0:00:02 > 0:00:04- RSPCA Control Centre. - Is the cat still breathing?
0:00:04 > 0:00:06- 'No.'- You don't think it's breathing.
0:00:07 > 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 to the officer.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20..from neglected pets to injured wildlife.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26For the trained inspectors, every shift is a challenge.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28- In the field!- That's disgusting!
0:00:29 > 0:00:31We can't leave this situation as it is.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37Now they tell us what it's really like on the animal front line.
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 > 0:00:53Nerves of steel, a stomach of iron...
0:00:55 > 0:00:56..and a sense of humour.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15Today...the eight Labradors terrified of the outdoors.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18He absolutely doesn't know what to do, does he?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Inspector Lorna Campbell deals with an irritating problem.
0:01:23 > 0:01:29I think people think it's normal for a cat or a dog to have fleas.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31It's not normal, it's just common.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37And a call to a frightened feline in need of help.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Animal neglect can take many different forms.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Providing a clean, safe home
0:01:56 > 0:02:00and socialising your pet is as important as feeding it.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06In Manchester, a call has come in about a houseful of cats
0:02:06 > 0:02:08and dogs living in terrible conditions.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Inspector Jason Bowles is investigating.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19I'm going to a house now. Um...
0:02:19 > 0:02:22apparently, there's faeces all over the floor.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25And...that's a quite common complaint,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28but, er...this one's apparently got faeces up the walls, as well,
0:02:28 > 0:02:33so it's, er...it could be quite serious.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36And at the house, the first signs aren't good.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39So as soon as I got out of the van,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43considering there's a driveway, I could actually smell the house.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47I can smell...the inside of the house from the outside,
0:02:47 > 0:02:48which isn't a good sign.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52You could hear the commotion inside.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55There was a few dogs' heads poking out of the window.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56BARKING
0:02:56 > 0:03:00You can look from the outside here, the window's broken for a start.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03So that's a danger to the animals inside.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06And then after a while of banging and clattering,
0:03:06 > 0:03:11and doors opening and shutting inside, the lady came to the door.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13- Just explain what the call was saying...- Go on. Sorry.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15..because it may not be true at all.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Basically, there's lots of dogs inside
0:03:17 > 0:03:19and there's poo up the walls and on the floor...
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Poo up the walls?! That is disgusting!
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Tried to talk her into letting me in. Um...didn't work.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30And in short, er...refused me entry. Wouldn't let me in.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38Concerned for the animals inside, Jason calls the police for help.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42I'm outside the property now on the driveway,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45so if someone could come as soon as possible, I'd be grateful.
0:03:48 > 0:03:49For someone not to let you in,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53it kind of obviously arouses your suspicions even more.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Coupled together with the conditions I can smell
0:03:57 > 0:03:59and see from the outside,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02we definitely need to get inside that house to have a look.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07The police arrive and the owner lets them inside.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10As soon as the door was opened, it was horrible.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12You could hardly breathe.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17There's a really strong smell of ammonia in here.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21On a level of one to ten of badness, it was ten.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Faeces all over the floor...up the wall.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Um...built up underneath the furniture.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36The conditions inside that house were...
0:04:36 > 0:04:39I would say uninhabitable for human or animal.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41The conditions in here, even the smell,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43can you not smell the smell in here?
0:04:46 > 0:04:49And then I was introduced to the front room.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51BARKING Whoa!
0:04:53 > 0:04:56What I can describe as a pack of dogs living there.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59BARKING
0:04:59 > 0:05:02So there's...one, two, three, four, five big dogs.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08In total, there are eight Labradors at the house
0:05:08 > 0:05:10and two of them are pregnant.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Shall we go in another room from the dogs, so we can talk?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Jason isn't just concerned about the hygiene,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18but also the way the dogs are behaving.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23This person had no control over these dogs whatsoever.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Although they were friendly, they didn't seem to be very socialised.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29BARKING Hello.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31My heart's sinking, basically.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33It's not something I could sort out there and then
0:05:33 > 0:05:35by working with this person.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39It looks to me like it's so bad
0:05:39 > 0:05:41that we're going to have to remove these animals and work from there.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Jason needs to get a vet's opinion before he can seize the animals.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49And after looking inside,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52vet Sean Taylor confirms they need to be removed.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56The actual environment of the house is unsuitable.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58So they need removing. OK. Right.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Jason knows the dogs aren't used to being handled.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04And he's going to need help getting them out.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09This is Jason to all of N3.
0:06:09 > 0:06:10I've got five adult dogs,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12three puppies and four cats I need removing.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Is there anyone else that can come and help me?
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Two RSPCA colleagues arrive and the team can now start the evacuation.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24As we took them out of the property,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27they completely freaked out as soon as they went outside.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29As if they'd never been outside before.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32With the door open, two of the dogs
0:06:32 > 0:06:35get a sniff of freedom and make a run for it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Hello.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Could have turned into a bit of a nightmare
0:06:43 > 0:06:46with loose dogs running around the local area.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49- Come on. - But, luckily, we caught them.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53But while some of the dogs seem thrilled to finally be outside,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56others have a very different reaction.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01They're overwhelmed and clearly terrified.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05They just completely shut down, some of them,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08and wouldn't even move, so they had to be carried out.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10- It's not been outside that house, has it, this one?- Ever.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13- He's absolute...doesn't know what to do, does he?- No.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18It's just totally irresponsible to keep animals like that.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20You're causing a problem in their lives
0:07:20 > 0:07:22that they possibly won't get over.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24You haven't socialised them, got them used to normal living.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26How are they going to cope?
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Whoa! You're a big doggy.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31All eight dogs are finally rescued from the house.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Thankfully, they are in reasonable health,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39but Jason thinks the rescue came just in time.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45These dogs, with the amount of animals inside that house
0:07:45 > 0:07:47and the conditions,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49weren't having even their most basic needs met.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51So it's just a really sad situation.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54I'm very, very glad we got called to that address
0:07:54 > 0:07:57and that we were able to remove them from that situation.
0:08:02 > 0:08:03The dogs are taken to nearby kennels,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07where the future for all the animals looks brighter.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13And two months on, little Dylan here already has a new family.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Born a few days after his mother was removed from the house,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Dylan will never know the conditions he was rescued from
0:08:23 > 0:08:27and will grow up in a clean and loving home.
0:09:07 > 0:09:0920023 accept.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11In Birkenhead, Inspector Anthony Joynes
0:09:11 > 0:09:15is on his way to this very familiar problem.
0:09:15 > 0:09:16RSPCA to the rescue.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Cat rescues are one of the most
0:09:21 > 0:09:24frequent things that we do. It's just that cats are just very good
0:09:24 > 0:09:27at getting themselves in trouble.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Roofs, tops of trees, stuck in things and...
0:09:30 > 0:09:33cats are just a nightmare for us, really.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38And climbing 30 feet is Anthony's own worse nightmare.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41I love heights, as well(!)
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Can you sense the sarcasm?
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Because I don't like heights really.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52How high is 30 foot?
0:09:56 > 0:09:59I can see the cat from here. Um...
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I could see the cat as soon as I arrived
0:10:02 > 0:10:04and, um...it looked pretty high up.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Puss-ss-ss! Puss-ss-ss!
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Hello, pussycat.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16What you doing, eh?
0:10:18 > 0:10:21I'm wondering whether we have a go ourselves.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22MIAOW
0:10:22 > 0:10:26First thoughts were obviously it was quite high up and I'd kind of...
0:10:26 > 0:10:29get me Superman vest on and those sorts of thoughts,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31and wanting to save it meself.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33So I just wanted to make sure I had a go at it.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36If my ladders can go two thirds of the way up,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38I might be able to grab it meself.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42And big heights call for big ladders.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Heaviest ladders in the world.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48I don't think these are going to reach.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56The main thing was just to get the cat down.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58So, um...got my ladders up.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03No chance.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Our training is supposed to give us the best chance to do it ourselves.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10MIAOW
0:11:10 > 0:11:12It's calling out to me, so it obviously wants to come down.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14It's scared, so...if I go up there,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17it might even come onto the lower branches for me to grab it.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21So, um...I'll put a silly blue hat on
0:11:21 > 0:11:24and, er...walk up there and have a look.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28People are probably driving past thinking, "Look at him - wally!"
0:11:28 > 0:11:31But I'm not bothered at all because it needs to come down.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Time for Anthony to face his fears.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Hello. Puss-ss-ss-ss-ss!
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- You're scared, aren't you? Come on. - MIAOW
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Come on, then.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Hello. Come on.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48- MIAOW - Come on, then.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52But this cat is determined to stay just out of reach.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56I almost had it, as well.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01For his second attempt at rescue, Anthony is taking no chances.
0:12:01 > 0:12:07These are what I'm entrusting so I don't get my fingers bitten.
0:12:07 > 0:12:08It's got a cut on its nose.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10I think possibly it's been attacked by a dog
0:12:10 > 0:12:14or something scared it up there and it doesn't want to come down.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17But now it wants to, but it's stuck, so, um...
0:12:18 > 0:12:20..let's give this a whirl.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Anthony doesn't give up easily.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26This time, he's moved the ladder to get even higher.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28I went right up to the last rung
0:12:28 > 0:12:30and I was literally stood right onto the last rung.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Can you come to here?
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Come to here. It'll be a lot easier for me. Hey, come on.
0:12:36 > 0:12:37I've had cats up trees before
0:12:37 > 0:12:40where you know they're not going to come down.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44They're that high up and that scared, they will sit there.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Usually the crows and the magpies are having a pop at them
0:12:46 > 0:12:49and they'll just sit there until they're too weak.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Oh, yeah. Good girl. Come on, then.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54And I've just managed to stroke the cat.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59But I was too... I was out of reach and I was going to kill meself.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03A frustrated Anthony finally admits defeat.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09I'm taking too much of a risk. Um...that's the one attempt, really.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12I think if I could scruff it and scruff it safely, then I would,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15but I think I wouldn't have full control of the cat
0:13:15 > 0:13:17or myself at that height
0:13:17 > 0:13:20and I'm not doing it or myself any justice, really.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22So let's get the fire brigade out.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27I've got a cat stuck up a tree.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30I've tried myself, but I'm five or six foot out of reach,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32so I could do with some assistance, please.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Luckily for the cat, the local fire brigade are free to help
0:13:38 > 0:13:40and are soon on the scene.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- Let's go and have a look.- All right. MIAOW
0:13:44 > 0:13:46With the professionals on site,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48it's time for daredevil Anthony to step down.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51These guys were just keen to get the cat down straight away,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54so I was more than happy to stand and watch, really.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56Is it worth me going up the other side or not?
0:13:56 > 0:13:59- What are you going to do with it? - I would scruff it.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01I imagine it might bite if it's scared.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04MIAOW
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Doesn't look very pretty the way you scruff the cat or whatever,
0:14:08 > 0:14:12but that's... You want to make sure you get that cat confined
0:14:12 > 0:14:15because if you let go of it, it'll run in front of the nearest car.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18MIAOW
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- And he's brought the cat straight back down. - MIAOW
0:14:22 > 0:14:23Job well done, really.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Put him in here till he calms down so he doesn't run off.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30He's got a collar on, it's obviously an owned cat.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Somebody's going to be looking for this, so, um...
0:14:33 > 0:14:35I'll check it for a chip, as well.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37I'll just run it down to the local animal centre and, um...
0:14:37 > 0:14:39hopefully someone's going to claim it.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Cheers for that, mate. Thanks very much again.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46All right. Take care, guys. See you later. Bye.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51When I took the cat into me van and had a quick look at it,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53my initial thoughts were it's not injured,
0:14:53 > 0:14:54it's been scared up the tree.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00So we took it straight to the local RSPCA branch and it was fine.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02But at the centre, there's no sign of a microchip,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05making identifying the owner difficult.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Unfortunately, the owners haven't come forward. It wasn't reunited,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14which is a shame but, luckily, a new family have come forward
0:15:14 > 0:15:18and took Lily home and it's a happy ending.
0:15:18 > 0:15:19You're absolutely lovely.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33Loving animals is part of the job description for RSPCA inspectors.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37But there's one creature they'd all like to see a little less of.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38Fleas.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Fleas are the bane of my life. I hate them. With a passion.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50How often do I see animals with fleas not getting treated?
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Every day. Every day.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54"Yeah, yeah, we know it's got fleas."
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Flea problems are huge.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59And I think, "Oh, my God!"
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Today, Inspector Lorna Campbell is in Manchester
0:16:04 > 0:16:07to check out a dog who may have a major flea problem.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11I think people think
0:16:11 > 0:16:14it's normal for a cat or a dog to have fleas.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17It's not normal, it's just common.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21At some point in their life, an animal will end up getting fleas.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23But that doesn't mean it's normal.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26I'm from the RSPCA. I've had a call about your dog having fleas
0:16:26 > 0:16:28and being a bit underweight.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29The owner lets Lorna in
0:16:29 > 0:16:32and introduces Fudge, the Highland terrier.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38When we went into the property, I was quite surprised to find that
0:16:38 > 0:16:42he had no fur loss, but was extremely itchy.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45So, have you done anything about him scratching?
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Well, I've been trying, you know. I've always done my best.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51And do you know whether he's got fleas now?
0:16:51 > 0:16:53- He might have.- Yeah.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55No-one's perfect, are they?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58She almost said, "Yeah, he's got fleas, so what?"
0:16:58 > 0:17:03I don't think she realised just how uncomfortable this dog was.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06So he has still got fleas. I can see them crawling on him.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10I'm sure we've probably all been bitten by one mosquito on holiday
0:17:10 > 0:17:12and how itchy that one bite is.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14And it's kind of like that.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17So if he's got ten fleas biting him constantly,
0:17:17 > 0:17:21then it's really itchy and it's really uncomfortable for the dog.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23It's not acceptable to have fleas on your dog.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25It is really easy to treat fleas,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27so you really need to get this under control.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31If you go to the vets', because the stuff from the shop won't work.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32He's so infested with fleas
0:17:32 > 0:17:35that the shop stuff, you're going to be wasting your money.
0:17:35 > 0:17:36You're probably looking at about 20 quid.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39It'll give you three months' worth for 20 quid.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41It's just that me partner's left me and I'm high in debt
0:17:41 > 0:17:44and I've not been able to have any money to survive on.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50There will always be a reason why the animal is being neglected.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55And in this situation, which is a common one, especially now,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58finances were a major part.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00But that's fine. We can solve that.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03And in this situation, I offered to pay for the vet
0:18:03 > 0:18:07so that she only had to pay for the flea treatment.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10So I said, "There's no point wasting your money on going to the pet shop
0:18:10 > 0:18:13"and spending however much on shop-bought.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16"You need to get a prescription and get the strong flea treatment.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18"That's the only way this is going to get solved."
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Right, mister. I'll see you in a week, then.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Yeah? Flea free.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26All right. So I'll ring the vets' now and sort that out for you
0:18:26 > 0:18:29and then I'll come and see you next week.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30- All right? Thank you.- Bye.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35I made it absolutely clear that she must go to the vets'
0:18:35 > 0:18:37and get veterinary-prescribed products for the fleas,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40and then I left the property
0:18:40 > 0:18:43really believing that when I went back,
0:18:43 > 0:18:44the dog would have been to the vets'
0:18:44 > 0:18:47and I would see a nice box of flea treatment on the windowsill.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Hi, it's Lorna from the RSPCA.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02But a week later, a call to the vet shatters Lorna's optimism.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06OK. And she's not made an appointment for tomorrow at all?
0:19:07 > 0:19:08Nothing?
0:19:08 > 0:19:10All right. Ta-ra. Bye.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16I rang that vet to see if she'd gone.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18And she'd made an appointment and cancelled,
0:19:18 > 0:19:20made another one and then not turned up.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24Hiya. I've come to see how you're getting on with Fudge.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28So I was interested to see what her reasoning was for that.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31I am trying to keep them under control. I really am trying.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34So, what have you done? Because I know you didn't go to the vets'.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36- That's because of money problems. - Right.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38When I examined the dog on that second visit,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40he was still crawling with fleas,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42but this time, he had an open sore on his shoulder
0:19:42 > 0:19:46that was slightly bleeding because he'd scratched himself even more so.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- I have got some flea stuff.- Right.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Which I've got meself, but he's still got them.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Right. But I did specifically say, and I even wrote on that notice,
0:19:55 > 0:19:57that shop-bought products wouldn't work
0:19:57 > 0:19:59- and that you needed to go to the vets'.- Yeah.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02- How much did you spend at the shop? - About ten.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Even though I told you it wouldn't work.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08- You've spent ten quid and you've achieved nothing, haven't you?- Yeah.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11I was just so gobsmacked that she'd done that
0:20:11 > 0:20:14because we'd discussed the fact that these products hadn't worked
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and she'd just wasted her money, basically.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20If you can't provide him with the flea treatment he needs,
0:20:20 > 0:20:22then you can't have this dog.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25I made it clear to her that, you know, this is getting serious now.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27So, what do you want to do?
0:20:27 > 0:20:29If I give you a notice giving you a week to get to the vets',
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- are you realistically going to do it? - I'm going to do it, yeah.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36In that instance, I actually cautioned her
0:20:36 > 0:20:39and I gave her a formal animal welfare warning notice.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42That meant if she failed to take the dog to the vets' in that time period,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44I would go back and take the dog off her.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- So if you ring them up and make an appointment.- OK.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Maybe for Wednesday, yeah? I don't want to have to take him off you.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52I want you to sort this out.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54I think once she was cautioned
0:20:54 > 0:20:56and understood that she might lose this dog,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58that was when I think it set in.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01"OK, I've got to do this now."
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- I shall see you next week. All right? - Right.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Without a doubt, he is suffering because he's got fleas.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11So at the end of the day, that's an offence.
0:21:11 > 0:21:12It's a criminal offence
0:21:12 > 0:21:15to leave your animal suffering, and that what she's doing.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19So she's got seven days now to do what I asked her to do weeks ago.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23And if she hasn't done it, then I'm left with no option
0:21:23 > 0:21:25but to take the dog off her and take her to court for it.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33One week on and Fudge is finally a happy dog.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36She did it, she got the flea treatment.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38And when I went around to see her,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41I was surprised to find she'd also had the dog fully vaccinated.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44He'd been bathed, clipped, taken to the groomers,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47he smelt lovely, he had not a single flea on him.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50That's the satisfaction you get knowing job well done.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Because I know for the rest of this dog's life,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54she will never let him get fleas again.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56She knows what to do now.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04East Winch in Norfolk
0:22:04 > 0:22:08is one of the RSPCA's four specialist wildlife centres.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14Every year, manager Alison Charles oversees more than 4,000 cases
0:22:14 > 0:22:16of sick and injured animals.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20The majority of our patients are birds.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Various species. I think we've had
0:22:23 > 0:22:25226 species of birds in over the years,
0:22:25 > 0:22:26which is phenomenal.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33For birds of prey in particular, it can be a long road to recovery.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37You take them in, you admit them.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Most of the birds need a vet check before they're taken into the wards.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44A lot of them will have wounds, or they'll have been hit by cars,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48or they need to have an eye exam in the case of the birds of prey.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51If these guys have got to go back out in the wild,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53they need to have pretty perfect vision
0:22:53 > 0:22:56and pretty perfect flight to be able to survive.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58That eye looks good.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01As they improve, they can move on to the next stage.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04So everything goes on in little stages.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Once serious injuries have been treated
0:23:08 > 0:23:09and the birds are stabilised,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12they're moved out to the aviaries.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15This is a tawny.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19And we'll just check that he's OK and, um...flying.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23When they get to the aviary stage, we're quite happy with them.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25They should be able to fly a little bit.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27And it's just feeding them up,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29making sure that they're fit and healthy.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Well, he's been in for quite some time.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34It took a while to recover in isolation,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36but it has pulled through that stage.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40We've got it to eat well and it's now here and it's flying,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42but it's not flying as well as we'd expect at this stage.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45And even when the birds appear fully recovered,
0:23:45 > 0:23:49there is one final stop on their way back to the wild.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57This state-of-the-art aviary allows Alison and her team
0:23:57 > 0:24:00to assess whether even the largest birds are fit to fly.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04We've got an absolutely fabulous flight aviary.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08It's just really changed what we do with wildlife.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11It's the finishing touches to birds of prey's rehab, certainly.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14This kestrel is ready to go in here and see how he flies,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16so I'll just let him out.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19So we'll just get him out and pop him...
