0:00:02 > 0:00:04Good afternoon, RSPCA control centre.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07What animal is your call regarding today?
0:00:07 > 0:00:11In the UK, someone calls the RSPCA every 30 seconds.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Exactly what did you see?
0:00:13 > 0:00:15They're left outside in all weathers
0:00:15 > 0:00:17with no bedding or shelter from the rain?
0:00:17 > 0:00:2124 hours a day, 365 days a year.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24I don't want you to go too close to it because swans can be very,
0:00:24 > 0:00:25very dangerous.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29When an animal needs help, the emergency line is open.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Do you know, I've had non-stop calls for the past hour.
0:00:32 > 0:00:33All right, Take care, bye-bye.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Got a bit of a rough throat now.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39It's cos I don't shut up.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Filming as the calls come in...
0:00:45 > 0:00:48And when inspectors respond on the ground...
0:00:48 > 0:00:51I'll pass this information through to the officer.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54So close!
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Rescuing everything from injured wildlife...
0:00:59 > 0:01:00..to neglected pets.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02HE BARKS
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- Every shift is a challenge. - CAT SCREECHES
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Rhea one, RSPCA nil.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09There's no such thing as a typical day as an RSPCA inspector.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12- DOG WHIMPERS - Oi, get... Oh, my lord!
0:01:13 > 0:01:16- We never know what we're going to deal with.- No two days are the same.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18You're keeping a dog out there? It's disgusting.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21- Whoa, there!- It can get to the point where you feel like you're banging
0:01:21 > 0:01:23your head against a brick wall.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25It's dirty, sweaty...
0:01:25 > 0:01:27It stuns me sometimes, the smells that I come across.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- SHE GAGS - Sorry...
0:01:30 > 0:01:33There's not a lot a lot of glamour in my role.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35But even if you've just helped one animal...
0:01:35 > 0:01:37- Hi, mate!- ..it's worth it.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50- Today:- Oh, crikey.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54A pony called Charlie, badly in need of some loving care.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56That's completely unacceptable.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59A call to a bird left battered by the storms.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07And inspector Jayne Bashford has to ask some difficult questions.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12The allegation that we've had is that the dog is being beaten.
0:02:16 > 0:02:17Every year,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21nearly 30,000 animals get abandoned in England and Wales.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Seeing animals that have been dumped is really quite upsetting
0:02:28 > 0:02:29and makes you angry.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31There's no need for that.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34And how long have they been left abandoned? Do you know?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Is there any evidence that the house is completely empty?
0:02:37 > 0:02:40From moving home, to money worries,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43there's many reasons people dump their pets.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54They seem to think there's going to be loads of people there to pick up
0:02:54 > 0:02:57the pieces afterwards. A lot of them probably don't
0:02:57 > 0:02:58even think that far ahead.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02It's really heart-breaking for us
0:03:02 > 0:03:05to deal with abandoned animals, and also, you know,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08how would somebody think that that's acceptable?
0:03:09 > 0:03:12And while their training teaches them
0:03:12 > 0:03:15not to get emotionally involved, some calls make it hard not to.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39In London, inspector Clare Dew is on her way to this latest call.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43I was angry the moment I received the call.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Primarily because the animal has been dumped outside a pet shop
0:03:46 > 0:03:48that is open.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Why didn't they just take it inside and ask for help?
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Nobody working in an industry like mine
0:03:55 > 0:04:01or even in a pet shop, is going to send that pet away if they need help.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Dumping it on the pavement, on a cold, dark evening,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08and running away, that's just cowardly and wrong.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Clare knows she needs to get the young kitten to the vet's
0:04:12 > 0:04:14as quickly as possible.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18It certainly sounds like that kitten is dying.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Or it's certainly extremely ill and needs some urgent treatment.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25But it's rush hour in London.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Oh, you...
0:04:30 > 0:04:31And traffic is slow.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36I'm trying to drive through the East End of London at six o'clock
0:04:36 > 0:04:38in the evening, but obviously on a dark evening,
0:04:38 > 0:04:40rush hour, it's really bad.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47Finally she arrives, and it's a dash to the pet shop where the animal
0:04:47 > 0:04:49has been taken in by owner Tina.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52I'm really concerned. I've given it water.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Yeah. It's just tiddly, is it?
0:04:55 > 0:04:57- I don't...- You don't think it's going to make it?
0:04:57 > 0:04:59I don't think so.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02I'll get it straight down to the vet, we'll see what we can do.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05- I don't think it... - It's not going to make... KITTEN MIAOWS
0:05:05 > 0:05:08It's really not breathing very well, it's not moving,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11it's making tiny little mewling sounds,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14calling out for its mother. It's a very small, very young kitten.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17It's extremely underweight, it's very dehydrated,
0:05:17 > 0:05:18it's in a terrible state.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22- See you later.- Good luck. - You too. Come on, little one.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24- Good luck.- Thank you, see you later.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28KITTEN MEWS FEEBLY
0:05:28 > 0:05:29'I pick up the kitten,'
0:05:29 > 0:05:32and I'm running down the street with it, but all the time I can feel
0:05:32 > 0:05:34the kitten doesn't weigh anything,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37it's making these really tiny, sad noises.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39KITTEN WHIMPERS
0:05:39 > 0:05:41I know, little one, I know.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45And I'm just really conscious that time is really against me here.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51The vet's surgery is only a short drive away.
0:05:53 > 0:05:54SHE SIGHS
0:05:54 > 0:05:57But again, Clare's frustrated as progress is slow.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02And she fears the worst for the kitten.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Um... Sorry.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08All the time I'm driving to the vet,
0:06:08 > 0:06:10I can hear the kitten in the back of the van.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12And it's getting weaker and weaker,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15and at one point it totally stops making any noise
0:06:15 > 0:06:18and I really thought it had passed away in the vehicle.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Clare arrives at the vet's...
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Come on, baby, come on, come on.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27..and knows now that every second is vital.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30I've got a kitten that I think may have died, actually, in the van.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33The veterinary surgeons immediately looked at the cat,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37and it's immediately obvious that it's extremely unwell,
0:06:37 > 0:06:39and probably been unwell for quite some time.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43KITTEN MIAOWS
0:06:43 > 0:06:44Yeah, it's not...
0:06:45 > 0:06:48..not the best-looking kitten in the world.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50I don't see any obvious injuries or anything like that,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- but he's quite thin, and he's dehydrated.- Dehydrated, yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58So what we'll do for now... I think it's worth warming him up,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- giving him some subcut fluids and monitoring him.- See what happens?
0:07:01 > 0:07:03- All right, excellent. - Yeah, I don't have...
0:07:03 > 0:07:07- Not too much hope.- I don't have high hopes.- No, that's understandable.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10The situation seemed quite hopeless.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12And I waited just to see what the outcome would be.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17'He's probably got a less than 50-50 chance of making it.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21'When you're that thin, you're that flat, you're that lethargic,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23'you've got quite a long way to climb back up.'
0:07:23 > 0:07:26But he's in the best possible place, he'll get the best possible care,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29so if he's going to make it anywhere, he'll make it here.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33It's a difficult hour for Clare, as she waits to hear from the vet.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35He's just deteriorated quite quickly.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- It's all right. - He's really struggling to breathe.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45It was just too ill and too far gone, and we couldn't save it.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48'And she made the decision to put the kitten to sleep.'
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Sorry.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58We're going to sedate you first so you don't feel anything.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- KITTEN MEWS - I know, sweetheart.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04CLARE SIGHS
0:08:06 > 0:08:08'It's a tragic end for that kitten,'
0:08:08 > 0:08:14but at least it didn't die just out on a pavement somewhere.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16At least in this way we have managed
0:08:16 > 0:08:18to put it out of its suffering very quickly.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19Poor little mite.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25In all the years that I've been doing the job,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28these incidents have been occurring. I'm no longer surprised
0:08:28 > 0:08:30or shocked by them. I still find them incredibly sad.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Because each case is individual and that animal's pain is individual,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36I still find it incredibly sad.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41'Every animal deserves a chance.'
0:08:41 > 0:08:44If you don't want them or you can't afford to take them to the
0:08:44 > 0:08:47veterinary surgery, please ring somebody like ourselves that can.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50There is no excuse for dumping a sick or injured animal
0:08:50 > 0:08:52on the street, there really isn't.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Calls about neglected animals cover all manner of complaints.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Lack of food, no shelter,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10and untreated injuries are all too common.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13What's your concern, what makes you think they're being neglected?
0:09:13 > 0:09:18Today's latest call is about a pony whose coat is in a sorry state.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20What animal is your call regarding today?
0:09:36 > 0:09:38In Derby, inspector Chris Shaw is on his way.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42He knows the horse well.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44'With this particular horse,'
0:09:44 > 0:09:48where he's situated is in a little field facing a load of houses.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53So we do get quite a lot of calls about this pony.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56And he's no stranger to the owner, either.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59I have got a bit of history with this owner,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02and I have been and spoke to her about this before.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05So really I've given her plenty of chances to sort this out
0:10:05 > 0:10:07and she's blatantly not listening.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10So if it's still as bad as it was last time I saw it
0:10:10 > 0:10:12I'm going to have to get her out and issue her
0:10:12 > 0:10:15with a warning notice to make sure that she gets this done.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20But when he gets there, the field is empty.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Don't tell me Charlie boy's gone.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Then Chris spots movement in a building in the corner of the field.
0:10:27 > 0:10:28I'm just going to climb over the gate,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31and go and have a look. He's in his little stable at the moment
0:10:31 > 0:10:34so I just want to see how bad he is before I phone the owner.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37And then hopefully I can get hold of the owner, get her to come
0:10:37 > 0:10:40and meet me and discuss what's going on.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Chris needs to give the horse a close inspection.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Hello, mate. How are you doing?
0:10:45 > 0:10:47It doesn't take long to see he's in a sorry state.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Good boy, good boy.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53You can see his mane's just covered in them again.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57What's your tail like? Oh, crikey.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58Yeah.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03His mane and tail were severely matted, it wasn't good at all.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06It was almost like he's got like a baseball bat on the back of him,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10or a club that's just swinging round, and whacking him each time.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14The matting is being causes by burs from the overgrown hedges
0:11:14 > 0:11:16and weeds in the field.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18You shouldn't be leaving your animals like that,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20that's completely unacceptable.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22I'm going to go and give her a call
0:11:22 > 0:11:24and see what she's got to say.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29But Chris knows he needs to handle the owner with care.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33If you go in there all guns blazing with her, she does the same,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36she comes out fighting, you know? And she won't listen, she'll argue.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38How long are you going to be?
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Ten minutes, brilliant, I'll see you in about ten minutes then.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44So I just thought, "Let's play this the right way,"
0:11:44 > 0:11:48and I went and sat in my van and waited for her to turn up, really.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51I hope it doesn't come to the stage where we have to do
0:11:51 > 0:11:54a full prosecution on this lady, but if she doesn't listen to this,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57and doesn't see that the horse is suffering,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00by her leaving it this way, then she will leave me with no choice.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Ten minutes later, Charlie's owner, Anne, arrives.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Last time I spoke to you I said to you
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- if you could chop some of these weeds down.- Have you seen them?
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Yeah, you've done most of them,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13so how come you've still got it all in there, then?
0:12:13 > 0:12:14Yeah...
0:12:17 > 0:12:18You're cutting them down,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20but you're not actually taking them out of the fields.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Perhaps if you took them out of the field, he's won't
0:12:23 > 0:12:25get them entangled in his mane and tail again.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28I said to her, "Come on, your horse is in a poor state,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30"he's got those burs all over him,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33"he's so heavily matted," and she's agreeing with me,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36which is a bit of a slap in the face for me because
0:12:36 > 0:12:38if she's agreeing and she knows about it,
0:12:38 > 0:12:40why hasn't she sorted it out already?
0:12:40 > 0:12:43'As I'm about to give her like the warning notice, really,'
0:12:43 > 0:12:46I was about to go down that road with her,
0:12:46 > 0:12:50she then starts saying, you know, well, "We can sort this out now."
0:12:52 > 0:12:54I'll be honest, over this last week,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57I've been getting quite a lot of calls about him,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00and I think it's upsetting a lot of people around here, you know?
0:13:00 > 0:13:02I do, yeah, I mean and it's not fair on Charlie,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04cos this is going to be bothering him.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08It is. I don't like seeing him like this either, Chris.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11What I'm always trying to do in situations like that
0:13:11 > 0:13:15is to get the owner on board, to realise what the problem is,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17and get them to address it, so ultimately,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20making that animal have a better life, really.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22You really need to start doing this for yourself,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- like I keep saying to you.- Yeah.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27It shouldn't take me coming up and saying "Come on, Anne, get it done."
0:13:27 > 0:13:29It shouldn't, Chris, you're right.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Good boy. He's like, "Oh, you groom me, I'll groom you."
0:13:35 > 0:13:38You're going to look beautiful by the end of this, mate.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- The mane is done. - That don't look too bad.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44That's quite good. I mean, I'm really impressed with that.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47And with a few more snips, the tail is also freed.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- All done.- Look at that.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Aw, you've got a baby tail.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58It's better than a baseball tail though, isn't it?
0:13:58 > 0:13:59It is, yeah.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03'He's got all that horrible stuff off of him,'
0:14:03 > 0:14:06he's just had half an hour of being sent to the salon, really.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10You could see a change in his demeanour, really.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12He was a completely different pony.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16So if I come back in a couple of days, then,
0:14:16 > 0:14:18am I going to expect this mane to be clear?
0:14:20 > 0:14:21Yeah?
0:14:21 > 0:14:24She did say she's got a lot of things going off in her life
0:14:24 > 0:14:25'at the moment, but to be honest
0:14:25 > 0:14:29'I hear these excuses time in, time out,'
0:14:29 > 0:14:31and there is no excuse at the end of the day.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35You know, if you take on an animal, you're completely responsible for it.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37You need to sort all these things out.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40So I'm afraid these kind of things don't wash with me.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45So this is what's just come off Charlie. I mean, that is
0:14:45 > 0:14:48quite heavy, and I mean they're just completely and utterly solid,
0:14:48 > 0:14:52so, you know, that wasn't very good for him, but now the owner's
0:14:52 > 0:14:56took them all off him, I'm sure he's feeling a lot better really.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58It's a great result for Charlie.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02But before he leaves, Chris wants to make sure Anne clears the field
0:15:02 > 0:15:04so it doesn't happen again.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- Glass bottles, we don't have none of them in fields.- Nope.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11'I mean, at the end of that visit, my relationship with the owner,'
0:15:11 > 0:15:14she perhaps likes me a bit more for helping her.
0:15:14 > 0:15:15I'd hope so, anyway.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- Right, well I'm going to leave you be.- OK.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18- Thank you very much.- No problem.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21And I mean it. And hopefully, you'll not see me again, you know?
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Oh, no, I want to see you again, I like you coming up.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27See, he looks loads better, you must admit.
0:15:27 > 0:15:28He does. He looks happier, don't he?
0:15:28 > 0:15:31All in all, it was a good job really,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34because, you know, Charlie's happy, the owner's happy, I'm happy.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50Dealing with calls about deliberate cruelty can be especially difficult.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56She hit it with...?
0:15:56 > 0:15:57A slipper?
0:15:57 > 0:16:02But it's important inspectors on the ground keep an open mind.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07In Staffordshire, Jayne Bashford is on her way to the latest allegation.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10We've had a couple of calls to the same address.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17People expressing concerns about a dog that's being allegedly beaten,
0:16:17 > 0:16:18by its owner.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24This kind of call can require delicate handling.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28It's awkward because you are putting an allegation to somebody
0:16:28 > 0:16:31that is really unpleasant, you know,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34you are going to have to say to somebody, "Do you beat your dog?"
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Dog beatings really are one of those calls
0:16:39 > 0:16:42that when you receive it you do wonder
0:16:42 > 0:16:43how you're going to prove it.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50Jayne has been told the dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier cross.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54She'll be waiting to see if it's uneasy around its owner.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59- Hello there. Sorry to bother you, just from the RSPCA.- Yeah.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01The door was opened by the man of the house,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and there was a dog present.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Aw, he's gorgeous! Should we speak upstairs?
0:17:07 > 0:17:09- Is that all right? - Yeah, that's fine, yeah.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13I felt almost as though he was quite pleased to see me, in a way.
0:17:13 > 0:17:14It's a mess at the moment.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Don't worry about mess. Don't worry about mess. Come on, little one.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20I like to try and build a rapport with somebody.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22OK, sweetheart, that's fine.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24And then just say to them, look, you know,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27this is the allegation, this is why I'm here.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29The allegation that we've had
0:17:29 > 0:17:33is that the dog is being beaten.
0:17:33 > 0:17:34OK?
0:17:34 > 0:17:40Now, I'm just wondering, what's... What do you think about that,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42what's your view on that allegation?
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Do you ever have to discipline the dog?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- No. I mean, well, I do, but I don't beat it.- No?
0:17:48 > 0:17:51I never have hit a dog. I never would do.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53I mean, I love him to pieces.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57Well, he seems to be very affectionate towards you, doesn't he?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59- What's he called? - Rocky.- Rocky.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05The dog isn't nervous. And appears to be a much-loved pet.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07The dog seemed fine, actually.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Very bright and bouncy, jumping up on the sofa,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14sitting next to the man in the house.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18But then Martin has an admission.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23I was thinking about ringing the RSPCA anyway,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27- because I've actually got a job and he's...- Have you?
0:18:27 > 0:18:28Actually...
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Is he becoming a bit troublesome for you?
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Well, he's not becoming troublesome, it's just
0:18:32 > 0:18:34he's in a flat on his own all the time.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37OK. Were you looking to re-home him?
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Well, yes, if that's possible.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42I mean, I don't want to let him go, because I love him to pieces,
0:18:42 > 0:18:43- but it's not fair.- Yeah. Yeah.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- To leave him on his own all day.- Yeah.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48No, I completely understand that, and I think
0:18:48 > 0:18:52that's a responsible thing for people to do.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Is to think about, you know,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57what's going to be the best thing for the animal.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59At the end of the day.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02If somebody actually looks you in the eye and says "I'm considering
0:19:02 > 0:19:07"re-homing my dog," you've got to help somebody in those circumstances.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12And Jayne also notices a few issues with Rocky.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Has the vet said anything about the fur loss
0:19:14 > 0:19:16around his eyes, or anything?
0:19:16 > 0:19:18No, no. I've not really noticed that, actually.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Let's have a look at your little face, Rocky. Hello, baby.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- Is he quite friendly with everybody, is he?- He is, yeah.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Have you ever noticed any fleas on him? No?
0:19:27 > 0:19:29- He has been scratching.- Has he?
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- Quite a bit, the last couple of days.- OK. OK.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36If it's something that you're looking to do,
0:19:36 > 0:19:40in terms of re-homing, if you want to think on it for a little while,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43then that's an option to you as well.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46'At that stage, when I'm looking at him'
0:19:46 > 0:19:48and talking to him, I've got no absolutely no grounds
0:19:48 > 0:19:54whatsoever to even start pushing the issue at all.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56It has got to be his decision.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- I think, for his sake...- Do you? - Yeah.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04OK, sweetheart. Well, I'll go and make a phone call.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Because I don't like leaving him on his own,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- and he doesn't like being left on his own.- They don't.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- They don't like being left alone. - He does cry quite a bit.
0:20:13 > 0:20:14Does he?
0:20:15 > 0:20:18From an initial call about a dog beating,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21this job has totally changed course.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Oh, you are wonderful.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25I'm just going to literally do the paperwork with him now,
0:20:25 > 0:20:29have a little chat, and then we'll bring him down, all right?
0:20:29 > 0:20:32With the local re-homing centre willing to take Rocky on,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Jayne can go and deliver the news to Martin.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Sounds awful,
0:20:38 > 0:20:43but this is one less expense that you're going to have to worry about,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47in terms of, you know, vet fees and food, and things like that.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50And I know that that's not what you think about when you own an animal.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54I can't understand why somebody's said something like this because...
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Yeah.
0:21:01 > 0:21:02For him, yeah.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Well, Martin, I can give you my absolute word that we'll look after
0:21:06 > 0:21:09him, OK, and we'll find him a really smashing home.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13And I appreciate that it's a tough decision for you, all right?
0:21:13 > 0:21:15I understand that.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18It's difficult for Martin to say goodbye.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Come on, then.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21Bye, Rocky.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27And Rocky is clearly finding it hard to leave, too.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Come on, mate. Come with your dad. Come on.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32Come on. Good boy.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37It's an awkward one. I feel very sorry for him.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39But at least that was a resolution for that dog.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Rocky is taken to the local re-homing centre...
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- Come on, then.- ..where he'll be given a fresh start.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59My personal suspicion is that this dog has got fleas.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Maybe some mites, which can be causing the fur loss.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07It's very common in Staffies, Staffy crossbreeds, so the staff here
0:22:07 > 0:22:11will make sure that he goes to see a local vet as a priority,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15and his skin condition will clear up, I'm absolutely sure of that.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16His future is secure now,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20'in the sense that he will be re-homed through our processes'
0:22:20 > 0:22:25and hopefully he'll find his forever home, and he'll be happy there.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27He's got a lovely temperament,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31and I'm absolutely certain this dog will make somebody a fantastic pet.
0:22:31 > 0:22:32And he'll re-home very quickly.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47A wet and windy day on Northumberland's coast
0:22:47 > 0:22:50would have most people running for cover.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56But RSPCA inspectors are out on call, whatever the weather.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Inspector Jaqui Miller's on her way to a sea bird in distress.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27It was described by the member of the public as a large black bird
0:23:27 > 0:23:28with a large beak.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32And the only bird that I'd seen really fitting
0:23:32 > 0:23:34that description is a cormorant.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40The holiday-makers who spotted the bird show Jaqui the way.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44But this is no gentle stroll along the beach.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47'It was quite a hike from the van to the actual beach area.'
0:23:47 > 0:23:51It was hard to see when all your hair's blowing everywhere.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Sensibly, the bird's taken refuge out of the wind,
0:23:54 > 0:23:59and Jaqui's pleased the callers can point her straight to it.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02'It was quite a grey and dull day.'
0:24:02 > 0:24:05And obviously the bird is dark in colour as well,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08so it was quite hard to spot.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11The bird's hiding behind a rock.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Ah, you can see him right there.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15But at first glance, Jaqui's not sure what it is.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Right, OK.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20'For me, it's pretty rare to see such a bird like this.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23'I've only ever seen one large bird like this before,'
0:24:23 > 0:24:27and it was a large adult gannet.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32And although it's clearly in distress, it's not clear why.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38It didn't appear to have any wing injuries,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40it didn't appear to have anything wrong with its head.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43'I just couldn't figure out what was wrong with it,
0:24:43 > 0:24:44'and why it wouldn't move.'
0:24:44 > 0:24:46It's almost shaking.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48'If you're going to an injured wild animal,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51'you can't sort of dilly about when you're catching them.'
0:24:51 > 0:24:53A lot of them will die from stress,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55rather than actually the injuries that they've got.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59You need to be confident and you need to try and do it in one go.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04It's time for her most trusted bit of kit. The bath towel.
0:25:04 > 0:25:10BIRD SQUAWKS REPEATEDLY I know. I know.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14'The plan was to scoop it up, get it straight in the box.'
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Unfortunately it was a bit bigger than what I thought
0:25:16 > 0:25:20it was going to be, and it was a little bit more wriggly.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22'And then it didn't help that the wind's blowing
0:25:22 > 0:25:25'the towel in one direction, and my goggles are falling off,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27'because they're too big.' SHE LAUGHS
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Right. OK!
0:25:33 > 0:25:35BIRD SQUAWKS
0:25:35 > 0:25:40He may not be happy, but the mystery bird is safely in the box.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Go on, big lad. We'll get you secure in here.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47And Jaqui can now get him some help.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51I think that went all right. Good old towel.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Jaqui heads for the Berwick Swan And Wildlife Trust,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- which treats maritime birds. - Hiya!
0:25:59 > 0:26:02And she's in for a surprise.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08He's a gannet? A young one? Oh, OK.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10You know, the lady's telling me it's a juvenile gannet.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13'I'd never seen a juvenile gannet before.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14'You learn things every day.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17'You know the difference between a healthy animal
0:26:17 > 0:26:19'and an unhealthy animal, but you might not necessarily know
0:26:19 > 0:26:22'the species, and that's why we go to people with specific knowledge,'
0:26:22 > 0:26:26'and they can tell us exactly what they are.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28With the bird confirmed as a juvenile gannet,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31the next step is to find out what's wrong with it.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- Can he stand? - He did stand in the box.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39But he just... He just feels wobbly.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40Oh, that's not nice, is it?
0:26:42 > 0:26:44That's skinned the whole toe there, look.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47He's probably just been battered in the sea.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51The gannet's been a victim of the weather.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- It was very windy yesterday wasn't it?- Yeah.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55And he's in good company.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59'The reason they'd been brought in that day is because
0:26:59 > 0:27:01'we'd had high winds, and high tides.
0:27:01 > 0:27:07'And a lot of them had been bashed up against the rocks.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09He's was quite winded, almost.'
0:27:09 > 0:27:12And quite exhausted, because of what he'd had to fight against,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14the previous 24, 48 hours.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Are you all right, wibbly?
0:27:17 > 0:27:21He's actually de-gloved one of his toes.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24It's not bleeding or anything, so what happens is,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27they will keep him in here, and they'll feed him up,
0:27:27 > 0:27:30give him some rest, some TLC and hopefully get him back out.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35And he looks like he'll live up to his name.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36- Oh!- He's trying. That's good.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39Couldn't quite get it down, but he was interested straightaway,
0:27:39 > 0:27:44to take it off them. Which is a really, really good sign.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48It's really quite encouraging to see him interested in the fish.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51I think he's going to be good. A couple of weeks, then he'll be out.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Back out on those seas, eh, matey?
0:27:56 > 0:27:59And it's certainly been a productive day for Jaqui.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01I've learnt a lot today.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03About gannets and about how they go away,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06and that this is supposedly this year's chick.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09And how they go away for a couple of years and come back white.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11We learn things on the job all the time.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13It's definitely one for the memory bank,
0:28:13 > 0:28:15to remember what they look like.