0:00:01 > 0:00:03Good afternoon, RSPCA control centre.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05What 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 > 0:00:15So they're left outside in all weathers
0:00:15 > 0:00:17and they've got no bedding or shelter from the rain.
0:00:17 > 0:00:2124 hours a day, 365 days a year.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23I don't want you to go too close to it because swans can be very,
0:00:23 > 0:00:25very dangerous.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29When an animal needs help, the emergency line is open.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Do you know something, I've had non-stop calls for the past hour.
0:00:31 > 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 because 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 > 0:00:55So close.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Rescuing everything from injured wildlife
0:00:59 > 0:01:00to neglected pets.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Every shift is a challenge.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Rhea one, RSPCA nil.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10There's no such thing as a typical day as an RSPCA inspector.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Get...oh, my Lord!
0:01:13 > 0:01:15We never know what we're going to deal with.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17No two days are the same.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19- You're keeping a dog out there, it's disgusting.- Whoa there!
0:01:19 > 0:01:23It can get to the point where you feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24It's dirty, sweaty.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27It stuns me sometimes, the smells that I come across.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Sorry.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31There's not a lot of glamour in my role.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35But even if you've just helped one animal...
0:01:35 > 0:01:36Hi, mate.
0:01:36 > 0:01:37..it's worth it.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Today, a call to a Labrador with a serious skin condition.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00A bearded dragon from down under living in a Bolton back yard.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Are you going to let me pick you up, fella?
0:02:03 > 0:02:07And David Yates is forced to let this sleeping dog lie.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08You are the laziest dog.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16RSPCA inspectors love animals.
0:02:16 > 0:02:22But there's one creature they'd all like to see a little less often.
0:02:22 > 0:02:23Fleas.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Sadly, they deal with them on an almost daily basis.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Inspector Chris Shaw suspects he knows what the problem is.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58An infestation of unwelcome visitors.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Hiya there, have you got a black Labrador at all?
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Someone's given us a ring
0:03:08 > 0:03:10and said he's got quite a bit of hair loss on his back?
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Ah, right. Is she all right, is she, then?
0:03:17 > 0:03:20- Am I all right just to come in and have a look, is that OK?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I mean, when I was in there, this poor dog, I mean,
0:03:24 > 0:03:29she had such a bad skin condition, she was really quite smelly.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34It's not just the smell of six-year-old Lana that
0:03:34 > 0:03:35worries Chris.
0:03:35 > 0:03:36All right, baby.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I instantly saw that she was clearly in a lot of discomfort.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43She just never stopped scratching.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46She does seem to be chewing herself quite a bit there.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Obviously bothering her, isn't it? And you're saying it's a...
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Seasonal allergy. She's had it since we've had her.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57You could see the skin was so thick, and so crusty,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01it's got to have taken quite some time for it to get like that.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04So my next question to her is, have you taken it to a vet's?
0:04:05 > 0:04:08How long would you say, though, is it since you've been?
0:04:08 > 0:04:10I mean, are we talking a year? Are we talking months?
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- It was earlier on this year. - Earlier on.- Yeah.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Because I'm sure you know that when a dog's got something like this,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19they have to be seen regularly by the vets.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21We've only been here, what, five minutes,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23and she's scratching, rubbing, you know.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27- She always rubs anyway, that's the way she is.- Right.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- In herself, even when her allergies aren't bothering her.- Right, right.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Chris thinks that Lana needs immediate veterinary attention.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36To me, that's quite bad, I mean, how do you feel then,
0:04:36 > 0:04:38would you mind if I took her up to a vet's,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41let the vets have a look at her, and then just see what the vets
0:04:41 > 0:04:44think about it? You know, because I can't really leave...
0:04:44 > 0:04:46And can you promise me she'll be coming back?
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Yeah, I mean, the only way she wouldn't be coming back is
0:04:48 > 0:04:51if the vet saw her and thought that she was in such
0:04:51 > 0:04:53a state that she needed to stay at the vet's.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Then obviously she can't come back, but it's...
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I need a vet to see her, and if you're saying you can't
0:04:59 > 0:05:02really do it until next week, to be honest that's a bit long,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04you know, so she needs to be seen, I'd say today.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07OK, I'll leave you be. All right, thanks a lot.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The owner agrees to let Chris take Lana to the vet's.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Come on, little girl.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16And once outside, the severity of her skin condition is clear.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20When I was out in the daylight, I was even more concerned really.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23You can clearly see, the dog's got quite a bad skin allergy.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Wouldn't stop scratching the whole time I was there,
0:05:26 > 0:05:28so it's not one of those that I can just leave.
0:05:28 > 0:05:29I'm going to go and get the vet to look at it,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31see what the vets think, the vet's the expert.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Vet Christine Jameson examines Lana.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37Hello, you.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40And immediately sees she's carrying around a little more than
0:05:40 > 0:05:42a seasonal allergy.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Well, you do appear to have an awful lot of fleas.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Really? That's probably why my hair's itching a bit then.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49That's why we're all thinking of scratching.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52In fact, Lana is overrun with them.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56There's one, just there. Having a little run around.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58And loads on her back here.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03She was riddled, they were just crawling all over her.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06It was quite upsetting to see quite how many fleas this poor dog
0:06:06 > 0:06:08was carrying.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Obviously, this has been going on for quite some time,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12because she's actually damaged her skin
0:06:12 > 0:06:14so badly that the hair's not even re-growing.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- Look at what she's done to the table, though, already.- I know, it's all part
0:06:17 > 0:06:21and parcel of the skin trying to get rid of what's irritating it.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23And Lana has other problems.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Those claws, I mean, especially these ones, it looks like she's not...
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Doesn't really look as though she gets an awful lot of exercise,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34no, they're very long and very pointy as well, at the end there.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37These are crossing over, they're actually underneath.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39That's dreadful.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41While they're examining her,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Chris and Christine also notice poor Lana feels feverish.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46She's red-hot as well, isn't she?
0:06:46 > 0:06:50I know, she's burning. Might actually take her body temperature as well.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Oh, what these vets have to do to get your temperature.
0:06:53 > 0:06:5443.2.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55Wow.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56Not a well dog.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02The skin was so inflamed that the dog was running a high temperature.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05I mean, that just goes to show how bad it was really.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07You know, that poor dog, it was awful.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Although she seems really happy, you know,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12she must be in quite a lot of distress, really.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Chris is concerned about Lana's lack of medical treatment,
0:07:17 > 0:07:21so decides to call the vet where the dog is registered.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23All right, cheers, bye.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25When that information came back,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28the truth was that that poor dog had not been seen for 14 months.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33That is shocking, you know,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36it's been left for 14 months with that skin,
0:07:36 > 0:07:41every single moment of its life, causing it distress, that's awful.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44Good girl.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Treatment for Lana gets under way.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51And the vet decides there are grounds for Chris to seize
0:07:51 > 0:07:52her from her owner.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57- There you go. - Good girl, oh, who's a clever girl?
0:07:57 > 0:07:58So he calls the police.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00I was wondering if there's any chance
0:08:00 > 0:08:03I could get an officer to come and seize a dog here for us?
0:08:03 > 0:08:05I didn't want that dog to go back to that house,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07not in the state that it's in.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09So at least the dog's going to get looked after.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11The owner's not going to be happy but,
0:08:11 > 0:08:12they should've looked after the dog.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18It breaks my heart every single day, you know,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21at work when I get to see these kind of things.
0:08:25 > 0:08:31I just don't understand, you know, it really, really makes me so angry.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Animals are completely dependent on us and they just don't deserve to
0:08:38 > 0:08:41be left like that, to be left to go and suffer.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46Go on, fetch!
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Eight weeks later, after a long course of treatment...
0:08:51 > 0:08:54What's this? Fetch!
0:08:54 > 0:08:55..Lana is transformed.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00That is one happy dog.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Lana! What's this? Good girl, good girl!
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Whatever the outcome of Chris' investigation,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13he's satisfied that Lana now has a brighter future.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Sit. Paw. Paw. Good girl.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20To see Lana now, and the transformation,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23and how happy she is, you know, it's incredible really,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and she's now got a full, thick, nice, beautiful coat,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29she's not itching, she's not scratching, she's not chewing
0:09:29 > 0:09:33herself, it's really nice for me to be able to be part of this,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36and to know that I've helped make this dog's life a lot better.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39Good girl, good girl.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Most calls to the RSPCA concern cats and dogs.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51But once in a while,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54every inspector faces something a little more unusual.
0:09:55 > 0:10:02Gosh, I've had all sorts. Monkeys, meerkats.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05I've had a lobster in the middle of a street,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07which actually turned out to be a crayfish.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I had a gentleman keeping a raccoon as a dog on a fire
0:10:10 > 0:10:11escape in the city.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Leopard geckos, tortoises.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18I had a snake coiled around the wheel of an aeroplane.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Iguanas, goats, sheep.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25Yeah, it's interesting, that's for sure, never a dull day.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Today, inspector Vicki McDonald is en route to something exotic,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33even by her standards.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41We've had a call about a stray bearded dragon.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48It's apparently just been found in the garden of an abandoned
0:10:48 > 0:10:52property by a member of public, so, I think they were a bit surprised.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58And they're not the only ones. It's a first for Vicki too.
0:10:58 > 0:11:05We do get animals that are found abandoned in boxes or
0:11:05 > 0:11:07left behind or whatever.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11It is slightly more unusual to get a collection of a bearded dragon
0:11:11 > 0:11:14in a garden. Yeah.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22I think your natural assumption with an animal like that is,
0:11:22 > 0:11:24has it escaped from somewhere?
0:11:24 > 0:11:28It's very unusual to have a bearded dragon.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32A magpie maybe or a pigeon, yeah, but not a bearded dragon.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35But before Vicki can work out where it's come from,
0:11:35 > 0:11:36she needs to find it.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41Hello! Hello, gorgeous. So is it one of these here, is it?
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Her first stop is the surprised neighbour who called it in.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47- Been like that since June.- Right. - Just abandoned.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48They've just moved out.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49So I went over and said
0:11:49 > 0:11:53I need to ring the RSPCA, that just should not be in there.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55That's not normal.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59And, lo and behold, when they get to the garden, there it is.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Hidden under a plastic basket.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Are you all right, fella?
0:12:03 > 0:12:06My knowledge of exotics is limited.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09I'm by no means an expert on exotics.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Still under the basket.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Bearded dragons are native lizards of Australia.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20So how did he end up in a garden near Bolton?
0:12:21 > 0:12:23You're quite big, aren't you?
0:12:23 > 0:12:25They've abandoned it, I think.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29It looks like beardy may have been an unwanted pet, dumped with
0:12:29 > 0:12:33a whole load of other household items after his owners moved away.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39This is different. Who knows?
0:12:39 > 0:12:41I mean, she's saying that we're talking about back in June,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43that they moved out.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47That's definitely the sort of viv that would have held
0:12:47 > 0:12:49a bearded dragon.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50We've had a very warm summer.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54So, I mean, that could have been running loose for several months.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59The neighbour had looked over and couldn't believe what she was seeing.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02She'd seen what she thought was a dragon in the back garden.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06I don't know, it's an unusual one.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13Vicki's priority is to catch him and check he's fit and well.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19Three months on the loose may have left beardy reluctant to be handled.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Hello. What're you doing?
0:13:22 > 0:13:25So Vicki approaches with care.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Looking at him, he does look dehydrated,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32and perhaps a bit underweight.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Oh! Don't make me jump.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37He's really quite wrinkly.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Round there and round there, which to me suggests that he might
0:13:41 > 0:13:45be a bit dehydrated. Are you going to let me pick you up, fella?
0:13:45 > 0:13:47There we go. Oh, you're cold.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48He's underweight.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52It was quite obvious that it was very cold, it was extremely cold.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55And then when you actually handled it,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57it appeared to be really quite thin,
0:13:57 > 0:14:01so that would suggest that it's been out there for a bit of time.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05All right, fella, you just sit on there a minute.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08It seems Vicki's rescue has come just in time.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13We have had some really nice, hot weather, and now the temperatures
0:14:13 > 0:14:17were dropping, and obviously it wouldn't have survived much longer.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21He seems friendly enough, though. He's quite lethargic.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24He's just skin, he's just skin.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28So, yeah, he definitely needs some grub in him.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31But, after calling the local rescue centre,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Vicki is told they can't take beardy in tonight.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37So time for plan B.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Sometimes in this job you have to take your work home with you,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43so Mr Beardy came home with me for the evening,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46before going off to the rescue centre the next day.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Britain's countryside is full of wild animals.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Hunting them for sport is now illegal.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04But recently there's been a rise in the number of gangs using
0:15:04 > 0:15:07dogs to kill for thrills.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Gang activity, where these people go out and target wildlife,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21with their dogs, is a massive problem
0:15:21 > 0:15:23at the moment.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25Go on, lass.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30This footage, seized by the RSPCA, shows dogs being set on a hare.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31She's right on it. There.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38The criminals also target deer, foxes and badgers.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41It's very much rural antisocial behaviour.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44These people thoroughly enjoy what they do, they've got no
0:15:44 > 0:15:46regard for their animals.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48Go on, lass.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51The ultimate goal is for them to go out
0:15:51 > 0:15:53and kill whatever wildlife they come across.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Dog's knocked that fence over, can you see her?
0:15:56 > 0:15:58She'll kill this. Get in!
0:15:58 > 0:15:59What a run.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Morning, everybody.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Today, Humberside police and the RSPCA are mounting
0:16:11 > 0:16:15an operation to crack down on a gang suspected of illegal hunting.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18B2 grade of information's been received from the RSPCA which
0:16:18 > 0:16:21has corroborated this information.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23And on at least four occasions they travelled at night with two
0:16:23 > 0:16:27or more others, and with dogs, to hunt wild mammals.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31The raid is the result of weeks of work by the RSPCA
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Special Operations Unit, which was set up to deal with animal crime.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42It's targeting people who set out to commit deliberate acts of cruelty,
0:16:42 > 0:16:46whether that's for financial gain or for their own enjoyment
0:16:46 > 0:16:49because they enjoy watching animals suffer.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55Today's targets are suspected of hunting badgers with dogs.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59In a highly co-ordinated operation,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01the team will hit several addresses at once.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05At the first house,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08it's a tense moment for chief inspector Ian Briggs.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Not only the RSPCA putting up a large amount of staff,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17we're asking the police to as well, so when you're leading one of these
0:17:17 > 0:17:21operations, there is a large amount of pressure on you to get it right.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Police officers arrest the man at the house.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Now, the search for evidence of illegal hunting can begin.
0:17:35 > 0:17:36Got at least two dogs.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43There was one lurcher that was a long-haired,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46wire-haired-type lurcher, and a Jack Russell terrier.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51Jack Russells would predominantly be used for ratting
0:17:51 > 0:17:52and things like that.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Obviously the lurcher could be used for taking anything above ground.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Just having those type of dogs isn't enough.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05You need more evidence on top of that...
0:18:06 > 0:18:09..to indicate what they're doing with these dogs.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14So, the team move on to the four by four parked on the drive.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Things like that.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25The dogs follow the beam of light, and pursue the animal
0:18:25 > 0:18:27then catch it above ground.
0:18:27 > 0:18:32So you can use that for badgers, fox, deer, rabbit, anything.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37As well as the lamp, Ian finds a smoke gun,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40often used to flush animals from the ground.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43And a device used to mimic wildlife calls.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Then, they make a grim discovery.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50What's that?
0:18:50 > 0:18:52What's that from?
0:18:52 > 0:18:55That... I reckon that might be a badger tail, you know.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00That sort of thing is not uncommon amongst these people.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06We've even had ears, on one case.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09These are sometimes collected, for no reason other than
0:19:09 > 0:19:13they like to have a trophy of something their dogs have killed.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18All the items are bagged up as evidence.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24The next priority is getting the dogs to the vet's.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Pitted against other animals,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30they're often the unwitting victims of this crime.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Vet Paul Knott is already in the middle of examining
0:19:35 > 0:19:39a number of dogs that were seized from the other addresses.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45That lip's mildly detached from the mandible.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47It looks a bit sore, that.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50I mean, that would be consistent with fighting,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54or attacking something that's fought back at him.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00All the dogs, including the two seized by Ian Briggs,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02had a range of battle-related injuries.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07We've got a scar here. Puncture wounds.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10There's absolutely no regard for the injuries that that animal
0:20:10 > 0:20:11will suffer.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Definitely got a few scars on the nose there.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22These people take pleasure in that,
0:20:22 > 0:20:23because, for them,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26it's used as a way of promoting how tough their dog is.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32The case is still ongoing, but all the dogs have been treated,
0:20:32 > 0:20:36and for now are being kept in RSPCA care.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Most owners love their pets,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50and do everything they can to keep them safe.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53But accidents do happen.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59At Manchester animal hospital,
0:20:59 > 0:21:03staff try everything they can to save injured animals.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09But sometimes their conditions are just too severe.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Amanda Moss has brought in her cat Smudge who's
0:21:14 > 0:21:16fallen from a fifth-floor balcony.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Don't know how it happened, he's just jumped.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24I don't know what to say, I'm just so upset.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25Come on through.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Amanda hopes hospital director David Yates can help.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- So did you see what actually happened? Yeah?- No.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37- No. And when you found her, what were...- She was under a car.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39After falling five storeys,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42David's worried Smudge may have done irreversible damage.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46When a cat falls from a great height, it may suffer
0:21:46 > 0:21:52damage to the lungs, or to the chest itself, which can interfere with
0:21:52 > 0:21:56breathing and circulation, and they can be life-threatening injuries.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58David needs to X-ray Smudge,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01but he also wants to prepare Amanda for bad news.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04We'll take her in, she's going to be with us a while,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06we don't know how it's going to end up, this, though.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13She talks to you. She's my best friend. She is.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18It's hard for Amanda to leave her precious pet.
0:22:20 > 0:22:21All right.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Once Smudge is anaesthetised...
0:22:30 > 0:22:31All right, all right.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35..David checks for any obvious fractures.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37The left front leg is broken.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42The pelvis is fractured as well.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47But only X-rays will show the full extent of her injuries.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54So what we can see is the heart, and the lung structures.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57All of this looks relatively OK.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59But her front leg is badly broken.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02As we suspected, we've got quite extensive injury here,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05which is going to cause pain and discomfort.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09We can see the humerus is snapped roughly halfway across.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Sadly, the damage to her pelvis is also severe.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17We can see that these major bones of the pelvis have come
0:23:17 > 0:23:20away from where they should be, we see a chip here.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22The bones were all over the place.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24The chances of getting a fix
0:23:24 > 0:23:28and for Smudge to live a pain-free, normal life were slight.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33David has to deliver the sad outcome to Smudge's owner.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Hi, are you all right?
0:23:37 > 0:23:41I'm afraid the bad news is the pelvis is really smashed up.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45Yeah, I'm sorry for your bad news, but, you know, we can't leave
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Smudge to experience discomfort over what will be a long time.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51All right.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Amanda gives her consent for Smudge to be put to sleep.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01It's a sad end, but I think, when the owner had taken on board
0:24:01 > 0:24:04all of the different problems that Smudge had, I think she made the
0:24:04 > 0:24:08right choice to end Smudge's life and to prevent further suffering.
0:24:14 > 0:24:15Thankfully,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19few pets come into the hospital with injuries as severe as Smudge.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24And staff are used to treating animals who aren't to
0:24:24 > 0:24:26blame for their predicament.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Polly Burns, please.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31This six-year-old bichon frise called Polly has got a nasty
0:24:31 > 0:24:36gash after owner Colin's scissors slipped whilst he was grooming her.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37Oh, dear.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42We see a number of owners who are trying to groom knots out
0:24:42 > 0:24:45of their pets, or they use scissors or clippers, and if you're not
0:24:45 > 0:24:48trained in that kind of thing, you can inadvertently damage your pet.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Polly's not the only one suffering.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53So you're clipping and it's just snagged it with the scissors?
0:24:53 > 0:24:55No problem, don't worry about it. It happens a lot.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Colin's feeling pretty guilty.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01I was absolutely gutted.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03I just feel it's my fault, what's happened to her.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05So, I'll never go near her with a pair of scissors again,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07put it that way.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Knots on the coat can lie very close to the skin,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12and you need to be quite skilled to make sure you don't, you know,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15that you remove the knot and don't remove some skin in the process.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19The owner was worried, one because his dog was in discomfort,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21but two, he felt responsible for that.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Before he stitches the wound, David gives Polly an anaesthetic.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30So just pull her in tight towards you.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34And if you could just talk to her at the front end, that'll distract her.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35DOG CRIES
0:25:35 > 0:25:37All right, all right, well done. Well done.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40The injection sometimes stings when we give it into the back leg,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43so we'd compounded his guilt.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44He's got this wound that he'd made,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46we then have to anaesthetise his animal,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49which involves an injection, which involves some further
0:25:49 > 0:25:52discomfort, so, yeah, the day wasn't going well for this fella.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58This time, Polly's getting a proper haircut.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02We're going to try and stitch that.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05The wound to me was a simple wound to fix,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09I wasn't overly concerned about, you know, the clinical problem.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11There was no damage in the deeper layers,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14it's not bleeding that much, the owner's come fairly quickly,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17so we can easily close the wound.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22One more stitch and that should do us, I think. OK.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26All Polly needs now is three more jabs.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and one to bring her back round.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32You can see she's not fully out of it.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34She's just deeply sedated.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Polly is out for the count.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Polly!
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Despite all of our coaxing.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51You know, she was just making the most of it.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Come on, wake up.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57And was just making him feel extra guilty for what he'd done.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Polly, come on.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03No chance. It's payback, this.
0:27:09 > 0:27:10Come on.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12You're thinking about it, aren't you?
0:27:16 > 0:27:18You are the laziest dog, aren't you?
0:27:20 > 0:27:22We ended up taking her outside to try and see
0:27:22 > 0:27:27if a bit of fresh air would coax her to return to her owner.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Come on!
0:27:29 > 0:27:30Is it your dog?
0:27:35 > 0:27:37She was fine from the exposure.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39I doubt she'll be as keen to return to her owner
0:27:39 > 0:27:41when he gets the comb and brush out.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44She's awake! That's great.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45Absolutely fantastic.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49Polly's wound should heal quickly,
0:27:49 > 0:27:52but it may take Colin longer to recover.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55I don't think he's going to be grooming his pet in the near future.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59I hope he's going to go to a poodle parlour and seek professional help.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01It's not something you can just dabble in.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Rather like my DIY, it costs me more in the long run.