0:24:21 > 0:24:24So the idea is to see how it flies.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26And it flew quite well, actually, it flew quite even.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29And both wings were equal and, you know, quite strong.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33And that's what we want to do, check that it's a nice strong flight
0:24:33 > 0:24:38and that it's able to cope when we release it.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42And with cameras inside, human contact can be kept to a minimum,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45which is vital if they're to return to the wild.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49We also use the cameras in there, so it's to see how they're flying.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52To see if their wings are even,
0:24:52 > 0:24:54to see how their flight is as they go from one end to the other.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58And it's much better to be able to observe them without us being there.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00It means that we're not there stressing them.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03In the past, we used to release herons from the smaller aviaries.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07And the first time we put one in here, I was absolutely stunned.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10I put it in here and it couldn't fly the length of the aviary.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12And you think, "We would have released it in the past."
0:25:12 > 0:25:14So all herons now have to come in here,
0:25:14 > 0:25:17have at least two weeks' flight and then we'll release them.
0:25:19 > 0:25:25Today, two long-term residents are finally ready to return to the wild.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28These guillemots were both caught in an oil slick,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30but after weeks of rehabilitation,
0:25:30 > 0:25:33they're now ready to return to the sea.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36One's from Lincolnshire, and one's from the Norfolk coast.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40They were both oiled. When they came in, they were little black birds
0:25:40 > 0:25:42and they're now black-and-white birds again.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Try and catch them, pop them in a box and drive them up to the coast.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48And then it's the release for them.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Guillemots are quite feisty, actually.
0:25:54 > 0:25:55You've got to be careful.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57They're very quick to peck you
0:25:57 > 0:26:01and they've got quite a sharp beak, dare I say it.
0:26:01 > 0:26:02Don't mess around with guillemots
0:26:02 > 0:26:05because they tend to give you a slashed wrist.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13The main thing is I don't hurt them.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16You just want to do it quickly and efficiently.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27That's great, nice and smooth. We're off already.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31With the guillemots boxed and ready to go,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Alison heads off to the Norfolk coast.
0:26:34 > 0:26:35They were so sick when they came in,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37but we're really quite pleased with them
0:26:37 > 0:26:40and hope that they have a good chance of survival.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44They've had every chance we could possibly give them
0:26:44 > 0:26:46and now it's over to them.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50But hopefully, we'll not see them again for a long, long time.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56With guillemots, we like them to be going out into the North Sea
0:26:56 > 0:26:59so they can join the other rafts out there.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05You never quite know how guillemot releases are going to go.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09You let them out of the box and you never quite know
0:27:09 > 0:27:12whether they'll turn back up the beach and head inland
0:27:12 > 0:27:15or whether they're going to go out to sea.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18What I'm going to do is literally open the box and tip him out
0:27:18 > 0:27:19and let him go in his own time.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Whoop! He didn't think much of that. Wahey!
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Our job is to rehabilitate animals.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35And this is the final story.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39It's wonderful to see them just fly away and off they've gone.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Um...it's great stuff. It's what it's all about.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51That's really good.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54He dived and went under the waves, which is very nice.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58We have the joy of seeing it go at the end of the process
0:27:58 > 0:28:00and you know you've got a healthy animal back out there
0:28:00 > 0:28:03that wouldn't have been out there unless you'd done your work.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05So it's good stuff, I think.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd