0:00:02 > 0:00:05Pets. Don't you just love them?
0:00:07 > 0:00:10In this series, we're going to meet plenty of people
0:00:10 > 0:00:12who really, really do.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14It's like having more children.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17It's as easy to have two or three as it is to have four or five.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22Our obsession with them has even turned some pets into celebrities.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25The internet loves her. She always gets loads of compliments.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27We would have a sort of core following
0:00:27 > 0:00:29of ones that read it every day.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Our love for them appears to have no bounds.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Later on Pet Island, we learn to talk to the animals.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42Let's see if Lyn can tell us what they're saying.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45We meet a Dublin woman with some snappy snakes.
0:00:45 > 0:00:46He went straight for me.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49But first, we're in Bray with Martin and Jennifer,
0:00:49 > 0:00:51where love is in the air.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Mammy and daddy, getting married!
0:01:03 > 0:01:07Martin Bailey and his fiancee, Jennifer Duggan, love their dogs.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12The couple show Maltese and Old English sheepdogs
0:01:12 > 0:01:15and have been hugely successful in the show world.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Thank you very much, cheers. Thank you.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23When they are not at dog shows, Martin and Jennifer
0:01:23 > 0:01:27like to walk their two Old English sheepdogs, Guapo and Theron.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Wherever they go, they are always bound to attract attention.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46You called a dog!
0:01:50 > 0:01:51In Spain, very good.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54- In Spain?- In Spain!
0:01:54 > 0:01:56It's great when you meet some Spanish people,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59they understand "Guapo" straightaway. They can pronounce it.
0:01:59 > 0:02:00It means "beautiful boy"
0:02:00 > 0:02:02or "beautiful", in their country, for a male.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05So they understand straightaway, which is nice.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07This guy's a puppy, he's a puppy.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08- Puppy!- Puppy.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Yeah, this guy is six. Guapo is six.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15If you go for, like, half an hour walk,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18it takes about two hours to get up and down
0:02:18 > 0:02:22because people keep coming over, taking photographs and...
0:02:22 > 0:02:23It's mad, isn't it?
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Above all, they love the dog and they love to see how he looks,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29and they like to get close and rub him and to say hello and...
0:02:29 > 0:02:31It's great to meet people, that's the best part.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35It's nice to get all the people coming over and give them rubs
0:02:35 > 0:02:37and asking about the breed. It's nice.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39- ALL:- Guapo!
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Being in the limelight is nothing new to Martin and Jennifer,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50who themselves were once models.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56This was our card for Assets model agency.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58This is the front of the card and the rear of the card.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01And these go out to the clients. These are the shots we had done.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Just different looks, close-up and then a full-length look,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09and then, of course, my favourite, the swimwear.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11You can see that she has the look for modelling.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14She's a beautiful-looking girl.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16They asked me to do a couple of ads and stuff like that,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18they said, you had to have some photos taken.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21So I had these done, and I'm happy enough with them.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23But he didn't look like that when I met him.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- He had the cropped hair.- Sure.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28I used to work for a nightclub in Dublin,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31and we used to run a competition, a beauty pageant, basically.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35This stunning, beautiful girl was sitting there,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37in a corner, on her own in the seat and I thought,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39"Wow, where has she been?"
0:03:39 > 0:03:41So I went over and approached her and I said,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43"Would you like to enter?" And she said yes.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Of course, I loved her from the first time I seen her.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49So I was doing the interview, and it was good, I could ask her, like
0:03:49 > 0:03:52do you have a boyfriend, and all this kind of questions.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55I remember what he wore when I first saw him.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58He had like a black PVC top on him,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01with black leathers and cropped black hair.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03And I was like, "I really like him!"
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Cos he looked like somebody off the telly.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09There was a programme on at the time and he looked like him,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and I was like, "Oh, my God, yeah! He's lovely."
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Despite having many treasured memories
0:04:19 > 0:04:23from their 18-year relationship, there is one thing missing
0:04:23 > 0:04:27from Jennifer and Martin's photo collection.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Looking back at the photographs and stuff like that,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31the only thing that's missing from them is the babies.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33It's the seven babies now and ourselves,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37so we're going to book and get some professional photographs taken.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Obviously, someone that works with dogs.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43So we've seen a guy, and we're going to arrange to have
0:04:43 > 0:04:45photos taken somewhere nice with us all together
0:04:45 > 0:04:48and separately and some with Jennifer and Millie.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52So we're looking forward to that and getting it done quite soon.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Holly's Horse Haven is a sanctuary for rescued horses
0:05:00 > 0:05:02in North County Louth.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09My husband and I started Holly's Horse Haven.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12It probably would be about ten years ago now.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15The one thing that our rescues...
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Whatever reason that they arrive with us, they're here
0:05:18 > 0:05:22because they are in a difficult, traumatic, starved situation.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26So what they need most of all is love.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Today, the sanctuary is being visited by animal communicator
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Lyn Furlong, who claims to be able to talk to the animals.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Lyn has an incredible gift,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46that we didn't realise is something you can actually learn.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51And that is to be able to tune in to what the horses are saying,
0:05:51 > 0:05:57to feel what their problems are, to be able to relate to what it is
0:05:57 > 0:06:00that they're trying to say to us, but they don't have a voice.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10What Lyn does, you know, some people would probably say,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12"Oh, I don't believe that."
0:06:12 > 0:06:15But I do believe it. And when you see,
0:06:15 > 0:06:20when you actually see her in action and see her doing it, it's amazing.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Hi. I'm delighted to be here.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26I do what is known as animal communication.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31Before starting on the horses, Lyn is going to let Elaine and Joe
0:06:31 > 0:06:33into some of her secrets.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35I'm delighted to be here.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37And we have the beautiful Flynn here,
0:06:37 > 0:06:39and we'll have a word with Flynn.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42And to make the connection with him, I'll have to be silent for this.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45So you'll have to give me a few minutes of silence, please,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48to make the connection with him, all right?
0:07:03 > 0:07:05He's a very happy dog.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07He loves his owner.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11He's kind of stressed, and stress is that he's on his own.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13He needs something really to keep him occupied.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18So you want a big, raw bone from the butchers with some meat on it,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21you know, just to get him - it keeps his teeth clean as well -
0:07:21 > 0:07:23you know, to get him going. Yeah.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29Flynn was obviously a very good choice for us to introduce to Lyn,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32because he has his own few, wee issues and we thought,
0:07:32 > 0:07:37"Oh, it would be good if Lyn can tell us if he's happy, if he's OK."
0:07:37 > 0:07:41And what can he tell us, you know?
0:07:41 > 0:07:43I think this is just absolutely fascinating.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44It's just incredible.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46How do you do this?
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Because I always thought people were born with a gift
0:07:49 > 0:07:52but that someone else, like myself, couldn't learn it.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54No. We can all learn it.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The main thing is to get your mind quiet,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59so that you can hear what they're saying.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Now, they communicate with us in three different ways.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05If I asked you just to do a little experiment here,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08because people say to me, "Oh, I can never do this."
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Will you close your eyes just for a minute, the three of you?
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Just close your eyes, and I'll ask you to visualise your hall door.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Could you actually see your hall door?
0:08:16 > 0:08:20- Yes.- You could visualise it?- Yep. - Well, that's exactly we're doing.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23I say to people, "I close my eyes to see."
0:08:23 > 0:08:26So you seen me there, when I had my eyes closed.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Because they give you pictures.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32The other way is you can hear
0:08:32 > 0:08:35what they're actually saying to you in words.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40And they will show you their pain in your body.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46So if they have a pain in their hip, you will get a pain in your hip.
0:08:46 > 0:08:47Oh, my God, that's amazing, Lyn.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50So they're the key ways that they communicate with us.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53It's so inspiring that it's something
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- you actually can learn, Lyn. - Oh, yes.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56Everything's on energy.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59So, if you haven't got the love for them,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01they'll pick it up immediately.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05So it's the love connection that you can do,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07that brings in the communication with them.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Lyn has had a flying start.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17But will the sanctuary's horses be as chatty?
0:09:24 > 0:09:28This glamorous country house hotel is to be the backdrop
0:09:28 > 0:09:32for Martin and Jennifer's photo shoot.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Wow, Millie, look.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37We're doing a photo shoot here today,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40myself and Martin, with our babies.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44We're going to be all glammed up, yes, we are!
0:09:44 > 0:09:46So it should be great fun.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47Can't wait.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56So we came here today to have the photo shoot done.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Obviously, the dogs are our family, so myself and Jennifer.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00And Jennifer's in her room getting ready,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02she's having hair and make-up done.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05And we've just going to get the dogs ready here now in the kitchen area.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08I'll brush them all up and get them all ready.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10So it should be good fun, I'd say. Yeah.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Upstairs, Jennifer's make-up routine is underway.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23But she's not the only one who will be getting pampered.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Each of Martin and Jennifer's seven dogs
0:10:26 > 0:10:29must be in top condition in time for the photo shoot.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34I'm just going to be brush him up now, get him nice and refreshed.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36He's quite a big coat for his age.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40You can see it's just nice and fresh-looking.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48Yeah, I'm flying here with New York, he's so good. He's really good.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51It's my first time doing anything like this on a dog.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59There is just time for Martin to get a lick of paint.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Go on, Martin, just a tiny bit.
0:11:01 > 0:11:02Just look down for me?
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Yeah, it looks quite natural, actually, yeah.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21With Jennifer almost ready, the dogs get some last-minute touches.
0:11:25 > 0:11:26Are you ready for your close-up?
0:11:31 > 0:11:35Outside for the first photos, and Martin, Jennifer and the dogs
0:11:35 > 0:11:37are all glammed up and ready to go.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41To get that perfect look,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43they've called in pet photographer, Brendan Burke.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49They look very photogenic and great fun.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51At the end of the day, this is what this is all about.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53This is great fun.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Just rest your forehead against her there, OK, that's it.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Beautiful. Millie!
0:11:58 > 0:12:00While Jennifer poses with Millie,
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Martin is still going with the hairbrush on the two Old English.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Yeah, just fluffing them up a little bit, make them look nice and fresh.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11They're good, yeah.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Natural, but not too showy, like.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Having worked as a model for years, Jennifer is a seasoned professional.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24But Millie's lack of experience in front of the camera is showing.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Thankfully, Brendan has a few tricks up his sleeve.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28Millie!
0:12:28 > 0:12:30WHISTLE
0:12:30 > 0:12:32HE BARKS
0:12:33 > 0:12:35HE BLOWS A RASPBERRY
0:12:36 > 0:12:39You have to love dogs and speak fluent dog.
0:12:39 > 0:12:40You have to know fluent dog.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46MAKES ODD NOISES
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Perfect.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50One more, one more.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52That's lovely. Millie! Millie!
0:12:52 > 0:12:53Lovely.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57I think it's gone really well.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I've seen some nice shots that I really, really like,
0:13:00 > 0:13:01so I'm really happy.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Lovely, Martin, that's it, yeah.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08GROWLING
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Love it, love it.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27The shoot is going like a dream.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29And as the light fades,
0:13:29 > 0:13:33the guys retire indoors for a few more intimate shots.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Look there, just keep it there now, OK?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45That's a nice shot there, and again, yeah.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47OK.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51The most important thing is getting New York and Jennifer like that.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54There's a bond going on there, you know what I mean? That's the shot.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56So it isn't a just a photograph of Jennifer
0:13:56 > 0:13:58or just a photograph of New York.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01You can see that she absolutely adores New York in that.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14Welcome to the Nut House -
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Northern Ireland's very own hen rescue centre.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Where birds who were destined for the dinner table
0:14:20 > 0:14:22can live out their days in freedom.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Hey, chook, chooks! Chook, chook, chooks!
0:14:28 > 0:14:31What are yous all hiding in there for?
0:14:31 > 0:14:33In charge of the sanctuary is Barbara Mladek,
0:14:33 > 0:14:36who now goes by the name Mama Hen.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Well, everybody used call me Mama Hen anyway.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Because I was seen as the mama hen,
0:14:47 > 0:14:51who to come to ask questions about the hens' health.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53And then I thought, do you know, it would probably quite good
0:14:53 > 0:14:55if I changed my name by deed poll to Mama Hen.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57It only cost, what, 20 quid?
0:14:57 > 0:14:59It's dead cheap!
0:14:59 > 0:15:01So I did, because I thought, now I'm officially Mama Hen.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05And it's on my bank cards, all my legal documents,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09that I am Barbara Mama Hen Mladek, but I use Mama Hen.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12Hey? You call me names, don't you?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Yeah, you call me names that aren't polite,
0:15:15 > 0:15:16cos you're a bad rascal. You are.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22We rescue commercial hens at the point of slaughter,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24when they're sending them out for slaughter.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26We'll go in a day before the slaughter truck comes
0:15:26 > 0:15:27and we'll bring out as many as we can.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31We bring them back here, we health check them completely.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Just do this carefully... Like that!
0:15:34 > 0:15:35And then they're adopted out
0:15:35 > 0:15:37by people who want to adopt them for pets.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44Let me know how they get on. As I say, just the usual, any problems...
0:15:44 > 0:15:45They do make fantastic pets.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48They're extremely affectionate, they're really vocal,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50and the interaction with them is great.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51They're great stress busters.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56You can train them to do things if you really want to.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58They can differentiate colours.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00A chicken has the equivalent intelligence level
0:16:00 > 0:16:02of a three-year-old child.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04So they can work things out for themselves.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Right, rooster, go! Out of my bucket.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Here is an old lady.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13This is our Thelma.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14Hiya, Thelma.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Have you got a kiss for me? Have you, darling?
0:16:19 > 0:16:21And you've got Sid, the white rooster.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Pepper, the wee, grey rooster at the back.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25They're all rescues.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27They've all come from somebody else.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29Birdie! Here.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33The Nut House is open to all.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41Not just birds, but unwanted animals of all shapes and sizes.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43Mama Hen loves them all.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Every creature on this Earth belongs to the planet Earth.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51When you come down to it, there's no difference between us.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53And we all have a right to live here,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56and we all have a right to a decent life here.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58JJ, you'll get something just now.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04When I was growing up, I would never have envisaged opening a hen rescue.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05I didn't know anything about hens.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08I always thought I would open a cat rescue.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11We used to have about 18 cats here, we're down to about 12 now.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14And a cat rescue, I always thought it would be.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16But this feels right for me.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Even though... Ha-ha.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Even though sometimes...
0:17:21 > 0:17:23You could see them far enough.
0:17:23 > 0:17:24Couldn't you?
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Most of my friends would really be of the same thoughts as me
0:17:29 > 0:17:31when it comes to animals as well.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33You know, they're used to me.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36They do say you have to be a bit nuts to be in rescue.
0:17:36 > 0:17:37I think it does help.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42What am I doing, Mortimer? What am I doing? I'm playing with your lady.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47I mean, I suppose I found what I should be doing.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48That's the way I look at it now.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51I mean, I left a good job with a very good salary
0:17:51 > 0:17:53for no income, basically.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57I'm a lot happier now, here,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01surrounded by 150 hens and 20 ducks
0:18:01 > 0:18:04and geese and turkeys and pigs and sheep and goats
0:18:04 > 0:18:09and rats and rabbits and guinea pigs and pigeons and...
0:18:09 > 0:18:11You name it. Dogs, we have it.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23This is definitely my little slice of paradise.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27I'm doing what I think I was meant to do.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30And if I drop dead tomorrow, I'll be quite happy.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33That's it. I've done what I'm supposed to do.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Back at Holly's Horse Haven, things are about to heat up,
0:18:45 > 0:18:50as animal communicator Lyn Furlong gets ready to speak with the horses.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04These horses come from all kinds of backgrounds for all reasons.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07They've gone through horrific circumstances,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09like being starved or beaten or abused.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13They're coming to us damaged, both physically and mentally.
0:19:13 > 0:19:19So the beauty of Lyn coming to us is these animals can let us know,
0:19:19 > 0:19:24as human beings, that what we're doing is right.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Biggest challenge, especially with
0:19:26 > 0:19:30ponies and horses like this, that have been neglected so much,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32is to try and get their confidence.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34It's the love connection.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36If you don't have the love connection,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38they won't talk to you.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49Lyn is a great opportunity for us to find out from our rescues,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52personally, what would they love?
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Who would they love? What's their dream?
0:19:56 > 0:19:57You're a beautiful girl, aren't you?
0:20:00 > 0:20:04What is it that they want in their life?
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Let's see if Lyn can tell us what they're saying.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12When you close your eyes, when you're communicating with an animal,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15they're giving you pictures.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17And then you can decipher the pictures.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19And if you ask them what they mean by that,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22the they'll give you another, different picture.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25He's very contented, Truffles.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30I asked him, why was he lying down?
0:20:32 > 0:20:39And he said, "Because I have a nice, warm bed here to lie on."
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Very happy and contented.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45That's good to hear, that.
0:20:45 > 0:20:46It's brilliant, you know?
0:20:46 > 0:20:50That's what we try to do here.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Make them as comfortable and happy as possible.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Just make sure they have plenty of feed and that they're content.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Plenty of chat so far for Lyn.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05But next up are Blaze and Daisy.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10When these guys get loose, they like to go a little crazy.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12MUSIC: Crazy Horses by The Osmonds
0:21:15 > 0:21:16Watch me toes!
0:21:29 > 0:21:31But the lads settle down when they see Lyn.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36And before long, they're all chat.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Very, very happy.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43Very contented.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Everything is fine.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Very well fed, he says.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49And his pal.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50She's his best pal.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54- So he's grand.- That'd be true.
0:22:04 > 0:22:10So when Lyn did actually speak to Daisy in her very special way,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Daisy told her that this is what she wants to do.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15That she is so happy.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19And she adores her ginger nuts, because she loves ginger nuts.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22So she was able to tell Lyn without me saying anything about ginger nuts
0:22:22 > 0:22:24that she loves ginger nuts.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26So, to me, that's so exciting.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I think Lyn got on great today.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37It's amazing what she can do.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41There's no doubt about it, she can communicate with them.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46It has been a magical day at Holly's Horse Haven.
0:22:46 > 0:22:52Where the love of man, horse and ginger nut is now even stronger.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10This charming woman is Emma O'Neill, who lives in Dublin.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Emma has long been fascinated by snakes.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18And now has over 90 of them.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30At home, Emma has her own dedicated snake room,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32packed full of all sorts of surprises.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37This is a royal python.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Also known as a ball python,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41because they literally just ball up.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45It was a hobby at the start.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47It was just a pet or two.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48Then it became a hobby.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52But at this point it's become a bit of a lifestyle now.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57You know, I have to change quite a lot to be able to keep these.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01That's what a normal corn snake looks like.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03They'd be from North America.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11This is a milk snake. He will get a little bit bigger.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15He's only a year and a half, two years at this stage.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Sometimes they poo on you.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20They musk, basically.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22And it's really smelly.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25But it's kind of a deterrent, to say, get away.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29There is a little bit of addiction in it.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Because they're so easy to take care of.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33They don't demand...
0:24:33 > 0:24:35It's not like you have to go walk them twice a day.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41Snakes don't need to be walked, but they do need attention.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43And these guys get plenty of that.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Photography is the only way to really show people what I have,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57what I'm working with.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03You're always trying to get that tongue shot.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05They just flick the tongue out, you're always trying to get that.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07And the you miss it.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09As soon as they do it, you've gone, missed it!
0:25:16 > 0:25:21Hidden away in his own secure enclosure is Emma's pride and joy.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Leader of the gang, Ka.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31This is Ka, he's a three-year-old male reticulated python.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35And he's about five feet long, but he will get much bigger.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37You get to know each individual.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41So you know, if he's going to be a bit angry,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44you just don't go near him. You don't take risks.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Same as any animal.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48He's very active.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51And he's very temperamental. So he'll have his moods.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53So one day he'll be perfectly fine and just sit there.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57And other days he just won't want to know you.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01So we're having a good day today.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Some days, he will just sit there and be good.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09Ka may not be a killer, but he's not exactly cuddly.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13He's never actually bitten me.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14But this morning, he did have a go for me.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17I went into the enclosure, and he went straight for me.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19He just seen this fast movement,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21he had no time to register what that was.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24So he just did what he thought was best.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28He didn't go for me because he's angry. He got a fright.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33It's not like they're venomous snakes that will kill me.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36But at the same time, you don't want to be bitten.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41You know, you never take any animal for granted.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43I'm very much of that opinion.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Any animal has a potential to bite you.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47It's got a mouth, it can bite.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56For Martin and Jennifer,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00a stroll in Bray brings back some special memories.
0:27:03 > 0:27:0616 years ago, this was the setting
0:27:06 > 0:27:09for one of their most romantic days as a couple.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13It was coming close to the 29th of February, it was a leap year.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17And that's the one time a lady can propose to a guy.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20So I kind of pushed Jennifer a bit to propose.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23We came out here on the 29th of February.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26We went to a local pizzeria place which we go to.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29We had something to eat and we came down to the beachfront here.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31And Jennifer proposed.
0:27:31 > 0:27:32- Didn't you, babes?- I did.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35- She got down on one knee and proposed, didn't you, baby?- No!
0:27:40 > 0:27:42We've got our own place together.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45So we have everything now, the house, the dogs -
0:27:45 > 0:27:47the babies - and the clothing for them.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49We have everything we need.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53- And the next step now is marriage. - The wedding!
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Now, after almost 18 years together as a couple, Martin and Jennifer -
0:28:03 > 0:28:07and their dogs - can look forward to their big day.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Yes, it will be a big day for the dogs as well.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13They'll have to be involved in everything.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16- New outfits.- New outfits, yeah, for the little ones.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19- Dresses for the girls.- Yeah.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23- Tuxedos for the boys.- Yes, yes - black-tie affair!- Exactly.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Mammy and daddy's wedding, yes?
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Mammy and daddy, getting married!