0:00:00 > 0:00:02Good afternoon, RSPCA Control Centre.
0:00:02 > 0:00:04Is the cat still breathing?
0:00:05 > 0:00:07You don't think it's breathing?
0:00:07 > 0:00:12Every 30 seconds someone calls the RSPCA about an animal
0:00:12 > 0:00:13that needs help.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17I'll pass this information through to the officer.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20From neglected pets to injured wildlife.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25For the trained inspectors, every shift is a challenge.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27In the field.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28That's disgusting.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32We can't leave this situation as it is.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37Now they tell us what it's really like on the Animal Frontline.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40No day really is the same.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42We have piggies!
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It never ceases to amaze me.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48I go to bed thinking about it and I wake up thinking about it.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51What makes a good RSPCA Inspector?
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Nerves of steel, stomach of iron and a sense of humour!
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Today, an urgent call to a deer hit by a car.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20I think it's something that we need to deal with immediately.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Rounding up these reluctant seals...
0:01:22 > 0:01:24One at a time, please.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27..ready to release them back into the wild.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- Hurry up. You've got to be quick. - Oh there you go.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33And Inspector Dave McAdam rescues a dog
0:01:33 > 0:01:35with a life threatening condition.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37As soon as it was seen it was obvious,
0:01:37 > 0:01:41hugely obvious, that that dog had to go straight to the vet.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Since the recession,
0:01:49 > 0:01:54the RSPCA has seen a sharp increase in calls to abandoned horses.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57How many horses are there on the field did you say?
0:01:57 > 0:01:59When was this, that you saw them?
0:01:59 > 0:02:03Expensive to stable and feed, they are often simply left in fields.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Today a call has come in about two unclaimed horses near Hull,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11and one appears to be injured.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Inspector Sarah Keith is on her way to rescue the abandoned horses
0:02:35 > 0:02:37and check out any injuries.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39I'm just going to try and catch them
0:02:39 > 0:02:41and get them out of this field cos one of the ponies
0:02:41 > 0:02:44we think might have the start of a head collar in-growing.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48If it's not in-growing yet then it's well on the way to be.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51We need to catch it and we're going to catch its friend
0:02:51 > 0:02:52and take its friend as well.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56The horses need to be contained.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59If they escape, their speed and strength make them
0:02:59 > 0:03:01a real danger to the public.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Hello, baby!
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Sarah's meeting another inspector
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and a team from the local vet to help out.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14When you go to a horse call,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18generally you never know what method of capture you're going to use
0:03:18 > 0:03:21because it depends on how well handled they are.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Whether they will allow themselves to be caught.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27The pony that didn't have the head collar on which we still
0:03:27 > 0:03:31needed to catch but it wasn't the main concern, came quite quietly.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35- Good lad. Look at your tash. - That's an easy one.- Yeah.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38The pony with the head collar injury was a different story.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Leave that out and see if it'll follow. Leave it alone.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48What they tried to do was lead the horse that they had hold of
0:03:48 > 0:03:52through the gate in order to then grab hold of the other
0:03:52 > 0:03:54one as it came through the gate.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Closing. Closing.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00Get that pony over.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Unfortunately the pony with the head collar injury had other ideas.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08And he's jumped it. That's excellent.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10And then the chase began.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13You all right, Shannon?
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Oh dear.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18There's a pony and it's loose and it's running up the road.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23I don't want it to go down towards the main road.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27A 450 kilo horse is a dangerous proposition.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I don't want it anywhere near that main road there.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34There you go. Shut the gate! Shut the gate!
0:04:34 > 0:04:37A lot of the time these horses, once you've got hold of them
0:04:37 > 0:04:41and they know you've got hold of them, they sort of give up.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45Steady, steady. Just let him chill.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Unfortunately that didn't happen with this particular pony.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Back in the field!
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The horse is clearly in pain and trying to hold him
0:05:10 > 0:05:13by the head collar is making things worse.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15To catch them you've got to use the head collar
0:05:15 > 0:05:18but you know as soon as you put pressure on that head collar,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21it's going to be painful for the horse.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24All right, darling. You can't go down there, can you, poppet?
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Some horses will stay away from a barricade of human bodies.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34This horse was one that would plough straight through it.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43The team want to fit a temporary collar so they can lead him
0:05:43 > 0:05:46without hurting him more.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52But the frightened pony is having none of it.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59It's a very stressful situation for this pony to be in.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Steady, steady, steady.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05There we are. Good boy.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Finally, he's gently coaxed in.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Everyone just takes a deep sigh of relief once the horse
0:06:14 > 0:06:16is in the trailer.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19But of course that's not the end of the story, we've got
0:06:19 > 0:06:22to then get it to the vet safely.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27And then get it out of the trailer and examine it at the other end.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31At the stables, the horses appear calmer.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Actually managed to get them without too much fuss, amazingly,
0:06:38 > 0:06:42into the examination area and into the stocks at the vet.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Oh steady, steady, sweetheart.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51And up close, Sarah can see the damage the head collar has done.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53If horses have a head collar that's too tight
0:06:53 > 0:06:57and they're a young horse and they grow, the head collar doesn't
0:06:57 > 0:06:59grow with the horse so it can grow into the skin
0:06:59 > 0:07:01and in worse case scenarios
0:07:01 > 0:07:03the skin can actually start to grow over the head collar.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Because he's in pain, the horse is sedated before the vet examines him.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Sleepy time.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Once he'd calmed down, the vet took the head collar off.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28And that tissue had grown into one of the buckle holes on the noseband.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31You can actually see where it's grown through
0:07:31 > 0:07:32the eyelet in the head collar.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35So I mean, basically that's telling us that this
0:07:35 > 0:07:37head collar has been too tight for a while.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40But I mean, anyone with a brain cell can see that that's too tight.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43You imagine going across your head like that and trying to eat.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Uncomfortable.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Now we've removed the tightness here,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52that I would hope would be fine.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Although, yes, it had an injury, it could have been a whole lot worse
0:07:55 > 0:07:59if it had remained uncaptured or unnoticed.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01So good outcome for the pony. No permanent damage.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04The pony will stay in for treatment.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08But after a check up the other horse is declared fit for re-homing.
0:08:08 > 0:08:09A great result.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Certainly the second pony is well on his way to finding a new home.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28When an animal is sick, it's down to owners to seek veterinary treatment.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30But when that doesn't happen,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33the RSPCA is often left to pick up the pieces.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39In Mansfield, Inspector Dave McAdam is on his way his way to
0:08:39 > 0:08:41a report of a seriously ill dog.
0:08:41 > 0:08:47We've received a call from a member of the public stating that
0:08:47 > 0:08:52there's a dog at the premises that has a tumour on it, like a
0:08:52 > 0:08:57lump on it, which is football sized and is actually touching the floor.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02It sounds serious, so Dave has called in the police
0:09:02 > 0:09:05in case he needs to legally remove the dog.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Hello, mate, how's it going?
0:09:07 > 0:09:10I thought this is a defo problem job.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12I've had a lot of these in the past.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16I've had some huge pendulous tumours on all manner of dogs.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17KNOCKING ON DOOR
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Ones that severely impede their ability to walk
0:09:21 > 0:09:22and in the worst cases
0:09:22 > 0:09:26I've had it where dogs have had to be euthanized, which is awful.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Hello. Sorry to bother you.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Inspector Dave McAdam from the RSPCA.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Someone phoned up and said you've got one with a great big tumour
0:09:35 > 0:09:36that's touching the floor.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Would you be able to show us so we can say we've seen it?
0:09:38 > 0:09:40That would be great.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45When I visited, the owners weren't actually in.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47It was the sons of the owners that we spoke to.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51And they immediately showed us to Gizmo.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54As soon as it was seen it was obvious, hugely obvious,
0:09:54 > 0:09:56that that dog had to go straight to the vet.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Look, mate, I'm going to have to take that today, buddy.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02That's in a right state. That worries me, that does.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07The mass underneath, it was like a large part of the dog.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10You know, it'd probably be at least 10% of the dog's weight itself.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14What I'll have to do, obviously it's not your dog,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17I'll have to get my good friend Steve here to seize the dog
0:10:17 > 0:10:18so we've got authority to take it.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Reason being, that I don't have authority to take dogs
0:10:21 > 0:10:23just without your authority to the vet
0:10:23 > 0:10:25but I need to take her to the vet when she's got that.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27That worries me a bit, she could be suffering.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32Dave can see the dog, called Gizmo, has been ill for some time
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and he finds out why it's not been treated.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Unfortunately both the owners were
0:10:40 > 0:10:43suffering from quite serious illnesses.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45I don't believe they were able to work.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Money was tight and they just weren't in a position
0:10:49 > 0:10:51to pay for the veterinary fees for Gizmo.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Despite the circumstances, Dave needs to get the dog treatment.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59And with its owners absent, he has to seize it.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Gizmo is put in Dave's van to be taken to the vet.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10And the tumour is clear to see.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18It's up the vet whether they believe the dog's in a suffering state
0:11:18 > 0:11:21or what treatment if any we can give this dog.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25But it does need seeing to, there's no doubt in my mind.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34At the vet, Dave wants to get the dog seen as quickly as possible.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Come on, little one.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43In comparison to the dog, it's a large amount of it underneath
0:11:43 > 0:11:46and it's virtually touching the floor.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49It's severely impeding the way the dog can walk.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53You know, it can't move properly because of the weight of this mass.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Vet Chris examines Gizmo.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Very large mammary tumour.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Probably been building up there for a long, long time.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01So the owners haven't really responded to that
0:12:01 > 0:12:03and treated the dog as they should do.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07This poor little dog should have had some veterinary treatment
0:12:07 > 0:12:08a long time ago.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11I mean, that's huge.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14When you see it like that, that is absolutely...
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- Bigger than her head, isn't it? - Yeah, it's massive
0:12:19 > 0:12:21It looks serious,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24but to Dave's relief Chris thinks it could be removed.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29I was concerned with Gizmo, because I thought
0:12:29 > 0:12:32I wonder if the vet's going to find a mass that large,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34that it would be inoperable.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38And it would only be right to have the dog euthanized
0:12:38 > 0:12:39on humane grounds.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41But even forgetting that, the dog's old,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43will it get through the anaesthetic?
0:12:45 > 0:12:47It's finally decided that 14-year-old Gizmo
0:12:47 > 0:12:49should have the surgery.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Two days later,
0:13:01 > 0:13:05and a nervous Dave goes back to check on Gizmo's progress.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18You can't believe it, can you? All bright as well.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21I vividly remember
0:13:21 > 0:13:25when I returned to the vet after Gizmo had her operation.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30And I'm so happy to say that dog has made a miraculous recovery.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35That's remarkable. You can't believe it, can you?
0:13:38 > 0:13:42That dog is just like a different little person.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- Big tumour. 1.1 kilograms. - Massive.- Almost as big as the dog.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Good size and she looks a lot happier and now
0:13:52 > 0:13:56and more sprightly now and weighs seven kilograms now.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- Instead of 8.1!- Yes.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02I thought it was best that that dog actually went back home
0:14:02 > 0:14:06because she's owned by two very caring people.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09They are lovely people, they've got health issues,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12they've been absolutely helpful throughout the investigation.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Come on, sweet.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17They would have loved to have been in that position to help him.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21They weren't, so fortunately we've been able to help.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25That really is a great ending as far as I'm concerned.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Things don't get much better than that
0:14:27 > 0:14:29because we've been able to help Gizmo.
0:14:29 > 0:14:34For Gizmo it's time to return to his family.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Can you believe how well she looks?
0:14:37 > 0:14:40It was a marvellous moment when we returned Gizmo home
0:14:40 > 0:14:43because of course you see the owners delighted to see their dog
0:14:43 > 0:14:46and you see the dog delighted to see them.
0:14:46 > 0:14:47SHE LAUGHS HAPPILY
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Stick him here so he doesn't run away.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52That in itself is worth a million dollars.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04Britain is home to over a million deer.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06And the population is growing.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15And with that, the number of road accidents involving them
0:15:15 > 0:15:17is also on the rise.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22Every year 10,000 deer are severely injured after being hit by vehicles.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Inspector Trevor Walker is on his way to the scene.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06I think it's something that we need to deal with immediately.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Can you give me the postcode so I can be heading up that way?
0:16:09 > 0:16:11The call came through to me.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15He'd seen the deer a number of hours earlier so there was always
0:16:15 > 0:16:19the likelihood that the deer had actually disappeared.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And one of the biggest problems we have with wildlife,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26because there's not an actual address there, it's always
0:16:26 > 0:16:29a problem actually identifying just where the animal is.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32It said it appears to be up and it's looking round
0:16:32 > 0:16:34which suggests that it's still alive.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39But Trevor knows that rehabilitating an injured deer is rarely possible.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Taking a deer into care
0:16:41 > 0:16:45and seeking veterinary attention for it is absolutely a no-no.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Deer are a unique creature that cannot be
0:16:51 > 0:16:54contained in a closed environment.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00It more than often leads to them dying of stress.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05Really, really traumatic situation to see them in.
0:17:05 > 0:17:0920 yards along. The fence there. And there's the deer.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15And lo and behold, as we look, there is a deer,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19which is blending quite nicely in with the stubble on the field.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23Young roe. That is disorientated, isn't it?
0:17:23 > 0:17:26So I'm afraid that doesn't look good at all.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33This particular deer still appeared concussed.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35It wasn't aware of its surroundings.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41I was able to walk almost straight up to the deer
0:17:41 > 0:17:44and stand within touching distance.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47And it hardly knew I was there.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54It's obviously got some kind of a head trauma on it.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55There's no sight there.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Can't see my hand when it's moving in front of it.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02Blind, there's no way the deer can survive in the wild.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05And the stress of captivity would kill it.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07So Trevor has no choice.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09If I leave it there and it wanders down the field,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12it's just going to get predated on.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15I think the only sensible thing to do is to deal with it
0:18:15 > 0:18:19and that would mean despatching it for its own benefit.
0:18:20 > 0:18:26It's a duty that we have to reduce the suffering of the animals.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31And this is what was necessary for this deer.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40This is a part of the job that we have to do.
0:18:40 > 0:18:46And I will do because it's for animal welfare.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51There was no other option for this deer.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57It's just one of those things that we have to
0:18:57 > 0:18:58bear on our conscience, I'm afraid.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09No-one likes it,
0:19:09 > 0:19:14but that's the reality of being an RSPCA inspector, I'm afraid.
0:19:22 > 0:19:28Not every injured wild animal can be saved. But thankfully thousands are.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33Every day RSPCA inspectors collect birds and animals in need
0:19:33 > 0:19:37of help, and take them to their specialist facilities.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42The East Winch Centre in Norfolk has been rehabilitating injured
0:19:42 > 0:19:45wildlife for nearly 20 years.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51We are pretty much a hospital for the British wildlife.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55And we take in about 4,000 to 5,000 patients every year
0:19:55 > 0:19:59and hopefully turn them around and get them back out for release.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05And it's particularly renowned for its care of
0:20:05 > 0:20:08sick, orphaned and injured seals.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Alison Charles looks after the hundreds of seals that
0:20:11 > 0:20:14arrive at the centre every year.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20We basically cover the whole of the country for seals.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23They come in from Scotland, they come in
0:20:23 > 0:20:26from down on the south coast and from the Welsh coast as well.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Quite often it's because they've lost their mum.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31They're with their mum for three weeks on the beach
0:20:31 > 0:20:33and then they go off to sea and feed for themselves.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35If they get split from their mum on the beach
0:20:35 > 0:20:37then unfortunately they'll end up in here with us.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42When they arrive, the pups are kept in isolation,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45where the team nurse them around the clock.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47For an awful lot of them, they'd die.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Like most of the animals, if they didn't come in here, they'd die.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53By the time they come in they're too dehydrated,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57they're too emaciated and they're just on their way out unfortunately.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59So they need a bit of help.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03They're all small, malnourished, dehydrated and it's important
0:21:03 > 0:21:07to get their fluid content up and get some food in them.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10And that way, injuries that they've got heal quicker
0:21:10 > 0:21:13the more nourishment that they've got.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Initially, we stomach tube them
0:21:15 > 0:21:18every three hours with oral rehydration solution.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21And then we build them up into fish soup.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Stomach tubing looks awful. I have to say, it does look awful
0:21:27 > 0:21:30but we find it really is beneficial because we know that they've
0:21:30 > 0:21:34definitely got that quantity of food that you're trying to give them.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Seals' rehab is actually quite a long process.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Probably the longest of all the animals that we have.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43They're with us for four to five months so obviously
0:21:43 > 0:21:46all the way along their process we've been checking they're fit,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49they're healthy, they're progressing in the right direction.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52After a long recovery, it's time to give this group
0:21:52 > 0:21:55of common seals a final check before their release.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00I've flicked the switch so this will start to drain down
0:22:00 > 0:22:03and the water level will just gently go down until we get it
0:22:03 > 0:22:06drained completely and then we can get in and handle them.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Because underwater seal handling's not much fun and they've got
0:22:09 > 0:22:12the upper hand on you really, so we'll drain it and make it safe.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Once the pool is drained,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19the seals are weighed using some special equipment.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22You just pop the seal in, tie the ends so they can't bite on you
0:22:22 > 0:22:25or come out and poo on you and then you're away.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29And it keeps them nice and stable and secure, really.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32And Alison's got a novel way of identifying each seal.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35It gets very confusing when you've got 20 seals all next door
0:22:35 > 0:22:38to each other on different drugs and different feeds,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40so we name them basically to keep us straight.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42And we just name them after a theme.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45This year we voted for the Olympic Games.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49There's Flying Rings, there's Coxless Pair, Pommel Horse...
