0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Good afternoon, RSPCA control centre. - Is the cat still breathing?
0:00:04 > 0:00:06- 'No.'- You don't think it's breathing.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Every 30 seconds someone calls the RSPCA
0:00:10 > 0:00:13about an animal that needs help.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16I'll pass this information through to the officer.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20From neglected pets to injured wildlife.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26For the trained inspectors every shift is a challenge.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28It's disgusting.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29CAT MIAOWS
0:00:29 > 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 > 0:00:39No day, really, is the same.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43- We have piggies. - It never ceases to amaze me.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47I 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.
0:01:10 > 0:01:11Today...
0:01:15 > 0:01:20A call to assist the fire brigade after a dog takes a nasty fall.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24The horses rescued from potentially fatal floods.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31And this little piggy gives Inspector Sally Wren the runaround.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35I was slightly self-conscious,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38I was also thinking the main thing was to try and get the pig.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51There is one call that the RSPCA hears more than any other.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Is the cat injured in any way, or anything like that?
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Right, how long's the cat been in the car for?
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Last year nearly 6,000 cats were abandoned,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04and that number is rising.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06I'm forever hearing the saying,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08cats can look after themselves,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10they'll look after themselves, but they won't.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13And it really annoys me, to be honest,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17the lack of care people will associate with cats.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21You just get a bit fed up with people's attitudes, you know,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23towards their pets,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25and it seems to be getting worse, if anything, to be honest.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31In Birkenhead two cats have been reported abandoned,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34it's a case Anthony Joynes has been working on for several days.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Most occasions the cats have got the run of the house
0:02:41 > 0:02:43and they can get to the front door
0:02:43 > 0:02:46so I'll either put ice cubes in to make sure they're kept hydrated,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48and I'll put wet food in through the letterbox,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52but there's a door that's separating the cats and the front door
0:02:52 > 0:02:54so they've got no access
0:02:54 > 0:02:56so I haven't been able to feed or water them.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Last time he visited Anthony put tape on the door.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06If it's still there he'll know no-one has been in to look after the cats.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12There's my seals that I've placed on Wednesday, there's my card,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14seals on the door frame.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Obviously this door hasn't been opened,
0:03:17 > 0:03:22so it looks like nobody's attending to the cats and they want to get out now.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26It's definitely time for them to come out. You can see,
0:03:26 > 0:03:27they just, they look fed up,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30every time I've been there on the window ledge. They need to come out.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31Their needs clearly aren't being met,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33and if there is no food or water in there
0:03:33 > 0:03:36it won't not be long before they become too weak to eat
0:03:36 > 0:03:39and then they can become collapsed and die of starvation,
0:03:39 > 0:03:40that's how it'll go.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44The priority at that point then is to get in, however way I can,
0:03:44 > 0:03:49and get the cats out, and it's usually get the police out.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Hello, mate, it's Anthony, one of the RSPCA inspectors.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57I just wanted to get some assistance at an address in Birkenhead,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01I need an officer to force entry to get the cats out, basically.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Great.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05All right, mate, thanks very much. Cheers, bye bye.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07We'll get you out in a minute.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10While he waits for the police
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Anthony takes photographs as evidence for any future prosecution.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Just starting to build a photo storybook, almost, really,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and then as soon as we force entry, we get in,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23I'll take pictures of anything that's relevant,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25evidentially, really.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32The police arrive to help Anthony get into the abandoned house.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36I'm not going to lie, it was interesting, it was quite exciting,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39but these people are going to leave their animals locked in properties
0:04:39 > 0:04:42for days on end with no food and water,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46then they can expect to have their door put in by the police.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54Hello, police!
0:04:56 > 0:05:01Inside, just the smell was horrendous.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Oh!
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Just ammonia burning your eyelids.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Oh...
0:05:09 > 0:05:11The house just stinks of faeces.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Litter trays overflowing, just disgusting.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Some faeces there has got mould on it,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23they've been left here to perish, to be honest.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27The cats are clearly hungry and close to starvation.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Empty, everything is empty.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37You could see where some of the boxes
0:05:37 > 0:05:41and cat biscuit bags had been ripped open.
0:05:41 > 0:05:42They've ripped everything to shreds.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Animals shouldn't have too look for food in desperation like that
0:05:46 > 0:05:49when they're somebody's pet. It's bang out of order.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52They could have filled this bowl of water up, it's bone dry.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Words fail me, sometimes.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I've known cats in the past to do well
0:06:02 > 0:06:04because the toilet seat's been open
0:06:04 > 0:06:07or there's been a dripping tap in the kitchen, but there was nothing.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10I can feel she's starting to lose her condition now,
0:06:10 > 0:06:14it wouldn't be long until she was in real trouble, collapsed
0:06:14 > 0:06:16and starving to death. Unbelievable.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Luckily we got in at the right time, really.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26You can't just do one and then this is what happens,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30it's why I do the job, because I'll hunt them down now.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35The police can legally seize the cats.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I'm going to go and get two baskets
0:06:37 > 0:06:39and I'll come back in and we'll get them secure now.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42But now it's down to Anthony to catch them.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Something we'll see him wrestle with later in the programme.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55In Leeds, Inspector Sally Wren
0:06:55 > 0:06:58is on her way to what sounds like a routine call.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20But when she arrives, she's in for a surprise.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24Oh, it's a pig.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28I wasn't expecting a pig!
0:07:30 > 0:07:34This was the first pig that I'd ever come across, certainly
0:07:34 > 0:07:36in a backyard in a housing estate.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42As Sally sizes up the tiny hog two dogs emerge from the house.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Along with their owner.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46We've just had a call from somebody a bit concerned
0:07:46 > 0:07:48that your Jack Russells were looking a bit on the thin side.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- No, it's got worms, I've took it to the vet.- Right.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53I'll bring it out, actually.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Both dogs appeared in quite a healthy condition.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58I then asked her to see where they were being kept
0:07:58 > 0:08:02when they were outside so she showed us around to the back of the property.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07For Sally, the conditions in the back garden are far from ideal.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09I was obviously concerned,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11even if they were there for a short period of time,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14it was full of faeces, it wasn't a good environment at all.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17You just need to keep on top of your dog dirt, every day, really,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20cos it does build up very quickly, especially with two dogs.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24They only go out there if they need a wee or owt like that then they come straight back in.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27In my other house it had a kennel, everything.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29That's what I was going to say.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Under the law they must have a shelter
0:08:31 > 0:08:34and if we were to come round here and it were raining, you weren't in
0:08:34 > 0:08:36and the dogs were outdoors with no shelter.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38I don't leave them out, I bring them in.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45Time to check out the micro pig, but there's a problem.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47When we got back we realised that
0:08:47 > 0:08:50because the fence wasn't very secure the pig had escaped.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55There's a pig on the loose on a housing estate in Leeds.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Having not come across this situation before
0:08:58 > 0:09:01none of us were experts at catching pigs,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03so the lady herself seemed quite,
0:09:03 > 0:09:07actually quite frightened of going near the pig.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Try and get it in this sheet.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Maybe try and herd it into a corner, like down there.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18There certainly was times during the pursuit
0:09:18 > 0:09:21that it did all become a little bit unreal.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28I think there was a child on a tricycle at one point joining in
0:09:28 > 0:09:29and all sorts.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33I was slightly self-conscious,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36I was also thinking the main thing was to try and get the pig!
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Although it looks cute the animal is far better suited
0:09:41 > 0:09:43to a farmyard than a back garden.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46It sort of illustrates when people take on animals
0:09:46 > 0:09:50that perhaps don't have all the knowledge for looking after.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Finally the nervy owner gets her hands on the escapee.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58And unsurprisingly it squeals like a pig.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02Do you want me to take it off you?
0:10:02 > 0:10:04I'm scared of it.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08Sally takes over, and puts the pig in a blanket.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13This wasn't quite what I expected, when I came about two Jack Russells.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Although there was times when it did sort of seem slightly comical,
0:10:21 > 0:10:22in all reality, actually,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25it was a pig that was probably quite distressed,
0:10:25 > 0:10:27quite confused, and in a very alien environment.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32So this is where the pig's living at night, is it?
0:10:32 > 0:10:34It had just been put in a Wendy house, really,
0:10:34 > 0:10:38with very little thought to that environment being created safely for it.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43When I'm pressing that there's all kind of obstacles,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46just things like this, the pig's obviously been chewing that,
0:10:46 > 0:10:50and that's going to go in its stomach, isn't it?
0:10:50 > 0:10:54And if it's got plastic and stuff in its stomach it could cause
0:10:54 > 0:10:56a major medical problem for it.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Animals can ingest plastic or things like that,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02it can cause a blockage in their stomach, so that was an obvious concern.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Pigs will eat rubbish,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07and there is obviously things here
0:11:07 > 0:11:10that it could obviously choke on or something like that.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15She's got it because she thought it was going to be something cute
0:11:15 > 0:11:16that she could take into the house.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19She was saying it was pooing in the house,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21doing things that are very normal to the animal,
0:11:21 > 0:11:25and she very quickly realised it didn't turn out
0:11:25 > 0:11:26to be quite what she expect it.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28The first person that comes along and wants it,
0:11:28 > 0:11:29they're happy to have it.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Is just a bit hard to look after it.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37I'd rather just have my dogs and my fish.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Yeah, I think even though they look cute and they look like a pet,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44they are actually, really, are farm animals
0:11:44 > 0:11:48who have really different needs from dogs and cats.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50I mean, really I would say pigs are sociable animals
0:11:50 > 0:11:53and would be a lot better kept with another pig
0:11:53 > 0:11:56than with two Jack Russells.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00The pig's living conditions are deemed unacceptable
0:12:00 > 0:12:02and the situation needs resolving.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Do you want me to make enquiries
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- about whether we could help with re-homing it?- If you like, yes.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Do you think you'd get a pig again, then?
0:12:09 > 0:12:10No, never again.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12It is too much hassle.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14It is too much hassle when you think about it,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16I didn't think it would be that bad.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19And then I wanted a monkey, but that's even harder.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21I just want all these little animals.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Yeah, I think maybe avoid a monkey, stick to the dogs for now.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28This was a learning curve for me
0:12:28 > 0:12:30because this is kind of the first time
0:12:30 > 0:12:33I'd come across a pig in this situation,
0:12:33 > 0:12:37but rather worryingly I fear it might not be the last.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43It just shows how animals can be regarded as the latest fashion,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45the latest accessory,
0:12:45 > 0:12:46whereas animals aren't that,
0:12:46 > 0:12:50animals are not a possession that we should just take lightly.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00Back in Birkenhead
0:13:00 > 0:13:04Inspector Anthony Joynes is rescuing two cats abandoned in a house.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08But first, he needs to catch them.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12The first cat, the little tabby cat,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15she followed me around as soon as I walked into the house.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18You just want some food.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23But the second cat, she disappeared.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Nothing ran past us when we went in, did it?
0:13:30 > 0:13:32There's no way she got out.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34What is going on?
0:13:39 > 0:13:43There it is. Close the doors. Is it down here?
0:13:46 > 0:13:49We found her underneath some clothes in a linen basket upstairs.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Gave me the worries that, I thought it was well gone!
0:13:53 > 0:13:55That was a good hiding place, that.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59With both cats finally in his grasp
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Anthony can take them straight to the vet.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Words fail me, to be honest,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08with how disgusting it was in there, the smell.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10It's what we have to deal with every day.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13I don't think you ever get used to it, really.
0:14:13 > 0:14:20It just looks like they've just been left to rot, in my opinion.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Anthony doesn't know when the cats last ate or drank,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29and they could be starving and dehydrated.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30CAT MIAOWS
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Come on, then.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33At the vets
0:14:33 > 0:14:35it's clear this cat is desperate for food.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38She looks quite hungry. Flipping heck.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42She is on the hungry side, it has to be said.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Have a look at that in a minute.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Maybe we'll look at the other first.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51But, apart from being very hungry,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54remarkably both cats are given the all clear.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58She's not dehydrated, I don't think.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01If it had been left longer than it would have been a different matter.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04It seems like Anthony got to them just in time.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09That is fantastic, we got them out,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13and now they'll be going up for looking for a new home.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Two months on, both cats have been re-homed with the Boates family.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Yeah!
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Brothers Louis and Sebastian
0:15:28 > 0:15:30are finally giving them the attention they need.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40They're settling in really well.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42They're used to us.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46They'd used to us and we let them outside now and they're fine, really.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49They're used to when we come in from school.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51They're definitely part of our lives now
0:15:51 > 0:15:55and they've definitely settled into a family quite well.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00But while tabby Sassy looks perfectly at home
0:16:00 > 0:16:03black-and-white Cybil is still a little shy.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Cybil, come on.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07And good at hiding.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Good girl, come on.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12She still a bit nervous, really,
0:16:12 > 0:16:16about everything, but she's getting much better lately.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19And back under she goes.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22It's a big change for both cats,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24they've come a long way from where they started.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Taking on a couple of rescue cats is a big thing for us,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31because we've only ever had fish for pets,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35and I think it's better just buying them from the RSPCA
0:16:35 > 0:16:38to give them a second chance than just going to a pet shop.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41When the doors are open
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Cybil and Sassy make the most of their newfound freedom.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48There she goes again.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52But from now on they'll be someone waiting for them
0:16:52 > 0:16:53when they come home.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02At the RSPCA national control centre
0:17:02 > 0:17:05operators deal with thousands of calls around the clock,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07365 days a year.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13But there is one thing that turns the emergency phone lines redhot.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17What animal was your call regarding today?
0:17:20 > 0:17:22When there's flooding
0:17:22 > 0:17:25the call volumes seem to go up quite dramatically.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35We get calls from anything about any animal in a field,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38it could be a horse, sheep, goat, donkey.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Right, so it's a very small space.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44Yeah.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49We have got the weather reports up constantly on the units,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52it helps us pre-empt what kind of calls were going to get
0:17:52 > 0:17:54and what action we can take.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55That information has been logged on our system
0:17:55 > 0:17:58and an officer will assess the best course of action.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05In the Midlands heavy rain has led to severe floods.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Local Inspector Jason Finch and his colleagues
0:18:07 > 0:18:10have formed a rescue team to respond.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16We'd had a lot of rain that weekend across the country
0:18:16 > 0:18:19and it had been falling over a period of days.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22There are millions of eyes out there,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25so we're totally reliant on the public to ring in,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28tell us where there is a problem, and what the problem is.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32One call immediately becomes a priority for the rescue team.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50If there's any inkling
0:18:50 > 0:18:54that they may be in danger that comes way up the priority list,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56it's one of those jobs we'll go to quickly.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04On arrival it's clear the horses need help.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05HORSES WHINNY
0:19:05 > 0:19:08They're surrounded by water.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Can they eat? Can they feed?
0:19:10 > 0:19:12The problem for these horses
0:19:12 > 0:19:14is they are tethered to a post,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16via a chain,
0:19:16 > 0:19:17attached to their neck,
0:19:17 > 0:19:19so they don't have the option
0:19:19 > 0:19:22of getting out of the water even if they wanted to.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Jason decides to send in the team.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30The priority then is to get our kit on which is dry suits,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32buoyancy aids, helmets,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34everything the guys need
0:19:34 > 0:19:36to keep themselves safe and dry and warm in the water.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Does one of you want to pad over and have a look?
