0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Good afternoon, RSPCA Control Centre.- Is the cat still breathing?
0:00:05 > 0:00:07You don't think it's breathing?
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Every 30 seconds, someone calls the RSPCA
0:00:11 > 0:00:14about an animal that needs help.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17I'll pass this information through to the officer.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21From neglected pets to injured wildlife.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26For the trained inspectors, every shift is a challenge.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27In the field!
0:00:27 > 0:00:29That's disgusting.
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 > 0:00:40No 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 > 0:00:49I 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 > 0:00:56Nerves of steel, stomach of iron and a sense of humour!
0:01:10 > 0:01:15Today, Inspector Dave McAdam rescues a dog in squalid conditions.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20If that was my dog, I'd be devastated if someone was treating my dog like that.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24A heron is all wrapped up and in need of help.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Cos it's sort of shut the beak closed,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29if he can't get that off, it could be life-threatening.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33And the fight to save a dog hit by a car.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36I don't know how he didn't see her, but he just ran straight over her
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- and carried on.- Right.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45And what animal is the call regarding, please?
0:01:45 > 0:01:50After cats and dogs, rabbits are Britain's most popular pet.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55And sadly, RSPCA statistics show they're also the most neglected.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58So, the main concern is they're living in dirty conditions?
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Rabbits are traditionally seen
0:02:01 > 0:02:05when the family decides that the child has got to the age
0:02:05 > 0:02:07where they need a bit of responsibility
0:02:07 > 0:02:09and, "Oh, let's get them a pet."
0:02:09 > 0:02:12And a rabbit seems to be the first thing that everyone goes for.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17At the RSPCA National Control Centre,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21calls about these furry family pets are all too common.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46In Stockport, Inspector Lorna Campbell
0:02:46 > 0:02:49is on her way to this latest call.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52A dead rabbit in a hutch sounds serious,
0:02:52 > 0:02:56but Lorna's sceptical about what she'll find.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00I've had this call before about dead rabbits in hutches.
0:03:00 > 0:03:06And it's always been some big well-fed, well-looked-after rabbit,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10that's just lazy and is asleep at the front of the hutch all the time.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12I'll be quite surprised if there's a dead rabbit
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and it's been there six days and no-one's moved it.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18I don't think that's going to be the case, but you never know.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Stranger things have happened.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26So when I got there, there was no answer at the door.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28I knocked quite loudly a couple of times
0:03:28 > 0:03:32and I didn't get any reply at the door, so I went round to the back,
0:03:32 > 0:03:37down a ginnel and straight away, you could see the hutch door was off.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40And Lorna makes an unpleasant discovery.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45OK. So there is a dead rabbit in a hutch.
0:03:45 > 0:03:52How strange. Why you would just leave it in the hutch for things to eat it.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59It is the first time that I've had a dead rabbit in a hutch.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04But I wasn't necessarily thinking the worst,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08I just thought, "Perhaps this rabbit had died of old age,"
0:04:08 > 0:04:11and it was so difficult to tell, I couldn't tell if it was skinny,
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I couldn't tell whether it had any injuries.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17It was so decomposed, I was just hoping that it died naturally.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21It's got food and water bowls and a relatively clean bed.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24There's a bit of muck in there, but nothing like...
0:04:24 > 0:04:27..mega bad to suggest it's just been left for ages.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I wasn't really thinking along the lines
0:04:30 > 0:04:32of a cruelty case, straight off.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37It's going to have been there about a week, that.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40So, it'll be very difficult
0:04:40 > 0:04:44to try and prove why it went, it's just too far decomposed.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46But I'll certainly be asking questions as to why
0:04:46 > 0:04:49it's not been buried or disposed of.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Why you would just leave it to rot in your garden.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56It's not what most people would do.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58I mean, obviously, there's kids living here
0:04:58 > 0:05:01with all the toys. You just wouldn't want the kids coming out here
0:05:01 > 0:05:04with the rabbit dead in the hutch, would you?
0:05:04 > 0:05:07It's just not really the normal response, but...
0:05:07 > 0:05:11we don't know what the circumstances are until we speak to the occupants.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15And it looks like Lorna IS about to get some answers.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Suddenly, it emerges there IS someone home after all.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23It was a bit strange when the owner then came to the door.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26And my instant reaction is, "Why have you not answered the door?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29"I've been knocking for ages, I've just been in your garden.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30"What's going on?"
0:05:30 > 0:05:34- I were knocking before. From the RSPCA.- Yeah?
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- We've had a call about your rabbit. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42Cos it looks like no-one's been out and done anything about it.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Yeah, I saw the cage door open. I wouldn't go out.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46What do you mean you wouldn't go out? Why?
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Because I thought it was dead. Because the cage door's been open!
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- You thought it was dead but you didn't go and look?- Yeah.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- When did you think it was dead? - Just a few hours ago, didn't I?
0:05:54 > 0:05:57That anger inside you, you're trying to control it.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01You're trying to get what you need out of the person
0:06:01 > 0:06:03but it was probably just a bit difficult for me
0:06:03 > 0:06:06to control my anger and I just blurted out just straight away
0:06:06 > 0:06:08without thinking, "You're lying!"
0:06:08 > 0:06:11- That's a complete lie.- Why? - Because it's decomposed.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- Is it?- Yeah. So when was the last time you went out to the rabbit?
0:06:16 > 0:06:20The actual truth was, she'd left it to starve to death.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence
0:06:23 > 0:06:26if you don't mention when questioned something you later rely on in court
0:06:26 > 0:06:30- and anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand? - Really?- Yeah. Really.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34You've got a dead rabbit in the garden and you've admitted nobody's looking after it.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36- So I wonder why it's died, then? Yeah?- Yeah.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I'm going to get some paperwork and I'll do an interview with you.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42All right? I'll just come in now as soon as I get the paperwork.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45All right.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52I am so shocked.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54I just can't believe what I've just been told.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57She's just basically admitted that she...
0:06:57 > 0:07:02hasn't been out to see the rabbit for a couple of days
0:07:02 > 0:07:06and she's been away and had no-one looking after it while she was away.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10So my instant thought now is that rabbit has died of starvation or dehydration.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Because this may now become a criminal case,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Lorna needs to interview the owner under caution.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21I think I said to her, "Has anyone been to look after the rabbit
0:07:21 > 0:07:24"whilst you've been away?", and she said, "I don't know."
0:07:24 > 0:07:28So before you went away, what did you do with regards to the rabbit?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31I said, "Well, have you asked anyone?" Did you ask anyone?
0:07:31 > 0:07:34"No. Well, no-one's been then, have they?"
0:07:34 > 0:07:37There's not just some random stranger going to walk down the alley
0:07:37 > 0:07:40and think, "You're away, so I'm going to feed your rabbit for you."
0:07:40 > 0:07:42It was just such a bizarre thing to say,
0:07:42 > 0:07:44like how can you not know this is your rabbit,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47it's your responsibility to organise this? How can you not know?
0:07:47 > 0:07:51So, if you had to have a guess at why it died, what would you think?
0:07:51 > 0:07:54She confirmed to me that it was probably a case of
0:07:54 > 0:07:57out of sight, out of mind and that she'd completely forgot about it.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05This family pet is now evidence in a criminal case.
0:08:06 > 0:08:12There was just no remorse whatsoever that she had just killed an animal.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16It was almost like, "Oops! Yeah, shouldn't have done that."
0:08:16 > 0:08:20"Never mind." It's pretty shocking, really.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22There's just no excuse for it.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Four months later, Lorna went to court
0:08:30 > 0:08:35to see the owner plead guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41She was banned from keeping animals for ten years, and fined £130.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45The RSPCA seeks to have someone disqualified from keeping an animal.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48If someone's mistreated an animal or caused an animal suffering
0:08:48 > 0:08:50and, in this case, caused an animal to die,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53then we don't want that person to be able to own an animal
0:08:53 > 0:08:55for a significant period of time to protect animals
0:08:55 > 0:08:58from them in the future.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01You think that we're a nation of animal lovers.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Until you're in my position
0:09:03 > 0:09:07and you see the awful things that people can do.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11It was a complete act of cruelty.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Even pet owners who love their animals can need the RSPCA's help.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26The cost of private vet treatment
0:09:26 > 0:09:30means the charity's Manchester Animal Hospital is always busy.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32And there are certain days of the year,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35they see more patients than ever.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Each year we see about 30,000 outpatients at the hospital.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43We have hotspots at certain times of the year,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45for example, around Bonfire Night.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47When fireworks are going off, animals are distressed...