0:22:49 > 0:22:51There's Ellie Simmonds, of course,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54she's in there because she's quite good at swimming.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56So, yeah, there's Roger Bannister as well
0:22:56 > 0:22:59so there's all sorts of seals in there.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Now it's drained, we're going to pop into the bottom of the pool.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Hopefully it's not too slippery this morning.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Put the scales down, catch them, see if they're up to weight
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and hopefully get them back into the van.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15There you go, you've got to be quick.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18On the day, we'd like them to be 35 kilos before we release them.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20And that's just so they've got a little bit of fat,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22a little bit of excess weight on them
0:23:22 > 0:23:26so they can find their fish when they get out there in The Wash.
0:23:26 > 0:23:2936. Very good.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31That one's 36 so that's spot on.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35That's Tug Of War and... Not quite an Olympic sport but yes,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37he's off back to sea.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41One at a time please, boys and girls.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Two.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Next one is Pommel Horse.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54All the way along, we're trying not to get them to like us.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58The last thing we want to do is to be happy about us handling them.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04It's great if they don't want to be handled.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07It's exactly the way wild animals should be when they're released.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10They should be feisty and wanting to be wild.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16The next one is Shot Put, which is 85.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22That's really good, 35.5.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26She can go. It's Ellie Simmonds. She's back to sea.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30It's just a little thing but if it's 35 kilos then yay!
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Ooh 39! We like that.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38That's Duncan Goodhew so he's off for a swim as well.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40So Ellie and Duncan are going for a swim shortly.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43That's great stuff. He's nice and heavy so it's ideal.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Last time we weighed them they weren't anywhere near so they've put
0:24:46 > 0:24:50on a lot of weight over Christmas, just like some other folks, I guess.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53And, yeah, they're ready to go. It's good stuff.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57But for some, freedom will have to wait a few more weeks.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- 32.5.- He's not up to weight.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03He's going to have to stay in for a little while longer.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06We've got six, which is great, more than I anticipated.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08So that's very good.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Release is, contrary to popular belief,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14everybody thinks they're really sad but they're not,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16they're great, it's the best part of the job.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18That's why we all work here, really.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21We put up with the bad days of trying to get them through being
0:25:21 > 0:25:25very, very sick and nursing them to make up with it on the release days.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32Get off now cos it is a squeeze. Get straight up the road. Yay!
0:25:38 > 0:25:41We are off to Sutton Bridge, which is just inside Lincolnshire.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45And it's the river that leads out into The Wash.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Because the tide's going out, the seals get flushed out into The Wash
0:25:49 > 0:25:53and it takes them to the sandbanks where the other seals are,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56so it's just the right spot for them to go out to.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59But there are some big potential hazards on the river.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04When we're at Sutton Bridge, my biggest concern is that
0:26:04 > 0:26:07some huge boat comes flying down the river and gets them,
0:26:07 > 0:26:09hits them basically, so I have to keep my eyes peeled
0:26:09 > 0:26:12and just check that there's nothing coming in the river.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16With the coast clear, it's time to return the seals to the water.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Now we're going to open up the front end of the stretchers
0:26:19 > 0:26:22and hopefully they're going to head towards the water.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23But we'll see.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29They are young naive animals and this is all new to them.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31So I don't expect them to rush.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42This is fabulous, ideal conditions.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46The river's going out really fast and it's nice and calm and flat.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50And as you can see, they are going down there very nicely.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52So good, yeah. All going well.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55They're both hanging onto each other for grim death.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58It's like, ooh this is new. Cos that's going really fast.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01You wouldn't want to be in there trying to swim against that.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06Six seals are back on track and heading out to sea.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14It's great. It's what it's all about.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18It's the best piece of the work that we do, really.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20It's fantastic.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23You hope that they have a long and healthy and happy life.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25But it's down to them. It's not up to us any more.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Not my responsibility - it's them.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36- This one's ready for off. - That's cos he's Duncan Goodhew!
0:27:36 > 0:27:40He should be in there. He should be in The Wash.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42But with her new found freedom,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45one seal has decided to do exactly what she wants.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47She's eating wood and they quite often do
0:27:47 > 0:27:49when they come down here - they start eating wood.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53That's fine. It's up to her, she can do whatever she likes now.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd