0:00:04 > 0:00:06Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10All too often, our wildlife and domestic pets are the victims
0:00:10 > 0:00:13of cruelty, persecution and neglect.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Fighting to save them is a dedicated band of people trying to protect
0:00:17 > 0:00:22and care for them, right around the clock. This is Animal 24/7.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45In the air, on land and in the water,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Britain is a haven for animals.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52But when they come up against man, their lives are often in danger.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55From our cramped inner cities to our fields and hedgerows,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58from the highest moorland to the coast and beyond,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Animal 24/7 is with the people working around the clock
0:01:02 > 0:01:06to save endangered wildlife and protect vulnerable pets.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08These are their stories.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Today on Animal 24/7...
0:01:14 > 0:01:17the frightened Boxer in need of rescue.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20He's absolutely terrified, as you can see.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23A dog that's nervous like this can turn aggressive
0:01:23 > 0:01:26so I'm just gonna give him a chance to recognise what's going on.
0:01:26 > 0:01:32In search of the 30 foot sharks in Scottish waters...
0:01:32 > 0:01:36There's a shark, we've got a shark about 100 metres at half past 12.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Oh, fantastic!
0:01:38 > 0:01:42And I help the home-grown squirrels fighting for survival.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46It's my first proper sight actually of a red squirrel
0:01:46 > 0:01:50at any proximity, I think, other than on the telly!
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- They're beautiful creatures. - They are.
0:01:55 > 0:02:02First though we're off to Manchester and a report that a dog has been left alone in an empty house.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05The RSPCA has been visiting the property for two days,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09so they can be certain the animal has definitely been abandoned.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14Numerous notes have been left asking the owner to get in touch
0:02:14 > 0:02:17but no-one has and the dog is still alone.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28This is the face of an animal that needs help.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34The Boxer has been on its own without food for at least two days.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40Now RSPCA inspector, Lorna Bracegirdle, has decided to act.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44I came to this property yesterday and the day before.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48He's up in this top bedroom, I don't think he can get to the front door.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53I'm not sure what condition he is in, though, he could be quite skinny or he could be all right,
0:02:53 > 0:02:58he could be fit and healthy, but we know he's certainly not had food and water for the past two days
0:02:58 > 0:03:01so we're just waiting for the police to arrive
0:03:01 > 0:03:03and we'll go ahead and get him out
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and get him off to the vet's and see how he is.
0:03:07 > 0:03:13To just leave a dog locked in a bedroom, we're assuming with no food or water,
0:03:13 > 0:03:18and to just go and leave him in situation where he's going to suffer and he's all alone, just baffles me.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23I just don't understand why you would need to do that when you just need to make the phone call to us.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28The reason this dog has been left may be a mystery, but one thing is clear -
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Lorna needs to get it out as quickly as possible.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Now the police are on the scene with the legal powers to break in.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40He's quite nervous as well so he could potentially be aggressive.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47Once the door is opened, it appears Lorna was right to be so concerned.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50The dog is trembling with fear.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54He's very, very nervous, so a dog that's nervous like this
0:03:54 > 0:03:58can potentially, if you back it into a corner, turn aggressive
0:03:58 > 0:04:02so I'm just gonna give him a chance to recognise what's going on.
0:04:02 > 0:04:08He's absolutely terrified, as you can see, because he's been on his own for so long.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13As Lorna gives the dog time to get used to her, she takes a look at where it's been living.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20He's obviously been in here quite a while, there's quite a lot of faeces here.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23He's been using this front bit as his toilet.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26I can't see any... He's got a bowl there, but it's empty.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29I can't see any evidence of food or anything down for him.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32This room is not just dirty, it's also dangerous.
0:04:32 > 0:04:38He's got a bottle of bleach here. A dog that's hungry is gonna rummage around all these things for food.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43If he starts biting into a bottle of bleach, obviously that's not gonna down very well.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47It's just the whole room is completely hazardous.
0:04:47 > 0:04:53After a few minutes, Lorna's patience pays off and it becomes clear this dog is craving company.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Good boy.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Oh, good boy, well done, here you go.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Now I've just got a bit of trust with him,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08I managed to get the lead over him and he seems quite wanting to get out now!
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Good boy!
0:05:10 > 0:05:14He is quite skinny as well, he is quite lean,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17but he doesn't look very old.
0:05:19 > 0:05:25You can see all his spine is quite prominent there and his ribs.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27You're happy to go now, aren't you?
0:05:27 > 0:05:31The trick is to just not rush in there with graspers and things like that.
0:05:31 > 0:05:37If he's gonna come out on his own, that's better because obviously the vet's got to examine this dog
0:05:37 > 0:05:40and I've got to get him travelling and I don't want him to be aggressive.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45Closer inspection reveals this Boxer is actually a female
0:05:45 > 0:05:47and she's itching to get out into the fresh air.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Yes, you're happy to be out now, aren't you?
0:05:50 > 0:05:54She says, "Let's go!" She's gorgeous!
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Although underweight, she is full of life.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Lorna can't understand why anyone would leave her in such a state.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04It's just been a shame. She's only a young dog
0:06:04 > 0:06:10so to be on her own like that for a couple of days not knowing what's going on...
0:06:10 > 0:06:12must be terrifying, really.
0:06:12 > 0:06:19Confused but at least safe from harm, this Boxer will soon be on her way for a vet check,
0:06:19 > 0:06:26but first Lorna needs to go back inside to try and find out exactly who's to blame for abandoning her.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30I'm just gonna take some photographs now.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35It will be used as evidence if this goes to court but also it gives the vet a better idea
0:06:35 > 0:06:41of how the dog's been living and it will help him to make an opinion on the dog's welfare and the conditions.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50There's quite a lot of things that the dog could have injured herself on...all these cans.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53There's a razor on the floor there, um...
0:06:53 > 0:06:59there's no water down for the dog, there's no food anywhere.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03I just don't understand why you would ever need to be in the situation
0:07:03 > 0:07:06to abandon your dog like this that, you know,
0:07:06 > 0:07:08if you haven't got friends and family to ring them and say,
0:07:08 > 0:07:12"Can you go and look after my dog, I need to move out?" or whatever...
0:07:12 > 0:07:19you can ring us... but to just go and not do anything and leave your dog in an enclosed room full of hazards,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22no water, no food, for a number of days,
0:07:22 > 0:07:27that I just don't understand - it's just outright neglect, basically.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35It's soon apparent that the dog has been desperate.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39As you can see, the dog has been chewing various bottles that are in here.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42There's a couple here that have been chewed.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45She could have easily injured herself doing that,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47chewed the bleach, there's a glass bottle there,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50and so many things that she could injure herself on.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53But as well as bleach and sharp objects,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57who knows what other hazards this dog has had to put up with?
0:07:57 > 0:08:03Only a thorough check by the vet will reveal if she's eaten something that might cause her harm.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16Still to come...picked up in the north but registered in the south,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Lorna investigates the mystery of the lady Boxer's past.
0:08:20 > 0:08:26I've picked up a dog today that is microchipped with your details on, but I'm in Manchester.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30She's been left abandoned in a property for a week.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35And the team close in on the 30ft giant of the sea.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39We've got a sample, it's OK.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51This is a woodland of coppiced chestnut in Kent.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54It's a beautiful and quite peaceful place,
0:08:54 > 0:08:57but, like many of our forests, it's actually been the scene
0:08:57 > 0:09:02of a battle, a running skirmish lasting nearly 140 years
0:09:02 > 0:09:05between two fairly similar animals -
0:09:05 > 0:09:08the red and the grey squirrel -
0:09:08 > 0:09:12and, as you probably know, the grey squirrel's won out.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17There are now 66 greys for every red in this country, but now here,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20among these trees, the reds are fighting back.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Look carefully at these red squirrels as they're a rare sight
0:09:25 > 0:09:27in the British countryside,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31but today, I'm joining a group of conservationists, the "Red Army"
0:09:31 > 0:09:36if you like, who are helping this endangered species to fight back.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40Doctor Craig Shuttleworth is a man on a mission -
0:09:40 > 0:09:43he's creating a safe haven for them in Wales
0:09:43 > 0:09:46and today he's come to Kent for a big occasion.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51Our project is to replace all the greys on the island of Anglesey with reds
0:09:51 > 0:09:53and we're in the final phase now
0:09:53 > 0:09:57so today we're gonna collect some animals from here in Wild Wood,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01take them up and release them onto the island.
0:10:01 > 0:10:07There's nowhere else in the UK where we've got a chance of clearing out greys permanently at this stage
0:10:07 > 0:10:13and putting reds in, so Wild Wood have bred some reds and we'll use them in this phase of the project.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21Red squirrels are nervous, so Wild Wood's Judy Dunne has already set traps to try and catch them.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24So what's with all the towelage?
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Right, if we're lucky and we've got the squirrels in the traps,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31we like to keep them as calm as possible so we cover them up
0:10:31 > 0:10:34with a variety of tea-towels that we have here!
0:10:34 > 0:10:37That's just to keep them a bit placid
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- and away from lots of things?- Yes, cos they do get quite stressed.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Red squirrel numbers have been in decline since the 19th century
0:10:45 > 0:10:48when their great rivals, the greys, were brought over from America.
0:10:48 > 0:10:54Staff at Wild Wood have been successfully breeding reds in safe pens to help projects like Craig's.
0:10:54 > 0:11:00This is the most active time of the day, early in the morning, so you set the traps as early as possible.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02It's all right for us to have a look?
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- Yes, let's go and see... - See how it works.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09'Judy is hoping to catch two squirrels, a male and a female,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12'but will any have taken the bait?'
0:11:12 > 0:11:14OK, brilliant!
0:11:14 > 0:11:18We actually have three in the traps, which is probably just what I wanted this morning.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20They are marvellous!
0:11:20 > 0:11:23This is my first proper sight actually of a red squirrel
0:11:23 > 0:11:27at any proximity, I think, probably other than on the telly!
0:11:27 > 0:11:28They're beautiful creatures!
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- They are! They're much slighter than greys, aren't they?- Yes, they are.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- They're more delicate?- They are. - Yeah, different design altogether.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41Greys are much more heavy and they put on more fat in the winter.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44The reds spend a lot more time in the trees so they're a lot leaner.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Now it's time to take a closer look.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- So what do you think we've got here in the traps?- OK, we have
0:11:52 > 0:11:59a juvenile male, and in the blue, a juvenile female.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04This is just what we wanted, so now we need to get them boxed up
0:12:04 > 0:12:09and comfortable, ready for their journey to Wales, but there's a real art to it.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Put the cage up so the entrance is up round this hole,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15then we'll open the door and then with the cover on,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18hopefully the squirrel eventually will move from the trap
0:12:18 > 0:12:22into the box, and once it's in, we can close it like that.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25It's a little bit tricky but I'm sure we'll do it.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29'The squirrel is clearly nervous about being so close to humans.'
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Lower from the back.
0:12:33 > 0:12:39'But, after a few false starts, the first one eventually darts inside the box.'
0:12:39 > 0:12:40Bingo!
0:12:40 > 0:12:44And there you go, one squirrel in a box.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47'Time for squirrel number two.'
0:12:47 > 0:12:49The main thing is to make sure there's no gap,
0:12:49 > 0:12:54cos if there's the slightest gap, they will find it and will be out in a flash.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- It has to be a snug fit?- Yep. So if we just lift up the catch again...
0:12:58 > 0:13:00'Thankfully no gaps appear,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03'and this one proves much keener to get in.'
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Just get that brush in. That was a very easy one!
0:13:06 > 0:13:11'Our two squirrels join ten others that are going to be re-homed in Wales.'
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- Last one?- Last one.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16But the stress involved in catching them will have taken its toll
0:13:16 > 0:13:19and they've still got a seven-hour car journey to come.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Is there any danger on the journey?
0:13:24 > 0:13:28There's always a risk when you're moving any animals.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30I've not had any animals die on long journeys
0:13:30 > 0:13:34and I've done longer journeys than this, but there's always a risk.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42We drive late into the night to the edge of a deep, dark wood in Wales.
0:13:42 > 0:13:47It's here where we're hoping our squirrels will begin their new life,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49but I'm worried they may not even have survived the journey.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53So, what do you think? Are they normally that quiet?
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Yeah, you very rarely hear a noise at all from them.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59So it's not a worrying sign?
0:13:59 > 0:14:02No, no, everything's going well.
0:14:02 > 0:14:08Our reds are the first to enter this piece of woodland for 25 years.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11The grey squirrels have all been removed
0:14:11 > 0:14:13and now it's their big chance.
0:14:13 > 0:14:19They are beautiful woods, and especially kind of mystical at this time of night.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23It's great to think they'll be getting one of their proper residents back again.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27For the next four weeks, the squirrels will be kept in holding pens
0:14:27 > 0:14:32to get used to their new surroundings. I've brought them a little present -
0:14:32 > 0:14:37a deer antler full of calcium for their nut-cracking teeth.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41It's a ready-meal - nuts, carrots, seeds.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46There's their antler as well and a few playthings for them.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48The squirrels have had a stressful day
0:14:48 > 0:14:51so we leave them to venture out of their travel boxes on their own.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56In the morning we'll be able to find out how well they've settled
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- and whether this whole journey has been worthwhile.- Lights out.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Coming up, it's a tense time as we arrive to check our squirrels.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13It's quite a nervous wait for you, isn't it?
0:15:13 > 0:15:18It certainly is for me, because we don't actually know how they are, they could be dead!
0:15:18 > 0:15:21They could be, they could be.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24And it's dinner-time for the abandoned Boxer.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27She's ate that quick! Didn't take very long!
0:15:27 > 0:15:30For a dog to eat like that, she was definitely hungry
0:15:30 > 0:15:32and now she's thirsty.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40It's a sight guaranteed to scare any swimmer -
0:15:40 > 0:15:45a large dark fin breaking the waves far too close for comfort,
0:15:45 > 0:15:52but while we never see a Great White in Britain, we are visited by its bigger and gentler cousin -
0:15:52 > 0:15:54the Basking Shark.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56They visit out seas every year.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01It's a great opportunity to research them, but first you've got to find them!
0:16:07 > 0:16:14The Isles of Mull and Coll off the West Coast of Scotland are an area often visited by huge basking sharks
0:16:14 > 0:16:17attracted to the plankton-rich waters.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22But we still don't know a great deal about these giants of the sea.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29A husband and wife research team are trying to change that.
0:16:29 > 0:16:35For three years, Dr Mavis Gore and her husband Rupert have been scouring the waters
0:16:35 > 0:16:38to gain a more accurate insight into these secretive giants,
0:16:38 > 0:16:42a species that in the past has been hunted to the brink of extinction.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47There's quite a bit of concern about these very large sharks,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50worldwide, not just here.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54Their fins are quite valuable for the shark fin trade,
0:16:54 > 0:16:56the shark fin super-trade
0:16:56 > 0:16:58so they are a marked species.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Basking sharks can grow up to 10 metres long
0:17:02 > 0:17:05and their mouths are as wide as a car,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08but despite their size, they're rarely spotted,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11normally feeding on the tiny plankton of the deep ocean
0:17:11 > 0:17:16but sometimes though that plankton rises and the basking sharks follow.
0:17:18 > 0:17:24Today, Mavis and Rupert are on the look-out for these rare windows of opportunity.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29One of the reasons we're working here is because we've seen quite a number of basking sharks
0:17:29 > 0:17:30off the west coast of Scotland.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34We really don't know what they're doing, whether they're going north, south,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38whether they're migrating across the Atlantic from here, going up to Norway,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41we really know very little about the population up here.
0:17:41 > 0:17:47But there's no guarantee the team will spy any sharks
0:17:47 > 0:17:51and it's now been over 24 hours since their last sighting. They need a lucky break.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Just leaving a shark there, over.
0:17:56 > 0:18:03Then, finally, news comes through from another boat that sharks may have broken the surface,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07but frustratingly, they're miles away!
0:18:07 > 0:18:11We've just had confirmation that there's a couple of sharks.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14There's one small one that's a little way off from our route
0:18:14 > 0:18:18and there's three that are in Calgary Bay so we're gonna head down
0:18:18 > 0:18:23to Calgary Bay and we're just off Glengorm Castle here at the moment
0:18:23 > 0:18:28so we're going to head down the coast and hopefully catch up with them.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33Rupert and Mavis race to the area where the sharks were spotted.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37They want to get so close to the sharks they can take a DNA sample
0:18:37 > 0:18:40as well as photos for their database.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44But they can only do this if the sharks are still visible.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Well, there's nothing up at the moment.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52I'll just wait a little bit and see if they'll pop up.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54But then they get lucky!
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Yep, there's a shark, we've got a shark
0:19:03 > 0:19:07at about 100 metres at half past 12 swimming away from us.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Right, it's coming up right in front of us, about 50 metres more up there.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Oh, fantastic!
0:19:15 > 0:19:19In three years, Mavis and Rupert have tagged four Basking Sharks.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23The GPS shows the ones here are old friends.
0:19:23 > 0:19:29You can see the position of the sharks we've just spotted on the GPS here,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33You can see a whole concentration of sharks in the same area
0:19:33 > 0:19:37so each of these numbers with the blue and white symbol next to it
0:19:37 > 0:19:40is an individual Basking Shark that we've recorded.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Rupert carefully edges the boat towards the sharks,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45hoping not to scare them off,
0:19:45 > 0:19:49and finally Mavis gets to take her identification photos.
0:19:51 > 0:19:57The reason that we want to know who's who and to identify each individual is we want to know,
0:19:57 > 0:20:02do we see the same individual in the same place again, say the next day,
0:20:02 > 0:20:07a week later, a month later or next year, or is it a resident population
0:20:07 > 0:20:10or are there new sharks coming through all the time
0:20:10 > 0:20:15and that will tell us something about the numbers of sharks that there are.
0:20:15 > 0:20:22Experience means they are able to steer the boat close enough for Mavis to retrieve some DNA.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27Right, I'm jus going to get this pole ready so that we can take
0:20:27 > 0:20:31a very small piece of skin from the shark.
0:20:36 > 0:20:42- Did you get it?- Yes, that one was a bit more of a stick than I normally do.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44We've got a sample, it's OK.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47The mission has been a huge success,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51mapping and photographing a group of sharks
0:20:51 > 0:20:55and collecting another DNA sample to add to their project.
0:21:02 > 0:21:07'What we're doing not only helps conserve the Basking Sharks themselves
0:21:07 > 0:21:11'but the habitat around them, so there's a lot of other animals
0:21:11 > 0:21:16involved in the chain between the Basking Shark and its environment
0:21:16 > 0:21:21and by understanding what the Basking Sharks need,
0:21:21 > 0:21:27are they moving north, are the numbers recovering, will tell us something about the eco-system
0:21:27 > 0:21:30they're living in and so this is really, really important work.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34And thanks to this painstaking research,
0:21:34 > 0:21:39the worldwide knowledge of Basking Sharks is improving all the time.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44It means these magnificent giants of the sea will have a much brighter future.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Later...
0:21:54 > 0:21:59caught on camera, the hungry red squirrels tucking into their dinner.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01- There she goes in the box!- Yep!
0:22:01 > 0:22:05From the size of her she looks like she's an expert at getting in there!
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Now back to the story of the abandoned Boxer in Manchester.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17The dog was found trapped in a bedroom with no food or water.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20The room was also littered with potential hazards,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23including disused razors and bleach bottles.
0:22:23 > 0:22:28RSPCA Inspector Lorna Bracegirdle was worried that out of boredom and hunger
0:22:28 > 0:22:32the dog may have eaten something she shouldn't have.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45After being rescued from her dirty and dangerous home,
0:22:45 > 0:22:49this young Boxer is now under the watchful eye of the RSPCA.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Lorna has brought her to a vet's in Manchester to try and establish
0:22:53 > 0:22:56who her owner is and what state she's been left in.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59I'm just gonna scan her to see if she's got a microchip.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02What is it?
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Yep, she's micro-chipped.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13This is potentially good news and means Lorna should be able to find this dog's owner.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18Just give Petlog a ring and see who she's registered to.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22And with these details, Lorna should be able to find out
0:23:22 > 0:23:27why this dog has been abandoned, but the information she is given leaves her with even more questions.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29I've just spoken to Petlog
0:23:29 > 0:23:33and I've got her name as being Sophie, one year old, and an owner.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37This owner lives quite far away from where we are so I'm going to give them a ring and we'll just see
0:23:37 > 0:23:41if they've got any details of who they re-homed her to.
0:23:41 > 0:23:47I've picked up a dog today that is micro-chipped with your details on
0:23:47 > 0:23:49but I'm in Manchester.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Sophie's registered home is on the south coast.
0:23:52 > 0:23:58Lorna wants to find out how she's ended up 250 miles away in a Manchester flat.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01She's been left abandoned in a property for a week.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05Can you remember what the lady's name was who you sold her to?
0:24:06 > 0:24:07OK. Thank you. Bye.
0:24:07 > 0:24:13That lady I've just spoken to lives in Dorset and a couple of months ago she gave this dog away
0:24:13 > 0:24:18using an internet site and she gave her dog to a lady who lives in Salisbury,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20which is obviously still quite a way away.
0:24:20 > 0:24:26I've just left it with her to have a look to see if she's got any name or address or contact details.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28This person in Salisbury may have lost her.
0:24:28 > 0:24:34But, for a pedigree dog like Sophie, there may also be a more sinister explanation.
0:24:34 > 0:24:40At the minute, there's quite a high rate of dogs being stolen,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42particularly young female pedigrees,
0:24:42 > 0:24:46obviously to be used for breeding, showing, etc.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50It's quite a common thing to have dogs stolen and this might be
0:24:50 > 0:24:53what's happened with this dog and then she's ended up here.
0:24:53 > 0:24:59Within minutes, Sophie's original owner phones back but the trail runs cold again.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Oh, have you not?
0:25:01 > 0:25:07I've got her with me at the minute, she's been left for a bit without food or water and we don't know why.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10OK, thank you very much. Bye.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Unfortunately she hasn't got any name, address or contact number
0:25:14 > 0:25:17for the lady that she re-homed this dog to.
0:25:17 > 0:25:24Sophie's just a year old, but it seems she's already been passed from owner to owner. For now, though,
0:25:24 > 0:25:30there are more pressing concerns. It's time for vet, Gus McKenzie, to check her over.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32- This is the dog that I rang you about.- Oh, yeah. Hello.
0:25:32 > 0:25:38Abandoned in a property for a couple of days at least that we know of.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42- She's quite pleased to see us! - Yes, she is, she's a lovely girl! - Isn't she, eh!
0:25:42 > 0:25:45Okey-dokey, let's have a look.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Sophie was rescued from a bedroom
0:25:47 > 0:25:51with sharp objects and empty bleach bottles.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55Lorna was worried she may have eaten something that could cause her harm.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59She's excited, so she's a bit red and giddy about her eyes,
0:25:59 > 0:26:05a little bit of a runny nose, but no sign of any discharge of pus or anything like that.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09Gus checks Sophie's ears, lungs and heart, and thankfully, everything seems OK.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13Very empty tummy here.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15But days without food have taken their toll.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19You can feel her spine, we can feel her ribs,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22but she's got quite reasonable lumber muscles there.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Come on, Sophie, on the scales, all four feet,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28don't be embarrassed!
0:26:28 > 0:26:3124.50.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36She's certainly in my opinion underweight but not drastically so.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39She needs to put on a couple of kilos, I would guess.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I think we should probably take a blood sample as a routine precaution
0:26:42 > 0:26:48- and make sure there's no reason for her to be as thin as she is.- Yes.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52Throughout all the procedures, Sophie remains good-natured
0:26:52 > 0:26:56and even during her blood test is enjoying Lorna's company.
0:26:59 > 0:27:06What we're looking for is general health profile, see what sort of liver and kidney function we've got.
0:27:06 > 0:27:12If she's been deprived of food for a significant period of time, sometimes we will pick up
0:27:12 > 0:27:17a mild anaemia, sometimes we'll pick up low blood protein levels.
0:27:17 > 0:27:23We'll collect some routine faecal samples to see whether she's got any worms or intestinal infection.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Yeah, I think she's hungry now, I think we'll give her something to eat.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30With the health checks over, Sophie's finally given a much-needed meal.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33I would say she is quite hungry, yeah.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36She's ate that quick, didn't take very long!
0:27:36 > 0:27:39For a dog to eat like, she was definitely hungry,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42and now she's thirsty.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44There you are.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Go on, girl.
0:27:46 > 0:27:53Although Sophie's been rescued and is now safe, what she really needs is a loving home.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57I'm hoping that the owner will eventually come forward.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59I have left a note at the property
0:27:59 > 0:28:05which basically gives the owner 14 days to get in touch, and if after those 14 days we don't hear anything,
0:28:05 > 0:28:12we will start to look at actually taking ownership of this animal and getting her re-homed,
0:28:12 > 0:28:17which I'm sure she will get a home very quickly because she's a very sweet, adorable Boxer.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22Lorna's committed to finding out who left Sophie starving, and why,
0:28:22 > 0:28:26but if no-one comes forward with a proper explanation,
0:28:26 > 0:28:30Sophie could be looking for her fourth owner in just two months.
0:28:37 > 0:28:43Still to come, Sophie's future's uncertain and all she wants is to be loved.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48Hopefully, Sophie's owner will come forward and we'll reunite them.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51If that doesn't happen, she's very sweet-natured, very playful,
0:28:51 > 0:28:56even after what she's been through, so we shouldn't have a problem finding a home for her.
0:29:01 > 0:29:07Earlier in the programme I helped capture some red squirrels that had been bred in captivity in Kent.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10We drove through the night to transport them to Anglesey
0:29:10 > 0:29:14where conservationists are hoping to establish a safe colony.
0:29:16 > 0:29:21Now it's daylight you can see why they chose Anglesey as a fortress for red squirrels.
0:29:21 > 0:29:26It's an island and the Menai Straits behind me provide natural defences
0:29:26 > 0:29:28to help keep the greys at bay,
0:29:28 > 0:29:32but now there is some light, I want to get back into the woods
0:29:32 > 0:29:35to see if I can actually see some reds in the wild.
0:29:38 > 0:29:45Last night, Craig Shuttleworth and I introduced two red squirrels into a safe pen in these lush woods
0:29:45 > 0:29:49but red squirrels are extremely skittish animals.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52With the stress of the journey and a strange location,
0:29:52 > 0:29:56there are concerns they may not have survived the night.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02Tom, if we just hold on a minute, I'll explain what we'll do now.
0:30:02 > 0:30:07The animals have been in since last night I don't want to cause a lot of unnecessary disturbance
0:30:07 > 0:30:12so we'll go down and have a quick look, see if we can see any of the animals out.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15If we don't, I'll come back tomorrow and have a look
0:30:15 > 0:30:18and if the animals aren't out again tomorrow,
0:30:18 > 0:30:22then ultimately I'll be forced to open up the boxes and have a look.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25It's quite a nervous moment for you, isn't it?
0:30:25 > 0:30:30It certainly is for me cos we don't actually know how they are. They could be dead!
0:30:30 > 0:30:33They could be, they could be. It's always very nerve-wracking.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37Probably this is the worst part of the whole experience of moving the animals -
0:30:37 > 0:30:39did they survive the trip and are they OK?
0:30:42 > 0:30:46With mounting trepidation, I follow Craig to the pen.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50Luckily, the first signs are promising.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55You can see one on the roof, so one of them's definitely out.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02And as we watch, our second one comes into view.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05They're both out, that's absolutely thrilling.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12There are two, and they're both there and they both survived. Great!
0:31:12 > 0:31:16How does their behaviour look to you?
0:31:16 > 0:31:19Good, very relaxed, that's important.
0:31:19 > 0:31:25It's really good to be able to see them here in the cage looking, as Craig said, relaxed and eating
0:31:25 > 0:31:32and they will be part of the foundation of a new colony of red squirrels here on Anglesey.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34Great result!
0:31:34 > 0:31:39Our squirrels will have to stay in these pens for another month.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42When they're finally released, it's hoped they'll link up
0:31:42 > 0:31:45with all the others and create a sustainable group,
0:31:45 > 0:31:50but our small introduction here is part of a much wider picture on Anglesey.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54Elsewhere on the island, reds are already starting to flourish,
0:31:54 > 0:31:58although it's taken extreme and controversial measures for them to do so.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00What's the history of squirrels in this wood?
0:32:00 > 0:32:04Five years ago if we'd come here, it would be teeming with greys.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- Really?- Yeah, but we've removed them all, we've killed them.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11Right. That's necessary, you believe, for the introduction of the reds?
0:32:11 > 0:32:14Absolutely essential, we can't have the two species together.
0:32:14 > 0:32:20Greys not only compete for food with reds, but they also give them a virus, which is deadly to the reds,
0:32:20 > 0:32:22so unfortunately, it's a necessary evil.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26A lot of people are pretty uneasy with this idea of killing wild animals.
0:32:26 > 0:32:31The majority of people on the island are very, very supportive, they want to see reds back.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Now they are coming back, one way of making sure they stay
0:32:36 > 0:32:40is to give them plenty to eat, and I've come armed with a bucket of their favourite food.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Tom, this is the feed hopper we've got.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47- There's a bit in there, but they could always do with more. How does it work?- Quite simple.
0:32:47 > 0:32:53They learn very quickly that you push this lid up, so they come, push the lid up and they go inside to get food
0:32:53 > 0:32:56and if you look very closely, you'll see caught along the edge there
0:32:56 > 0:32:59is bright red hair from the red squirrels.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Proof that it's squirrels that are getting in there.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05Yeah, I can see that. There's a nice clump just there.
0:33:05 > 0:33:11But this feeding station also has another purpose, which allows an incredible insight
0:33:11 > 0:33:14into exactly how many red squirrels are here.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17I'll put in some of their favourite titbits.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Any chance if we retreat, they'd come down and we'd see them?
0:33:20 > 0:33:22- None, I'm afraid.- Really?
0:33:22 > 0:33:27The way that we monitor this, we've got a remote camera which we use, which is on a trigger.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32- When the squirrel comes here, the camera is triggered and it records. - I'm intrigued...
0:33:32 > 0:33:35and keen to see what's been shot.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38And this is on all the time, is it?
0:33:38 > 0:33:42It's on all the time, yep, 24 hours a day it records.
0:33:42 > 0:33:48It records for a minute and then it goes off for a minute and records again the next time it's triggered.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53It sounds incredibly hi-tech for looking at squirrels, but those movement sensors, where is that?
0:33:53 > 0:33:58That's behind you, there, and it works the same way as a standard security light.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01So this thing here, it sees movement over there?
0:34:01 > 0:34:04- That's it.- And have you got good stuff?- Some fantastic footage.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07- Can you prove it? - Yeah, come and have a look.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11Right, I will. With such sensitive equipment, getting the camera out of
0:34:11 > 0:34:17its protective shield is tricky, but when we do get to see the footage, it's worth the wait!
0:34:17 > 0:34:21- There you go!- Oh, yes!
0:34:21 > 0:34:25Perfect condition, lovely, lovely. This is the benefit of using the camera.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29The hair that we've seen on the hopper shows that an animal's been.
0:34:29 > 0:34:34With the camera, you get to see it. You can see its movements, you can see its condition.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38- It's a good way of monitoring them. - So inquisitive!
0:34:38 > 0:34:40There she goes, in the box.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44From the size of her, she looks like she's an expert at getting in there!
0:34:44 > 0:34:47That's a healthy-looking, plump squirrel.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Yeah, yeah, very good. Here's another animal, this is different.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53This is a male, very dark tail.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56- Oh, yes, much greyer. - You see, so this is a male.
0:34:56 > 0:35:01How many different characters, how many different individuals are there that you can spot on this,
0:35:01 > 0:35:04or have you not had enough time to check it out?
0:35:04 > 0:35:06You can recognise individuals.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09There's five animals which we can recognise.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13Occasionally you get squirrels that I'm not quite sure about,
0:35:13 > 0:35:16but these ones are distinctive and you can't...
0:35:16 > 0:35:20there's no other animal that looks like him that's in this wood at the moment.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23- Certainly no greys! - There are no greys, no.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27They are magical creatures, aren't they?
0:35:27 > 0:35:28Yeah, superb!
0:35:30 > 0:35:35The information collected on these films is invaluable in monitoring the red squirrels on Anglesey.
0:35:35 > 0:35:40The number caught on "Candid Camera" may be relatively small at the moment,
0:35:40 > 0:35:45but Craig and his team are hoping they'll become a cast of thousands.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55Finally today, we're back to Sophie, the neglected boxer,
0:35:55 > 0:36:00and the mystery of why she ended up abandoned in a Manchester flat.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04Lorna Bracegirdle discovered Sophie was registered to a house on
0:36:04 > 0:36:10the south coast, but two months ago, Sophie had been given away to a new owner in Salisbury,
0:36:10 > 0:36:16and now Lorna doesn't know how the dog ended up 200 miles away in Manchester!
0:36:16 > 0:36:21Sophie is being cared for by the RSPCA, leaving Lorna to try and solve the puzzle.
0:36:29 > 0:36:34Sophie the boxer has been passed from pillar to post and needs a stable home,
0:36:34 > 0:36:40but before anyone can begin to care for her again, she's got a number of problems that need sorting out.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44James Ratcliff and Sam Williams are in charge of her care.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49Just gonna give her a quick health-check, vaccination, and then we're gonna give her a bath.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Not quite emaciated, but she's very lean.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55On vet's advice, I'm gonna put some ointment in her eyes.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58Her eyes are quite red and sore.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Sam will take her down and we'll bath her.
0:37:01 > 0:37:06As well as being underfed, Sophie has developed a skin complaint called mange.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08She needs regular chemical baths to cure it.
0:37:08 > 0:37:16It's quite strong, so we have to be careful not to get it in her eyes or her ears.
0:37:16 > 0:37:23This should help to kill any mites that are still on the skin. Good girl.
0:37:23 > 0:37:28And despite her troubles, Sophie's good nature is winning everyone over.
0:37:28 > 0:37:33Bearing in mind that she's been abandoned, she's really a sweetheart.
0:37:33 > 0:37:38Good girl. What will happen is after she's had this bath, we don't rinse this off,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41it stays on the skin and she's left to dry naturally.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47At the moment we've got enough to do two treatments.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51After that, depending on how bad the skin complaint is,
0:37:51 > 0:37:56she'll see the vet again and he'll decide whether or not she needs any more,
0:37:56 > 0:38:01and her face seems to be the worst part that's been affected, but then boxers tend to have
0:38:01 > 0:38:06a lot of problems anyway, if they're not cared for properly. And that's it, she's done.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10She can just go back to kennels now and we'll let her dry off under some nice warm lamps.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Come on, Sophie. Good girl.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18After her bath, it's time to get back to the kennels for dinner.
0:38:18 > 0:38:24Staff are giving Sophie specially prepared meals to help boost her weight.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28Because Sophie's a little bit underweight,
0:38:28 > 0:38:33we weigh out all the feed for her, just to make sure she gets the right amount of nutrition.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37She's on slightly more feeds every day than a normal dog would be.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41If you over-feed a dog that's underweight too much,
0:38:41 > 0:38:48it usually causes more problems, so what we'll do is until she reaches the right weight,
0:38:48 > 0:38:50we will feed her three or four times a day.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54What we'll do is we'll weigh her every week and once she reaches that weight
0:38:54 > 0:38:59then we'll reassess how much food she's on, what sort of food she's on, and how many feeds every day.
0:39:02 > 0:39:08But although she's given every opportunity to eat, Sophie doesn't seem interested in food.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11As you can see, Sophie hasn't got a very good appetite.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16We tend to find that dogs that are quite underweight or emaciated have poor appetites,
0:39:16 > 0:39:19so it's a case of little and often, so they build up
0:39:19 > 0:39:21and get used to having food in their stomach.
0:39:21 > 0:39:26Hopefully Sophie's owner will come forward and we'll reunite them, but if that doesn't happen,
0:39:26 > 0:39:30Sophie will go onto an assessment with us and we will find out what sort of dog she is,
0:39:30 > 0:39:34what temperament she's got and then we can find the right owner for her.
0:39:34 > 0:39:39She's very sweet-natured, she's very playful, even after what she's been through,
0:39:39 > 0:39:43so we shouldn't have a problem finding a home for her.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46And finding somewhere settled to stay is what Sophie needs.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49She's off her food and listless in her cage.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53Stuck in a kennel is the last place she wants to be.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01A month has passed since Sophie was rescued
0:40:01 > 0:40:04and there's been a big development in her story.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09Lorna's discovered that the boxer has had three homes in just four months,
0:40:09 > 0:40:16moving from Dorset to Salisbury and then finally she was given away to a new owner in Manchester.
0:40:16 > 0:40:21Lorna has also solved the mystery of why Sophie was abandoned in a dirty and dangerous bedroom.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26The owner went away on holiday and did pay two people to look after her,
0:40:26 > 0:40:32but that seems to have gone wrong somewhere, because she was left for at least two days
0:40:32 > 0:40:35that we know of in that house on her own.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39Sophie was left in a tidy room, but let down by the dogsitters,
0:40:39 > 0:40:43out of boredom and hunger, she ripped up the bags of rubbish that were destined for the tip.
0:40:43 > 0:40:51When she was found, she was underweight and had mange, but now Sophie's almost back to full health.
0:40:51 > 0:40:57She's put on a bit of weight, but because she's so active and jumpy because she's such a young boxer,
0:40:57 > 0:41:02very giddy, she still will be quite lean. Her skin's doing really well,
0:41:02 > 0:41:07she's still on medicated baths but she's still tested positive for it this time,
0:41:07 > 0:41:12positive for mange, so she'll have to continue these baths for another month
0:41:12 > 0:41:16and then have repeat skin scrapes and hopefully this time, we should have got rid of it,
0:41:16 > 0:41:20so until we've got rid of that mite, that skin won't improve,
0:41:20 > 0:41:23but other than that, she's a fit and healthy dog,
0:41:23 > 0:41:29full of beans and loves everyone, so she's doing really well.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33Lorna's satisfied that Sophie's owner is not responsible
0:41:33 > 0:41:36for abandoning his dog, and she can now go home.
0:41:36 > 0:41:41From the time Lorna has spent with Sophie, she can understand why her owner is so keen to have her back.
0:41:41 > 0:41:46Sophie's a lovely dog, she's got a great temperament, there's not an ounce of badness in her at all.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51She loves everyone, chasing balls, running about, she's full of energy.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54She's just the perfect dog, really!
0:41:54 > 0:41:58And Sophie's owner has learnt a valuable lesson -
0:41:58 > 0:42:03next time he goes on holiday, he must ensure his pet is cared for properly.
0:42:11 > 0:42:17If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime or a creature that needs immediate protection,
0:42:17 > 0:42:23remember there are dedicated professionals out there who will answer your call around the clock.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26They are the people we meet on Animal 24/7.
0:42:29 > 0:42:34Next time - no way out. Three felines locked in a filthy flat.
0:42:34 > 0:42:40I've never actually seen anything quite like this and I can't believe that a living thing is actually here.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Investigating claims that racing greyhounds are being abused.
0:42:44 > 0:42:49The initial call was about them being locked up 24/7, locked up in a shed.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Oh, no, not in a shed, no!
0:42:51 > 0:42:55And rounding up 60 swans for their annual MOT.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59With these things, you know they're wild animals, so anything can happen!
0:43:18 > 0:43:21Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:21 > 0:43:24E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk