0:00:04 > 0:00:06Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:06 > 0:00:13All too often our wildlife and domestic pets are 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.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22This is Animal 24/7.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45In the air, on land and in the water,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Britain 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 > 0:01:01Animal 24/7 is with the people working around the clock
0:01:01 > 0:01:05to save endangered wildlife and protect vulnerable pets.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07These are their stories.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Today on Animal 24/7,
0:01:12 > 0:01:18a house with not one family pet but 14! Can their owner cope?
0:01:18 > 0:01:23- That's a lot of stuff to look after. - Well, not for me. I'm used to looking after...
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Well, it obviously is because none of them have got any water.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29The skunk in search of a bunk.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31- He's lifting that gland, isn't he? - He is.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33But would you give him a home?
0:01:33 > 0:01:38- Oh, dear me! That is strong. - Goodness me.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42And I'm in the waiting room of a very unique dentist.
0:01:42 > 0:01:48Luckily, though, today it's not me that's going under the grill. It's the chap on my right.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55When animals get older they're often faced with the sad fact
0:01:55 > 0:02:00that they're just too old for anyone to want to keep them as a pet.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04In Bristol the RSPCA has been alerted to a family
0:02:04 > 0:02:09who are struggling to properly care for the sheer number of pets they're looking after.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14It's soon clear that one of the older animals is not getting the attention that he needs.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23This is Furball, a lovable feline who's not in the best nick.
0:02:24 > 0:02:30At 11 years old, he's got a badly overgrown and matted coat, but that's not all.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34It seems there's a good reason why this elderly cat prefers the garden.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Furball's home is like a mini zoo.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43With two German shepherds,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46seven puppies,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49two gerbils,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51a cockatiel,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54oh, and don't forget the gecko!
0:02:54 > 0:02:57On top of that there are also five children.
0:02:57 > 0:03:04Now the family is about to receive an unexpected visit from RSPCA inspector Becky Griffiths.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07You need a bit of the groom, don't you, sweetheart?
0:03:07 > 0:03:12She's keen to find out if all 14 animals are getting the care and attention they need.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15Hello, sorry to trouble you.
0:03:15 > 0:03:21I'm from the RSPCA. I had a call about your dogs and I wonder if I could take a quick look at them.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26- No, you're more than welcome.- OK. Is that your cat out there as well, the long-haired ginger and white one?
0:03:26 > 0:03:31- Yeah, I'm taking him to have all his fur cut off.- Oh, are you? - Yeah.- Yeah, he needs it.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33- Is it all right to come in, then? - Yeah, come on in.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- How many pets have you got? - Seven.- Seven?- Yeah.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39- What are you going to do with all the puppies?- I'm advertising them.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43- Are you? How old are they now? - They're seven weeks.- Seven weeks.
0:03:44 > 0:03:49Inside the house, Becky quickly realises things are out of control.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51LOUD BARKING
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- Do you want to pop them in a different room for the moment?- Yeah.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57She needs to check each and every pet for signs of neglect.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02Let's start at the beginning, shall we? Shall we start with the bird? Has it got water in there?
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- It's due to be watered... - Due to be watered. So, is it dry?
0:04:05 > 0:04:07I'll check.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12- That's just drying. - OK. Do you want me to do that now, then, so he's got some water?
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Have you got food for the birds as well? Yeah, you have?
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Right, these have got no food and no water.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21OK, the black one is quite skinny, all right?
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Yeah, I'll sort that out now.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Becky's lost for words.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Not one of these animals is being cared for properly
0:04:30 > 0:04:34and for the German shepherd and her puppies it's the same story.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39- And where's the dogs' water? - At the moment it's empty. - It's empty as well.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42- At the moment, yeah.- OK, do you want to fill that up while I'm here?
0:04:42 > 0:04:47Becky warns the owner that the way these animals are being kept is simply not good enough.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50First glance, too many animals and too much stuff going on.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53You're obviously not looking after them properly.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I've walked in, none of them have got any water.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Well, that doesn't normally happen.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01OK, well, I've come in on spec, you know, not prearranged,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and there's no water and they look very thirsty.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08I mean, they're guzzling now. I just think you've got too many.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- How many puppies?- Seven.- Seven.
0:05:11 > 0:05:17- Two dogs, two gerbils, a cockatiel, that's a lot of stuff to look after, isn't it?- Well, not for me.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18I'm used to looking after them.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Well, it obviously is because...
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Normally I'm on top of everything.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27Right. I can help you out, I can re-home some of your animals if you want me to.
0:05:27 > 0:05:33- Right.- I... I will also be issuing you a ticket to make sure that you get some weight on the dog here.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37- Yeah, that's fine.- Has she been into the vet? Have you taken her into the vet's at all?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39- No, not yet.- You haven't, no.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44Despite the owner's insistence that everything's OK, Becky's not happy.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47She spells out exactly what she wants to see done.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50She needs to be putting on weight. I'm going to come back on spec.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54- Right.- And hopefully all your animals will have some water.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59Becky wants to help by taking away some of the animals and easing the burden.
0:06:00 > 0:06:06There's too many animals, too much to cope with. She's got to keep her eye on her kids, let alone the animals.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10You just can't keep your eye on everything all at once, so things have obviously...slid.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15But she's most concerned about Furball with his badly matted coat.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19She's worried he's left all alone to fend for himself.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24I want to get that cat off of her because that, obviously, has been neglected for quite a while.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Once those mats start pulling out, they can become quite sore.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29I've seen a cat, you know, that's got...
0:06:29 > 0:06:32It rips the skin out eventually, if it's left too long.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Although Becky has agreed to give the owner the chance to prove
0:06:36 > 0:06:41she can care for her pets, she's determined not to leave without Furball.
0:06:42 > 0:06:48She persuades his owner to let him go so he can get the attention he deserves.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- What's his name?- Furball. - How old is he?
0:06:51 > 0:06:53- 11 years old.- 11.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Before she leaves, Becky reiterates what she wants to see done.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Right, let me go and get you to sign a form for him.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05My job is for the animals' welfare and you just need to spend a bit of time on them, OK?
0:07:05 > 0:07:11So I'll pop back in about a couple of weeks on spec and we'll make sure that everything's got food and water,
0:07:11 > 0:07:16and if you do have any leftover pups, all right, ring me up. What I'll do...
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Keep that bit of paper, I'll put my number on it. Leave a message for me
0:07:19 > 0:07:22and say that you need some help with re-homing, all right?
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Because you don't want more adult dogs
0:07:24 > 0:07:30because then you've got to get more neutered and there's more vet bills, et cetera, et cetera. OK?
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Happy the owner understands,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Becky's priority now is to get Furball to see the vet.
0:07:36 > 0:07:42Hopefully, Furball will have a bit of a trim or something, and a health check, and we'll go from there.
0:07:42 > 0:07:48If Furball's a healthy cat, and friendly, then he's got every chance of being re-homed.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53We do have problems if they're sick or if, you know, they're feral or whatever.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Obviously, people want a cat they can cuddle, so... But he's, you know...
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Once his fur is in shape he'll be quite a nice-looking cat.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05People like ginger and white cats, so he's got a decent chance, so...
0:08:05 > 0:08:06fingers crossed for him.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11But, even if Furball is completely healthy, the competition for new homes is stiff
0:08:11 > 0:08:14and at 11 years old he's not a young cat.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Will anyone be willing to give this old feline a second chance?
0:08:23 > 0:08:29Coming up, Furball needs a haircut, but will it be enough to win him a new home?
0:08:29 > 0:08:35We do have quite a lot of cats in at the moment, so it will decide how suitable for re-homing he is.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40'And the animal dentist battling to save a badger with a broken jaw.'
0:08:40 > 0:08:42What have you just learned?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45The upper jaw's got a fracture, which we didn't pick up from the X-ray.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49If the animal was still in the wild then it would be a goner.
0:08:51 > 0:08:57In the last year alone the number of exotic pets rescued by the RSPCA has increased by 20%,
0:08:57 > 0:09:01but not everybody's responsible enough to call for help.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07Some people simply let their unwanted or unmanageable pets out into the wild.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11This is exactly what's happened to one animal in the north of England,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15a creature that's more commonly associated with North America.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27West Yorkshire, and around these Bradford streets an exotic animal has been on the prowl.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29And it's been causing quite a stink.
0:09:29 > 0:09:35After six months of searching and chasing, the animal's finally been caught,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38but this isn't your usual cat or dog.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Meet Pepe the skunk.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48RSPCA officer Dennis Lovell has had a four-hour journey up from Hertfordshire
0:09:48 > 0:09:51to collect Pepe and take him to his new home.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Helping him is colleague Carol Neale.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Skunks are known to be extremely smelly, but this one, he has had
0:09:58 > 0:10:03his scent glands removed, so he's not, you know, too difficult to deal with.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08Well, I haven't met the skunk yet, so I'm going to go in and see what he's like first.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13You know, if they've been bred in captivity, which most of them are, all of them should be,
0:10:13 > 0:10:18they could be quite handleable, but I'm just going to try and be gentle with him.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23It's well known that if skunks feel threatened they'll release a jet of highly offensive-smelling liquid,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27but, being de-scented, Pepe doesn't pose that risk.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Come on, Pepe.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Pop it along the wall.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- He's having a little grumble.- Just try and guide him. Just get him to...
0:10:36 > 0:10:38- That's it. Come on, then.- Come on.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40That's perfect. That's...
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- Just... Yeah, just keep lifting him up, Carol. That's it.- Yeah, yeah.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46He says he doesn't want to go.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- He's lifting that gland, isn't he? - He is.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53But it's only for a show. No scent gland means no smell,
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- but Pepe can still give them the run-around.- Come on, lad!
0:10:57 > 0:10:59In you go.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01No, he says, "I'm not."
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Come on, little fella.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Finally Pepe is cornered, but then the unexpected!
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Oh, dear me, that is strong.
0:11:12 > 0:11:13Goodness me!
0:11:13 > 0:11:17It seems this skunk may have those scent glands after all.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19That is strong.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22I wonder if that one has been de-scented, actually.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25It's very strong and it's a bit ammonia-like, to be quite honest.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29- I'm not sure whether he has been de-scented.- I don't think he has.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31I'll have to disinfect this.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Oh, dear me! That is strong, isn't it?
0:11:35 > 0:11:38What worries me is that these are being sold now
0:11:38 > 0:11:42and if someone ends up with one of these and just takes it home in the front room
0:11:42 > 0:11:45they don't know what they're going to be expecting.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50Dennis has found a temporary home for Pepe at a zoo in Hertfordshire,
0:11:50 > 0:11:54but they're not expecting the arrival of a fully operational skunk.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59He's going in to see a vet when we get down South
0:11:59 > 0:12:03and I'll phone ahead now and let them know he's not de-scented.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07It is a relatively minor procedure, I suppose.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Hopefully it can be done quite quickly, but I will phone ahead and warn them.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16Right, Pepe, let's get you down South, my smelly little friend!
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Be a good boy, Pepe.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24With Pepe safely placed in Dennis's van, he sets off on his 180-mile trip.
0:12:25 > 0:12:31But an hour into the journey Dennis pulls into the services to take a call from base,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34and it's not good news for Pepe.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37We've run into a few problems with the skunk.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41I've just spoken to my chief and it is against the Animal...
0:12:41 > 0:12:43the new Animal Welfare Act for us to remove the scent glands.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46No vet would legally be able to do that.
0:12:46 > 0:12:52The Animal Welfare Act of 2006 made it illegal to remove a skunk's scent glands
0:12:52 > 0:12:54as it is a cosmetic operation.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Dennis phones the zoo, as he knows that trying
0:12:57 > 0:13:01to re-home a scented skunk is a different matter entirely.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06'Mark Amy, who we were going to...who was going to house the skunk
0:13:06 > 0:13:10'cannot accept it because of that reason.'
0:13:10 > 0:13:12It's an unusual situation for Dennis.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16He's stuck on the M1 with a North American skunk that nobody wants.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20He's got no place to go and he's running out of options.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26My chief has also spoken to London Zoo. They cannot accept it for the very same reason.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31At the moment the future looks quite bleak for the skunk and
0:13:31 > 0:13:34unless something happens in the next couple of hours
0:13:34 > 0:13:38our next option would be to put... to put it to sleep.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41With Pepe's life in the balance, Dennis gets back on the phone
0:13:41 > 0:13:45determined to find a home for an aromatic skunk.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Yeah, yeah.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50OK. Cheers, thanks a lot. Bye.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53There has been a reprieve.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Blackberry Farm, our re-homing centre down in Oxfordshire,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00has said this skunk can go and stay there for a couple of days
0:14:00 > 0:14:06and we will put a message out nationally across the RSPCA trying to find a place
0:14:06 > 0:14:12that will accept a skunk with these glands intact and, fingers crossed, we might have a brighter future.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17With the new destination, it's back out on the road for Dennis.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Although unusual, some people do keep skunks as pets
0:14:20 > 0:14:25and if someone agrees to take Pepe his life may have been saved.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28- Hi, Julie. - Hi, Dennis, are you all right?
0:14:28 > 0:14:32- Yeah, all right, yeah. - You've got a skunk for me? - I certainly have.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Try to keep him calm.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Yes, please do!
0:14:36 > 0:14:41Julie Allen manages the centre and has prepared a safe house for the new guest.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44That's quite a nice setup, Julie.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48We've had a skunk before. We've tried to set it out as best we can.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Hopefully he'll be nice and calm in here or the rest of my small animals will smell him.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Shall we go and put him in?
0:14:54 > 0:14:57I'm just going to open the kennel.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02Slowly but surely, Pepe begins to explore his new surroundings.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05After six months of living rough it's a whole new experience.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10Julie and Dennis are now hoping someone will take Pepe in and give him a good home.
0:15:10 > 0:15:16He is a handsome boy. We just need to find him a really good place to be re-homed in.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19A message has been put out across the society
0:15:19 > 0:15:23for a home for him, somebody who has the facilities to care for him
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- and to keep him, you know, in relative comfort.- Yeah.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33But Pepe has only 48 hours in which to find a new owner.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40Legally we cannot touch him, legally we cannot take his scent glands away.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45Erm...we would not keep him caged like this. This is a temporary thing.
0:15:45 > 0:15:51We would not keep him caged and, you know, we would be bound to put him to sleep.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53But, fingers crossed,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57- we hope we don't have to go down that road.- Cos you're a handsome boy.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59He's a lovely animal.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Later, has Pepe's life on the streets left him in danger?
0:16:10 > 0:16:13He would have been living on kebabs.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18If he was carrying on eating junk food he'd have died of heart failure very, very soon, I should imagine.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22And Furball's makeover reveals the full extent of his neglect.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27And this is a particularly large one that's going all down the side of his body here.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Catching up with a little celebrity gossip is about all my brain can cope with
0:16:36 > 0:16:40when I'm sitting in fear in the dentist's waiting room.
0:16:40 > 0:16:46Luckily, though, today it's not me that's going under the drill, it's the chap on my right.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52This is Peter Cortez, one of the country's top dental surgeons.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57From Monday to Thursday he treats humans at his practice in Mayfair, but Friday is animal day,
0:16:57 > 0:17:02where he lends his expertise to help zoos and wildlife sanctuaries across the world.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07Today he's visiting Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital near Aylesbury.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11His next patient is a young badger.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16It's thought he's been hit by a car and has a badly broken jaw.
0:17:16 > 0:17:22Peter consults vet Nick Masters, checking the badger's X-ray to see the extent of the damage.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27What are we looking at here and what are the issues you're facing?
0:17:27 > 0:17:30You've got two fractures, one is quite high there, near the ear,
0:17:30 > 0:17:32and there's at least one down here.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35The muscles are very strong in these animals.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38It's a very young animal, you can tell by the highly immature teeth
0:17:38 > 0:17:41and the very thin walls on those teeth,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43so healing shouldn't be a problem, but we have to see
0:17:43 > 0:17:46if there are any teeth involved in the fracture line
0:17:46 > 0:17:50because those teeth are a perfect pathway for bacteria to get in
0:17:50 > 0:17:52and cause a major and possibly fatal infection.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56So, we'll see once the animal's down exactly what you're looking at,
0:17:56 > 0:18:00but there may be the option to do some internal wiring, that the animal won't be able to get too traumatised,
0:18:00 > 0:18:04or we may even find, with a bit of luck, that it's stable enough
0:18:04 > 0:18:07that we don't need to put any metalwork in there at all,
0:18:07 > 0:18:08which would be ideal.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14'With the badger anaesthetised, Nick and Peter can examine the damage thoroughly.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16'The initial diagnosis is poor.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Why is it so serious, why is it so bad?
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Because you've got a piece of bone there that is not viable.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24It's infected.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Now, if you were doing this on a human then you could probably get
0:18:27 > 0:18:31a piece of bone from the pelvis or somewhere and then graft it in,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33or you would get a piece of metal put in there,
0:18:33 > 0:18:38but I think that that piece of bone is going to die off and you're going to have this gap there.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43That's pretty serious, a gap in a badger's jaw. That's not going to be able to survive, is it?
0:18:43 > 0:18:46- We've got nothing to lose.- No, absolutely not.- Nothing to lose.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50'But, as the badger's prepared for surgery, things go from bad to worse
0:18:50 > 0:18:53'as more damage to its mouth is found.'
0:18:55 > 0:18:56What have you just learned?
0:18:56 > 0:18:59The upper bit of the jaw, the maxilla on the right side,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02has got a fracture as well, which we didn't pick up from the X-ray.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04It's gone all the way through.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07You can see there's a crack right across the palate, there,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10but unfortunately it goes straight through into the nose.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14If the animal was still in the wild, then it would be a goner.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17The injury is much more serious than first thought.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Peter now has to decide the best course of action.
0:19:19 > 0:19:25Well, you've only got two options, either you do nothing and the animal is euthanised,
0:19:25 > 0:19:30or you attempt to wire it up internally, and put him on massive antibiotics.
0:19:30 > 0:19:35And then we have to wire it by drilling through the jaw,
0:19:35 > 0:19:39and in that process you would damage all those teeth, probably.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42So you're either sacrificing life or sacrificing teeth,
0:19:42 > 0:19:47because by drilling through, you're going to be damaging the teeth.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49The team agree to give the badger a chance of life.
0:19:49 > 0:19:55Peter starts the difficult procedure of threading wire through the animal's broken jaw.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59So we've got to find the wire in the other one,
0:19:59 > 0:20:01and a piece down there,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03which might not be quite so easy.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07It's painstaking work.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Nick makes sure the badger's heart and breathing are stable
0:20:10 > 0:20:16under the anaesthetic, while Peter wires the jaw, hoping it will fuse together.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24Well, they've already been working on this badger for over an hour, and it'll take much more time yet.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28It really shows the dedication that they have to the animals here,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32that they're prepared to spend all this money and all this time
0:20:32 > 0:20:37on something that only has, probably, a 50/50 chance of survival.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41'The intricate wire work continues for almost another hour,
0:20:41 > 0:20:45'before Peter can start to apply the finishing touches.'
0:20:45 > 0:20:48What stage are you at now, Peter?
0:20:48 > 0:20:51I'm tightening up the wires.
0:20:51 > 0:20:52Hopefully...
0:20:54 > 0:20:58This is the most difficult one, with the risk it's going to break.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03That's the trick? Tight enough to pull it together, but not enough to break?
0:21:03 > 0:21:08- That is correct. - So, how did the procedure compare with what you expected?
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Very difficult, but I think we've done extremely well.
0:21:11 > 0:21:16It's been a team effort, and the animal has got a very good chance of survival, I think.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19It's pretty amazing, cos you started with a jaw in what, I don't know,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22three or four pieces, and now it seems to move as one.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Well, we took a lot of big pieces out that were actually infected and loose,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29so we've got no loose pieces except that one fragment,
0:21:29 > 0:21:31which we used to tie everything together,
0:21:31 > 0:21:35and just, hopefully, masses of antibiotics will keep it under control
0:21:35 > 0:21:38till the bone can knit together.
0:21:42 > 0:21:48Well, that was over two hours to repair a jaw that could accurately be described as mashed.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53They were pretty pessimistic when they first started, but thought they'd give it a go anyway.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54I sense slightly greater hope now.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00'Within minutes, the badger starts to come round from his anaesthetic.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04'It seems incredible, to me, the lengths the team have gone to.'
0:22:04 > 0:22:08When you first discovered what the problems were there,
0:22:08 > 0:22:13I thought it was quite likely that you and Nick were going to decide, "It's not worth it," but you didn't.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15It's not a question of, "Is it worth it?"
0:22:15 > 0:22:18You weigh things up, and you say, "Is there a...?"
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Are you giving an animal a reasonably good chance of survival?
0:22:21 > 0:22:24You don't want to cause it unnecessary pain and suffering,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27sometimes it is kinder to euthanise these animals.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Of course, one advantage about animals,
0:22:29 > 0:22:34is they don't whinge when they go to the dentist, like I probably would. These guys are tough.
0:22:34 > 0:22:40The advantage of working with someone like you is you can give us feedback.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42With these animals, you have to interpret what you see,
0:22:42 > 0:22:46and work out what the priorities are, and what is best for the animal.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51You, I can discuss it after, "Come back tomorrow, come back next week, we'll do a little bit more."
0:22:51 > 0:22:54No, we've got to get it right, first time, every time.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59And, thanks to Peter and his team, this badger will have another shot at life,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02and will hopefully make it back to the wild.
0:23:05 > 0:23:12Later, Pepe the skunk gets lucky, with a new home and some familiar faces.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16The least I can hope for is that he just learns to trust us, and comes out when we're about.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19If we can get him like our other skunks, it will be fantastic.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Now, we're back to the story of Furball, the elderly feline.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30The cat was rescued from a house overrun with pets.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33There were dogs, birds, gerbils, and even a gecko.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37It was clear the owner was struggling to cope,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40so Furball was taken away to be found a new home,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42but first, he needs to see the vet.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Poor old Furball is not looking his best at the moment.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54With overgrown and matted fur, he's in desperate need of some TLC.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57But help is at hand.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02RSPCA inspector Becky Griffiths is determined to give Furball a second chance.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07- Hiya.- She's brought him to the animal clinic, where vet James Yates
0:24:07 > 0:24:11will give him a full health check, and tackle his tangled mane.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16I've been to a house with numerous animals.
0:24:16 > 0:24:22Two German shepherds, seven pups, this cat, two gerbils and a gecko.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26This cat I was particularly concerned about - I found it outside,
0:24:26 > 0:24:30it's obviously been a bit neglected outside, it's completely matted.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- Do you know how old?- 11 years old, and he's called Furball.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- Furball.- Which he seems to have developed into.- Yes.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38I'll just check his chest to make sure that's OK.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43That sounds all right. His heart sounds fine.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47His eyes look fairly OK. There's little bit of gunk. He's a bit run down.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52Furball's given a clean bill of health, but James is concerned about the state of his coat.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54He's got a little matt behind there,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and then, sort of, that matt there, and some around there.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59And he's got that big huge wedge along there.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04Yeah. We might be able to get those matts off just clipping consciously.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08But otherwise he might need an anaesthetic, if they're too sore to take them off him.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11We do have quite a lot of cats in at the moment,
0:25:11 > 0:25:15so it will decide how suitable for a re-homing he is,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- though he is very nice. - He is a nice old puss.- Yes.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24Everyone agrees that Furball is good-natured, and would make a lovely family pet.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29We don't know what's going to happen yet. I've put him in at the clinic.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Unfortunately, they are absolutely packed full of cats.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35It might be due to space and the fact that he is an older cat,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38that he might have to be put to sleep, which is a shame.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40I have this decision to make when I visit a house.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Do I leave them in situ where he might not get the care he needs, or do I bring him in?
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Hopefully, we can have a space for him, but he might be put to sleep.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52It's quite hard, as an inspector. It's something you have to deal with.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57For now, Furball is left to get used to his new surroundings.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00In a few hours' time, he'll be given that much-needed haircut.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Becky's work continues.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10She's just been told about another cat that needs her help.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15We've got an abandoned cat at this address. The owners have been evicted.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19There's a great big metal door on the flat, and the cat is basically hanging about outside.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21The neighbours have been feeding it.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25I'm going to pick up the cat, check that it's healthy,
0:26:25 > 0:26:30perhaps leave a notice up for the owners, where to contact,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33and try and put the cat somewhere.
0:26:35 > 0:26:36Is that the cat?
0:26:36 > 0:26:40Becky's met by Tina Hale, who found the cat.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42She's worried he may have some health problems.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47- Hello, puss.- If you look at his back end, he's got loads of sores and stuff.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Yeah, that's a flea allergy, yeah.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53It's not too bad, actually.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57- He likes you.- He likes everyone.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58- Is he really friendly?- Yeah.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Do you know how old he is, or anything like that?
0:27:01 > 0:27:02I'd say about a couple of years old.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06- Quite young, isn't he?- Yeah. - What a friendly little pussycat, he's lovely.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Do you know his name or anything?
0:27:08 > 0:27:10- Marley.- Sorry?- Marley.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Marley, as in Bob, Bob Marley?
0:27:12 > 0:27:13Jammin'!
0:27:15 > 0:27:22In the unlikely event of the owners coming back for Marley, Becky leaves details of how to contact her.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26It is a really common problem. If they phone us in advance and ask for help,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29we could arrange for spaces to help them out with their animals.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Unfortunately, they leave everything to the last minute,
0:27:32 > 0:27:37we get called on the day, or after the event, and we have to pick up the pieces.
0:27:37 > 0:27:43Becky now has to get Marley to a vet to find out if being abandoned has caused him any health problems.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44- Hiya.- Hi, Becky.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48Vet Damian Puccini will now decide if Marley can be re-homed.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53He's got a mild flea allergy which might even be healing up, actually, to tell the truth.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57- He seems a very friendly type. - He is, he's lovely.- Yeah.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02He's obviously lost a little bit of hair, hasn't he, along the back of his neck and his back.
0:28:02 > 0:28:07He's got a very mild degree of gingivitis,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10a little bit of inflammation of his gums, but otherwise fine.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13They look pretty clean. We'll just check for mites.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Yeah, they're both clear, so that's good.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21Marley's given the all-clear, and seems to be quite happy to be finally getting some attention.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25He looks like a relatively young cat, I'm guessing sort of two, three years old.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29He seems a very nice-natured cat. Hopefully, we should be able to find him a home.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33This is the bit I love about my job, giving him a cuddle.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38Marley's owners now have seven days in which to come back for him.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42If they don't, he'll be on the lookout for a new family.
0:28:44 > 0:28:50On the other side of the clinic, the time has come for Furball to have his much-needed makeover.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Hello, sweetheart. Good cat.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58- There we go.- Vet nurse Lucy Sverring is in charge of his new look,
0:28:58 > 0:29:01and hopes it will make him feel a lot better.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08He's got quite a lot of big, matted areas of fur on him,
0:29:08 > 0:29:13so we're just going to clip some of them off, just to try and make him a little bit more comfortable.
0:29:15 > 0:29:21He is quite overweight, so I think he probably is struggling to groom himself around the back, as well.
0:29:21 > 0:29:26And as Lucy trims away his fur, she's shocked at how badly matted it's become.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29It's going to make him feel a lot more comfortable.
0:29:29 > 0:29:34I mean, if you could imagine having that stuck to you, that's going to be quite itchy and irritating.
0:29:34 > 0:29:39He has got signs of fleas, so he's going to have a lot of fleas and that crawling around in there.
0:29:39 > 0:29:44It's just going to get a little bit hot, it's not going to be that comfortable.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47He's being ever so well-behaved, aren't you, sweetheart?
0:29:48 > 0:29:50She says!
0:29:53 > 0:29:58Despite being a little uncomfortable at times, Furball's good nature shines through.
0:29:58 > 0:30:03This is a particularly large one, that's going all down the side of his body here.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06It's clear he'll make someone a lovely pet.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14After saying goodbye to his matted mane, Furball heads to the cattery.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19He joins Marley and all the other moggies hoping to catch the eye of a new owner.
0:30:21 > 0:30:26But the competition is fierce, and while the youthful Marley stands a good chance,
0:30:26 > 0:30:30being 11 years old, Furball could struggle.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Coming up, one down, 13 to go.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Will Furball's old owner have listened to Becky's advice?
0:30:42 > 0:30:45I'm hoping she would have sorted things out.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47You always live in hope.
0:30:50 > 0:30:56Now, let's catch up with Pepe the skunk, found wandering the streets of West Yorkshire.
0:30:56 > 0:31:01Everyone thought Pepe had his scent glands removed so he could easily be re-homed,
0:31:01 > 0:31:05but when RSPCA officer Dennis Lovell arrived to take him away,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08he got an unpleasant surprise.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Pepe was in fact a fully-operational skunk.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13Dennis was left with a problem.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15The original home couldn't take him,
0:31:15 > 0:31:20and if a new owner couldn't be found, Pepe's future looked bleak.
0:31:29 > 0:31:35North Devon, and this is home of Ray Baker, keeper of exotic pets.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39He has snakes, lizards, fish, and a rather bullied black Labrador
0:31:39 > 0:31:45called Blaze, who gets a hard time from five domesticated skunks.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49Make that six - it's now Pepe's new home, too!
0:31:51 > 0:31:56We got a call from a friend of ours, Richard, who's quite close with a couple of the RSPCA inspectors,
0:31:56 > 0:32:01and said that Pepe was in dire need of a home, and were we interested?
0:32:01 > 0:32:04I said, "Yeah, where is he? I'll go and get him tonight."
0:32:04 > 0:32:08That was to Blackberry Farm, to Oxford, but I'd have driven to Scotland for him.
0:32:08 > 0:32:13We'd have gone anywhere. They're fantastic animals, and I wouldn't have seen him destroyed.
0:32:13 > 0:32:19Pepe has been given a room of his own, to give him time to get used to his new home and family,
0:32:19 > 0:32:22but Ray is worried that Pepe is overweight.
0:32:22 > 0:32:28It seems that during his six months on the streets, he'd been surviving on a diet of junk food.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31He would have been living on kebabs, throwaway junk.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33We're a very untidy species ourselves.
0:32:33 > 0:32:34We throw so much food away.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39He'd have found no problems at all getting into bins and just basically feeding on whatever he wanted.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43If he was carrying on eating junk food, he'd have...
0:32:43 > 0:32:48Well, he'd have died of heart failure very, very soon, I should imagine.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53Some of this food looks good enough for us to eat, but that can't be said about all of it.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Now he's getting a nice mixture of fresh veg.
0:32:55 > 0:33:00We've got some corn, sweet potato, courgette, cauliflower.
0:33:00 > 0:33:05He's going to have some mealworms, because they're omnivorous, they like to... They like their insects.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08We feed them... Feed the adults twice a day,
0:33:08 > 0:33:12youngsters get fed three times a day, but there's always food down on the floor for them.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14You know, we'll pack the bowl out.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17They don't eat that much during the day, more in the evening.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19There's always water, they do drink.
0:33:19 > 0:33:25In the wild they're never more than, sort of, a kilometre away from a water source and that.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Hello, Pepe. Dinner time, mate.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Hello. Are you going to come out for your dinner, mate?
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Come on, then.
0:33:33 > 0:33:40While delivering dinner, Ray has to be careful not to get squirted, but he's used to rearing scented skunks.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43Two of his other pets have their scent glands intact.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47As they've become used to people, they're now unlikely to spray.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51Instead, they just raise their tails as a threat, which is good news for Ray.
0:33:51 > 0:33:56It's a really strong smell of garlic and onions, with a hint of burnt electricals,
0:33:56 > 0:33:59burnt rubber in it, and it does shut your nose down.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02You stop smelling it after a very short while because it...
0:34:02 > 0:34:06I don't know whether it literally burns, but it just shuts your nose down.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09And it lingers for a long time.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11If you get sprayed in your clothes,
0:34:11 > 0:34:14throw them away, because you won't be able to wash it out.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17Ray is trying to get Pepe used to people...
0:34:17 > 0:34:21- Come on, trouble.- .. so he doesn't feel scared, and the first signs are good.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25He's slowly getting better. He's not as stompy,
0:34:25 > 0:34:29he doesn't show his backside to us as much as he used to.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31He's a lot better than he was.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34If we can get him like our others, it'd be fantastic.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39Ray's other skunks have a whale of a time here.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45Which is more than can be said for Blaze...
0:34:45 > 0:34:46Blaze, be good.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49..who rarely gets a moment's peace.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57We've only been keeping skunks for three years, and as far as
0:34:57 > 0:35:01I'm aware, up until recently there's only ever been sort of 300, 400 skunks in the UK.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04They're starting to become more popular.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08I think there is going to be more in the future coming out and because
0:35:08 > 0:35:11you can't de-scent them, there will e a problem with re-homing.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13But Pepe's one of the lucky ones.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Scent glands intact, he's been given a second chance.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21Ray's taken him into his heart and will do anything to make sure he settles in.
0:35:21 > 0:35:26If he decides that he doesn't want to be a house skunk and he's not happy living in a house,
0:35:26 > 0:35:31we'll build a nice big enclosure out in the garden for him and he can go and live out there.
0:35:31 > 0:35:37The least I can hope for is the fact that he just learns to trust us and comes out when we're about.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40They're worth getting passionate about.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45It'll take a while for Ray to earn Pepe's trust, but with his owner determined to make it work,
0:35:45 > 0:35:50this is one skunk who's come up smelling of roses.
0:35:54 > 0:36:00Earlier, we saw RSPCA officer Becky Griffiths rescue two neglected cats.
0:36:00 > 0:36:06Both the abandoned youngster Marley and the older feline called Furball have been taken to a local cattery,
0:36:06 > 0:36:09where they're looking for new owners.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12Furball was taken from a family who were having difficulties
0:36:12 > 0:36:15caring for the huge number of animals in their house.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19We catch up with Becky as she makes an unannounced visit to the property.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31On her last visit to the property, Becky was concerned that the owner
0:36:31 > 0:36:34was struggling to care for such a large number of pets.
0:36:36 > 0:36:42None of the animals had any water, and she had six puppies, two adult dogs,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45a gerbil, a cockatiel and a lizard.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47I'm hoping she would have sorted things out.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49You always live in hope.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55- Hiya. It's me again, I'm afraid. - Come in.- Is it all right to come in?
0:36:55 > 0:37:00If this owner hasn't followed the advice, she could risk losing even more of her pets.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02DOGS BARK
0:37:02 > 0:37:06But to Becky's surprise, first impressions look good.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08So, this is the female one?
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Yeah? That's OK. What's her name again?
0:37:12 > 0:37:13- Tia.- Tia.
0:37:13 > 0:37:18She's put on loads of weight, fantastic, and I notice you've got rid of some of the puppies, so...
0:37:18 > 0:37:21- Yeah.- So that's helped her put on weight as well, yeah?
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- Plus the fact we've wormed her out, as well.- All right, then.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26- The cockatiel.- He's got more water.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29He's got... He's got food and water.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32- Fantastic. So, have you got a bit more of a routine now?- Yes.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35You get up in the morning and check through them?
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Well, the routine is, I get the kids to school, I go down to
0:37:38 > 0:37:43the shop, get the dogs' food, put fresh water down for the dogs, then they're fed straightaway.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46Can I just stick my head into the dog's room to check that he's got his water?
0:37:46 > 0:37:49- Yeah.- Thank you. Fantastic.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52- Brilliant. And the other two pups, have they got a home to go to?- Yeah.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55They have? OK. Hello, little one.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57Hello, you're lovely. It's a lot better.
0:37:57 > 0:38:03Fantastic. So, if you keep it up, you won't get any more phone calls, and then I'll be off your back then.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05- No, that's fine.- OK. Brilliant.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Having so many pets needs an organised approach...
0:38:08 > 0:38:11- Cheers, then, bye.- Thank you. Bye.
0:38:11 > 0:38:17..and thankfully this owner now has a good routine that helps her deal with their every need.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19It's a lot better. She's got rid of some of the puppies.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22The female adult dog has put on some weight.
0:38:22 > 0:38:27The male adult dog is being treated, and it's re-grown its hair.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30The bird had some water, the gerbil had some water.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32She seems to be sorting things out.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35Hopefully, you know, she'll keep that up.
0:38:35 > 0:38:40Hopefully I won't get another phone call about her and I won't have to go back there again.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Three weeks have passed since Becky picked up
0:38:48 > 0:38:51the black cat that had been abandoned on the Bristol estate.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56His owner never did come back for him, so he was put up for adoption.
0:38:56 > 0:39:01But just two days later, he was snapped up.
0:39:02 > 0:39:08Meet Marley's new family, Helen, Neil and their two sons, Finn and Lewis.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14And Marley also has a new name - Bertie.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17It's a bit too tricky, that is.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20What about Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?
0:39:20 > 0:39:25I've always liked cats, and our other cat got run over... Two years ago or something?
0:39:25 > 0:39:27- Yeah, 2006.- He got run over.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32So we wanted another cat, and I finally persuaded Neil to get a cat, so we got Bertie.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34Now we've got a cat!
0:39:34 > 0:39:37I went along on my own first.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41I thought kind of like a male tomcat that was friendly was probably
0:39:41 > 0:39:46the best with children, because sometimes the female cats seem a bit scratchy with kids.
0:39:46 > 0:39:53And so the woman there immediately said Bertie's brilliant, he'd be fine with children.
0:39:53 > 0:39:58I think the very first night the kids had a sleepover, and so
0:39:58 > 0:40:02there was, I think, four boys bouncing on the bed in the bedroom, and Bertie
0:40:02 > 0:40:08right in the middle purring away as the kids leapt off the beds, so I think just sort of immediately
0:40:08 > 0:40:12you think, "Oh, he's quite chilled with children and he's not going to be too stressed."
0:40:12 > 0:40:15He's a very friendly puss.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Like fishing!
0:40:19 > 0:40:24With one cat happily settled in, it's now just Furball who's desperate for a new home.
0:40:24 > 0:40:30The ginger tom was originally taken from the family overrun with animals.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33He's been at the cattery for over five weeks,
0:40:33 > 0:40:35but space is limited here.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37Furball can't stay forever.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45There he is.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49But just as things seemed hopeless, he was spotted by Kieron and Verity Pitts.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52We've already chipped him, so he's all ready to go.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Oh, fantastic.
0:40:55 > 0:41:00They've been looking for an older cat, and Furball fits the bill perfectly.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03If you just pop it back on the floor, that would be great.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05So today they're taking him home.
0:41:05 > 0:41:12Oh, it's fantastic. It's great to see him looking so well and we just can't wait to get him home, really.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14- OK?- Thanks ever so much. - Cheers.- Cheers.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18Being old, the odds of finding a new home were firmly
0:41:18 > 0:41:24stacked against Furball, but now he can look forward to enjoying his twilight years in comfort.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26Well, I've always loved cats.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31I've always had cats, really enjoyed having them, and then our last cat died in January,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35so we thought we'd wait until after the wedding until we got a new one.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40We were looking for an older cat, really, and as soon as we saw Furball we just fell in love with him.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Are you coming out?
0:41:46 > 0:41:47Straight back in!
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Considering what he's gone through,
0:41:50 > 0:41:54he seems a remarkably relaxed cat, and, you know, he's extremely affectionate.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56In his autumn years it's good for a cat
0:41:56 > 0:41:59to have a nice place to sort of curl up and watch the world go by.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01I think it's just
0:42:01 > 0:42:05a mark of his character that he's so friendly after all he's been through.
0:42:14 > 0:42:20If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime or a creature that needs immediate attention,
0:42:20 > 0:42:26remember there are dedicated professionals out there who will answer your call around the clock.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29They're the people we meet on Animal 24:7.
0:42:32 > 0:42:37Next time, the police are called to four neglected dogs...
0:42:37 > 0:42:39I'll be looking at getting the animals seized.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41We'll have a vet here when you arrive.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45..Ozzie the bad-tempered lizard who needs a new owner...
0:42:45 > 0:42:49- On a scale of most aggressive iguanas...- I've got his tail.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52Yeah, I'm not worried about the tail, it's the legs.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55..and, on the move, the birds evicted from their upmarket home.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58We're going to do some duck herding.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02That sounds suspiciously like I'm going to be made to look like a fool!
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