Episode 11 Dick 'N' Dom Go Wild

This show features highly-trained professionals

working with potentially dangerous and unpredictable animals.

So do not, we repeat, do not try this at home.

Did you know that now, right now, there are people

all-round the country who are working their socks off

to help wounded wildlife and poorly pets?

And we have managed to get VIP passes for some willing helpers

who are going to get stuck in at the busiest vets, wildlife sanctuaries

and rescue centres. You're free!

On today's show.

Ada and Bianca watch a dog who smells of wee.

I saw you trying to get out of it.

-Go on.

-And it is a wash out when they have to catch a real horse.

-Elise and Abbie smell a rat.

-I can see one.

-He's looking.

Yes, he's looking at me. Keep going.

And a fox. And a badger too.

-And Dick plays chicken as he falls

-fowl

-for a racing rooster.

It's tough and dirty work.

But someone's got to do it.

Wildwood Trust in Herne Bay, Kent.

It promises close encounters with British wildlife.

Let's hope they are not too close or this could be a very short programme

and a wasted trip for these two.

Meet Elise and Abbie, two friends from Norwich

with very different opinions when it comes to animals.

Elise loves hanging around with all things furry.

I like big cats, dogs, fish, gerbils, and I like kittens.

She even has her own pet.

I like to play with my dog in the garden and I like cuddling him.

Whereas Abbie, well this keen first aider loves helping people,

but she is not so keen on pets and wildlife.

Oh, no, I don't like animals.

They are just boring and nature like birds,

foxes, owls, badgers, deer, nah.

OK, so two friends who are up for a challenge.

One loves animals, the other really doesn't.

Will a day at a wildlife centre

get them both hooking at our furry friends in the same way?

Abbie and Elise, it is lovely to meet you,

but Abbie, what's this problem you've got with animals.

I think they are smelly, scuttly, stink and poo and everything.

Just not very nice at all.

Do you like going to zoos and wildlife parks,

-have you done it before?

-I've done it before, but it's boring.

We're at Wildwood today. Hopefully, she'll enjoy it.

-Do you think she will?

-Yeah.

But you are going to help Abbie along with her journey today.

-Yeah, sure.

-Right. Well, let's go and explore the wild wood.

This place is home to more than 50 species of animals and, what's more,

they can all be found living wild in

Britain or could have been at some point in the past.

Hi, Karen, these are our two willing volunteers, Abbie and Elise.

Well, actually, one willing volunteer just here.

They're dressed the part. What have they got to do?

We've got lots of animals to look after here.

Today we're going to start with some cleaning.

If we just go this way, and we'll start.

Cleaning, easy. It certainly niffs a bit. I think it needs a clean.

So what are the animals? Tell the girls.

Today we're going to be cleaning out the rats.

THEY GROAN

Not really the reaction we were looking for,

-but are you going to do it?

-OK.

-I'll do it. I don't care.

-Yes.

Correct answer.

And these are the rats that Abbie and Elise

are going to be hanging out with.

Cute, eh? Oh yeah, girls, liking the...

So what kind of rats have we got in here?

-They're brown rats.

-Are they totally safe?

-They are, yes.

So what do the girls need to do then, Karen?

Today we're going to be cleaning them out and giving them some food.

So how are you feeling about this experience?

Not too keen, but I'm sure I'll live.

I'll do it, but it's just a bit - rats. They're a bit ratty.

OK, girls, your moment of truth is here. Please meet the rats.

Now, I'm allergic.

Yes, I'm allergic to rats.

Allergic to rats that need cleaning out, so I'll be staying out

keeping guard in case anyone tries to break in.

Yes, got it. That's it.

It stinks in here.

How will the girls do when they come face-to-face

with the fearsome rodents?

First, is Dom in a spot of bother in Lancashire?

You know, some people are terrified of big scary animals.

All animals are in need of help even the really,

really big ones, which is why I've legged it here

to the Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary where they do just that.

OK, I know it's not that big and scary,

but it is in need of a lot of care and attention,

even if it is from two volunteers who are terrified of these big,

terrifying, scary, horrible animals.

So maybe it is time to get friends Ada and Bianca to swing into action.

The girls love most animals, but Ada thinks horses are horrendous.

I think it is because I don't know much about them.

I just find horses a bit boring,.

I don't see why they're considered a girl's animal

and not a boy's animal.

These girls are a dab hand in the kitchen, but for Bianca,

any big animals are a recipe for disaster.

I don't like the idea the way they leave waste everywhere

and so no, I don't really like horses.

So we've got all the ingredients.

Let's see what's cooking when we head over to the animal sanctuary.

Bianca, Ada, how are you doing, are you all right?

-Good. What kind of animals do you most dislike?

-Big animals.

-Like horses, donkeys?

-Yeah.

Perfect, you have come to the right place

because this place is teaming full of donkeys and horses.

So the only way to get you involved and interested in them

is by getting your hands dirty. Shall we do it?

Yes is the answer you're looking for.

Bleakholt in Lancashire rehomes thousands of animals every year,

including some of the hoofed variety.

First up, it is a date with the donkeys.

They're highly sociable animals and if they decide they like you,

you're in. Fingers crossed, girls.

Right, so here we are.

What jobs have you got for them?

Well, what we need to do today,

we need to get these donkeys fed, thank you, Jubilee.

What we'll be doing is putting the donkey nuts,

which is donkey feed, into wellies so they can play with the wellies,

lift them up, tip out the feed and eat them.

And what's the purpose of that?

It is fun for them. It stimulates them.

It means they're doing something

rather than stood in a field all day chewing on grass.

Fair enough. There you go.

Great. Now you've got acquainted,

it's time to take your donkey diners for their din-dins outside.

Steady on, donkeys, there's plenty of food for everyone. Really.

Where are your table manners?

It just needs a bit of a wiggle.

Donkeys like to spend up to 16 hours a day munching on grub, and after

being stuck inside this lot look like they are up for another meal.

Soon Ada and Bianca's dinner party guests are rounded up

and there's only one more thing left to do.

Well done, cheers. Right now, we just need to get the food ready for them.

What's on the menu later when our chefs have to dish up dinner

for these demanding donkeys?

Meanwhile, Elise and Abbie are over in Kent

where they have the terrible task of cleaning out a rat's nest.

I can see one. There's supposed to be 15 in here

and I can only see four which is kind of creepy.

I don't know where they are.

There could be one on your head right this minute.

Please don't say that.

Come on, girls, the sooner you get the place cleaned up,

the sooner you can come out.

-I can see one.

-He's looking.

He's looking at me. Keep going.

I think he's looking at the food, actually. No, he is looking at you.

Perhaps it is my good looks.

Rats don't completely deserve their repulsive reputation.

They are highly intelligent creatures and domestic rats

make great pets, but it is best not to go near a wild one.

They can bite and may have diseases.

-Disgusting.

-Are you stepping on poo?

Of course I am!

Oh, no.

-Elise!

-Now, if I was Abbie the last thing

I would do in these circumstances is go looking under that cardboard box.

You're not going to, please?

Yes, she is, Elise.

Oh, babies.

They're like so cute.

Yes, pretty cute, I have to agree.

Incredibly mum rats can have up to 70 babies in a year.

It seems that Elise and Abbie are actually

starting to enjoy themselves.

You do not know how disgusting this is.

OK, maybe not then. Never mind, girls,

you've done an amazing job in there.

Ladies, you are finished.

-I want to show you the babies. They're cute.

-How was it? Tell me.

Tell me. It stinks in there.

-Was it bad? Was it good?

-It was OK.

-It was really, really fun.

-Was it?

It was one of the best things I've done.

Rats right about there.

The babies are really cute because they're like, that small.

There was one about that big. Tiny.

I didn't know there were babies in there. You're the first to see them.

Abbie, considering you didn't like wildlife this morning,

I think you're doing a grand job. Don't you, Karen? Very good. Spot on.

'Spot on indeed, but how will the girls react

'when they meet a bedridden badger?'

-So this is Mouse.

-BOTH: Aaaw!

'Ada and Bianca are getting ready to host a donkey dinner in Lancashire.

'But the menu's decidedly different.

'For the first course, our chefs are rustling up a starter of hay.'

What I need to do, bring it round here...

and try and shake and scatter it into each one of these,

so it separates up.

Next up, it's the main course.

-Right, girls, here's your wellies.

-'Nutty Wellingtons?!'

What we need to do now, is take some of this feed out of here

and fill each welly between half-way and three-quarters full.

There's got to be a gap so they can pick it up.

'The wellies are packed with donkey nuts

'which the donkeys love to sniff out.'

Smelly wellies.

Once we've got them filled up, we need to put them in different places

so they're not all in one bunch,

so the donkeys actually have to find them.

'Hiding food like this is called enrichment,

'a way of getting the donkeys to use their brains to find food.'

'Hey! Steady on, no barging, please.

'There's enough donkey nuts to go round.'

They seem to be enjoying it, don't they?

Watch, they'll barge you out of the way.

'Well done, girls, you gave the job plenty of welly!'

And that was just the warm-up.

Let's see how Ada and Bianca do when we wash down a dog who wets the bed.

Eeew!

First up, it's time to see if Dick is chicken.

You seem nervous.

Sorry, I was trying to hold it in.

It's today's Animal Challenge, I think it's too much for you.

-Don't be daft.

-Look, it's man versus beast!

-What kind of beast?

-A feathery one.

-A bird?

-A feathery bird.

-An eagle, a hawk?

-No!

-IN A CREEPY VOICE

-Chickens.

Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!

I know, it's scary!

No, you're standing on me toe!

Oh, yes. Sorry, yes.

I like chickens.

'We've got to move these chickens to a brand new home.'

Right, here goes.

'Now, in theory, it should be a piece of cake

-'to catch the first one.'

-And...

There you go. Sorted.

That was easy, wasn't it?

It only took ten seconds.

-I know, but Mildred is an ex-battery chicken with a broken leg.

-Right.

She's not the problem, but thanks anyway.

You see that sleek black one over there with the long legs?

That's Squash.

-Good luck.

-Ah.

Not a problem. Observe.

-Come on.

-'The feathered fiend that Dick is failing to keep up with

'is a Rosecomb Bantam.' It's gone underneath!

'These cheeky little chickens aren't great at laying eggs,

'they are good at running...'

Quick!

'..Fast! Certainly a lot faster than Dick.'

He's gone in the hutch. Get in there, through that little hole.

Come on, Squash. Nah.

Right...

I'm going in.

Step one, remove door.

Step two, remove chicken.

Come on! Get in!

Well done, you're doing a really good job so far.

Right, back in. This is it.

I'm going to close the entrance off with my body.

'You lot, don't go chasing any chickens at home, OK?

-'If you keep chickens at home. They won't like it.'

-Aaah!

HE LAUGHS

Yes! Now how do I get out?

Do you need a hand?

Help!

And that's how you catch a chicken named Squash.

And this is how you release them into their new enclosure.

Ladies first...

-Hi, Mildred.

-There you go.

So there we are, Squash and Mildred in their new coup with less poop.

-Well, you've got most of it on your jacket, to be fair.

-Lovely.

Come on, old bean.

Let's hose you down, you chicken chaser!

COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!

At the animal sanctuary in Lancashire,

Ada and Bianca are assisting some animals who have had a hard time.

Next is the doggies' retirement home,

where one of the oldies is in need of a bath.

-Who's this?

-This is Tyson, he's one of our elderly dogs.

-OK.

-He's about nine or ten.

-Is this like an old people's home?

This is pretty much an old people's home just for dogs.

-Do dogs get like humans? Do they get crankier with age?

-Some of them.

It is more the medical needs,

arthritis, your typical old people's problems.

'Ten-year-old Tyson's problem

'is that he can't stop weeing all over himself, the poor lad.'

-So he wets the bed every night.

-Oh.

And being a big hairy dog,

it all gets in his fur, so we have to wash him quite a lot.

It sounds like a nice job(!)

So which of you two is going to wash the wee-smelling dog?

-I think it's probably a team effort, don't you?

-Yeah, definitely.

'Without regular baths,

'Tyson's fur would become matted and his skin would get sore.

'By washing off the wee, the girls can get him comfortable and clean.'

This doesn't look like a bath.

It doesn't look like the bath that you or I would go in,

but it is a doggy bath.

-Girls, are you ready?

-BOTH: Yeah.

There's two of you, there's one dog. How difficult can it be?

'Better get some protection on. It might get a "wee" bit wet in there!'

The amount of gunk that came out.

That must be quite acidic on the skin?

So from about here...

just put the line of shampoo down him and the other one has to rub it in.

Bianca, you missed a spot. You've got to get where all the wee is.

I saw you trying to get out of it. Go on!

-Go on, the leg!

-No!

I need you to scrub in there and on the inside of his legs, please.

Go on, Ada. Think of the poor doggy.

'Come on, girls, get stuck in!'

It's good that we do this for him because he'll feel better.

I know it is not the nicest job, but it is good for him.

'Finally, the job is nearly over.'

The water's coming out nice and clean now.

'Phew! I bet he feels better about that.

'Towels at the ready.'

Towel. Towel.

Eeeew!

It's a good job he did it when he was clean and not before.

'Lots of gorgeous dogs like Tyson have problems with their health

'and thanks to places like this, they have a better life. Great job.'

Luke, what do we do now?

Tyson's going to go back to his bed, a nice heated kennel

-and probably have a sleep.

-Great.

Time for a little old man dose by the fire.

Come on, girls, well done.

Round, go that way!

'But how will Ada and Bianca get on

'when they have to giddy-up some very small gee-gees?'

-Who'd have thought a tiny horse could cause so much trouble?

-I know!

At Wildwood Trust in Kent,

animal lover Elise is trying to prove to her mate, Abbie,

that animals are ace.

And what better than one of Britain's finest?

You're getting to do something that no members of the public get to do.

You're behind the scenes, in one of the animals' enclosures.

-But which animal is it, Karen?

-It's a badger.

-A badger.

-Oh dear.

Why, "Oh dear"?

-I don't like them.

-How can you not like a badger?

-They go around and curl up in balls.

-But they're cute and fluffy!

-Why does she not like badgers, Elise?

-I don't really know.

Because they're like... pillows, kind of.

They have teeth and they can snarl at you and...

Badgers are nocturnal animals. How will we see one in the daytime?

Our badger is hand-reared, so he'll come out when I call him.

-So you're his mummy?

-Yes.

-Ready to meet the badger, girls?

-Yeah.

-OK.

And here he is. Bore is a fully-grown male

who's been living here since he was a cub

and he's not fussy about what he eats.

He's quite happy chomping away on earthworms, beetles,

mice, frogs, acorns, bulbs and fruit.

'Don't worry, Abbie, he won't chomp on you.

'Bore is a very friendly badger.'

What do you think, Abbie?

It's OK because he's not hurting me or snorting.

I don't know why you don't like them. Are you scared of it?

I'm not scared of it.

It's because I've heard stories that they've bit people

and they can be snarly and aggressive.

Badgers in the wild can be aggressive,

but the ones in captivity are handled regularly

so they're very tame.

So this is a hand-reared badger. What does that mean?

He was found when he was very young.

His mum wasn't there so someone took him in

and they bottle-fed him day and night

until he was old enough to eat for himself.

'Not all the animals here are as healthy as Bore though,

'and Abbie and Elise are about to meet a very poorly badger

'who's being examined by Sophie, the vet.'

-So this is Mouse.

-BOTH: Aaaww.

She was brought to us by a member of the public.

As you can see, she looks slightly different to the other badgers.

She's got quite a shortened face and we've taken X-rays of her skull.

She's grown up with a congenital defect

and now what that's going to mean - sorry sweetheart -

is that she's not going to do as well in the wild as we would hope.

'Sadly, Mouse's deformities will also be causing her pain and discomfort

'which means Sophie has had to make a very difficult decision.'

Unfortunately, the best thing for her will be to put her to sleep.

Is there anything you could do to help her?

There's things we can do to make the quality of life better,

but with Mouse, she's starting off on the back foot

and unfortunately, there's nothing we can do to change that situation.

Oh, that's so sad.

Oh, she's very sweet and I've sort of changed my mind a bit...

I kind of care for her a bit more.

It's upsetting that Mouse won't make it back to the wild,

but she's had the very best care there is

and the staff here have done everything they can for her.

Sadly, not every animal story has a happy ending.

Bye, Mouse.

'But, at least Abbie and Elise can do some more to help animals in need

'when they become hairdressers to a fluffy fox later on.'

There's loads coming off.

Oooh!

First, it's time to meet a fatherly fish.

One, two, three.

-What are you doing?

-I'm keeping jelly babies in my mouth for Sophie.

-What?

-I'm keeping the jelly babies...

Oh, yes, I see, just like the Cardinal Fish dad over here

who's a mouthbrooding fish,

who keeps the eggs and the babies in the mouth to keep them safe.

DICK MUMBLES

I'm glad you asked that

because when they're ready to give birth,

they spit all of the babies into this sea urchin here,

with the nice sharp spiky spikes.

That protects the little babies

and the sea urchin feeds off the baby fish poo.

'Ada and Bianca, who aren't the biggest fans of horses,

'are trotting along nicely at the sanctuary in Lancashire.

'Just one more job for the girls - putting the ponies to bed.'

Right, then. What are we doing here?

Two small ponies in here, Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

We're going to get the girls to see if we can get hold of them,

put some head collars on them and give them a walk.

And if we've got time, give them a brushing.

Are you up for that? BOTH: Yeah.

These miniature ponies were found abandoned by the side of a motorway.

They're a stubborn little pair

who don't want to be told what to do and when to go to bed.

Catching them is going to be easier said than done.

Round, go that way.

-Ada, quick!

-We're going to have to follow them down, girls.

'We're getting a right run-around here.'

Once they're used to you, they'll be friendly.

OK, you go over that way and we'll go over this way.

'At last, the girls have got them cornered.'

'To get those ponies into the stables,

'they might have to try a new tactic.

'These tempting treats might work.'

We managed to catch our first one.

We had to go to plan B and bribe them with a bit of food.

So, I do believe this one is yours.

It's just like holding a dog.

Have you got the lead? Brilliant.

'Ada tries the same trick with Tweedledee.'

I don't think it's going to come.

It's a clever horse.

Come on.

'Oh, so close!'

-Who'd have thought a tiny horse could cause so much trouble?

-I know!

-Are you tired, girls?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, a bit.

'Then, despite everyone's best efforts,

'she just decides to trot into the stables on her own.'

'Finally, a brush-down before they hit the hay.'

Very knotty hair.

It feels like...if you haven't washed your hair for a few days.

It feels a bit greasy.

You're doing a great job grooming them

and you've had a fantastic day as well.

You've done really good today. Ada, what's been your best bit?

The best bit was probably...

when we were chasing the horse for ages and ages and ages.

-What about you, Bianca?

-I liked preparing the food for the donkeys

and letting them out and things.

Good, so you've had a really good day

-and has your view on these beautiful animals changed a bit?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Well done, girls, you've done a fantastic job.

Keep brushing, keep working and as soon as they've been well groomed,

they're going to get some scrap.

Two girls, who thought that horses were horrid

are now tickled pink about ponies.

Back in Kent, Elise, the animal lover,

and Abbie, who wasn't bothered about beasts,

are about to help feed a mystery creature.

So what do you think this is?

-A baby wolf.

-Yeah, a baby wolf.

-It's not. Another guess?

-A skunk.

-No.

-Cat?

-Is it some sort of dog?

Dog family, yes.

This is an Arctic fox.

The Arctic foxes don't live in this country any more.

They used to, about 10,000 years ago - the last Ice Age.

They live in the Arctic now.

-Is that why they're called Arctic fox?

-That's it.

And in the winter she goes really white and really fluffy

and then she'll put on up to 30% of her body weight

to keep her insulated through the winter.

They can survive up to minus 50 degrees in the wild

and they don't shiver.

Did she say minus 50?

That's three times colder than your kitchen freezer,

but that doesn't mean that Fleck eats fish fingers and ice cream.

No, no, she's much happier with raw meat.

Are you kidding? You're not kidding me, are you?

-I can't look.

-Is it dead?

-Yeah, they're dead.

-Do they eat the whole thing?

-Yes, the whole thing, head first.

-She chews the head off and eats the rest.

-And the bones?

-Yes.

-Do they eat fur?

-They eat everything.

-Eew!

Do you want to put them around the place?

Why is she moving the chickens around?

She's burying them for later, so once we leave,

she'll come back and dig them all up again.

'Being an Arctic fox, you won't see Fleck or her friends

wandering around the British countryside today.

But, there are a number of native red foxes here too.

-This is Mo.

-Is this the kind of fox you would see in your city?

Yep, she's a red fox.

Mo's quite old now.

I don't think she wants to be picked up from her lovely sleep.

No, she doesn't really like it that much!

She's quite tame, yeah?

She is quite tame, yes.

This is Mo and she's not moulted her winter coat properly

so she needs to have a brush to give her a hand with moulting.

Who's got the brush? Come on, Abbie.

'In the wild, Mo would be groomed by other foxes and hunt her own food,

'but foxes in captivity often need a little helping hand.

'Don't you try brushing any foxes though! No, no, no.'

Do they eat the same thing as Arctic foxes?

Yes, they eat slightly more because they're bigger.

-You're working it there, Abbie. There's loads coming off.

-Oooh!

'It's an amazing transformation for Abbie.

'Earlier today, she didn't care for anything furry

'and now here she is, gladly grooming old Mo.'

So is that enough brushing now, Karen?

Yes, I think we got most of it out.

We're going to put her back into the main enclosure with all the others.

'So there we have it. One freshly, beautifully, brushed fox,

'providing the perfect end to the perfect day.'

-What was your favourite animal?

-Arctic fox.

-I liked the badger.

-He was cool. What about the rats?

-Really funny.

-That was quite fun.

At the beginning of the day, Abbie, you weren't interested in wildlife,

but we set out to prove that you could be

by looking after some animals for the day.

-Do you think we've done that, Elise?

-Yeah.

-Abbie?

-Almost.

-Almost.

That will do, won't it? That's a result for me!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]