A mother and son travel from Boston with hopes of adopting a dog, but Tia struggles to find a good fit for the family. Lizzy rescues a maggot-covered dog that was found lying on the road and races to the vet, hoping to save her.

An inmate starts working at VRC, hoping to fill the big shoes left by Country Matt. Lizzy and Joe struggle to catch a stray and a family comes to Villalobos to adopt a dog, hoping to fill a void in their hearts.

After a couple from New Jersey falls in love with a new best friend, the adoption is put on the line when Dr. Kristen discovers a heart murmur. Tia heads out to the swamps to rescue a dog in need of medical attention and is shocked by the diagnosis.

Villalobos' oldest resident, Summer, a pit with severe arthritis, has a chance at a forever home. Earl works to improve a dog's social skills, hoping to make him more adoptable. And Kanani's girlfriend, M2, takes on her first rescue.

A call in the middle of the night sends Tia racing to deal with a family emergency. A homeless man reaches out for assistance when his dog has trouble breathing. And, a healthy dog tied up outside VRC leads to a shocking story and a difficult decision.

After Tia and Sugar rescue a stray, they are shocked by what they find and race him to the vet. New worker Darius pursues his dream of working in the veterinary field. And an empty nest-er heads to Villalobos looking for a new companion.

Earl takes the lead in restoring an abandoned Rottweiler to health. A service dog organization from North Carolina reaches out to Villalobos searching for a new dog for their program. M2 goes on her second rescue, taking in an owner surrender.