Episode 18 Dick 'N' Dom Go Wild

This show features professionals working with dangerous animals.

Yes, quite right. So do not, repeat, DO NOT try any of this at home.

No, no, no.

MOO!

Did you know that now, right now,

there's people all around the country who are working their socks off

to help wounded wildlife and poorly pets?

And we've 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.

We did it!

-He's beating me!

-DONKEY BRAYS

On today's show...

Jack and Thomas get down to business helping a big dog with a wee problem.

-It's green.

-Pretty disgusting.

Jake and Cameron eye up a bat in real need of a feed.

Ah.

And Dick helps getting-better otters become a little wetter.

OTTER SQUEAKS No, it's not that bad. In you go.

It's tough and dirty work.

But somebody's got to do it.

THEY SCREAM

I'm in the North East visiting a vet.

They deal with poorly pets and fix up wounded wildlife.

Week in, week out, they deal with a beastly menagerie,

none more so than this terrible twosome.

This is Jack and Thomas,

two mates jumping at the chance to meet some animals.

Yes, what these two cool cats think would be really magic

is to have a pet of their own.

Alakazam!

But their homes are empty of animals.

I have never had a pet and it's just the usual excuse

like who's going to look after it when we're all out?

Over here! Here, come on. Good boy.

'I don't have any pets'

because my mum's allergic to animal fur, basically,

and my dad won't let me have any reptiles.

Yes, it's hard graft looking after animals.

Any jobs you're not bowled over by?

I would not clean up poo.

Depends what animal we're talking about!

Mmm. Can't promise no poo.

But we have lined up a magical day for this passionate pet pair,

at a seriously busy vets in County Durham.

A-ha! Double trouble, Tom, Jack.

-Jack, Tom, how are you doing?

-All right.

-Good.

Have you got experience looking after animals?

-None at all.

-How would you feel about cleaning up some doo-doos?

-I'd not like it at all.

-No?

-No.

What about if you saw an animal being operated on?

-Probably not.

-No.

Come on, you'll love it after today. In we go.

-You must be Diane.

-I am.

-This is Jack and Tom.

-Hi, lads.

They have no experience of looking after pets or animals.

They don't want to clean up any mess,

they don't want to see any operations.

-Will they be OK at the vets?

-You're in a good place

because this morning you'll be cleaning poop.

-Is that OK?

-Yes.

-All right, boys, enjoy. See you in a bit.

'I'm not sure if they quite know what they're walking into,

'but these lads are plainly up for anything.'

Right, boys, this is the kennel room,

and these lovely, delightful cats need cleaning out.

I'm thinking it's going to get pretty icky in there,

so on with full body protection and then on with the show.

But how will Jack and Thomas do with cats' doo-doo later.

First, let's see what Dom's team are getting up to in Buckinghamshire.

Welcome to St Tiggywinkles. If you have a badger

with a bruised bum, a squirrel with a squashed toe,

then this is the place to bring it.

Here at Tiggywinkles,

they look after more than 10,000 injured animals every year.

With all that animal action, I bet they could do with some extra help.

Meet Jake and Cameron, two mates who are on top of their game.

So I bet you love British beasts, Jake.

Tigers are in Africa.

What have we got? We've got a snail.

Mmm. Right, come on, Cameron, do you love all creatures great and small?

I think animals are... Whoa!

We'll take that as a no! So wildlife doesn't wow them

and we're sending them to a... well, a busy animal hospital.

Right, time to take a walk on the wild side, boys.

-Hi.

-Hello, lads, how are you doing?

-Fine, thank you.

-Cameron, yes? Jake?

Don't tell me, you guys LOVE wildlife, yes?

-You adore anything with feathers and fur, right?

-No.

-This is the place to come to change your mind about wildlife.

It is incredible here,

absolutely amazing, you'll love it. This is Les.

The first job you've got is here to meet the animals that come in.

This is the most important job

and you'd be surprised how many animals come in here.

-You're really going to be busy. Looking forward to that?

-Mm.

-OK.

-You've got a job to do, mate.

-I'll change their minds.

-Good luck.

-Come on, Cameron, in you go.

-See you later.

This animal hospital is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Anything can and does happen.

-WIND WHISTLES

-How's it going, boys?

-Oh, a bit quiet then?

-DOM WHISTLES A TUNE

-# Dum de dum... #

-DOM CLEARS HIS THROAT

Ah, action! Our pair have their first patient.

-What kind of animal is it?

-A bat.

-It's a bat.

And what is the circumstances of rescue?

I found it in the garden. I think my cat had it.

What have we got here then? I spy a broken bat.

-Time to call in the professionals.

-Liz?

-Liz?

Things are getting busier for the boys,

but will they be able to get the bat better later?

Back in County Durham, two best mates who want pets

are in a bit of a mess cleaning out cat cages.

All right, guys?

So we're going to take the cats out,

put them into a clean bed over here, and then it's your turn

because you've got a nice load of poop to clean up.

-Is that all right?

-Hmm...

-It smells weird, that.

-Urgh, it smells like...

It smells just what it's been laid on - cat.

What's up, Jack, cat's got your tongue?

Right, who's volunteering for the first one?

I'll take the collar.

Right, bend down, grab the litter tray, there.

-All right, and over into the bin in the corner.

-It does not smell nice.

Not sure cat poo ever does smell nice! Do your best, old chap.

That's fine, into the sink.

A quick wash, and that's one clean kitty tray done.

Are you enjoying this? Cos you're next.

-Right, over to Rita. Are you ready?

-Yeah.

-In we go.

She's looking at it already, ready for a poo.

OK, Jack, your turn.

Whoa, the great escape! What's that cat in such a rush to get away from?

There's lots of food there! You know what that means?

-Yeah.

-There'll be lots of poo.

Smells horrible.

-It stinks!

-It stinks, does it?

I wonder what it's like for the cat?

Yes, a stinker of a job, but look at that shine.

Right, I think you've done a good job there. Excellent.

Phew, let's hope they're still positive about pets.

How will the lads do when they assist in a doggy operation later?

Can you hear "lub-dub lub-dub lub-dub"?

Yeah, definitely.

Jake and Cameron are on reception at the animal hospital

in Buckinghamshire.

They've got an injured bat in a box. Think they need help with this!

-What have you got?

-A bat.

-Right.

-Seems to be a baby bat.

-Found on... Found on a lawn.

-Oh, right. Yeah, no, it's not a baby, it's a full-grown bat.

-Really?

Yeah, it's a full-grown... I'll show him to you.

This is a pipistrelle,

it's our smallest bat in this country.

See his teeth? He's got loads of teeth

and he'll bite you if he wants to.

Actually, he's damaged his wing.

So let's tuck him in, then we'll get him down to the nurses to sort out.

Bats can carry some nasty diseases

so if you ever see one that is injured, don't touch it!

Ask an adult to call your nearest animal rescue centre instead.

We've got a bat here. It was found on a lawn. It's been in an accident.

-OK.

-What will you do with the bat?

I'll give him something to eat because he'll be quite hungry.

I can see he's got a break,

so we're going to have to get him to see the vet,

who'll be able to fix his wing.

-What food will you give him?

-Some waxworms.

I'll just hold them up and he'll chomp.

-A quick bit of grub to get his strength up...

-He likes them.

Oh, I can't watch that. That's just disgusting!

..and the bat can go see the doctor

while the boys head back to reception for their next patient.

-Hello.

-Hello. What animal have you got?

-I've got a hedgehog.

It's awake in the day, which I don't think it should be

and it was wandering around looking lost.

Hedgehogs are mainly nocturnal animals

and should be snoozing most of the day.

If you find one awake it might need help,

but don't pick it up, let an adult know.

-He seems awake and he seems quite active.

-Yeah, he's awake.

-He is.

Breathing properly too.

-We've got a hedgehog.

-What's wrong with it?

It's been awake all through the day.

It's only a little one.

I'll just unroll him so we can check he's OK.

He's got all his legs, which is good.

It's just a youngster that's not coping without Mum.

-Will he be all right?

-I think he'll be fine,

he just needs to put some weight on,

cos he's a little bit skinny.

We'll build him up so that he's ready to go for release.

-Boys, boys, boys! How's it been? All good?

-Yep.

-Good stuff.

What have you done and learned by being behind the reception desk?

We've learned how to look after animals.

Good. And what animals have you brought in today?

A hedgehog and a bat.

A full morning then? Which was the weirdest thing you had to help with?

The bat because we had to feed it waxworms.

Can I ask a question? You were hesitant when you first came here,

you really didn't have any interest.

-Are you starting to find it more interesting?

-Yeah.

Good. Are you up for doing more?

-Yeah.

-Nice one! Let's go and do some more.

But how will the boys get on when they have to rustle up

treats for things that go tweet?

It's dried insects that have been crushed up.

Urgh, I don't believe I'm touching that!

First, it's time for Dick to get a bit OTTER under the collar.

Today's it's Dick's turn to help wobbly wildlife.

Noah and Ark are both orphans

and unlike most wild otters, are very friendly.

-Very, very friendly.

-Argh!

DOM LAUGHS

These have been hand-reared by humans,

but leave this hand-rearing business to the experts,

if you want to hang on to your fingers, that is.

Right, we're going to fill this up and we'll go for swimmies.

Otters are taught to swim by their mum at around two months old.

Sometimes they are so reluctant she has to push them in.

Today, Dick's playing Mum to Ark. Go on, go catch an otter!

Get the big one first, the big bitey one.

-No, baby first.

-No, big bitey one.

DICK GIGGLES

He's gone behind there!

Stop looking at me like that and get round here. Come on, Noah.

-That's it, up there. Good boy!

-OK, mate, hold it!

-Come here!

Aren't you beautiful?

Get off!

-Well done. I think...

-THEY LAUGH

This is what you're supposed to do -

shake it up and down like a baby. Right, bath time.

Here we go. Shall I put him down the slide?

-Yeah.

-And 1, 2, 3... Go for it!

-Aw!

-Good lad! He's in.

Oh, come on, Dick, Noah's an old hand at this.

You need to show little Ark how much fun it is

to be an otter splashing around in the water.

What are you looking at? Your turn! Come on, then.

Right, this one, Ark, hasn't actually been in the bath before.

This is the first time and I have the pleasure of doing it.

It's your first swim.

1, 2...

3. Straight out!

Oh, great... Loved that, mate, well done(!)

This is where you're supposed to be - in the water.

DOM LAUGHS

Third time lucky, here we go. Come on.

It's not that bad.

Look, Noah's in there. What? ARK SQUEAKS

No, it's not that bad. In you go.

That's it, look. If you just hold her there for a bit.

And she's starting to enjoy it, look.

She's calming down. There we go.

1, 2, 3. Yes. Check it out!

That's brilliant.

She just might be starting to like it.

Oh, you...

You're not supposed to point it at me!

And there we are.

My work is complete. That's how to bathe an otter.

Well done. And now, playtime.

Otter!

These lovely creatures love a bit of a laugh.

They're one of the few animals

that continue to play as grown-ups.

A bit like humans.

Get off! Dom, I've got an otter on my head.

Get me... Argh!

My ears! Get the...

All that playing uses up lots of energy.

Otters have to eat around 15% of their body weight every day -

the same as you a lot eating about six loaves of bread.

It's a shame that my friend Dominic Wood

couldn't be involved in the otter test today,

cos Noah and Ark were very placid, lovely creatures to work with,

very nice and very soft and gentle.

'Back in County Durham, Jack and Thomas

'have been called into the operating theatre.

'Blue the greyhound has had a nasty bite to her tail from another dog.

'It's really sore and infected,

'so poor Blue needs the bad bit removed.' All right, boys?

-How are you feeling about this?

-All right.

-Good.

First, Blue needs an anaesthetic. How long does it take to kick in?

Pretty quick, this stuff. She'll just gradually go off to sleep.

-She's going.

-Her legs are going. She's gone.

And Jack and Thomas have a very important job to do.

They have to make sure Blue is OK throughout the operation

-by monitoring her heartbeat.

-Tell me what you can hear.

-Can you hear "lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub"?

-Yeah.

Yep, definitely.

HEART BEATS

-I can hear the heart and the breathing.

-Good man.

-Eugh! Smells horrible.

-Does it?

Oh, it stinks!

First, the area where Jason is going to operate is shaved.

Then Jack steps in to give it a good scrub.

-We're going to concentrate on here.

-Yeah.

-That's lovely.

And underneath it. This is going to go all the way around.

Everything prepped, time for Jason to start the surgery to help Blue.

Here's the tools, boys. Knives, scalpels...

It's only a quick operation

and will stop the infection spreading further up her tail.

-Ooh!

-Ooh!

-Ooh, we're in.

-That's not very nice, that.

-Sick.

No. It'll make the dog feel a lot better, though.

-I can see the muscle.

-Do you see the bone or the muscle or whatever?

I can actually see it right there.

-That's one of the grossest things I've ever seen so far.

-In real life.

Yeah?

Right, this is the unpleasant bit.

What, you're cutting it off now?

-Ooh...

-He's sawing through.

-Almost there. Oh!

-Oh, what was that?

'It won't be long before Blue is wagging her tail again.

'Thankfully, without the painful bit.'

So, boys, that's the last stitch.

-OK.

-All done. How do you feel about that? Enjoy it?

-Er, yeah.

-You don't get that every day.

-You don't. It's very true.

'And three hours later, Blue is recovering well.

'As soon as she comes round she'll be off home.

'Good work, chaps!'

-Ah!

-Ah!

-Your tail!

-Ah, poor thing.

-Ah, dear.

'But how will the boys do

'when they have to help a very big dog go for a little wee?'

-Where is it?

-That's it. That'll do.

-Pretty disgusting!

'Jake and Cameron couldn't give a HOOT about wildlife.

'Maybe they'll think differently

'after feeding birds who are down in the dumps

'at an animal hospital in Buckinghamshire.'

Right, first thing we're going to do

is we're going to make some bird glop to feed our baby birds.

It looks like cowpat, smells like cowpat, but they seem to like it.

'Looks and smells like cowpat? How could you resist, boys?

'There are hundreds of orphaned birds, so it's an essential job.

'Do you have baby birds coming round for supper this week?

'Have we got a recipe for you!

-FRENCH ACCENT: 'Take one healthy measure of dog food.'

-It's sick.

'Season well with our secret ingredient...'

What do you think that is?

-Erm, bird poo?

-Nope.

It's dried insects that have been crushed up.

Urgh! I don't believe I'm touching that!

'Mm - ground-down insects, yummy!'

-It stinks.

-Yep.

'Add a big splash of water...

'to really make it slurpy.

'Simply give it a quick whizz...'

Urgh!

-Sniff it.

-No.

-Just sniff it, Jake.

'Mm, savour those aromas!

'And serve. Delightful.'

NORMAL VOICE: 'Please don't make your own bird glop at home.

'Blenders can bite.

'This stuff may look pretty gross

'but it contains everything a growing bird needs.

'Good glop job, boys.'

We've got some blackbirds over there that are starving.

I think you should have a go at feeding them.

-Whoa!

-Brilliant.

-He's hungry.

'Main course sorted,

'let's hope dessert is a whole lot more appetising.

'OK...worms, maggots, insects.'

OK, we've got more hungry birds.

These guys like something more gross than glop.

-Pick up that box of waxworms. They really like those.

-Urgh!

-There's one climbing your hand.

-Uh! Uh! Uh! That's so not funny!

'Is it me or are these two beginning to actually enjoy themselves?

'Yes, it seems Jake and Cameron

'may well be developing a crush on creatures.

'But how will the boys fare when they set free a red kite

'into the big wide world?'

-OK, ready?

-Yep.

-Yep.

Three, two, one...

'But first it's time for a whiffy treat.'

Oh, what's that?

Mm. Ah, well, I thought we'd go really, really wild

and act like badgers.

Eau de what? It stinks horrible. What is it?

Eau de Dom. I should be rubbing my bum against you like this,

but it's all compacted in a bottle.

Eau de Dom, because you deserve to smell like the largest

land carnivore in Britain after it's been living in a muddy hole.

Only eleventeen pounds twelvety. Because you like it.

Stop it!

All right! OK! Every badger

has their own individual smell and they use it to communicate.

Their smell is hundreds of times better than a human being's

and they can use it to make friends, warn off enemies and to find food.

I don't need your smelly smell to see you coming.

I can see that a mile off.

So stop badgering me.

Back in County Durham,

there's just one last job for Jack and Thomas...and it's a biggie.

Whoa!

Hang on, is that a dog or a horse?

Hello.

Big dog.

Right, boys, I've got a job for you. We need a urine sample off this dog.

Ralph the Great Dane, has been having difficulty going to the loo

and he's had a bit of blood in his wee.

Jason is worried he's suffering a bit.

It's had blood in its urine

and we need to check all that blood's cleared now.

How do we get the dog to actually urinate?

You go over to that post,

which is the famous post, and he will perform.

Right, let's see if he'll do it.

The pee post is a popular stop-off point

for passing dogs who need a piddle.

You'll have to be a bit more patient than that, I think.

Oh, dear. Looks like Ralph might be a bit camera-shy.

I hope he doesn't splash all over your arm.

Come on, Ralph! We only need a bit of wee.

-Catch it, quick!

-Where is it?

That's it. That'll do. That'll do! You don't need a gallon!

Way-hey! Good boy, Ralphie.

Boys, why have you been taking a urine sample?

It's just to check the dog, if he's got any blood in it

because last time it did and now it just looks green.

Pretty disgusting!

What do you think of my vet's assistants?

-Excellent, excellent.

-Thank you.

First time, very good.

Boys, best go to the lab and get it tested.

We'll be back with news in a bit.

Hopefully good ones.

We can't see any blood, but to be on the safe side,

it's back to the lab with the wee sample to do some tests.

Hi, Diane. The boys have something for you.

Hi. Oh, lovely. There's enough there!

I've got some more here.

Lovely. On your glove.

Better than on his hand.

The boys help check there are no tiny stones in Ralph's wee

that might have been causing the blood.

Right, what we're going to do

is put both the samples into this centrifuge

-and you'll hear it to go off.

-MACHINE WHIRRS

So why is it dangerous if a dog's got these little stones in its urine?

The stones accumulate together so they sort of lock on to each other

and they can make a big stone. I've seen huge stones come out of dogs.

Ouch.

It is pretty painful, yeah.

The stones would be invisible to the human eye but after a splash of dye,

the samples are ready to look at under the microscope.

Right, have a look in there.

What would they be looking for?

We're looking specifically, at the moment, for crystals,

which look like little bars of gold.

Just debris you can see there, it's nothing much to worry about.

-There's no blood and no stones.

-Does that mean we're all clear?

-Ralph's all clear, yeah.

-Good, good.

Looks like he's on the mend.

Best go and tell Ralph and Trevor. Thanks, Diane.

-You're welcome. See you later, lads.

-Thanks, bye.

Lovely. The big dog with a wee problem has got the all-clear,

so there's just time for the boys

to go and give Ralph and Trevor the results.

Ah, Ralphie boy. Trevor, we've got the news for you. Jack?

Well, the urine seems to be clear with no blood.

-Excellent.

-And there's no stones in his urine either.

-That's great news. Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

Sorted. Well done lads, you've been WEE-lly good veterinary volunteers.

Over in Buckinghamshire, Jake and Cameron

are coming round to the idea

that animals aren't so bad after all.

But what will the boys think

when they get to meet a great big beastie?

-Hi there, Les. Hello, boys. How's it going? All right?

-Yup.

Good. Now, Jake, what are you going to do?

Les is about to go in there and catch a red kite for us to release.

-You're going to release it into the wild? Excited?

-Yes.

I've got a feeling that these guys can't go in there.

-Is that right?

-No, they're a bit too dangerous.

All right, so you two and me, we're all going to stay here...

No, you're coming in.

There's no problem, I'm not scared. Why would I be scared of red kites?

They're only one of the biggest birds of prey in the UK...

These red kites are getting ready for release

after recovering from illness and injury.

We've got to check which ones are strong enough to fly free today.

These amazing birds of prey were virtually extinct in the UK

after centuries of people killing them.

Thankfully, these creatures have clawed their way back from the brink

after lots have been re-released into the wild.

So what's the drill now, Les?

I want to catch the one that can fly the best

and then we'll take them out and release them.

I've got to find out which one's flying best in here first,

-just to make sure.

-Test them out?

Hold on to that a sec for us. Ta.

Come on, fly, somebody.

Go on, you look good.

They get quite big.

Don't they!

Are you going to fly? Wings look all right.

I just want to see if it can fly, so I'll let it go over there.

Go on, off you go. Go!

I think it flies really well.

Beautiful!

There she is.

We've got to catch her in the net if she comes over.

-Do you trust me to do that?

-Go on then.

-Do you reckon?

-You can try.

-Oh, no.

-I'll stand behind.

-All right.

Good luck!

-Thanks.

-Go from the front.

That's brilliant. Bring it down on the floor. That's it. Lovely stuff.

Wow.

Well done!

Well done! So there she is.

-Do you want to hold her?

-Why not?

Put your arms around her. Just get hold of those legs,

because they're the ones... See those talons?

-Got them.

-That's it.

What a beautiful animal. Look at that. Isn't she gorgeous?

Aren't they the best birds in the world? I think they are.

Absolutely beautiful.

They're the ones that you see on the motorway all the time,

flying above the cars and they look glorious then,

but up close they're even more beautiful.

We're so lucky they come through here.

-Do you want to see it up close?

-Yeah.

Go on then, look at that. Isn't she lovely?

-Yeah.

-Wow.

Imagine getting your fingers in that beak, hey?

They're docile when you handle them, not putting up much of a fight.

They tend to play dead. Red kites play dead.

You think they've had it or they're very ill,

but that's the way they behave.

Every now and again you get one that won't so you have to be very careful.

Sure. Well, you seem like a softie to me.

Let's let softie fly away.

Well, what a privilege!

We're going to help this big bird get back to where it really belongs.

Let's hope its mates will be joining him soon.

-What's the next step?

-We'll just go over this bit of open ground,

there's plenty of wind, plenty of runway,

and just gently lob him into the air.

This is the worst bit. You've got to hope they fly away.

So that's the best thing.

-OK. Do you think we should give a count down from three to zero?

-Yes.

And then we'll release this birdie back into the wild.

-OK, ready?

-Yes.

Three, two, one, zero.

There we go! Beautiful.

Wow! Look at that flight!

Well, there we go. Guys, with your help,

-we let a kite back into the wild. How does that feel?

-Brilliant.

-And have you had a good day?

-Yup.

I've got to say, when we turned up, you guys were less than interested.

We were a little bit worried about you to begin with.

-Now marks out of ten. How do you feel about British wildlife?

-Nine.

-Ten.

-Ten? Brilliant, nice one, guys.

Lovely to work with you. Les, well done.

Great day and I think you've converted the pair here.

They've been good, haven't they?

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