Pit Bulls & Parolees, Animal Planet’s long-running and much loved series, has reached the milestone of 200 episodes. Produced by 44 Blue Productions and Rive Gauche Television, the series has started airing its seventeenth season on Animal Planet this week.
Tia Torres has dedicated her life to the New Orleans-based Villalobos Rescue Center, the largest Pit Bull rescue center in the US where she and her family work tirelessly to provide Pit Bulls another chance in life while also offering a fresh start to parolees.
The 200th episode, now airing on Animal Planet and Discovery+, sees Tia and her family take a special look back at the extraordinary milestones they have accomplished, after 30 plus years of experiencing the high and lows of animal rescue and breaking down stereotypes of both pit bulls and individuals who have been released from the prison system.
Rasha Drachkovitch, Executive Producer of Pit Bulls & Parolees, and CoCEO and Cofounder of production company 44 Blue Productions, said: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be producing a 200th episode and still going strong. This is an incredible television milestone, as the episode looks back on the most memorable moments from the past decade – and it’s quite a ride. Also season 17 is unique in covering how Villalobos has been impacted by Covid-19, and the incredible ways Tia and her family have managed through the crisis.”
Pit Bulls & Parolees is produced for Animal Planet by 44 Blue Productions, a Red Arrow Studios company, and Rive Gauche Television. Rasha Drachkovitch, Billy Cooper, and Jen Bies Duffy are the executive producers for 44 Blue Productions. For Animal Planet, Lisa Lucas is executive producer.
Animal Planetis premieringnew two hour Pit Bulls & Parolees episodes every Saturday at 9pm ET/PT (US).
More about the 200th episode
The 200th episode sees Tia’s children, grandchildren and parolees gather to recall their favorite stories across 200 episodes filled with heartbreak, joy and the memorable rescues that have shaped their lives. The episode includes the early days from season one, when Mariah was still competing in beauty pageants, and the very first dog Tia rescued on the series – a senior pit bull named Walter. Tia and her family also reminisce about the twins meeting Lizzy and M2, the adjustment to living in Louisiana, and of course the most memorable, surprising and heartwarming adoptions from over the years.
More about season 17
Season 17 of Pit Bulls & Parolees centers on how Villalobos has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and how Tia and her family have found creative ways to find dogs forever homes – while also giving back to the New Orleans community, in spite of the shutdown. The season also reveals how Tia and Mariah temporarily close their beloved restaurant and boutique amidst the global shutdown, and although a challenging decision, the pair looks ahead to a new beginning to reinvent both businesses and keeps their utmost focus on their rescue efforts.
Throughout the season, audiences will also experience more incredible rescue stories than ever before, including: how Tia deals with one of her most difficult rescue situations ever, where over 50 hybrid wolf-dogs are left to fend for themselves on a Texas property; Tania and Mariah work with an adopter to find a new dog after he lost his longtime four-legged best friend, Ben, to cancer; and a fairytale ending where Huey, a Villalobos senior canine veteran, finally finds the forever home he deserves.