Pennod 1 Llys Nini

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-Hello and welcome to the programme

-with me, Elin Fflur.

-Over the next few weeks...

-..we'll follow the events

-at Wales's largest animal centre.

-They save, care and rehome

-all kinds of animals.

-Stay tuned if you're anything

-like me and you love animals.

-We've come to the RSPCA pet rescue

-and rehoming centre...

-..on the historic farm of Llys Nini

-at Penllergaer near Swansea.

-During the series,

-we'll learn about the centre...

-..get to know the animals

-who live here...

-..and meet those who work tirelessly

-to care for them.

-These are animals like Starsky.

-He's asked me to tell you

-about the site's history.

-RSPCA Llys Nini Animal Centre is

-situated near Junction 47 of the M4.

-Gorseinon and the Gower

-is to the south.

-Swansea is to the east

-and the Lliw Valley is to the west.

-The heart of the centre is an

-old farmhouse from the Middle Ages.

-It stands on 80 acres of land...

-..and is the temporary home

-of many orphan animals.

-The centre develops

-various habitats...

-..to encourage wildlife

-across the site.

-It's all in aid of the animals.

-Llys Nini is an independent charity

-but is affiliated with the RSPCA.

-This is one

-of 14 branches in Wales...

-..of The Royal Society for the

-Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

-The RSPCA inspectors

-of the South-West Wales region...

-..are located at Llys Nini.

-They save animals that have been

-abandoned, neglected or mistreated.

-Many of them come

-to the Llys Nini Centre.

-This is what we have for you today.

-We meet two special huskies

-called Ollie and Che.

-Joe Allen and wife, Lacey

-tell us how they help this centre.

-Animals are always going to play

-an important role in our lives.

-We'll also meet

-some brave animals...

-..such as Marley the poodle

-and Merc the cat.

-They do incredible work to improve

-the lives of these animals...

-..so they have a chance

-to be rehomed with the public.

-From week to week,

-the comedian, Steffan Alun...

-..will tell us about some

-of Llys Nini's residents.

-He has close ties with the centre...

-..as his grandparents

-farmed the land for some time.

-Hello, my name is Steffan.

-I won't be doing

-any stand-up here...

-..but have come to meet the animals

-of the Llys Nini centre.

-They usually have over 70 dogs

-and 90 cats here.

-Each one is looking for a home.

-Some are snapped up quickly

-and are only here a week or two.

-But others, like Boyo here, have

-been at the centre for over a year.

-Greyhounds are amongst the most

-common breeds at these centres.

-Many don't see any worth in the dogs

-after their racing days...

-..but they are usually

-loving and loyal...

-..and they don't need

-a lot of exercise.

-These traits haven't been

-acknowledged in Boyo's case.

-He's been here so long and struggles

-to cope despite the loving carers.

-Boyo has been temporarily fostered

-by a loving home.

-And as you can see, he's much

-happier and loves living with Anne.

-His personality

-has finally come out.

-When someone comes to adopt Boyo...

-..he will have experienced

-a warm and loving home.

-It will be difficult for Anne

-to see him go.

-Llys Nini has a hard-working team...

-..that cares for the centre

-and its four-legged residents.

-Occasionally, the staff have

-the help of experienced volunteers.

-I worked at the centre

-a few years ago...

-..but now work full-time

-at a veterinary surgery.

-I stayed in touch with the centre...

-..and work for them

-when someone is ill or on holiday.

-I step in when they need

-some extra support.

-If I haven't been to the centre

-for a while...

-..I come and volunteer with the dogs

-on weekends.

-I always wanted

-to work with animals.

-Any other job wasn't an option.

-Despite working

-in a veterinary surgery...

-..I've retained my relationship

-with the centre...

-..and help the animals

-who don't have owners.

-I feel like I'm making a difference.

-A five-minute walk

-makes a huge difference...

-..to a dog who is stuck in a cage

-throughout the day.

-It feels great to help

-and do something for an animal.

-I tend to arrive at 9.00am

-and help with the cleaning.

-I usually work with the dogs and go

-to the block with the daily staff...

-..and help to clean,

-feed and medicate the animals.

-From about 11.00am, we take

-each of the dogs out for a walk.

-It gets them out for some fresh air

-and exercise...

-..before returning to be fed

-and put to bed.

-It starts again on the next day!

-There's more from Ffion, the staff

-and volunteers later in the series.

-We'll also hear the stories

-of those animals...

-..who have overcome

-an array of difficulties.

-It makes the work of the staff

-all the more worthwhile.

-Let's hear the story

-of Marley the poodle.

-This is Marley the poodle.

-Marley's medical needs proved to be

-too much for his owner.

-His serious condition saw him

-lose the use of his back legs.

-His owners had given up...

-..but his life was turned around

-by a very special person.

-Elsbeth, a friend of Marley's family

-has the story.

-Helen and her sister

-have ties with Llys Nini.

-Both are volunteers

-and do a lot with the animals.

-Two years ago, Helen adopted Marley.

-He has a curvature of the spine

-but this doesn't stop him.

-As you can see, he has a wheelchair

-that was built by Helen's father.

-He's happy as long as he has a ball

-in his mouth.

-It takes a special person

-to have a dog like Marley.

-Marley is lucky to have Helen

-but Helen is also lucky to have him.

-He's such a character

-and everybody loves him.

-The family is wonderful and Helen

-opens her home to care for animals.

-The family loves dogs.

-I can't think of a better family

-to have Marley.

-Marley is an inspiration to us all.

-The centre is fortunate

-to receive a lot of support...

-..from kind people

-such as Catrin Alun.

-The centre is very close

-to your heart.

-There's a strong family connection.

-Yes, and I first came here

-in 1975...

-..when I met my late husband, Sion.

-His family farmed on the land and

-we would come here every holiday.

-I've driven a tractor

-and ridden horses on these fields.

-This is the new building...

-..that sits on foundations

-from the Middle Ages.

-The previous building

-dated back to the Middle Ages.

-That building is no longer here and

-nobody thought to get it registered.

-The old fireplace

-had a stone staircase behind it.

-The bedroom was above the cowshed.

-When the RSPCA first came here...

-..the family and my late

-mother-in-law had mixed feelings.

-She wasn't sure if she wanted the

-site to be developed in that way.

-If she was here today, she would

-be encouraged by their work.

-The strong family ties continue.

-Your son, Steffan

-features in this series...

-..and his wife also works here.

-Yes, Eleanor is involved

-in the environmental aspects.

-She works on the land that was

-tended by Steffan's grandfather.

-The circle is complete.

-I've spent some time here and will

-struggle to leave without a dog.

-You share the same feelings

-when visiting the cats.

-I can't go and see the animals

-without being tempted.

-I can't visit too often

-as I want to take them all home.

-How many cats do you have?

-How many cats do you have?

-

-Seven.

-Thank you, Catrin.

-I think Steffan

-has found a friend for you.

-No.

-Yes, this is the perfect cat.

-This is Idris.

-Idris is two and has come from

-another centre to find a new home.

-Black cats aren't very popular

-these days.

-When I was younger,

-black cats were a sign of good luck.

-Idris has never lived in a house.

-I'm here to find Idris a home.

-Idris has two positive features.

-His name is great for a comedian...

-..and black is a great colour

-for a cat.

-We shouldn't judge cats

-by their colour.

-# I never said the words

-# I never hid on your shoulders

-# I just shook your hand

-# And put my words in my hand

-# And looked into your eyes #

-We'll meet more of Starsky's friends

-later in the programme.

-After the break...

-..we'll meet two special huskies and

-some more residents of Llys Nini.

-Joe Allen

-will also be paying a visit.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-Welcome back.

-I have a fact for you.

-Some 7,589 animals were rescued

-by the RSPCA last year...

-..and 2,760 of those

-were helped by Llys Nini.

-All year, the centre is full of

-animals searching for a new home.

-They are here for various reasons,

-such as neglect, cruelty and abuse.

-Starsky was one of three puppies...

-..found in a box

-on the side of the road.

-His brothers were rehomed quickly.

-It was more difficult for Starsky

-due to his leg injury.

-Debbie, who works at Llys Nini,

-took a shine to Starsky.

-He's very happy in his new home and

-loves coming to work with Debbie.

-Their background and condition make

-it harder to rehome some animals.

-Let's hear Ollie and Che's story.

-I first met Ollie and Che when I was

-a volunteer dog walker at Llys Nini.

-This is the cage

-where I first saw them.

-They were big dogs and

-I was worried that they were nasty.

-I didn't know much about the breed.

-It was difficult to imagine

-who would adopt the dogs.

-They had medical needs...

-..and most people

-walked passed their cage.

-The pair were subject

-to serious neglect.

-They were discovered in

-a narrow cage in a small kitchen...

-..and in an unacceptable state.

-They were rescued by the police...

-..and transferred to the care

-of an RSPCA inspector...

-..before being moved to Llys Nini.

-They hadn't been exercised...

-..which meant that their muscles

-and spines were very weak.

-The huskies were here

-for almost a year.

-I remember that the staff

-were worried.

-Their health deteriorated

-and they were depressed.

-I started walking the dogs

-on a regular basis.

-I fell in love with them as soon as

-I looked into their blue eyes!

-They were excited to see me too.

-I remember taking them home

-on the first day...

-..and seeing their reaction

-to being in a long garden...

-..for the first time in many years.

-I also remember taking them to

-Aberavon Beach for the first time.

-It was the first time

-for them to see the sea.

-It was both shocking

-but sweet at the same time.

-When the snow came that winter...

-..I'll never forget seeing

-their reaction to the snow.

-They ran around in circles.

-It was a pleasure to see them

-experience so many things.

-We lost Ollie within a year

-of the rehoming...

-..but he lived like a king.

-He was a very ill dog,

-but happy at the same time.

-After we lost Ollie, Che was lonely

-and struggled with being alone...

-..so we adopted a friend for him.

-Nel is a chocolate Labrador

-who was also from Llys Nini.

-Soon after,

-Che passed away in his sleep.

-They were both elderly dogs and

-we knew they wouldn't live for long.

-It's important to adopt elderly dogs

-and not only puppies.

-The experience I had

-was unforgettable.

-Running a centre like Llys Nini

-is quite challenging.

-The charities who maintain

-the centre work closely together.

-But how does this arrangement

-succeed?

-The RSPCA

-works as one independent charity.

-There are also

-14 independent branches.

-We all work together as one family.

-Llys Nini is run by a small group

-of trustees who are volunteers...

-..who tend to everything.

-The centre is not funded

-by the RSPCA...

-..so we have to raise

-over 1 million a year...

-..which is a massive amount.

-We do this via our charity shops...

-..by hosting local events

-and through marketing.

-The main aim of Llys Nini

-is to offer resources...

-..for the welfare of the animals.

-We also support the work

-of the RSPCA inspectors.

-About 80% of the animals...

-..come directly

-from the RSPCA inspectors.

-We have a close relationship

-with the inspectors.

-The inspectors work independently...

-..but the West Wales inspectors

-have an office at Llys Nini.

-We rehome around 600 animals

-every year.

-We also have a low-cost

-veterinary surgery...

-..that treats 700 animals.

-We also help people

-on a low income...

-..to neuter and microchip

-their cats.

-Llys Nini relies heavily

-on the generosity of the public.

-We met two of the centre's biggest

-supporters on their recent visit.

-Lacey and I have supported

-the Llys Nini centre for many years.

-Animals will always be important

-in our lives as a couple.

-We have dogs, geese,

-ponies and chickens.

-I was raised locally,

-so Llys Nini is close to my heart.

-I'd come here a lot and when we

-return to the area, I still do.

-When we're in the area, we enjoy

-coming back to see the animals...

-..to walk around

-and see how they're doing.

-We also support the work

-of the centre throughout the year.

-I've sold our clothes and those of

-our friends and family on eBay...

-..and we've arranged a number

-of events to raise more money.

-When we got married...

-..we asked our guests to resist

-the urge to buy us gifts...

-..but to donate the money

-to Llys Nini.

-Our guests were generous

-and we raised over 3,000.

-We're delighted to be ambassadors

-for Llys Nini.

-It's an honour and privilege...

-..and I hope we can continue

-to raise money for Llys Nini.

-As you saw earlier,

-this dog is a bit of a footballer.

-His name is Mac and he's played

-football against Joe Allen!

-I don't know much about football,

-but I guess it was Wales v Scotland.

-Is that right?

-Mac first came to the centre

-with his sister...

-..after their owner had died.

-In this different environment, Mac

-and his sister didn't get along...

-..so they were separated

-and Mac's sister has been rehomed.

-Sadly, Mac is still here and

-is waiting for the right owner.

-We hope his likeable character...

-..will help him to find

-the right owner in the end.

-Och aye!

-# I'm still holding on

-# And think back

-# But I've lost the chance

-# And it will never come back #

-Gemma Black is an inspector

-with the RSPCA.

-She works in South-East Wales

-but occasionally visits Llys Nini.

-I started working for the RSPCA

-in 2007.

-I've lived in Pembrokeshire

-and Coventry...

-..but these days, I'm an RSPCA

-inspector just outside of Wales.

-This van is like my office.

-I practically live in it.

-I never know what I'm going

-to come across each day...

-..so I have a variety of things

-in here.

-There are cages

-for dogs, cats and birds.

-Towels are very useful

-and we carry newspapers.

-There's also sorts of things

-including a net.

-It's stuck at the moment!

-This is great when you're dealing

-with birds or aggressive cats.

-You never know what you'll encounter

-so we carry all these things.

-The trick is to remember

-where you've put it!

-If you find an animal

-and suspect that it is in trouble...

-..or needs a vet...

-..then you can contact us.

-You can contact us if you think

-an animal is being mistreated...

-..or if it's being neglected.

-If you find an animal in trouble...

-..these are the emergency

-contact details for the RSPCA.

-We're nearing the end

-of the programme...

-..but there's time

-for one more story.

-It's over to Steff at the cattery.

-This is Merc.

-He was named after a Mercedes...

-..because Merc was found

-under the bonnet of a Mercedes.

-As you can see, he's a happy cat but

-there's a lesson to be learned here.

-Cats like warm spaces

-so check under your car bonnets.

-Simply slap your bonnet

-or open it...

-..to see if your cat

-is hiding inside.

-These days, Merc is healthy...

-..and has been rehomed.

-That's it for this week.

-For more information,

-visit our social media sites.

-It's likely that the animals in this

-series will all be rehomed by now...

-..but there are still hundreds of

-animals searching for a new home.

-Make sure you visit

-your nearest shelter.

-Until next time, from Llys Nini...

-Until next time, from Llys Nini...

-

-..the home for animals...

-Goodbye!

-S4C Subtitles by Tinopolis

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