Ep 11. Not Meant to Be

In season 5, episode 11 of Pit Bulls and Parolees, titled "Not Meant to Be," the Villalobos Rescue Center welcomes a new member to their team, a parolee named Jake. However, this episode highlights the harsh realities of rescuing animals as not every dog that comes through the center's doors is meant to be saved.

The episode starts with Tia and her daughters Mariah and Tania discussing the recent influx of dogs being brought to the center. They discuss how overwhelming the situation has become and how they need to prioritize which dogs can be saved and which ones they must turn down due to lack of space and resources. The Villalobos team takes in dogs on a case-by-case basis, with factors such as breed and temperament playing a crucial role in the decision-making process.

Jake, the new recruit, shares his story with Tia, explaining how he fell in love with pit bulls while serving time in prison and found a passion for rescuing them. Jake is eager to learn and is excited to be a part of the Villalobos team. Tia stresses the importance of patience and compassion when working with the dogs, and Jake is eager to prove himself.

As the episode progresses, the team receives a call about a stray dog wandering in a neighborhood. When they arrive on the scene, they find a young pit bull who is scared and aggressive. The team members work together to capture the dog, and once back at the center, they discover that she has severe behavioral issues that require immediate attention. Tia has to make the difficult decision to put her down as the team does not have the proper resources or experience to rehabilitate her.

In another scenario, the team receives a call about a young pit bull who was hit by a car and left to die on the side of the road. The dog, now named Doogie, is brought to the center, with his leg badly injured and requiring urgent medical attention. Despite the team's efforts to save Doogie, complications arise, and Tia has to make another heartbreaking decision.

The episode also follows the story of two older pit bulls, Oreo and Meaty. Oreo and Meaty were surrendered by their owner due to financial constraints and have been living at the center for months. They have become inseparable, and the Villalobos team is determined to find them a loving home together. Tia takes Oreo and Meaty to an adoption event, where they catch the eye of a couple who recently lost their own beloved pit bull. The couple falls in love with Oreo and Meaty, and Tia is thrilled to see the two dogs find a loving home.

"Not Meant to Be" is a poignant episode that sheds light on the difficult decisions that rescuers have to make when taking in dogs. The Villalobos team faces the harsh reality that not every dog can be saved, and it was a tough reminder for the team to continue to work hard to prevent this from happening again. The episode also showcases the important work that they do as they strive to find loving homes for the dogs that they can save.