rescue.

lolonurse

This show is really a double-edged sword. I watch it, to the ongoing chagrin of DH... I normally don't like "reality" shows, but this and Pit Boss fascinate me (I hate Shorty). I guess the thing that bugs me the most is, Tia wants to change perceptions about Pit Bulls, but she looks like she never combs her hair, when she goes to meetings, she dresses like a slobs (& I'm no formal dresser by any means)... the language they use, knowing it will be censored...she's looking to adopt to families, improve community relations... but it seems to me, if you're trying to rehabilitate felons, one thing you want to do is set a good example in every way. Her kids look like sluts with all the tatts and skimpy clothes, and her demeanor is so off-putting. She was in the Army...she often refers to it. I'd rather she behaved more like an adult than an old rebel. I'm an old hippie, but when I'm trying to help people, I leave my freak self home. Oh...and her hubby - he's back in jail for another 15 years... he (Imo) was framed for the bad behaviors of another parolee. Fascinating family, crazy dynamics, but sometimes seems overly dramatic for commercial/sensational success.

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Hank

My roommage hates that show because it just promotes the image that only ghetto people own pitbulls

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