Tia Maria Torres, founder of the Villalobos Rescue Centre, remains the beating heart of Pit Bulls & Parolees even after the Animal Planet show ended its 19-season run in 2022. The Torres family and the parolees who worked alongside them built one of the largest pit-bull rescues in the United States.
Source: Getty Images
Key takeaways
- Tia Torres founded the Villalobos Rescue Centre and ran it for over 30 years, most recently from Napoleonville, Louisiana.
- Earl Moffett, the show's most beloved parolee, has passed away; the exact circumstances remain unconfirmed.
- Pit Bulls & Parolees aired 19 seasons and 203 episodes on Animal Planet before ending in November 2022.
- Mariah Torres and Marcel divorced in 2018 after a marriage of less than two years.
- Tania Torres and her husband Perry Sanchez remain together; Perry stepped away from the show in 2021.
The Pitbulls and Parolees cast members
The Pit Bulls and Parolees cast shared with the public ways humans abuse and misjudge animals, specifically the pit bulls. They also sensitized the masses about criminal acts people commit against pets and animals in general.
Cast members are ranked below by their prominence and screen time on the series, from supporting figures up to the show's lead.
Cast member | Real name | Role on show | Current status |
Tia Torres | Tia Maria Torres | Founder & lead | Running VRC in Napoleonville; Rabid Reality |
Tania Torres | Tania Torres | Operations lead | Running daily ops; "Life With the Underdogs" |
Mariah Torres | Mariah Torres | Adoption counsellor | Tattoo artist; Moto Maidens host |
Kanani Torres | Kanani Torres | Son, logistics | Logistics at Napoleonville facility |
Keli'i Torres | Keli'i Torres | Son, maintenance | Construction & maintenance at sanctuary |
Perry Sanchez | Perry (Perez) Sanchez | Tania's husband | Left show in 2021; private life |
Aren Jackson | Aren Marcus Jackson | Tia's husband | Separated from Tia in 2020 |
Earl Moffett | Earl Moffett | Parolee | Deceased (date unconfirmed) |
Moe | Moe | Parolee | Left show voluntarily; private life |
9. Moe
- Real name: Moe (surname not publicly confirmed)
- Role: Long-serving parolee at Villalobos Rescue Centre
- Known for: Calm manner with difficult dogs
Moe was a long-standing fixture at the rescue, trusted with dogs other handlers found difficult to manage. He became a fan favourite for his quiet, steady approach to rehabilitation, both canine and human.
He left Pit Bulls & Parolees by choice and has remained out of the public eye since. No public social media or confirmed news has emerged about his current activities.
8. Aren Marcus Jackson
- Real name: Aren Marcus Jackson
- Role: Tia Torres's husband; credited parole-programme co-architect
- Known for: Suggesting the concept of employing parolees at the rescue
Aren Marcus Jackson was largely incarcerated during the show's run. He was re-arrested in 2007 on conspiracy and robbery charges and spent most of the series in prison. Reports indicate he proposed the idea of hiring parolees at Villalobos while serving time.
Tia and Aren separated in 2020 after a marriage conducted largely through prison visits. He has maintained a low profile since.
7. Perry Sanchez
- Real name: Perez "Perry" Sanchez
- Role: Tania Torres's husband; recurring cast member
- Known for: His relationship with Tania and work supporting the rescue
Perry Sanchez appeared alongside Tania Torres throughout several seasons of the show. In 2021, he announced he would no longer appear on camera. He has since kept a private life and rarely posts publicly. He and Tania remain together.
6. Keli'i Torres
Source: Getty Images
- Real name: Keli'i Torres
- Role: One of Tia's adopted twin sons; construction and maintenance lead
- Known for: Keeping the Villalobos facilities running
Keli'i Torres handles construction and maintenance at the Villalobos sanctuary. He is married to Lizzy Chock, a longtime animal rescuer who focuses on field rescues and intake operations. The couple have been consistent, behind-the-scenes contributors to the rescue's survival through multiple relocations.
5. Kanani Torres
- Real name: Kanani Torres
- Role: One of Tia's adopted twin sons; logistics lead
- Known for: Surviving a severe motorcycle accident in 2020
Kanani Torres suffered a life-threatening motorcycle accident in 2020. He made a full recovery and returned to work at the Napoleonville facility, where he manages day-to-day logistics. He is married to a woman also named Mariah, and the couple have two children together.
4. Earl Moffett
Source: Getty Images
- Real name: Earl Moffett
- Role: Parolee; long-serving rescue worker
- Known for: Being the most beloved figure in the Villalobos parolee programme
Earl Moffett was described by fans and colleagues as the heart of the parolee programme. He underwent major spinal surgery in 2015 and later struggled with pain-medication dependency, which led to further legal setbacks.
While rumors regarding his health or death have periodically circulated online, there are no verified reports or announcements of his passing.
3. Mariah Torres
- Real name: Mariah Torres
- Role: Adoption counsellor; Tia's daughter
- Known for: Her work matching dogs with adopters and her openness about mental health
Mariah Torres served as the rescue's adoption counsellor and spoke candidly on camera about the emotional toll of rescue work. She married Marcel (known publicly as Marcel Cthulhu) in Las Vegas in 2016 after a romance that played out on screen.
The marriage broke down within months. Mariah later confirmed they had "wanted different things." Their divorce was finalised in 2018. She has said they remain friends. Marcel subsequently left the public-facing side of Villalobos and has no active social media presence.
Mariah is now a tattoo artist and hosts Moto Maidens on the Rabid Reality streaming network. She continues to consult for Villalobos on public relations and adoptions.
2. Tania Torres
- Real name: Tania Torres
- Role: Operations lead; Tia's eldest daughter
- Known for: Running the rescue's daily operations and her previous career in film
Tania Torres has been the operational backbone of Villalobos Rescue Centre for years. Before taking on the administrative lead role full time, she worked as an assistant animal trainer in the film industry and had an acting credit in The Unspeakable (2021).
She leads "Life With the Underdogs", a series on the Rabid Reality streaming network, and co-wrote a children's book, Lulu and Clementine, in tribute to a dog from the rescue.
Tania is married to Perry (Perez) Sanchez, and they have a daughter together. Perry stepped back from on-camera appearances in 2021, but the couple remain together in 2026.
1. Tia Torres
- Real name: Tia Maria Torres
- Role: Founder and director of Villalobos Rescue Centre; show lead
- Known for: Founding the largest pit-bull rescue in the United States
Tia Torres grew up in an unstable home in Southern California and left at 17, taking her animals with her. She later worked as an Army truck driver and a youth gang counsellor. A chance encounter with a pit bull named Tatanka at a local shelter led her to pivot Villalobos from a wolfdog sanctuary to a pit-bull rescue.
The show ran for 19 seasons and 203 episodes on Animal Planet, ending in November 2022. The New Orleans facility that featured prominently in later seasons closed in 2025. Operations have since consolidated to a sanctuary in Napoleonville, Louisiana, with a new wolfdog facility in Texas.
Tia funds the rescue through the Rabid Reality streaming network, a Patreon community, and merchandise. She and Aren Marcus Jackson separated in 2020 after a marriage conducted largely through prison visits.
Does Pit Bulls & Parolees still exist?
The TV show ended in 2022, but the rescue it featured does still exist. The Villalobos Rescue Centre continues to operate from Napoleonville, Louisiana. Tia Torres and her family run the organisation and share ongoing content through the Rabid Reality streaming platform. Past episodes air on Animal Planet weekdays.
FAQ
- What happened to the cast of Pitbulls and Parolees? Most of the Torres family still works at the Villalobos Rescue Centre in Napoleonville, Louisiana. Tia leads the rescue, Tania runs daily operations, and Mariah consults on PR and adoptions. Earl Moffett, the most beloved parolee, has passed away. Moe left the show voluntarily and lives privately.
- Where is the Pitbulls and Parolees cast now in 2026? Tia Torres runs the Villalobos sanctuary in Napoleonville. Tania leads operations and hosts a series on Rabid Reality. Mariah is a tattoo artist and hosts Moto Maidens. Kanani and Keli'i Torres manage logistics and maintenance at the facility. Earl Moffett has died; Moe has stepped away from public life.
- Are Tania and Perry from Pitbulls and Parolees still married? Yes. Tania Torres and Perry (Perez) Sanchez remain married in 2026. Perry stepped back from appearing on screen in 2021. The couple have a daughter together and have maintained a lower profile since the show ended.
- Did Mariah and Marcel get divorced? Yes. Mariah Torres and Marcel married in Las Vegas in 2016. The marriage broke down within months. Their divorce was finalised in 2018. Mariah said they "wanted different things." Marcel has since left public-facing rescue work and has no social media presence.
- What happened to Earl from Pitbulls and Parolees? Earl Moffett, the most beloved parolee in the Villalobos programme, has passed away. He had undergone major spinal surgery in 2015 and later struggled with pain-medication dependency. The exact date and cause of his death have not been officially confirmed by the rescue or any mainstream news outlet.
The Pit Bulls and Parolees cast worked tirelessly to rescue vulnerable dogs. Many Americans were motivated to adopt stray dogs after watching the show. The show's main cast are members of the same family. They united to sensitize the world to care for animals.
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