A new South Shore dog rescue aims to serve as a "second chance" for not just animals in need, but also recovering addicts. Since launching in May, they've placed four dogs in new homes. NY1's Leisha Majtan has the story.

Michael Favor says he and Jersey Girl have a lot in common.

"We are two misunderstood breeds," said Favor, the founder of Pitbulls and Addicts.

Jersey Girl is a rescued pit bull with a rough past, and Favor is a recovering addict.

"It got to the point where I was doing 10 or 15 bags of cocaine a day. It was my life," Favor said.

After 12 years of using drugs and losing countless friends to addiction, Favor had enough. He got treatment and searched for a new purpose in life. For him, it was helping animals.

"I live for my animals. I really do," Favor said at the Pitbulls and Addicts facility. "I wake up — no matter what time I go to sleep, I wake up at 6 o'clock in the morning because I know I have dogs here."

He's hoping to help other addicts do the same.

Favor built Pitbulls and Addicts from the ground-up with his fiancée.

Together, they rescue abandoned and abused dogs, rehabilitate them, and find them loving homes.

Many of the volunteers are in recovery. They help take care of the facility, and walk and feed the dogs.

"I pretty much work seven days a week, but it's the time that I'm bored at home, sitting there idling — that's the time when I need to pick up, come here, and keep the addict mentality out of my head," volunteer Neal McCarthy said.

Once construction is complete on the grounds and in the kennels, Favor plans to open his doors to recovering addicts for weekly support meetings and events.

"When I come here, I don't want to get high. And when I leave here, I'm not thinking about getting high, I'm thinking about tomorrow," Favor said. "I just want this place to be open to everyone who wants it."

Soon, the facility will have indoor kennels, a fenced-in yard, and a dedicated space for meetings.

Favor is also working for Pitbulls and Addicts to become an official non-profit. He says building up the organization gives him new meaning to life.

"I used to live to get high," he said. "Now, I live for my animals."

For more information about the rescue and how to get involved, visit Facebook.com/pitbullsandaddicts