This Is What Pure Love Looks Like

When Rick’s pit bull Karma fell into a Louisiana river, he didn’t hesitate to jump in and save her.  Unfortunately, the homeless man caught a bad infection and had to spend a couple weeks in a hospital.  Karma didn’t know what had happened, and was ecstatic to finally be reunited with him.  And what happened next was even better!

A month ago, Rick walked into the Villalobos Rescue Center, where Pit Bulls and Parolees is filmed.  He had a terrible infection, and needed someone to watch Karma.  He had saved her life when she fell in a river, and contracted an infection that required a hospital stay.

“It’s no big secret that the waters of Louisiana are not always that healthy,” said Tia Torres, who runs the New Orleans center.

She called an ambulance and promised to take care of Karma until Rick got out.  She wouldn’t normally take in a dog under such a circumstance, but “only when he knew his dog was safe would he get in the ambulance.”

Rick was no stranger to Tia – he had come by before to get food and medical care for Karma – so she believed that he was bound to come back for her.

“I offered him 20 dollars at one point and he refused,” Tia said.  The proud man “just wanted help with his dog.”

She didn’t know how long Rick would be gone, or how serious his illness was.  Should he not return, she would have to find Karma a new home.  In the meantime, Tia posted photos of the pup and her troubles on Facebook.  People sent in collars, name tags, and other gifts.

Karma started to come out of her shell, but she was still unfamiliar with what was going on – she just missed her dad and wondered where he was.  Two weeks after they were separated, Rick came back – healthy and ready to see his girl.

She was completely overjoyed, and Tia said “all my staff, including myself, was in tears while Karma wiggled with happiness.”

She was so touched by their love for each other that she set them up with some temporary housing and offered Rick a job at the rescue center.  He’s there part-time, and if things go well, he might get more hours.

“Always pay it forward because one day it could be you needing help,” Tia explained.  “Even when Rick was homeless he told me his dog ate before him, which is the beautiful bond we expect when there is that much love between man and man’s best friend.”

What good karma!