Popular Series PIT BULLS & PAROLEES Returns to Animal Planet, Today

Animal Planet's popular series PIT BULLS & PAROLEES features Tia Torres, a true believer in second chances. For more than 20 years, Tia has dedicated her life to New Orleans-based Villalobos Rescue Center, the largest pit BULL rescue center in the U.S. She has also offered a fresh start to parolees and a new lease on life to dogs that were discarded and demonized because of the reputation of their breed. PIT BULLS & PAROLEES is back this summer for an all-new season with new stories, but the same heart we know and love, beginning Saturday, August 5 at 9PM ET/PT.

After a long recovery from a devastating leg injury, Tia gets back into in full swing and relies on her children, their significant others and the parolees to help keep the ever-expanding rescue center running. Tia fights a never-ending battle that's grown to include dogs of every type and size, in desperate need of help. Many are unwanted pets dumped on the road, found wandering in the swamps, or thrown over the Villalobos gates. It's the reality of running the nation's largest pit BULL sanctuary, where each NEW DAY brings happiness or heartbreak - and sometimes both.

In addition to the summer season premiere, Animal Planet's annual tradition of "You Watch, We Give" for PIT BULLS & PAROLEES will continue Saturday, August 26 at 9PM ET/PT to coincide with National Dog Day. "You Watch, We Give" takes place as part of Animal Planet's on-going commitment to make a positive impact in the animal world; the network will donate money to Villalobos Rescue Center with the total donation based upon the episode's viewership. Animal Planet encourages viewers to tune in for "You Watch, We Give" to help drive its donations to Villalobos.

To support "You Watch, We Give" on Animal Planet's social channels, fans are encouraged to share photos of their dogs with the #ShowUsYourPups hashtag across Twitter, Instagram or the Pit Bulls & Parolees Facebook page and it may appear on TV during the episode. In previous years, Animal Planet's donations from "You Watch. We Give" has helped cover Villalobos' expenses, including veterinary bills and food and shelter costs for the rescued pit bulls.

To satiate fans desire for additional content, Animal Planet digital and social (AnimalPlanet.com, Pit Bulls & Parolees page on Facebook and Animal Planet on Facebook and Twitter via @AnimalPlanet) will be offering Tattoo TALES (WT), a series of all-new short form content where fans will get up close and personal with Tia and her family, along with the parolees, as they share the stories behind some of their most meaningful tattoos.

PIT BULLS & PAROLEES is produced for Animal Planet by 44 Blue Productions and Rive Gauche Television. Rasha Drachkovitch and Billy Cooper are the executive producers for 44 Blue Productions. For Animal Planet, Lisa Lucas is executive producer and Patrick Keegan serves as supervising producer.

Image courtesy of Animal Planet