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Dally? And this was one such case.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55- Hiya.- You all right?- Fine, thank you.- OK, who've we got here then?
0:09:55 > 0:09:56- We've got Tilly.- Yeah.
0:09:56 > 0:10:02We got her on Saturday evening, so we've only had her a couple of days.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04So we picked her up, took her home.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07We got her out of the car and she was fine. She was on a lead,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09with a collar on.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- And then a firework went off. - Oh, God.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14So she backed out of her collar,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17and unfortunately, she ran up a busy main road
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- and a car went straight over the top of her.- This was Saturday?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- Saturday evening at twenty-past six. - Right.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28In just two days, Tony Dally has spent £650
0:10:28 > 0:10:32at a private vet and he's unable to afford any further treatment.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36- Can we lower her onto the table and have a look at her.- Come on, Tilly.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40He's hoping the Manchester Animal Hospital can help.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47I'd pretty much run out of money by dinnertime today.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- Right.- And they wanted to take an X-ray of her back end,
0:10:50 > 0:10:54because she's not stood up on her back legs yet.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59This dog had just had one heck of a traumatic 24 hours.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02It's got a new owner, we've got fireworks going off,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05so we've got about as much change in its environment
0:11:05 > 0:11:09and as much stress as any dog could possibly experience.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11And have you seen her bleeding from anywhere?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Yes, she had blood around her eye and a little cut here.- Yeah.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18And she's got a little scuffing on one of her back legs.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- She's got quite a bit of bruising on that eye.- Yeah.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22You saw the accident, did you?
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Yeah. I was running up the road behind her.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- How exactly did it hit her? - Right at the front of the car.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- He just ran straight over her and carried on.- Right.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Tilly's cuts and bruises aren't overly concerning David.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38But the possibility of serious internal injuries are.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43It was quiet a nasty accident, it involved pelvic and chest damage.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48David is concerned. Tilly's injuries might be too severe to treat.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51If there's damage on both ball and socket joints
0:11:51 > 0:11:53then we'll probably tell you that that's not the best
0:11:53 > 0:11:56- for your dog's long-term future. - Yeah.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58So we may think about things like, you know,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02- whether you want to put her to sleep. You know?- Yeah.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Owner Tony has only had Tilly for a few days.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10But the possibility of losing her is clearly distressing.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15In the consulting room, we've got two elements of stress to deal with.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19One is the pet's distress and pain and discomfort.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23The more difficult side of the job is dealing with the owner's emotions.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28She's a huge part of the family, even though I've only had her for three days.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32She's not even been in the house yet.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39He's just taken on this pet,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43everything from him acquiring the pet has then been unplanned.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46You know, the traffic accident, him taking it to a vet
0:12:46 > 0:12:48and finding out the extent of the injury. Running out of funds.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51His concern for the animal.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55- OK, great stuff.- All right. I'll give you a bell when it's done.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56- Brilliant. Thanks a lot.- OK.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00- Tilly is taken away for an X-ray. - Fingers crossed.- Yeah.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04All right, Tilly.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07First, she's sedated.
0:13:07 > 0:13:08X-rays!
0:13:08 > 0:13:13And within seconds, there's an X-ray image that shows serious damage.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16So, this is the spine and the tail.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20We've got quite a nasty fracture on this part of the pelvis
0:13:20 > 0:13:22and underneath, as well. It's a little bit separated
0:13:22 > 0:13:24off the main part of the spine.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Critically, though, Tilly's spine is not fractured.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32That would have been quite alarming for us.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Maybe even requiring us to put her to sleep.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38He was quite lucky with what happened.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40He got a bit of a narrow escape there.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45David is hopeful Tilly will make a full recovery.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51But it's been a stressful few days for Tilly's owner Tony,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54who now knows the full cost of being a pet owner.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56We need to make sure that when we've taken on a pet,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59during its lifetime, it's not just the cost of the pet,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03it's the many thousands of pounds we will spend on food, vaccination,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05grooming, veterinary care.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07There are lots of things that we need to plan for
0:14:07 > 0:14:09when we take on a pet.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17- And weeks later, Tilly is home, up and about and fighting fit.- Tilly!
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Without the assistance of the Animal Hospital,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25the outcome could have been very different.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27I'd be a lot in debt,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29because I would have had to keep her at the other place.
0:14:29 > 0:14:34And at the rate it was, it was like over £250 a day.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I would have just run up a big bill
0:14:36 > 0:14:40and I would have had to take out a loan to pay it all back.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Nobody plans a traffic accident,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47nobody plans for the dog to have a nasty tumour.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52And some of the costs associated with care nowadays can be alarming.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Good girl!
0:14:55 > 0:15:00Pet ownership isn't a cheap hobby. It's an expensive luxury.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02She's worth it.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04She's healthy now.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06And she's happy.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15London.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19A place where people and wildlife live together in close proximity.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22But when the two worlds collide,
0:15:22 > 0:15:26it's often the animals and birds that come off worse.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Inspector Natasha Wallis has received a call
0:15:32 > 0:15:35about a bird in difficulty on the bank of the River Thames.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42The call was for a heron with maybe some rope
0:15:42 > 0:15:45or some sort of netting wrapped around its beak.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49It was right at the tip of the beak, so it couldn't open it.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52And it was on a jetty, as well.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55It's just on that one over there.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59It looks like it's fishing netting.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01It's a problem because we get a lot of it.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05We get a lot of geese, herons, swans,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08because people don't dispose of their lines properly.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Because it's sort of shut the beak closed,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14if he can't get that off, it could be life-threatening.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16When people don't dispose of fishing tackle properly,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19it's the animal's life that's in danger.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23If he doesn't get it off, he's not going to be able to feed.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26If he can't feed, he's pretty much going to die of starvation.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Natasha needs to get a closer look at the heron,
0:16:30 > 0:16:32but she's unsure how to get to it.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35Luckily, she finds a local business
0:16:35 > 0:16:38that has CCTV looking onto the river.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- That's the one!- Oh, no!
0:16:44 > 0:16:47They managed to bring up their CCTV and zoom in
0:16:47 > 0:16:49so we could see the actual heron
0:16:49 > 0:16:51sort of sitting on the pole at the end of the jetty.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- How would I get on to the jetty? - A ladder.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Well, there's a ladder to get down to the bottom,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00but then to get to the actual jetty, it's probably deep.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Yeah, I know. I'd have to get through that.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04It's not good news.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Even if Natasha arranged a boat to try and get to the heron,
0:17:07 > 0:17:09it would probably fly off in fright.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14If you can see, like, this water, it looks deep already.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18There's no way you'd be able to get across, unless you had a boat.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Unfortunately, there's very little we can do.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Because he's on a jetty on a pole
0:17:24 > 0:17:28and there's no other injuries, apart from the rope around his beak.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30You barely stand a chance.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34He's just going to fly off as soon as you get any closer to him.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37So it's very frustrating.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39SQUAWKING
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Either he'll have to get it off himself,
0:17:45 > 0:17:47or he'll end up somewhere where we'll get another call for it,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50or that's him, I'm afraid.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53It's...there's sort of three options.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58And that's quite sad, really, because you're there to sort of help animals.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03And all it takes it a little snip-snip-snip and away they go,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05but they don't want to come near you
0:18:05 > 0:18:08and you can't sort of give that help, you know.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15- Hiya.- No luck?- No.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20I was wondering, um...if possible, whether you could keep an eye on him.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23With that case, the only thing I can do, really,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25is ask the receptionist to keep an eye on him
0:18:25 > 0:18:27because they've got good cameras.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30So as long as they can monitor where he is and how he's getting along,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34and also if he comes down to the bank, to give us a call
0:18:34 > 0:18:37because we might have a better chance of getting him.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42I did go the next day and the day after, but...
0:18:42 > 0:18:45you know, he'd flown off.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47So that's a good sign.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51So hopefully he's flown off somewhere and managed to get it off.
0:18:51 > 0:18:52So fingers crossed he has.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Though Natasha failed to rescue this bird,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00hopefully her next job will have a happier ending.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18RSPCA inspectors often have to make difficult decisions
0:19:18 > 0:19:21about whether to remove an animal from its home.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25It's one of the toughest parts of the job,
0:19:25 > 0:19:29but Inspector Dave McAdam has his own philosophy.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Every time I make a decision about the way an animal's being kept,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37I use a simple method to work out whether it's reasonable or not.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41And it is simply this, would I leave my dog in this position?
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Would I leave my cat in that position?
0:19:43 > 0:19:46And if not, well, things are going to have to change.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Dave's latest call is to an apartment block
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- being renovated in Chesterfield. - BARKING
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Reports say a dog has been left unattended
0:19:58 > 0:20:01inside one of the flats for five days.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03He's brought along PC Steve O'Callaghan,
0:20:03 > 0:20:07who can legally seize the dog if necessary.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09KNOCK AT DOOR
0:20:09 > 0:20:13We always try to ascertain if someone is returning to a property.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16And the way we do it is generally by putting tape seals
0:20:16 > 0:20:19in between the door and frame and over the keyhole locks.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22There you go, mate. See that? That's still sealed.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24- No-one's been back. - No-one's been back.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27It was obvious that no-one was returning to the property.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- So what we'll do, we'll go up the... - Scaffolding.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- We'll go up the scaffolding. - We'll get a better look at it.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Determined to get a look at the dog,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Dave uses the builder's ladders and scaffolding to investigate.
0:20:43 > 0:20:44BARKING
0:20:45 > 0:20:48We've got sort of a Lab-cross dog,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50mainly black, white on the chest.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54Living in...just an absolute tip of a house, quite frankly.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58There's about five or six piles of dog faeces that I can see.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01We've just got clothes scattered and rubbish scattered around
0:21:01 > 0:21:05and it's just not a suitable environment for animals to live in.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08To me, they can't look after it properly.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09That's not good enough.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12If that was my dog, I'd be devastated
0:21:12 > 0:21:14if someone was treating my dog like that.
0:21:14 > 0:21:15BARKING
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Animals like dogs, they're social animals.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20They need to spend time with their owners.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23It's not fair and it's not right that they're left on their own.
0:21:23 > 0:21:24They need to go out for walks.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28They don't want to defecate and urinate in their own environment.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Dave's able to trace the dog owner's mother, who has a key to the flat.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Is there any way you can meet us down here, love?
0:21:35 > 0:21:38After a quick call, Dawn is on scene,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41allowing Dave and Steve to get inside.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44- Hello, sweetheart! It's a nice dog, isn't it?- It is nice.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47- It seems quite protective, doesn't it?- Exactly.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49You don't know why the dog has been left?
0:21:49 > 0:21:52I don't know, to be honest with you. I've no idea.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Seeing the conditions that Jasmine the dog has been left in
0:21:55 > 0:21:58is upsetting to all, especially Dawn.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Would you agree, Dawn, it's not suitable to leave...?
0:22:01 > 0:22:03- No, it isn't. - You can't leave it like that.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04- It's cruel!- I know it is.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Don't you worry, love, because you're helping us.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09I hate to see people when they're upset.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11You know, especially when I'm doing my utmost
0:22:11 > 0:22:15not only to help them, but to help the animals they're in charge of.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17You're not in any trouble at all.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I appreciate you coming over so quick.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24You see people upset like that and you have to empathise.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27You have to be a reasonable human being yourself.
0:22:27 > 0:22:28What I'll do, love...
0:22:29 > 0:22:32No, no, nothing like that, love. No, no.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34No, it's nothing like that.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36No, not at all. Nothing like that.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38You can't start getting all annoyed
0:22:38 > 0:22:41because the animal's been left in conditions you don't agree with.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44You know, you've got to treat people with respect,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46as you would hope they would treat you.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Dawn gives Dave the number of her daughter, Jasmine's owner,
0:22:49 > 0:22:51but he can't get through.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55But there's no way he's leaving without Jasmine.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58When you look at that, I can't leave the dog like that.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59I just can't leave it.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Put yourself in that position. How would you like it?
0:23:06 > 0:23:08And the same for Jasmine, you know.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10I wouldn't want to have to stay in one room
0:23:10 > 0:23:14and defecate and urinate in a corner near to where I was sitting.
0:23:14 > 0:23:15And neither does the dog.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18I can get my friend here in the police
0:23:18 > 0:23:21to seize it under section 19 as evidence.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25And you've got to remember, we're probably the only species
0:23:25 > 0:23:28that actually keeps another animal purely for pleasure.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Now, with that brings quite a huge obligation.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33It's a huge responsibility.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Dave's decision was the right one.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Jasmine escaped unscathed.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43A few days later, the owner agreed to sign her over to the RSPCA.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46So she can now be put up for re-homing.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51I was really pleased with the outcome with Jasmine.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52Her owner was just not in a position
0:23:52 > 0:23:55to provide her with the care and attention
0:23:55 > 0:23:58and time that Jasmine actually required.
0:23:58 > 0:23:59We were able to help with that,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02re-homing her to a suitable family that can.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05And that, for me, is a great result.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I would much prefer it to end like that
0:24:07 > 0:24:10than it to carry on and the dog ends up in a suffering state, where
0:24:10 > 0:24:14action has to be taken against the person. It's the last thing I want.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24It's early evening in London.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28And while most people rush home, Inspector Natasha Wallis
0:24:28 > 0:24:31is on her way to another bird trapped in the city.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Pigeons are not everyone's favourite animal.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56But luckily for this one, Natasha is a fan.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I really like pigeons. People don't really like pigeons
0:25:00 > 0:25:02because they think they're pests and all that,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05but I like pigeons, I think they're quite nice.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08So we'll see if we can rescue this one.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Unfortunately, because of their size
0:25:10 > 0:25:12and they sort of wobble about a bit,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14you know, they end up in quite a bit of mischief.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Whether that's a cat attack, a fox attack
0:25:16 > 0:25:19or whether it's caught on a balcony because it can't get out.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23So, yeah, they end up in quite a bit of mischief. Hm!
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Even though it's the end of her shift,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29pigeon-lover Natasha makes her way there.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39Sort of looked up and this poor pigeon was hanging by its feet,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42sort of flapping around in the net.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46He also sort of hung upside down, as well,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49which isn't sort of a natural sort of behaviour.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51If he was a bat, I mean, fair enough, but you know, a pigeon...
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Then sort of when I approached, he's fairly stressed,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00so he was just sort of trying to flap away even more.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03They can do a lot of damage,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06especially pigeons, if they're flapping their wings around,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09they can sort of make breaks and sort of damage their feathers, as well.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Which is very, very important because they need them to fly.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17I sort of had some scissors on me and just tried to sort of
0:26:17 > 0:26:20gently sort of cut around its foot.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Carefully holding the pigeon,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Natasha makes a few snips and it's free.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33It's a little feral pigeon.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Luckily, it hadn't done any sort of real damage.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39The foot was swollen and cold,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43but it hadn't cut through, you know, through the skin.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46What I'll do is I'll hold onto it for a little while just in a box
0:26:46 > 0:26:47just to chill it out for a while.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50And just see if some feeling comes back.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53It's starting to have some sort of motion in its feet,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55so just make sure that he can perch.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57They need to be able to perch.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59There doesn't seem to be any serious damage,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02so he could be well on his way in a while.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07I've got some seed for him, as well,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10so I'll give him some of that just to fill up his belly.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13It's a swift job, and thankfully,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15the pigeon hasn't suffered any ill effects
0:27:15 > 0:27:17from hanging around in the car park.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22After a short drive, the pigeon's ready to release.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Oh, see, he's getting feeling back here, see?
0:27:25 > 0:27:26Yeah, that's perfect.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29He's gripping me quite nicely on my little pinkie.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33And he's not wasting any time.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Just holding him up and him flying off, like,
0:27:36 > 0:27:38"Yeah, I've had enough here." It was lovely.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42So he's flown quite nicely, so he'll go back and meet his mates.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Probably get some dinner.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47He's happy, I'm happy. It's lovely.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50The caller's happy, so it's all good.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Yeah, he'll go get his dinner.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54I gave him some birdseed, anyway, so he'll be well on his way.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Probably get seconds.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58There we go.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00I'm proud. I'm quite happy for it.
0:28:00 > 0:28:01I don't know if other people are,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04because it's like another pest on the street, but...
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd