0:00:04 > 0:00:06Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09All too often our wildlife and domestic pets
0:00:09 > 0:00:13are the victims of cruelty, persecution and neglect.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Fighting to save them is a dedicated band of people
0:00:16 > 0:00:19trying to protect and care for them right around the clock.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23This is Animal 24/7.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47In the air, on land and in the water Britain is a haven for animals.
0:00:47 > 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 > 0:01:12Today on Animal 24/7.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16That dog, at the moment, should be ringing alarm bells with you.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21Meg the Springer Spaniel, shut in a cage because she's too lively.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25There's very few people that realise the amount of time and energy
0:01:25 > 0:01:27you have to put in to a Springer Spaniel.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32The search for the truth, a dog owner comes under scrutiny.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Can you please be honest with me? Has that dog received flea treatment?
0:01:36 > 0:01:38He has received flea treatment.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- Has the dog been to the vets? - Yes, he's been to the vets.
0:01:41 > 0:01:47And I have to tread carefully while searching for some of Britain's rarest chicks.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50You can see how amazingly camouflaged they are with the sand.
0:01:50 > 0:01:51So terrifying!
0:01:55 > 0:02:01Keeping pets is a time consuming process, but some animals demand far more attention than others.
0:02:01 > 0:02:08Certain breeds of cats and dogs are quite happy to take things easy, while others need more exercise.
0:02:08 > 0:02:14When it's obvious the wrong animal is in the wrong home the RSPCA are called to step in.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Selby, North Yorkshire,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23and inside this house RSPCA inspector Jill Corder
0:02:23 > 0:02:27is dealing with a complaint about two underweight dogs.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31The conditions that you are keeping these dogs in is unacceptable.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33It's dirty.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Jill's most concerned about a spaniel called Meg.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39That dog, at the moment, should be ringing alarm bells with you,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41absolutely ringing alarm bells with you.
0:02:41 > 0:02:48Meg's not just thin, she's kept locked in a cage because she's too lively for the family to cope with.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51My advice to you is that there shouldn't be dogs at this property
0:02:51 > 0:02:55because I don't feel that you are meeting the standards required.
0:02:56 > 0:03:03Several minutes later, Jill emerges with Meg after persuading the family to sign her over.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08It's instantly clear why she's so concerned.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11I can feel the ribs on the dog.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14The backbone, it's just here.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Without question if it is having the amount of food
0:03:17 > 0:03:21that they're saying it's having this dog needs a veterinary examination
0:03:21 > 0:03:23to find out why it isn't putting on weight.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25I think this is a diet problem.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28It's quite probable there will be some weight loss
0:03:28 > 0:03:30because she's so hyperactive,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34but this has gone beyond the point of being reasonable.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37And it's not just Meg's weight that has been troubling Jill.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Because she's boisterous,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Meg's been spending a lot of time locked in a cage
0:03:42 > 0:03:45and this is a breed of dog that needs plenty of space.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49And it's the right thing for this dog to come, you know, to us
0:03:49 > 0:03:54and be put right and given the chance of a really lovely home that's suitable for her.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Springer Spaniels were originally bred as hunting dogs and need lots of exercise.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Jill thinks Meg hasn't been getting enough.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Typically a spaniel, it's not because the dog is particularly wild,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08this is how Springer Spaniels are in houses, you know?
0:04:08 > 0:04:11They are a very, very hyperactive dog.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13You will occasionally get one that's more docile,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17but this is typical of what I see of people taking on a Springer Spaniel.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20They're just... They're just not good as a pet.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24There are very few people that realise the amount of time and energy
0:04:24 > 0:04:27that you have to put in to a Springer Spaniel.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32A few miles away is the RSPCA animal home
0:04:32 > 0:04:34where Meg is given a much needed meal.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Come on then, pup.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41She's very, very hungry, as I suspected.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46After emptying her bowl, there's another treat for Meg.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49She settles into a comfortable bed.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51There we are.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54There we are. All right, darling?
0:04:54 > 0:04:57In the morning she'll see the vet, who'll give her a full health check
0:04:57 > 0:05:00and decide whether she can be found a new home.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03The dog literally just fell in the bowl of food tonight, you know,
0:05:03 > 0:05:07she's got a full tummy, a lovely bed there under that heat lamp,
0:05:07 > 0:05:09so she's going to have a nice, warm comfortable night.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12This is where it begins. This dog, as far as I'm concerned,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15will make a full recovery, get up to normal body weight
0:05:15 > 0:05:17and we'll find a home suitable for her.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27After a good night's sleep, Meg is eager to be out and about.
0:05:29 > 0:05:35Because she's so thin there's a concern that her problems may be more than just lack of food.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Hey, sweetheart. Come on, darling.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Vet Catherine Harris is going to give Meg a full examination.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46First she needs to check for any heart problems.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Aww, good girl.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54Can you just hold your hand over her mouth so she breathes through her nose? That's it.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57That's fine, yeah.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- What's she been like this morning, has she had food?- Fine.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04- She's been... She's starving.- Yeah. - She's almost falling in her food.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07In a dog that's been brought in by an inspector the first thing
0:06:07 > 0:06:09you check is their weight and their body condition.
0:06:09 > 0:06:15You can see that she's quite underweight because you can actually see the outline of her ribs.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18It's quite normal to have a waist, but she is probably...
0:06:18 > 0:06:21She's what we call body condition score one out of five,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24if you're grading them, which mean that she's underweight
0:06:24 > 0:06:26compared to what a dog of her size should be.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30If you're looking for conditions that would actually cause weight loss,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32what we'd usually do is do a routine blood screen
0:06:32 > 0:06:35and make sure she's not got any signs of ill health on that,
0:06:35 > 0:06:40but we'll leave that for the moment and if she gains weight on being fed properly in here
0:06:40 > 0:06:45that's a sign that it's more just malnutrition and lack of feeding than actually a health problem.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48And as Catherine continues her check-up
0:06:48 > 0:06:52another problem comes to light, this time with Meg's ears.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55You can see she's got some kind of yellowy white areas
0:06:55 > 0:07:00that cast around the hair shafts and I think they're probably lice eggs.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03What we'll do is we'll take a hair sample and just check
0:07:03 > 0:07:07and I'll get the staff here to clip her ears, that we can clip that off,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11but again, that fits with fleas and being kept in an unhygienic environment.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Right, let's pop you on the scales and see what you weigh.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Meg has had a healthy appetite since she arrived here.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22By weighing her now the staff can keep a check on whether her new diet is working.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Stand on all four feet.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Right, she's about 12.7.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Ideally, she should be between about 15 and 20 kilos
0:07:30 > 0:07:33for a dog of her size, so we need to try and get her weight up.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Hopefully, in a few weeks, Meg will start to put on weight
0:07:37 > 0:07:39and her fleas will be treated,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42but staff will then have another challenge to overcome.
0:07:42 > 0:07:48Meg needs a special kind of owner who can give her the time and exercise she needs.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53The RSPCA won't let her go unless they're confident her next home is the right one.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06Still to come, Jill's concerns over a group of donkeys with neglected hooves.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08None of the feet are brilliant.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11There's four that I consider to be unacceptable.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15And I have a rare birds at my fingertips.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18This is one just in front of us. Do you want to pick it up, Tom?
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- Is that all right? - Yeah, that's fine.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22So beautiful.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24So delicate.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29When an RSPCA inspector follows up a complaint
0:08:29 > 0:08:33they have to make decisions on the evidence in front of them.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Usually it's quite simple.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37An underfed dog could look thin,
0:08:37 > 0:08:40a cat with fleas may be constantly scratching,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43but it's not always that clear cut.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51RSPCA inspector Vicky McDonald
0:08:51 > 0:08:53has been called to a house in Lancashire.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Where there has been a complaint about a thin, flea-bitten dog.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02- Hello.- Hiya.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06I've had a call concerned about your dog.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08- Can I come through? - Yeah, you can, yeah.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11This is Liz Gibbons, she owns several pets.
0:09:11 > 0:09:12There's Guinness the cat,
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Lolly the parrot, who never leaves her shoulder,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18and a very itchy dog called Kolo.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22He's got a bit of fur loss on his back end, hasn't he?
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- Is that being treated?- Yeah, I've been down to the vet's with him.
0:09:25 > 0:09:26Right. Come on, then.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28- What's his name?- Kolo.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Kolo. When was he at the vet?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32He was at the vet's about two weeks ago.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Have you got the treatment that he was issued?
0:09:34 > 0:09:38I got him some stuff off the internet because it was a bit cheaper.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41So, can I just give the vet's a call to clarify that you were there?
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Yeah, you can give the...
0:09:43 > 0:09:44If you want.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Which vet's was it that you went to? The one just down the road?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- Ashdale.- He's registered under your name, is he?- Yes, he is.
0:09:50 > 0:09:56All vets hold records of any pets they've seen, so Liz should have nothing to worry about.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Are you able to access some records for me just to...
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Right, right.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06Right, the vet is just on lunch at the moment so she's going to go back
0:10:06 > 0:10:09to the vet's for me and check the records.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Before she does, has the dog definitely been there because...
0:10:12 > 0:10:14He's been to the vet's, yeah.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16I don't want to be wasting the vet's time and my time.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18No, he has been to the vet's.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Where's the stuff you got on the internet?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23It's all gone now, because it was only one sachet I got.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25- What was it that you bought? - The Frontline.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27And that just came as one individual...
0:10:27 > 0:10:30One individual sachet, a little droplet, yeah.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- And where did you get that from? - Is it Vet Med? Vet Med, I think.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36And they sold you just one individual sachet?
0:10:36 > 0:10:37Yeah, one individual sachet.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Vicky's starting to doubt Liz's story.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44She knows these sachets aren't sold individually.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46- Two weeks ago the dog received treatment for fleas?- Yes.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Vicky can only take Liz's word for now.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52While waiting for the vet to call back she decides to check
0:10:52 > 0:10:56what Kolo's been eating to try and establish why he's underweight.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00So, when... When he has food put down he's ravenously eating it, is he?
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- Yeah.- Has he been treated for worms?
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Yeah, but I only got them cheapie stuff from the supermarket
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- so I don't know if they've done anything.- And when was that?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11About... I'd say about... About three weeks ago.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15And do you have the packet, you wouldn't have used a whole packet of them in one treatment?
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Holes are appearing in Liz's explanations.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21She tells Vicky she wormed Kolo three weeks ago
0:11:21 > 0:11:24and left the tablets at her old address,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26but Vicky knows that's impossible
0:11:26 > 0:11:29as she moved from that house five weeks ago.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31That doesn't quite make sense, does it?
0:11:31 > 0:11:34No, it must have been when I stopped there when I...
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- I'd rather you were just honest with me.- No, he has been wormed.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42But do you see what I'm saying? Your story is a bit here, there and everywhere, isn't it?
0:11:42 > 0:11:45If the fact is he hasn't been wormed, that's fine.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50I can give you advice on that. If the fact is that he hasn't had treatment for fleas, which I'm highly doubting,
0:11:50 > 0:11:55I'd rather you just said that and I can give you advice on that. Has the dog been wormed?
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- He has been wormed, definitely.- And has the dog received flea treatment?
0:11:58 > 0:12:02- He's received flea treatment. - Has the dog been to the vet's? - Yes, he's been to the vet's.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11Vicky has now been in the house for nearly 15 minutes and Liz is sticking to her story.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Meanwhile, Kolo is still scratching.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18Vicky changes tack and turns her attention to Lolly the parrot.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21You've positioned your water bowl
0:12:21 > 0:12:24exactly where she's choosing to poo.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29- Yeah.- So the only water she's got access to drinking there is full of old food and poo.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Yeah, but it's cleaned every day. It's just I've not done it yet.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Regardless of whether it's cleaned every day, that's in there
0:12:35 > 0:12:40- as it is at the moment and, to be honest, would you drink that?- No.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45I certainly wouldn't drink that and I wouldn't expect anything else to drink that.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Things are going rapidly downhill.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Vicky decides to test whether the other animals have clean drinking water.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54- That dog is thirsty and had no access to water.- Yeah.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58OK, that's a basic essential.
0:12:58 > 0:13:0240 minutes pass and nothing Liz has said or done has reassured Vicky
0:13:02 > 0:13:07that the animals are in good care, and now the vet has phoned back.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Will he support Liz's story?
0:13:09 > 0:13:13- We're talking three weeks ago, are we?- Yeah, around three weeks ago.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17Around three weeks ago. You would have records for that, wouldn't you?
0:13:17 > 0:13:19- They don't have records. - Well, I did take him.
0:13:19 > 0:13:26Apparently she left without receiving any actual treatment and chose to buy products from the... Right.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Okie-doke. All right, then.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32The vet's double check and confirm there's definitely no record for Kolo.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Vicky gives Liz a golden opportunity to come clean.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39OK, thank you. Bye bye.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Liz, you haven't been, have you?
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- I have been, honestly. - Liz, they would have a record.
0:13:44 > 0:13:45Vets keep records.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48You're wasting everybody's time here.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Can you please just be honest with me?
0:13:50 > 0:13:52You have not taken this dog to the vet, have you?
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I've took him to the vet. I've rung the vet's.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58The vet's have checked their records.
0:13:58 > 0:14:04A vet will not treat, advise, consult, have any consultation without having a record of that.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Can you please just be straight with me and we'll deal with it from there?
0:14:08 > 0:14:09Well, he has been to the vet's.
0:14:09 > 0:14:15You are not in a unique situation where miraculously your records aren't there.
0:14:15 > 0:14:23- They do not have your dog's name, your surname or either of your addresses registered.- I have been.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28- Why... Why are they saying they have no records then?- I don't know.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Despite all the evidence being stacked against her,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Liz is refusing to change her story.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Is there... Is there a reason that you don't want to say that you haven't been?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40No, there's no reason at all.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I'm going to have to take the word of the vet.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45I would rather, if it is the case...
0:14:45 > 0:14:48I'm not here to come down on you like a ton of bricks.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51I'd rather just leave here having given you some advice,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54but I'd rather you were being honest with me in the first place
0:14:54 > 0:14:55if that is the case.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57There's no need to lie to me
0:14:57 > 0:15:01if the case is that the dog hasn't been to the vet.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04If it hasn't, that's fine, I can leave you with the advice now,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08but at least then I can be sure that you're being honest with me
0:15:08 > 0:15:09and I'm being honest with you.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13Liz has now insisted 12 times that Kolo has been to the vet's.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Vicky tries for a lucky 13.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17So, what... What's the score?
0:15:17 > 0:15:18He hasn't been.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- I think we both knew that in the first place, didn't we?- Yeah.- Right.
0:15:22 > 0:15:29After almost an hour, Vicky finally gets to the truth and at last she can now deal with the pet's problem.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- OK, so, shall we start from scratch? - Yeah.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35The dog's got a flea allergy, the dog's got fur loss.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38He has been treated for fleas, but not by the proper stuff.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40It's the cheapie, rubbishy stuff.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42- Which is why it's not working.- Yeah.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Right. Let's start from scratch then, OK?
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Is it just the dog and the bird and the cat that you've got here?
0:15:47 > 0:15:49There's nothing else here, no.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Vicki spells out exactly what she wants to see done.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57Proper flea treatment will help that and make the fur return,
0:15:57 > 0:15:59but unless you get it treated by a vet
0:15:59 > 0:16:02you're not going to get on top of it, OK?
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Vicky will come back in a few weeks to check
0:16:05 > 0:16:08that Liz has finally taken Kolo to the vet's
0:16:08 > 0:16:11and she's just hoping it won't take so long
0:16:11 > 0:16:14to get to the truth next time.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Coming up.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Get in there now. Go on.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Vicky's back and it's not a good start.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Your dog's just run straight out into the road.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30The kids are out, that's why.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Right, let's go in.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36And tackling an owner about the condition of his animals.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41There's a problem with the donkeys' overgrown feet. They are quite bad.
0:16:45 > 0:16:52Now, I'm off to see first hand the fight to protect one of our most beautiful and also rarest seabirds.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Only a few hundred little terns still breed in Britain.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Ironically, many choose to nest in the very spot
0:16:59 > 0:17:03where thousands of holidaymakers like to lie in the sun.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13A gorgeous summer day on the beach at Great Yarmouth
0:17:13 > 0:17:17and the migration of thousands of holidaymakers to the seaside
0:17:17 > 0:17:18has begun in earnest.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Ice cream, fun rides and the chance to take in the sea air
0:17:24 > 0:17:27are what attracts visitors here year after year.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32But the sand and the ocean and the occasional seafood snack
0:17:32 > 0:17:35also draws another traveller here,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38one who's journeyed thousands of miles
0:17:38 > 0:17:43and is fiercely loyal, returning to the same spot year after year.
0:17:44 > 0:17:50This pebbled beach is the nesting ground of one of the country's rarest seabirds, the little tern.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55Helping to protect them is RSPB manager Mark Smart.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- Surveying the site?- Yes, yes. It's pretty spectacular, really.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02It is. And is that all that terns wheeling around above their nests?
0:18:02 > 0:18:05It is, yes. Yes, there's about 350 pairs.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09So, how unusual is this site, this species?
0:18:09 > 0:18:12This is probably somewhere between 10% and 15% of the...
0:18:12 > 0:18:14the UK population, so in its own right
0:18:14 > 0:18:17this is actually an amazingly important site for the little tern.
0:18:21 > 0:18:26The nesting birds are so precious that they're kept under 24 hour guard.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30We're on our way to join other RSPB workers inside the colony
0:18:30 > 0:18:32to find young birds and ring them.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35En route, I get my first sight of a nest.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37So this is a nest that we're talking about here,
0:18:37 > 0:18:42- so you can see they're very, very similar to the stones themselves. - God, they are, aren't they?
0:18:42 > 0:18:45So, in fact you can actually see, if you look very carefully,
0:18:45 > 0:18:49you can see the little hole is actually... just about to hatch.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53So that those eggs will turn into chicks in the next 24 hours.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Looking like the pebbles around them may protect these eggs
0:18:56 > 0:18:59from predators, but not from a size nine boot.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02And this is exactly the problem or the reason why we have to be here
0:19:02 > 0:19:04is because obviously members of the public
0:19:04 > 0:19:06won't actually know that that's a nest.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10They'll be walking around enjoying themselves on the beach
0:19:10 > 0:19:12- and can easily stand on it. - Tread carefully!
0:19:15 > 0:19:17To limit the chances of damage,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20this area of the beach is closed to the public
0:19:20 > 0:19:22when these birds are nesting.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- So, I see you've got a few barriers here.- Yes, we have.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33We've the first one which is the rope fence which effectively keeps people
0:19:33 > 0:19:36off what is an electrified fence on the inside.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37And why the electric fence?
0:19:37 > 0:19:41So, the electric fence is there really to keep foxes and things out
0:19:41 > 0:19:43and if there is any stray dogs around
0:19:43 > 0:19:47it actually helps protect the nests and things in the colony itself.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51What kind of threat do you get from people, either deliberate or accidental?
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Well, generally speaking, most people come across the colony
0:19:54 > 0:19:57because they don't know it's here so we can talk to them about it,
0:19:57 > 0:19:59but obviously there is also a certain number of people who...
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Egg collectors and things like this. Now we do 24 hour watches.
0:20:02 > 0:20:08Thankfully, the fence is switched off so we can step inside to find a nest.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12It's not that easy, but Mark has a trained eye.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17So, there's a little... A couple of little chicks there we have to be very, very careful of.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20You can see how amazingly camouflaged they are with the sand
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- so we have to be so careful where we put our feet.- So terrifying!
0:20:25 > 0:20:30Finally, we make it to the RSPB volunteers who are ringing the birds.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Keeping track of them this way means they're branded for life
0:20:33 > 0:20:36and the experts can learn valuable lessons about their behaviour.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I'm lucky enough to be given the chance to ring one myself.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42First, though, I have to find it.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46There's one just in front of us.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- Where?- Just down there.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51You can just about see. Do you want to pick it up, Tom?
0:20:51 > 0:20:53- Is that all right? - Yeah, that's fine.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59With such a rare creature at my fingertips,
0:20:59 > 0:21:03I have to be extremely careful how to handle him.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05So beautiful.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07So delicate.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11- Right.- Well, what you need to do is you need to pass the ring
0:21:11 > 0:21:14round the lower part of the leg between the knee and the claw.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Once the ring is in place,
0:21:16 > 0:21:20gentle pressure with the pliers is needed to make sure it stays put.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23It makes me nervous when I see other people doing this
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- let alone when I'm doing it myself! - Well, that's right. On the...
0:21:26 > 0:21:29- There you go.- That's very good. - Just to close up that gap, yeah?
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- Yeah. Gentle pressure, yeah. - That's it. Very good.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34What we do now is we do the tip of the bill.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38With the ringing complete, the next stage is to measure the bird's beak.
0:21:38 > 0:21:4012, I'd go for, would you?
0:21:40 > 0:21:42- I would go for exactly 12.- 12 mil.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Followed by the weight.
0:21:45 > 0:21:4839.2.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Before it's allowed back to its beachside home.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56There we go.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Our time in the colony has to be kept brief.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03While we're here the parent birds will stay away,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05so Mark and I leave the ringers to their work
0:22:05 > 0:22:08and head for a bird's eye view of the site.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Overall, can you put into context the importance of this colony
0:22:13 > 0:22:15and the ringing work that goes on here?
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Yeah, well, certainly the colony is massively important
0:22:18 > 0:22:22not only for Great Yarmouth but also for little terns as a whole
0:22:22 > 0:22:25because certainly we produce more little tern chicks here
0:22:25 > 0:22:30than at pretty much all the other small colonies around the UK and Ireland put together,
0:22:30 > 0:22:34so we're pretty certain that many of the chicks which actually fledge from here
0:22:34 > 0:22:36will go and help support the population elsewhere.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41Brilliant. Now, I'm just going to watch the display for a while if that's all right with you?
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Yeah. No, absolutely. No problem at all.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45Fantastic seeing them wheel about.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48The RSPB's work here has helped little tern numbers rise
0:22:48 > 0:22:51from 55 pairs to more than 300 in more in 20 years.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54It's a project which is going a long way to ensuring
0:22:54 > 0:22:58these beautiful birds are safe on these shores for many years to come.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09Still to come, Lolly the parrot goes on the attack.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12So do you want to do that today, then?
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Cor, blimey O'Reilly!
0:23:15 > 0:23:17Ow.
0:23:20 > 0:23:26Now we're back on patrol with RSPCA Inspector Jill Corder in North Yorkshire.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Jill has already rescued a Springer Spaniel called Meg
0:23:30 > 0:23:33who was underweight and not given enough room to exercise.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Meg is now at the vet's where staff are trying to build up her weight.
0:23:37 > 0:23:43They will then have the challenge of finding her a new owner who can give her the attention she needs.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47In the meantime, Jill has another problem to investigate.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Grazing by the side of a busy road junction,
0:23:57 > 0:24:01a group of donkeys appear to be enjoying a peaceful existence,
0:24:01 > 0:24:03but all may not be what it seems.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Jill has been told that some of these donkeys have overgrown hooves.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09They appear to be in pain when they walk
0:24:09 > 0:24:12and may be in need of urgent treatment.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Just taken a couple of photographs, you know?
0:24:15 > 0:24:18I consider these have got beyond the point of reasonableness.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21You know, these hooves are down and are starting to curl.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25I just want to look at the movement on this donkey,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28see whether it's causing lameness.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Donkeys are notoriously stubborn,
0:24:30 > 0:24:35but Jill's worried this one may not want to move because it's in pain.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38It's quite an old donkey.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43The condition isn't that bad. It's starting to lose some weight here.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49But the concern is with the feet, being reluctant to move,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51that could be an age thing, arthritic,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54or it could be the hooves causing it.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Almost every donkey Jill comes across in this field
0:24:58 > 0:25:03seems to have overgrown hooves. Some are clearly struggling to walk.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06None of the feet are brilliant.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09There's four that I consider to be unacceptable.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13You see, these front hooves aren't creating a problem,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15although they could still do with a trim,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17but these ones clearly are.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22It was a passerby who first warned Jill that something might be wrong with these donkeys.
0:25:22 > 0:25:28Now she's satisfied there is a problem, tackling the owner will be her next challenge.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29If I'm to give him a warning notice,
0:25:29 > 0:25:31I will insist that it's a farrier or a vet
0:25:31 > 0:25:33that comes and trims the feet,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35that he's not allowed to do the work himself.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39He'd have to give me details of an expert that's come and done them
0:25:39 > 0:25:41and that the donkeys aren't to move out of this situ,
0:25:41 > 0:25:46because at the moment I would argue that the donkeys aren't fit to travel with their feet being overgrown.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50While it's not unusual for owners to clip donkeys' hooves themselves,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52it does require specialist knowledge.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Not everyone knows how to get it right.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58You get people that continually take off the toes,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00trimming the toe length of the hoof
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and they're not doing any work on the heel at the back,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06so consequently the heel keeps growing longer and does this...
0:26:06 > 0:26:09This in that it starts tilting the animal
0:26:09 > 0:26:12as opposed to it's stood square on its hooves,
0:26:12 > 0:26:16and that's the problem that you get with people home trimming.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Jill needs to decide whether to take these donkeys away
0:26:19 > 0:26:20to get their feet treated.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23She calls a vet for a second opinion.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26And there definitely is a problem with their feet being overgrown,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29but I'm debating whether to go on a warning notice
0:26:29 > 0:26:30or get you out and get your opinion.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34The vet tells her the donkeys need to stay where they are.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Moving them would cause them more pain.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Any work on the feet needs to be carried out here.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42The vet's quite happy to say, because of the lameness,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46these donkeys aren't fit for travel until their feet are put right.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51So, with that, I can put that to the owner in the advice that I give him
0:26:51 > 0:26:54and push that they're done by a farrier or a vet
0:26:54 > 0:26:58in the hope that these hooves get trimmed correctly,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01but, you know, he'll be under no uncertain terms
0:27:01 > 0:27:06that this job has to be dealt with, you know, promptly and correctly.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Jill is concerned the donkeys are suffering and if the owner
0:27:13 > 0:27:16doesn't get the feet treated he could face prosecution.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19She takes evidence which will be used if this case goes to court.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23But after a few minutes the owner turns up
0:27:23 > 0:27:26and he's someone Jill has dealt with before.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30There's a problem with the donkeys' overgrown feet.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34You've put me in a position where they are quite bad, all right?
0:27:34 > 0:27:37I've rung a vet and I've got advice.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40The owner tells Jill he knows these animals have overgrown hooves.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44A farrier is booked to come and deal with them in just a few days' time.
0:27:44 > 0:27:49- If it's a registered farrier or a vet that comes and does it, I don't have a problem.- Right.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52The fact that you've got them booked in is good, but I would just wonder
0:27:52 > 0:27:55if you could get them done any sooner that would be helpful.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56- Yeah, that's fine.- Yeah?
0:27:56 > 0:27:59It's now hoped the donkeys will soon be on the mend,
0:27:59 > 0:28:04but Jill will need a return visit to check the work has really been done.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06He's quite a reasonable owner.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08It's the man that has just been down.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11The farrier's coming out now on Wednesday afternoon.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Having chatted to the vet it's a unanimous decision
0:28:14 > 0:28:16that there should be a warning notice
0:28:16 > 0:28:19and obviously I'll be back to check on the donkeys
0:28:19 > 0:28:22and check that everything I've asked to be done is done.
0:28:28 > 0:28:33Later, Meg the springy spaniel finds her perfect partner.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37You couldn't get a better dog than her.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39She's really friendly and she likes to play.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Now, back to RSPCA inspector Vicky McDonald and the pet owner
0:28:47 > 0:28:52who refused to come clean about the treatment her dog had received.
0:28:52 > 0:28:58Liz Gibbons insisted time and time again she had taken Kolo to the vet's for his flea allergy,
0:28:58 > 0:29:03but after persistent interrogation from Vicky she finally admitted
0:29:03 > 0:29:06that, in fact, Kolo hadn't seen a vet.
0:29:06 > 0:29:11Vicki warned Liz she must now take him, but will she have listened?
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Three weeks after her first visit,
0:29:20 > 0:29:25inspector Vicky McDonald is back to see Liz and her black mongrel Kolo.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29But it's not a good start.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32What are you doing coming out into the road, silly?
0:29:32 > 0:29:35The door's wide open and Kolo's on the loose.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40Come here. Get in there now. Go on.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Your dog's just run straight out into the road.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45The kids are out, that's why.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Right, let's go in. Have you been to the vet's?
0:29:47 > 0:29:53Liz fails to impress Vicky before she's even got through the door and it gets worse.
0:29:53 > 0:30:00Despite her promises, Liz says she hasn't been able to afford to see the vet and Kolo's still itching.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02- Can we shut the door, if he runs out again...- Yeah.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05He could get run over and that's going to cost you an even bigger vet bill.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08Vicky's already asked Liz whether keeping three pets
0:30:08 > 0:30:09is too much to cope with
0:30:09 > 0:30:12and within five minutes of turning up today
0:30:12 > 0:30:14her suspicions have been confirmed.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Come here, you. His fur loss has actually got worse, hasn't it?
0:30:17 > 0:30:22Have you thought any more about whether it would be more appropriate to rehome him...
0:30:22 > 0:30:25- That's what I was thinking. - ..if you can't afford him?
0:30:25 > 0:30:29His... Like I said, the landlord's not happy with him messing.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34I'm... I'm not happy with him not getting vet treatment, personally.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39All right, poppet. I mean, is that a decision you want to make today?
0:30:39 > 0:30:42- If it's for the best, yeah. - Well, it's your decision.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47I understand about him suffering, anyway, because he's suffering if he's nibbling his back.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51Well, it's driving him crazy, isn't it, if he's constantly itching?
0:30:51 > 0:30:53It looks like Kolo may soon be rescued
0:30:53 > 0:30:55and free from his scratching,
0:30:55 > 0:30:59but Lolly the parrot doesn't seem keen on the idea.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01So do you want to do that today, then?
0:31:01 > 0:31:03God, blimey O'Reilly!
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Ow.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12Liz quickly gets her loyal friend back under control.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15So, what... What do you think today, then?
0:31:15 > 0:31:17- I think it would be the best... - Right.
0:31:17 > 0:31:23She agrees to sign her dog over to the RSPCA and Vicky finds him a place at a rehoming centre,
0:31:23 > 0:31:29but Kolo hasn't had his vaccinations and can't be admitted until he has.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Okie-doke. Well, I'll get it sorted and then I'll come back in five days
0:31:32 > 0:31:35and pick him up for the kennels. All right, then. Thank you.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38Cheers, bye, bye.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Right, we've got a space in the kennels,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42so I will now give Victoria Vets a ring.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45If I can't get him in now, I will book an appointment
0:31:45 > 0:31:48where you will need to go down and get his first vaccination
0:31:48 > 0:31:50and we will cover the cost of that
0:31:50 > 0:31:54because obviously he's going to be coming to us for rehoming.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57Leaving nothing to chance this time,
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Vicky arranges the appointment at the local vet's
0:32:00 > 0:32:04and she's now hoping Liz will finally take her advice on board.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09I'm disappointed that she's... She's not been to the vets.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11I mean, it's been several weeks now since...
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Since I was here and she's made zero effort to get him treated,
0:32:15 > 0:32:18but at least now today she's decided to sign him over
0:32:18 > 0:32:20so he will get treatment now.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22It's going to end up costing us,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25but better that than he gets no treatment at all
0:32:25 > 0:32:28and now we can rehome him to a more responsible owner.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31Assuming he doesn't get out in the meantime!
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Liz will soon have one less pet to care for,
0:32:34 > 0:32:38and at least the normally wary Kolo is starting to warm to Vicky.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Hello. That's a good boy.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44He's just very nervous, isn't he?
0:32:44 > 0:32:47But we'll work with him on that.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51And Vicky gives Liz some tips to stop this situation happening again.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54- I mean, my advice would be just to keep down to a minimal...- Yeah.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58If you can't afford to have this many pets than don't have this many pets.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02Stick to what you can afford and what you can cope with, all right?
0:33:02 > 0:33:05But if you do get into a situation I would rather you were the one
0:33:05 > 0:33:08that rang me for help than somebody puts in a complaint, OK?
0:33:08 > 0:33:13Providing Kolo gets his jabs, Vicky will collect him in five days time.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21And five days later Vicky is back
0:33:21 > 0:33:25for what should be her final visit to Liz and her pets.
0:33:25 > 0:33:26It's been a long haul,
0:33:26 > 0:33:29but this could be the start of a new life for Kolo.
0:33:32 > 0:33:33Hello.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38Hiya. Did you get everything sorted at the vet's?
0:33:38 > 0:33:39They've done the vaccination.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41- Right.- Flea stuff.- Yeah.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44I had to go buy that myself because they won't give it to you, RSPCA,
0:33:44 > 0:33:46but they wouldn't do the kennel cough.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50No kennel cough jab means another wasted journey for Vicky.
0:33:50 > 0:33:57With her patience wearing thin, she heads to the vet's herself to ensure Kolo finally get the jabs he needs.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01So he's going to need the kennel cough, so can I book her back in today, if possible?
0:34:01 > 0:34:07An appointment's made and will hopefully allow Vicky to put an end to this frustrating job.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14One week later, the fifth visit for Vicky,
0:34:14 > 0:34:18after two vet appointments, 27 lies and one parrot attack,
0:34:18 > 0:34:21will Vicky finally be in luck?
0:34:21 > 0:34:23Hiya. Hello, poppet. Don't you go out.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25- Are we all sorted, now?- Yeah.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28- Can I come through?- Yeah.- Cheers. In you go.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31At last, Kolo's had all his vaccinations
0:34:31 > 0:34:33and Liz has the paperwork to prove it.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Now it's time for the family to say goodbye and for Vicky
0:34:36 > 0:34:40to give a reminder about the merits of telling the truth.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46- If I do you ever need to speak to you again...- Yeah.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49I would just appreciate honesty from the outset
0:34:49 > 0:34:52because it's so much easier for me to deal with things
0:34:52 > 0:34:53if I know exactly where we stand
0:34:53 > 0:34:56because all that did was just prolong a situation
0:34:56 > 0:34:58that didn't need prolonging.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02With everything that's gone on,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05it's been easy to forget about Kolo and the treatment he needs.
0:35:05 > 0:35:12He heads off to the local RSPCA kennels where his fleas and worms will finally be treated.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19But as Kolo arrives he's clearly scared and unsure of his new surroundings.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Good boy. Come on, then.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24It's all right.
0:35:24 > 0:35:29He's shaking a bit, but he's not too bad. He's not backing away from me.
0:35:29 > 0:35:30He's letting me handle him,
0:35:30 > 0:35:34so I think with a bit of TLC and a bit of attention he'll...
0:35:34 > 0:35:37He'll come out. We've got some brilliant members of the branch
0:35:37 > 0:35:41that really work with them and bring them out of their shells
0:35:41 > 0:35:44and I'm sure they'll be able to do the same with Kolo,
0:35:44 > 0:35:46so I'm sure there will be family out there
0:35:46 > 0:35:49that will be absolutely perfect for him and he should thrive.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53It's a bewildering time for such a nervous dog,
0:35:53 > 0:35:57but with the help of the staff here, this anxious but loving dog
0:35:57 > 0:36:00will soon be itch free and on his way to a new home.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12Finally today we're back with RSPCA inspector Jill Corder.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16Earlier, Jill rescued an excitable Springer Spaniel called Meg.
0:36:16 > 0:36:22She needed to put on weight, but also find an owner that could cope with giving her enough exercise.
0:36:22 > 0:36:28Jill also visited a field full of donkeys whose overgrown feet were causing them distress.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Last time Jill was here, most of these donkeys' feet were in dire need of attention.
0:36:38 > 0:36:44Today, she's checking to see if her demand to have them seen has been heeded.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47We've come back today to do the revisit on these donkeys.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50As we know the owner was given a warning notice
0:36:50 > 0:36:52and asked to trim up all the feet
0:36:52 > 0:36:56which, looking at these two donkeys, that's certainly been done.
0:36:56 > 0:37:01The donkeys near the fence look good, but Jill needs to get into the field to check them all over.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08This is the donkey that I was concerned about and she's actually looking greatly improved.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12You can see on that one there, the hoof grows with a bit of a tilt.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14These are deformities that grow
0:37:14 > 0:37:18and they're quite hard to bring the hoof back to the normal shape.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22When she was last here, many of the donkeys were lame.
0:37:24 > 0:37:29Now, after having their feet trimmed, they seem to be moving much more freely.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32That's another one there that we've checked
0:37:32 > 0:37:35and her hooves are much improved, so I'm quite pleased about that.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39This was the donkey that I couldn't get near last time
0:37:39 > 0:37:42and she's clearly not going to let me approach her again
0:37:42 > 0:37:44and, you know, she's got a youngster with her
0:37:44 > 0:37:46so I'm not going to try and harass her.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49She was displaying a bit of lameness last time,
0:37:49 > 0:37:53but today she's completely sound, so, again, that's good.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55Hopefully, there was something with the hoof
0:37:55 > 0:37:58that the farrier's been able to correct,
0:37:58 > 0:37:59but she's walking lovely today.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03Jill's visit has been worthwhile.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05The owner has done all that's asked of him,
0:38:05 > 0:38:08but it's a case she'll continue to monitor.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11I'm happy that there's been a real good effort made here
0:38:11 > 0:38:15and all the donkeys are sound. It's not left any of them with lameness.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18They're clearly vastly improved from my last visit,
0:38:18 > 0:38:23so I'm going to have a word with the owner and, providing the revisit is booked for the donkeys,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26then we'll be able to close this job.
0:38:26 > 0:38:31Our advice has been followed and I think it has improved animal welfare here without any doubt.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36It's been a successful outcome for the donkeys,
0:38:36 > 0:38:40but now back to Meg, the spaniel Jill rescued a month ago.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44Meg was underweight and living in cramped conditions.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48Rehoming such an energetic dog was always going to be difficult.
0:38:48 > 0:38:54Meg needed a special kind of owner that could give her all the walks she needed.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59And now she has one.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03She's living with a new family with plenty of space to run around.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Meg's new owner is Katarina Gill and she says it was love at first sight.
0:39:07 > 0:39:14We've had Meg now for two weeks and she's been really, really good.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17She was right at the back and we just saw her ears poke up
0:39:17 > 0:39:18and I said, "Oh, she's nice,"
0:39:18 > 0:39:23but the girl that was looking after her said that everybody loved her.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26We didn't really have a close enough look at her first time,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28but it was the second time we saw her close up,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31so we decided to take her for a walk and that was it.
0:39:31 > 0:39:32She's here now!
0:39:32 > 0:39:38Meg was not used to much attention and took some time to adjust to her new surroundings.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41Meg was really quiet when we first brought her home
0:39:41 > 0:39:44and she was a bit wary of where she was,
0:39:44 > 0:39:48but she's settled in quite well within a few days.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Quite a lot of people tried to put us off Meg
0:39:50 > 0:39:56because of the breed being quite boisterous and they say that the dogs are quite mad,
0:39:56 > 0:39:57but she's been fine.
0:39:57 > 0:40:02And Meg's proving a big hit with Katarina's daughter, too.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05I've always liked dogs when I was, like, little.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09They're just like humans, they like to play and everything
0:40:09 > 0:40:13and she just likes cuddling up to you and lying on the sofa.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19With regular food and exercise Meg's now gaining strength every day.
0:40:19 > 0:40:20When we brought Meg home
0:40:20 > 0:40:23we could feel the bones showing at the back of her,
0:40:23 > 0:40:24but she's put quite a lot of weight on
0:40:24 > 0:40:27and I can't see the bones at all now and she feeds really good.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31I can't believe how different she looks and everybody that's seen her
0:40:31 > 0:40:33can't believe how different she looks.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36She's had probably a little bit more than what she should,
0:40:36 > 0:40:40but then the home told us to give her a little bit more to feed her up.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42She's had a lot of treats from Nicole.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Meg is a dog who's full of running and whatever the weather,
0:40:50 > 0:40:55come rain or shine, the Gill family never hesitate to take her out.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58We usually take Meg for a walk about two or three times a day.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01We have to bring her on the lead up to the top of the path
0:41:01 > 0:41:04and then we let her go and she's fine, she's off.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06She likes to go in the woods up there.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09She's a bit strong for Nicole so I have to hold her at the moment,
0:41:09 > 0:41:14but I'm sure she'll be fine when we take her for a few dog obedience classes, won't she?
0:41:14 > 0:41:17We're going to take her to a few just to help you hold her
0:41:17 > 0:41:21and then she'll be fine, because she comes back to us when she's off to lead.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Meg!
0:41:23 > 0:41:25You couldn't get a better dog than her.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28She's really friendly and she likes to play.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32And it's not just Meg that's benefiting from the great outdoors.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35I quite enjoy going for the walks now and definitely for Nicole
0:41:35 > 0:41:38because she didn't like walking anywhere
0:41:38 > 0:41:40and now she'll walk everywhere with the dog.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42She hated walking anywhere,
0:41:42 > 0:41:45she always wanted to go in the car, but she loves walking now.
0:41:45 > 0:41:50So, yeah, I'm quite pleased we've got a dog and I don't think we could have chose a better dog.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57Just four weeks ago Meg was a dog in the wrong place at the wrong time.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59Now she's found her perfect family.
0:41:59 > 0:42:06She can look forward to a future which should keep both her and her owners healthy for years to come.
0:42:13 > 0:42:19If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime or a creature that needs immediate protection
0:42:19 > 0:42:24remember there are dedicated professionals out there who will answer your call around the clock.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28They are the people we meet on Animal 24/7.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35Next time, the pooches' playground packed with danger.
0:42:35 > 0:42:40Well, it was all clear, but it doesn't help with Lee's mates chucking cans out the window.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42No, it doesn't. God, how much beer does he get through?
0:42:42 > 0:42:44The race to save a beached whale.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48- We're extremely worried at the moment, she's basically in the process of drowning.- Drowning?
0:42:48 > 0:42:51She's on her side, blowhole is going in and out of the water.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54And I need the gentle touch to feed these baby mice.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58- We're feeding these about every hour.- Every hour?- Yes.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01I just love his little hands gripping the end of the syringe!
0:43:08 > 0:43:11Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:11 > 0:43:14E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk