Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dog rescue series is more troubling than inspirational.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Pit Bulls and Parolees
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 22 parent reviews
Parents say that this TV show about rescuing dogs and providing second chances to parolees is both heartwarming and controversial, with viewers divided over the personal lives and appearances of the cast. While many appreciate the messages of love and redemption, some viewers express discomfort with specific elements like the portrayal of weddings and tattoos, declaring that these distractions detract from the show's core purpose of animal rescue and rehabilitation.
- rescue work
- personal lives
- divisive opinions
- redemption themes
- animal welfare
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 6 kid reviews
What's the Story?
PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES follows dog rescuer Tia Maria Torres as she
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runs the day-to-day operations of the Villalobos Rescue Center, the largest pit bull shelter in America. With the help of daughters Mariah and Tania, foster sons Kanani and Keli'I, and a small
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staff of parolees, Torres rescues hundreds of abused and/or abandoned pit
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bulls with the hope that they can eventually be placed into loving
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homes. As she rehabilitates and trains the dogs, she teaches the
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former convicts how to give of themselves while caring for and
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respecting the animals. But while she offers the maligned dog breed and
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the former prisoners a second chance at life, she also struggles with the
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current incarceration and upcoming trial of her husband, Aren "A.J."
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Jackson, who's in jail awaiting trial on felony charges.
Is It Any Good?
Pit Bulls and Parolees is a sounding board for the outspoken Torres, who takes every
opportunity to demonstrate how pit bulls can be good pets despite their
natural strength and violent reputation. Arguing that they're the most
abused and misjudged breed in the country, she readily shows graphic
pictures while describing the extent of the injuries and illnesses that her
rescued pooches have suffered from. Meanwhile, she and her staff
continually parallel the dogs' difficult plight with the
real-life experiences of ex-cons, who are also looking for social
acceptance.
While Torres is clearly passionate about helping animals and people,
her positive messages are uncomfortably mixed in with declarations
about her husband's innocence and the injustice of his situation.
Adding to the discomfort are scenes of A.J. addressing the court in
prison garb and shackles during his hearings. Plus, it's hard to
completely trust the dogs and the people Torres helps when the animals
exhibit hostile behavior and the parolees vaguely describe some of
their past criminal acts. Overall, this show offers a mixed bag of
messages that leaves you feeling more troubled than inspired.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how pit bulls are typically seen by the public. Do you think the breed's reputation has a connection to the way the media has chosen to portray the dogs?
What about the ex-convicts? Do you think parolees have a harder time rejoining society because of
the way former prisoners are depicted in movies and TV shows? Why or why not?Do you think that animals who've become aggressive as the result of
abuse or neglect can really be transformed into good family pets? Or
will they potentially be dangerous after being retrained?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 30, 2009
- Cast : Aren Jackson , Tia Maria Torres
- Network : Animal Planet
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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