SHORTY'S BARK IS BIGGER THAN HIS BITE IN NEW PIT BULL RESCUE SERIES ABOUT LITTLE PEOPLE AND BIG DOGS

Premiering January 16, PIT BOSS Embraces the Outcasts of the Dog World

Shorty Rossi's a little person with a tall order. He runs two operations - a Hollywood talent management company for little people and a pit bull rescue which he holds near and dear to his heart. Shorty has lofty ideas but is armed with a tough, no-nonsense attitude and an entertainment rolodex to help his cause - to rescue and rehabilitate pit bulls and place these "underdogs" in loving, nurturing homes.

Beginning Saturday, January 16, at 10 PM, find out all about Shorty - the PIT BOSS -- and his team of cohorts who share Shorty's passion for pits. Joining forces with Shorty to help with his mission are his employees and fellow little people Ronald, Sebastian and Ashley, who have the biggest hearts for dogs that are often larger than they are. Knowing full well what it's like to be judged, the foursome takes on the gargantuan task of rescuing dogs in need and raising awareness about the most misunderstood dog - the pit bull.

Shorty's love for pit bulls dates back to age 14 when he got his first pit - a year after he began living on his own. His pit bull was his constant companion and helped ease Shorty through a tough adolescence. After being convicted for gang-related activities and serving 10 years in prison, Shorty committed to turning around his life; he avows that pit bulls helped make him a better person, and in return, he pledges to help make their lives better in any way he can.

"Pit bulls have a bad rap," says Shorty, "though they don't deserve it at all. It's what people have done to these pits or how they have trained them that caused this horrible misperception. Pit bulls are beautiful and energetic dogs that make wonderful companions and have the ability to bring out the best in just about any one - the elderly, children, the handicapped, and yes... even the little people of this world!"

Shorty began his rescue in 2001, and since then, he, along with his team, works tirelessly to help pit bulls and repair their reputation. In PIT BOSS, follow Shorty, Sebastian, Ronald and Ashley as they hit the streets of LA in their fight to overcome stereotypes - for themselves and the pit bulls they save.

PIT BOSS is produced for Animal Planet by Intuitive Entertainment. Mechelle Collins and Kevin Dill are executive producers for Intuitive Entertainment. Executive producer for Animal Planet is Erin Wanner.

Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. APM consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 96 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; Petfinder.com, the #1 pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.