0:19:42 > 0:19:47All the team are regular RSPCA inspectors who've been trained in flood rescues.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51They are tethered in an area where we suspect
0:19:51 > 0:19:53the water is going to continue to rise,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and from what we can gather
0:19:55 > 0:19:59this particular dark bay has been stood in the water since yesterday.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04It's difficult terrain for the inspectors.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08They are using poles to feel their way.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13Most fields have barbed wire, fences, gates, there may be ditches,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15holes that you can't see now,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17because the water has covered them.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20We can't see anything under the vegetation there,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23so although it looks as though it could be fairly shallow,
0:20:23 > 0:20:27we don't know the area so it could be quite a deep drop.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35The team's first job is to comfort and calm the distressed horse.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39And then carefully free the tether from its post.
0:20:47 > 0:20:48The guys have just been in,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50taken that tether post up,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52move the horse onto some dry land, so it's out of the water
0:20:52 > 0:20:54and now it can graze.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58With this horse safe on dry land
0:20:58 > 0:21:02the rescue team move on to the next emergency call.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21When the team arrive there is a large number of horses,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24but they're not in immediate danger.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26There must be 30 horses here
0:21:26 > 0:21:30that have made their way onto the only bit of dry land on the field,
0:21:30 > 0:21:31the rest of the field is flooded.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34But then Jason spots two animals in trouble.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38There's two horses up there.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44They were small ponies, the water could keep coming up,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46and it just gets more and more dangerous.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49So if we don't go with our specialist equipment and kit
0:21:49 > 0:21:54the animals are just left in situ, and it sometimes can be fatal, yes.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59The team heads out to try and lure them back to dry land,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02but they have no idea how the horses will react.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06They'll either stress and try to run through the water
0:22:06 > 0:22:08and panic trying to get out of it,
0:22:08 > 0:22:13or they will literally just stand there and watch it happen.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19They decide to come around the back of the horses,
0:22:19 > 0:22:21spread themselves out
0:22:21 > 0:22:25to create a sort of half moon cordon around the back of the horses.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30The team do everything they can to keep the horses calm.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33These jobs are always slow,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36as slow as you can do it, the slower
0:22:36 > 0:22:38and more gently you can treat the animals
0:22:38 > 0:22:40the less likely they are to spook, run,
0:22:40 > 0:22:44potentially hurt the people who are trying to rescue them.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50The horses are brought back to the herd and safety.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57We just needed to make sure they weren't tangled or stuck in any way.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01The likelihood is some of these guys will, as you can see, wander into the water.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03There's not a great deal you can do about it.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05If they choose to go back in the water,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08we haven't got the resources to stand there
0:23:08 > 0:23:11and watch them for 24 hours until the water's gone.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Happy that the horses now know the way back to dry land,
0:23:18 > 0:23:19the team move on.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26As the light fades they continue to carefully sweep the flooded area.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31It's a huge part of what we do now, the incidence of flooding
0:23:31 > 0:23:33are on the rise every year,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36it's vital piece of our work.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42Thankfully it doesn't seem that any other animals are trapped or injured.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47And with conditions forecast to improve,
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Jason and his team should be back on normal duties soon.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54We don't know what were going to face from one day to the next,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56but at the end of the day that is what we do,
0:23:56 > 0:23:58that is what the society is about,
0:23:58 > 0:24:02we're there for the animal, whatever the situation may be.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Operators at the call centre
0:24:12 > 0:24:15are used to hearing about animals in need of help.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19How wide is the window ledge that he's on? How big is it?
0:24:20 > 0:24:24And quite often the animals only have themselves to blame.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27It's not unusual to get a call about an animal that's got itself
0:24:27 > 0:24:29in a predicament which it absolutely cannot get itself out of.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33What animal is your call regarding today?
0:24:36 > 0:24:37Right.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42For most callers advice on how to coax an animal out
0:24:42 > 0:24:44or free at is all that's needed.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48But sometimes an animal will be in serious danger.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03In east London Inspector Clare Dew
0:25:03 > 0:25:06who has been called by the fire brigade
0:25:06 > 0:25:09who are trying to rescue a large dog stuck in a disused basement.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12It's your dog, is it? What happened?
0:25:12 > 0:25:13The fire brigade
0:25:13 > 0:25:15were willing to lift it but just wanted me to check
0:25:15 > 0:25:17that was the safest to do with the animal
0:25:17 > 0:25:20although quite frankly how else we were going to get it out of there I've no idea.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It's all right. Have we got any more light?
0:25:24 > 0:25:26The situation that the dog was in
0:25:26 > 0:25:30was the bottom of a very narrow set of stairs, it was pitch black,
0:25:30 > 0:25:33the only light was a light the fire brigade had provided.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34DOG GROWLS
0:25:34 > 0:25:37That is a big, overweight dog. Flipping 'eck!
0:25:39 > 0:25:40The dog, called Sam,
0:25:40 > 0:25:44is a large bull mastiff and he's obviously not happy.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47At that point I could see the dog was really uncomfortable,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50on its back legs, he doesn't want to be touched there.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52I think he's just bruised himself, quite sore.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55I can't see anything obvious, any blood or anything,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58but it's quite obviously had some trauma there.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Just hold him really tight for me, yes.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02I'm not worried about getting bitten.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05He won't bite. He's not a bitey type.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06No, but he's in pain.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Sam might be friendly most of the time but he's in agony.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11DOG GROWLS
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- Up you get!- Come on, Sam!
0:26:13 > 0:26:17It certainly looks like the animal is trying to kill everyone but it isn't,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20it's just trying to let everyone know that it's in a lot of pain.
0:26:20 > 0:26:21DOG GROWLS
0:26:21 > 0:26:22No, Sam.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23Come on, Sam.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27Sam is becoming more and more distressed,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30he could bite at any moment.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32For Clare, there's only one option.
0:26:32 > 0:26:33Let's get a muzzle on him.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37This is a big dog that potentially could cause quite a lot of injury.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Muzzling was a number one priority.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42It might have taken an extra minute or two
0:26:42 > 0:26:43but at least in the long run
0:26:43 > 0:26:47when were all going to be quite near to the bitey sharp end of that dog, it's the best thing.
0:26:47 > 0:26:53Just hold him. Up, up. That said, mind yourself, yes? Get him stood up.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55That's it.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59With the muzzle on, Sam can be lifted safely into the basket.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Straight up. Go. That's it.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03And again.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Good dog.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11But then there's another threat in this small stairwell.
0:27:11 > 0:27:12Stinky fart!
0:27:15 > 0:27:18The dog shows he's obviously quite distressed
0:27:18 > 0:27:21and part of that is the dog releases itself, it farts, essentially.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- Stinky fart.- It was, wasn't it?
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Now, that's quite normal and I would not necessarily be fazed by that,
0:27:27 > 0:27:28but in that tiny area,
0:27:28 > 0:27:31a fart from that dog was quite potent.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33I think that's James!
0:27:35 > 0:27:38And we were all having a bit of a laugh about it
0:27:38 > 0:27:42which I think relaxed us, relaxed the fire brigade and actually relaxed the dog.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Finally Sam's ready to be moved upstairs.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Good boy, come on. Good dog.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51And into his owner's van.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Keep the momentum going, get him in the van.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54Van open?
0:27:55 > 0:27:58I was really pleased with that, I think it was a good solution all round.
0:27:58 > 0:28:03Sam can now be taken to the vets for a full checkup.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05Right, he's sitting up, that's good. That's good.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08And hopefully he'll be back on his feet in no time.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd