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 > 0:00:12are the victims of cruelty, persecution and neglect.
0:00:12 > 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.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Today on Animal 24:7.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Right, put it down.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51The huge operation to rescue over 300 animals from a life of squalor.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56The conditions in every room was pretty much the same, it was horrendous, really bad.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00We had to wear a mask. Just not pleasant at all.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03An emergency call-out to a deer hit by a car.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07OK. Deer's down there on the road. What do you think, Les, so far?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Doesn't look good. Right, Sharon, let's get a drip in it.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12And straight from the horse's mouth -
0:01:12 > 0:01:15a chance to see what's really troubling Victor.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19He should have six teeth along the top here
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and he's actually missing all of them.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29It started as a straightforward call
0:01:29 > 0:01:31to a small terraced house in Gateshead
0:01:31 > 0:01:34but what RSPCA officers found when they got there
0:01:34 > 0:01:37was far from normal.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40In dozens of cages, there were hundreds of rabbits,
0:01:40 > 0:01:43chinchillas, chipmunks and hamsters.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46But even that was just the start of the story.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52It's four o'clock in the afternoon
0:01:52 > 0:01:56and in these barns near Newcastle, a huge operation is underway.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Cage after cage of animals are arriving in a fleet of vans.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Right, put it down.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08OK, I've covered the hole.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12It all started after the RSPCA received a tip-off.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15This led them to a house that was home to dozens of hamsters,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17gerbils, chinchillas and chipmunks.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25RSPCA Inspector Michelle Penny is one of many helping on this mammoth task.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29I believe that it was breeding, he's been breeding the animals,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32and it looks like it's got completely out of control.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Nobody can keep on top of that amount of animals.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37As you can see from the conditions,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40there's months' worth of just faeces, urine,
0:02:40 > 0:02:45old feed, old bedding, it just accumulated in the cages
0:02:45 > 0:02:47and it's just non-manageable.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49This is going to be a long job.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53It's estimated there could be as many as 200 animals to deal with.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55The state of their cages is appalling
0:02:55 > 0:02:58but that's nothing compared to where they came from.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07These RSPCA pictures reveal the shocking conditions
0:03:07 > 0:03:09in which these pets were kept.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13In every room, they're stacked floor to ceiling.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Months of dirt and faeces line their cages
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and cover the carpet and walls.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24After being tipped off, the RSPCA took action.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27The breeder has agreed to sign over all of his animals,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30so now the real work has begun.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Every single cage needs cleaning out and the animals need to be checked.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37With so many to deal with, it's going to take quite a while.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40Right, somebody be in charge of that.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Right, get that over there.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Most of these animals are not used to being handled.
0:03:46 > 0:03:47..at that sort of distance.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49It's a tricky job.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54If we can get the front to loosen, we'll put it back in the cage.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57He want to go in with his things.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02There's five chipmunks in this cage. It's not large enough for them.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06You can see on the bottom of the cage, there's months' worth of food, bedding.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Just faeces, everything's down there.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13Some of them we're cleaning out have six, seven inches' worth of faeces
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and it was actually all solid,
0:04:15 > 0:04:19so when we've removed the metal part of the cage up,
0:04:19 > 0:04:24it was all stuck to the metal of the cage, not actually the base.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26We've had to rake through all the mess
0:04:26 > 0:04:29to make sure there's no babies there, especially with the hamsters.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33They were burrowing under and the babies were in all the mess.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36So we had to make when we were tipping it out
0:04:36 > 0:04:37there was no babies involved.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45It's 6PM and as fast as the team can deal with the rescued animals,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47new consignments are arriving all the time.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50If I could put them somewhere else...
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Dave Dawson has been part of the operation since it started.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56There is a lot of people
0:04:56 > 0:04:59and a lot of us have been on duty for over 12 hours now
0:04:59 > 0:05:02and coming up to 13 hours, so it's been a long day.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05The conditions in every room was pretty much the same.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07It was really horrendous, really bad.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10We had to wear a mask. Just not pleasant at all.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16This latest consignment contains cages holding 59 chinchillas.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21You can still see the dirt all laying on the bottom of the cages.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23There's quite a few chinchillas in there.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Every single cage inside this trailer is in a dreadful state.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31You see on the side of this cage where the faeces are spilling over the top.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35This was full, from the bottom level down there up to here,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37was full of faeces,
0:05:37 > 0:05:42so the chinchillas were sitting on top of about eight or nine inches
0:05:42 > 0:05:43of dirt.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48These conditions are appalling for any animal.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52For chinchillas, who have the densest fur in the animal kingdom,
0:05:52 > 0:05:53it's even worse.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56I personally own two chinchillas myself
0:05:56 > 0:05:58and I know from my own experience
0:05:58 > 0:06:00that for a cage to get in this state
0:06:00 > 0:06:04it would take months, if not a good year, of not being cleaned out.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08It's now 8 o'clock and as the operation continues,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11there's a life or death situation in one of the barns.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15The farm is intended to be a safe haven for the animals.
0:06:16 > 0:06:17MEOWING
0:06:17 > 0:06:20But it seems certain local residents have mistaken the operation
0:06:20 > 0:06:23for a meals on wheels service.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26I'm just moving them into a safer location
0:06:26 > 0:06:30because as you can see, it's not very safe round here for the rodents
0:06:30 > 0:06:32with cats being around.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Day is quickly turning into night
0:06:37 > 0:06:40and finally, the team seems to be making progress.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43That's us getting the last of the chinchillas in now.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47A lot of us have been working on this case since half ten this morning,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50so that's 11 hours, coming up onto 12 hours.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54So it will be good just to get the final lot in, nice clean cages,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56fed and watered, and that'll be us for the evening.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04With the cages cleaned,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Michelle gets a chance to check the animals' health.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Yeah, I would say this one's 8 to 12 weeks old, still a young one.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13It feels in good condition.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Its eyes are nice and bright, its nose is clear,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17which is the first things I look for.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21I'm surprised they're in good condition, considering the mess.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23It's half-past ten at night
0:07:23 > 0:07:27and finally this massive operation appears to be drawing to a close.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32Incredibly, the final count of animals stands at 207.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37But just as the officers are preparing to head home,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39they receive another tip-off.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42They've just been told this breeder also keeps animals
0:07:42 > 0:07:43on a local allotment.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46The team can only imagine what's waiting there.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54Still to come.
0:07:54 > 0:07:55- Hello, again.- Hello.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59The RSPCA comes face to face with the breeder.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- So what are you doing down here? - Sorry?- What are you doing down here?
0:08:02 > 0:08:04And...
0:08:04 > 0:08:08It really is turning into like a busy night at casualty, this one.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10We've got patients coming in all the time,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13one being fixed, another one on the table.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Horses are herd animals that can suffer when they're kept alone.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22They also need a lot of care and attention,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24especially when they're getting old.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28So when you consider all of that, the horse in this next story
0:08:28 > 0:08:30is really having a miserable time.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47This is Victor, an old horse who's cold, wet and very lonely.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54His owners have left him behind in a field outside some gas works.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Do you want your breakfast? Oh, whicker, whicker.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Good boy.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06Cardiff horse warden Lucy Hamblett was the first person to notice Victor's plight
0:09:06 > 0:09:09and soon discovered he had even more problems.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Victor has lost most of his teeth.
0:09:11 > 0:09:12All right?
0:09:12 > 0:09:15He's been struggling to eat,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18so Lucy has been mixing grass pellets with water
0:09:18 > 0:09:19to make meal time easier.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25I found Victor on a routine scout round the area.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29I thought he was a cow to start off with until we took a closer look.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34With no teeth, the survival rate isn't good at all.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37He's unable to pick short shoots of grass.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41As you can see round here, the grass is actually quite short.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45The reeds aren't what they normally eat anyway.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49So, yeah, if he was left in this paddock here,
0:09:49 > 0:09:51he wouldn't make it through the winter
0:09:51 > 0:09:55and it would be quite a long, slow, painful process for him.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57The field is an old travellers' site.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Cardiff Council has been hoping that someone would come to claim Victor.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04They'd even advertised to find his owner
0:10:04 > 0:10:06but no-one's come back.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13So now they've contacted Horse World,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17the charity which cares for unwanted and unloved horses like Victor.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23People have been fly tipping in this field,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27so the first job for Sasha Holden and the team is to clear a pathway
0:10:27 > 0:10:29so they can lead Victor out safely.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33First impressions are that he looks very old.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37He does look a little bit depressed but the weather's not with us
0:10:37 > 0:10:40and that can make them look miserable anyway.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43They don't know what Victor's been through or how nervous he is.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47Sasha's colleague Jess is extremely careful as she approaches him...
0:10:49 > 0:10:53armed with a head collar, some rope and a bucket of pony nuts.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55While Jess is approaching him,
0:10:55 > 0:11:00she'll be using body language to try to keep him as calm as possible.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03So she's approaching from the side of him which is less aggressive.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08She'll also be keeping her eyes down so she's not staring at him,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11which again, makes horses want to go away from you.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17He actually looks really relaxed and comfortable with people,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19so that's really, really good news.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Despite being abandoned and the miserable time he's had,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Victor is as good as gold.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28The next step is to prepare him for the journey.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Because we don't know if he's been in a lorry before,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36we don't really know how well he's going to travel.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41A little bandage on each leg, it can just help protect them from any knocks.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44He just wants a good itch more than anything.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48He's really itchy because he's got quite a lot of lice on him.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53But he's a sweet chap, even though he's not sure of the feeling there.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54He's not trying to kick me at all,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58he's just saying, "That feels a little bit strange on my leg."
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Sasha and Jess try their best to keep him as calm as possible.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Good lad.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Because we want him to be really calm when he travels,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19we don't want to make it stressful for him, getting in there,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22so we're taking our time.
0:12:22 > 0:12:23It's not worth rushing.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Well done, Victor. See, it wasn't so bad.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Right, back to Horse World.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Now Victor makes the one-hour journey across the River Severn
0:12:39 > 0:12:42from the gas works in Cardiff to Horse World in Bristol.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51It's home to nearly 200 horses, who seem keen to have a nosy.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53But even though he's pining for company,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Victor isn't allowed to make new friends just yet.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Here, fella. Good boy.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01All right, sweetheart.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04He needs to be kept in isolation for three weeks,
0:13:04 > 0:13:08just in case he has any infectious diseases or illness.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11The first job is to weigh Victor.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Although he's only slightly underweight,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16it's clear he's started to deteriorate.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21The worry now is whether he can eat well enough to stay strong.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- Hi, there.- Hi, Henry.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28So it's a moment that everyone dreads,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30yet Victor desperately needs.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32- Get some kit together and I'll have a look.- Super.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36An appointment with the dentist. NEIGHING
0:13:36 > 0:13:40It's easy for Henry Bilson to see that Victor has no top teeth.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Good boy.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46So it's essential his other teeth are in good condition
0:13:46 > 0:13:50if he's to have any chance of building his strength back up.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Coming up, Victor's teeth are in the spotlight.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02It could've been trauma, ie, a kick or a bash
0:14:02 > 0:14:04and he's lost a lot of them.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07It could be partly due to his old age.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11And a heart-breaking decision for one animal lover.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15This has really knocked the stuffing out of me.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21We've all seen those signs
0:14:21 > 0:14:25warning of the danger of deer crossing country roads
0:14:25 > 0:14:29but sometimes even when alert, it's impossible to avoid a collision
0:14:29 > 0:14:32with these unpredictable animals.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34At Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital,
0:14:34 > 0:14:39they get over 300 deer casualties in their emergency room every year,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42the majority hit by cars.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46I was there when they received their latest, urgent call-out.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56Aylesbury.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00I'm on the road with Les Stocker and his wildlife paramedics.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04We're en route to the roe deer that has leapt out in front of a car.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13OK, deer's down there on the road. What do you think, Les, so far?
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Doesn't look good. Right, Sharon, let's get a drip in it.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- Yeah, just hold that. Just keep the head covered.- Like that?- Yeah.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25'Now vet Jenny can attach a drip. This is a crucial first step.'
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Why is it so important to get fluids in? Why is that urgent?
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Well, when the body's gone into shock,
0:15:34 > 0:15:37all the peripheral veins all close down
0:15:37 > 0:15:41and all the blood concentrates on keeping the heart pumping.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- Right.- So the outside starts to die
0:15:43 > 0:15:45because if there's no blood supply, the cells die.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49So get a drip in and that gets the whole circulation going again
0:15:49 > 0:15:53and you can get drugs in there as well to help.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57That's the life-saver. Do that first and everything else can take a little time.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02'With the drip attached, Jenny checks for serious injuries.'
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Can you feel any broken bones, Jenny?
0:16:06 > 0:16:08I can feel a step in the spine
0:16:08 > 0:16:11but there's not much going on with these.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13There's not much going on? What do you mean?
0:16:13 > 0:16:17There doesn't seem to be a lot of voluntary movement in the hindquarters.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22'It's feared the deer has suffered spinal damage.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27'It's secured on a stretcher, ready to be taken to Tiggywinkles.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30'Once there it will be x-rayed and a full diagnosis made.'
0:16:30 > 0:16:33She's stable at the moment. Let's get her back.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37The collision has been traumatic for the car driver, Holly, too.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43- Do you mind telling me how it happened?- I was just on the way back from shopping
0:16:43 > 0:16:45and it jumped straight in front of the car.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49It didn't look too healthy. I didn't think it would survive.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- And how long have you been waiting here with the deer? - About half an hour.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- I could see you when we arrived, you were...- I'm used to horses.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59- It's a bit smaller.- Yeah.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Holly did the right thing, calling Tiggywinkles.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05At least now this deer can get the treatment it needs.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10After 15 minutes, we arrive back at HQ.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15The deer was kicking up a bit on the way
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and Jenny the vet had to give it a dose of Valium.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21There it is, looking perky.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23I can hold that or the stretcher.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26She's had a lot of fluids. Look at the amount it's gone down.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30I'll take that. I've got one crashing in there, can you see to it?
0:17:31 > 0:17:34'As we get into the emergency room, it's all systems go.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37'There are another two deer in surgery that need treatment.'
0:17:40 > 0:17:45It really is all hands on deck, with three deer in the prep room at once,
0:17:45 > 0:17:48this one that we picked up and two more that have come in.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51That's right. This is all of a sudden.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54'Sadly, one of the sick deer is too ill to be saved.'
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- What's happening with that one, Jenny?- Her heart has stopped.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01'But for another, the prospects look better.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04'It has injuries that Les thinks can be treated.'
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- Ah, yeah.- Stitched it up. - That's a very typical injury, Tom,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10that we've seen a lot of in fallow deer.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Normal fences with the two wires along the top
0:18:13 > 0:18:16and they jump it and get one leg left behind caught in the wires.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19That's a very common injury. We try to save the foot.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22The hip sometimes comes out. Is that hip out?
0:18:22 > 0:18:25- It feels slightly swollen.- So we need an x-ray on that one as well.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30- Right.- OK.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33'With those two dealt with, our deer is next in line.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36'It's sedated before the x-ray.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40'Les and his team deal with deer that have been hit by cars every day.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43'Some can be saved but if the back is broken,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45'there's little that can be done.'
0:18:48 > 0:18:52These x-rays will pretty much give the verdict of life or death.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54The symptoms don't look good.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Maybe the x-rays will show something less serious.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00We'll know in a few minutes.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04'The x-ray image comes through and it appears to show a break
0:19:04 > 0:19:06'in the deer's spine.'
0:19:06 > 0:19:09If you look at the floors of the vertebral bodies
0:19:09 > 0:19:11and you've got a step up here.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- So it is probably a severed spinal cord, do you think?- Yeah.
0:19:16 > 0:19:17I would say so.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20'Jenny wants to see a different angle
0:19:20 > 0:19:22'but as the deer is manoeuvred...'
0:19:22 > 0:19:23There you go.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26'..Les finds more evidence to support the diagnosis.'
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Oh, look, she's got a fracture there as well.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33If her back was intact, that would be so painful,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35you just couldn't hold her still.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Because her back's broken, she can't feel this.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41So that's another clue that the nerve is severed.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44It's so sad. The poor girl that hit it,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46with these deer, you don't stand a chance.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48They just come over the hedge, just like that,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51and they land on top of you, sort of thing. You can't avoid them.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- Mm.- And I'm glad she stopped
0:19:53 > 0:19:58because a lot of people think they're breaking the law if they hit a deer, so they drive off
0:19:58 > 0:19:59and leave the deer there.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02She did the right thing. She stayed with it.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05I said to her to get a blanket, cover its head
0:20:05 > 0:20:06and that's the right thing to do.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09We can get out there and try and do something for the deer.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15'After several minutes, the second results are through
0:20:15 > 0:20:18'and they confirm our worst fears.'
0:20:18 > 0:20:21In that area, you've got that deviation of the spine, there.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24You can see it really clearly.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27The ladder rungs, if you'll forgive the amateur expression...
0:20:27 > 0:20:28- Absolutely!- ..go up there
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- and then it's off kilter. - It's moved to the side.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35So I would say we should probably euthanize the deer, unfortunately.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38And there's nothing you can do to mend a broken spinal cord?
0:20:38 > 0:20:40They can't even do it in humans.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43If a human does it, they're in a wheelchair.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46There's nothing you can do about it.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48She'd never be able to use her back end,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50so we'll have to put her to sleep.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55It's a sad end but at least by calling Tiggy's,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58the driver prevented the deer from suffering any longer.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03Meanwhile, there is good news for the young fallow that was caught in the fence.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Les is confident this one will be saved.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11For me, seeing Tiggy's emergency room full of so many deer
0:21:11 > 0:21:13has been incredible.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16'It's something Les and his team are used to
0:21:16 > 0:21:18'but I've never witnessed anything like it.'
0:21:18 > 0:21:22Is that pretty normal, the number of animals needing treatment,
0:21:22 > 0:21:23all those deer?
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Well, that's what happens here. We get animals the whole time
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and deer take over the place because they're so big.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Probably only one's going to survive. Is that quite a normal ratio?
0:21:33 > 0:21:36I'm afraid so. That's the unfortunate thing with deer.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40I think, unfortunately, with road traffic accidents,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43we can only look for one in three to survive.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46But at least the ones that don't survive,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48we can give them painkillers
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and we can give them a nice, humane release, if you like.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54They're not lying by the side of the road any more.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Later, proof there's still life in the old horse yet.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05He got love-struck.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Wherever, she is, he is and vice versa.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11They've built up a really close bond.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Earlier in the programme, we saw the aftermath of an operation
0:22:17 > 0:22:22to remove over 200 animals from a house in Tyneside.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25The breeder admitted to keeping them in unsuitable conditions
0:22:25 > 0:22:27and agreed to sign them over.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Now, concern is growing once again,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32as the RSPCA have received a tip-off
0:22:32 > 0:22:35there could be more animals at another location.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Gateshead, and the RSPCA has received a tip-off
0:22:44 > 0:22:48that the breeder is using these allotments to keep even more animals.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Chief Inspector Michelle Charlton has turned detective
0:22:54 > 0:22:57and is searching for the suspect plot.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00We've got hens and things down on that one.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02We're just having a look round,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05seeing if there's anything that would give us cause for concern.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08It's like looking for a needle in a haystack at the moment.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Earlier today, Michelle interviewed the breeder.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14He denied keeping animals at the allotments.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17He denied even visiting them.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Come down to the main road.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Michelle now wants to find out if he's telling the truth.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Let's see if we can go down the bottom and look up.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Small animals don't bark or make a noise
0:23:28 > 0:23:30to let you know whether they're there.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Find the precise plot is proving tough, though.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36We need to find somebody who might know something.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42But then Michelle gets a lucky break.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45She bumps into the site owner and his wife.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47They know the breeder very well.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51The man, who's called Alan, leads Michelle to a shed
0:23:51 > 0:23:53at the back of the plot,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55where she makes a surprising discovery.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57- Hello, again.- Hello.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02It's the breeder.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05You said you didn't come down the allotment any more.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Time for more questions.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10- So what are you doing down here, then?- Sorry?- What are you doing?
0:24:10 > 0:24:14- Helping.- Have you got animals here, have you?- No, I haven't.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16He hasn't.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19- But you did have until recently? - Yeah.- What did you have here?
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Some rabbits.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25- And where have they gone now? - And some guinea pigs. I think they're still here.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28- You think they're still here? - I don't know.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33He admits to keeping rabbits and guinea pigs here
0:24:33 > 0:24:37but he's now given them to Alan, who also keeps his own animals.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42This case has suddenly become much more complicated.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45You're dropping me in it here, man.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47- It's me that's... - Do you want to look at ours?
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Inside Alan's shed, it's clear he's struggling to cope, too.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55All the animals are living in dirty, cramped conditions.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01Michelle wants to know why Alan and his wife took on the animals.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06They claim it's because the breeder wasn't caring for them properly.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09We said, "Yeah, we'll take them on and feed them up.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11"We can't let them die."
0:25:11 > 0:25:17- So it's costing us an arm and a leg to feed the ones we've had to take from him.- Mm-hm.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20And he hasn't told these that he's had a rabbits and guinea pigs.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24Because you've ended up taking on animals that you didn't want,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27you can sign them over to the RSPCA as yours and we can take them
0:25:27 > 0:25:29but then we need to look at your animals
0:25:29 > 0:25:32to make sure that you're complying with the Animal Welfare Act.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36The size of your cages are far too small.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40If they're going to take his away, I would like them to take them away,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42and that means more room for mine.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48Alan agrees to sign over the extra animals that he took on from the breeder
0:25:48 > 0:25:50but he wants to keep his own.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Michelle's not satisfied.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56She thinks there will still be too many animals for Alan to cope with.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00If an independent vet agrees,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Alan may be forced to give up his own rabbits and guinea pigs, too.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07The animals can't really stay here.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11The way he's keeping his isn't conducive to animal welfare.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14To get them out, I need vans, I need transport.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Ideally, we need a vet.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18This is the joys of this job!
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Thinking on your feet and deciding what to do.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Michelle immediately calls for a vet and RSPCA assistance.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28It's rabbits and guinea pigs,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31so if you could help with moving them, that would be useful.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Thank you, Jackie.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38After half an hour, vet Graham Chambers arrives on the scene
0:26:38 > 0:26:41to assess the conditions for all the animals.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Obviously, looking at the size of the cages
0:26:44 > 0:26:46for the animals that are in there,
0:26:46 > 0:26:50the main thing is that we can see how they're cramped.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52They're cramped, there's a lack of bedding
0:26:52 > 0:26:54and there's the smell of the ammonia.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Graham concludes that the way the animals are kept is poor
0:26:58 > 0:27:01and do not reach the standards set by the Animal Welfare Act.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Frequently, animal owners like Alan are simply unaware
0:27:08 > 0:27:11of what the law now requires of them.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15We've obviously got to look at educating people
0:27:15 > 0:27:19and making people more aware of what is expected nowadays
0:27:19 > 0:27:20for looking after these animals
0:27:20 > 0:27:25and giving them decent bedding and cages and welfare for these animals.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30The team begin to remove the breeder's rabbits and guinea pigs.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Now Michelle can turn her attention to Alan.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38She wants him to realise that the way he's keeping his animals is unacceptable.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40But it all gets a bit too much.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45This has really knocked the stuffing out of me.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47We're giving him time to think about it
0:27:47 > 0:27:51because I'm not happy with the way he's keeping his animals
0:27:51 > 0:27:54but he's been dropped in it because of the other guy,
0:27:54 > 0:27:59so if he wants to sign them over and he does it willingly, that's the best way forward
0:27:59 > 0:28:03and I'll be able to go away happy the animals are being looked after
0:28:03 > 0:28:06and things are going to be better.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Alan has a hard decision to make.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10He's left to reflect on what's best for his animals
0:28:10 > 0:28:12but can he bear to let them go?
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Still to come.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26What about a compromise?
0:28:26 > 0:28:31We could take half of them tonight and leave you with half.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33This has really sickened me, now.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Now we return to the story of Victor,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42the poor old toothless horse found abandoned
0:28:42 > 0:28:44outside a gas works in Cardiff.
0:28:44 > 0:28:49When we left him, Victor had just arrived at the charity Horse World
0:28:49 > 0:28:53and now it's time for that long-overdue visit to the dentist.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Everyone's worried about the state of Victor's teeth.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10So specialist horse dentist Henry Bilson is taking a closer look.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17You can see from here he's actually missing his upper row of incisors.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20He should have six teeth along the top here
0:29:20 > 0:29:23and he's actually missing all of them.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27There's no way of knowing how Victor lost all those teeth.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30It could've been a trauma,
0:29:30 > 0:29:34ie, a kick or a bash and he's lost a lot of them.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37It could be partly due to his old age
0:29:37 > 0:29:41that they'd become very worn and then have eventually fallen out.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45Or it could've been due to cribbing,
0:29:45 > 0:29:47which is where a horse grabs a hard object
0:29:47 > 0:29:49and pulls on it all the time
0:29:49 > 0:29:54and over a period of years, this will wear the upper incisors very badly.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Now Henry needs to inspect the rest of Victor's teeth.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00With the top ones missing,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03it's essential his cheek teeth are in good condition.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06If they aren't, this could cause major problems.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09He has all his cheek teeth, which is very good news.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14The bad news is that Victor's cheek teeth aren't in very good nick.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17We've got all that grass packing in there,
0:30:17 > 0:30:19which will be quite sore for him.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21So we'll pick that out
0:30:21 > 0:30:25and then we'll just take off all the sharp edges on his teeth
0:30:25 > 0:30:26you can see here.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29There's a little ulceration to his tongue by my finger.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33This is from the sharp edges on the inside edge of the lower teeth.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Victor's going to need a lot of dental work
0:30:38 > 0:30:40and for that, he'll need to be sedated.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43So his next visit is from the vet, Nick Parkinson.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49A bit difficult to tell the age with so few teeth there
0:30:49 > 0:30:53but he's got to be probably in his thirties, I'd have thought.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57The life expectancy of a horse is 25 to 30 years,
0:30:57 > 0:31:01so in human terms, Victor is in his eighties.
0:31:01 > 0:31:02That all sounds pretty good.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04His heart and lungs are strong
0:31:04 > 0:31:07and there are no signs of any serious illness,
0:31:07 > 0:31:11so Nick is able to give Victor the sedative to help him through the dentistry.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20Right, now he's looking nice and sleepy, we'll get to work.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Henry has to grind down the sharp edges of Victor's teeth,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29which have been causing ulcers inside his mouth.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31The grass between his teeth comes out as well.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39OK, so this is the grass he's packing between two teeth.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43Very smelly and horrible and quite sore for a horse.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47The dentistry is over but there's no respite for the old boy.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Vet Nick returns to look at his skin problem.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Quite scurfy skin.
0:31:56 > 0:31:57Yeah.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00It seems Victor is riddled with lice.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03All these things on the hair are eggs, here.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06A few live ones, still.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11So this should kill all the lice. He might need a second injection in ten to 14 days.
0:32:13 > 0:32:14Victor can now relax.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20And his newly polished teeth can finally get stuck into some food.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23There we go, Victor.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25See how you get on with that, lad.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29Because of his lack of top teeth,
0:32:29 > 0:32:32Victor will always need long grass for grazing.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35During the winter, he'll need a special diet
0:32:35 > 0:32:39but he's in the right place for this level of care and attention.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42Well, he'll be able to have a really happy retirement here.
0:32:42 > 0:32:47He'll be in a field with horses of a similar age that need similar care
0:32:47 > 0:32:48and diet.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52It's nice to have him here and he can have a nice retirement
0:32:52 > 0:32:54and live out the rest of his days peacefully.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58Victor will spend his first three weeks in isolation
0:32:58 > 0:33:00to check he isn't carrying any diseases.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02But all horses love company
0:33:02 > 0:33:06and what this lonely old-timer needs now is a new friend.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19Five months later and there's some big news for Victor.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22It seems the old horse has an eye for the ladies.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Manager Jo Vaughan has had her work cut out.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30He came out of isolation into a field with some horses
0:33:30 > 0:33:32because he'd lived a long time on his own.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36And he got love-struck, very love-struck,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38with a bit of a spring chicken.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40Cos he's an old gentleman at 28.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43He fell in love with a little Shetland pony.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46He's very tottery on his old legs
0:33:46 > 0:33:50and we ended up, we had to take the lady away from him
0:33:50 > 0:33:54and give him a girlfriend more of his own age,
0:33:54 > 0:33:55which has settled him down.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59He's a lot calmer and he's quite happy now with his new girlfriend.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03The new girlfriend is Honey
0:34:03 > 0:34:07and Victor doesn't like being apart from her even for one second.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10I've just brought Victor up for his bath
0:34:10 > 0:34:13and he's getting really, really agitated because Honey isn't here,
0:34:13 > 0:34:18so Sarah has brought Honey up to keep him a bit calmer
0:34:18 > 0:34:19while he has his bath.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21She's there!
0:34:25 > 0:34:29It seems these two old horses are a match made in heaven.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33Victor will take a couple of steps in front of Honey
0:34:33 > 0:34:37and then won't go anywhere until Honey has walked in front of him.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Here she is. And we can go again.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52Honey and Victor aren't exactly going to gallop off into the sunset together
0:34:52 > 0:34:57but a bit of company and some long grass makes for a happy retirement.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01They both need the same feeding regime this time of the year,
0:35:01 > 0:35:05being very old and Victor having a lack of teeth.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08They graze together constantly out in the field.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11Wherever she is, he is and vice versa.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14They've built up a really close bond.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19Toothless and abandoned only just a few months ago,
0:35:19 > 0:35:23old Victor is living proof that it's never too late to find romance.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Earlier in the programme,
0:35:35 > 0:35:38we saw the RSPCA searching allotments in Gateshead.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42They were told this was where a prolific breeder was keeping
0:35:42 > 0:35:45dozens of rabbits and guinea pigs in bad conditions.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49Although the animals were there, the breeder denied they were his.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52He told Chief Inspector Michelle Charlton
0:35:52 > 0:35:55that he'd given the animals to the allotment's owner,
0:35:55 > 0:35:57a man called Alan.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01Alan immediately agreed to sign them over to the RSPCA
0:36:01 > 0:36:03but now there's another problem.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12The first part of this allotment rescue is almost complete.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15The team have removed the animals that belonged to the breeder.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20But Alan's rabbits and guinea pigs are also in poor conditions.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24I'll look after them. Come back in a week's time.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27And he's trying to decide whether signing them over
0:36:27 > 0:36:29is the kindest thing to do.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32What about a compromise?
0:36:32 > 0:36:36What about if we took half of them tonight and still left you with half?
0:36:36 > 0:36:39- The cages here aren't big enough. - This is it.
0:36:39 > 0:36:44- We'll let you put that right, can't you see?- No, just take them all.
0:36:44 > 0:36:45That would be best.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47This has really sickened me, now.
0:36:49 > 0:36:50Just take them, pet.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58With a heavy heart, Alan signs over his animals.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01I've been pulled into this situation through him
0:37:01 > 0:37:03and I'm really disgusted about it.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06There's nothing else I can do about it.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11Michelle lets him keep a couple of family favourites.
0:37:11 > 0:37:16If you want to pick out two or three to keep for your granddaughter.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19'That's a lot of animals for one person to look after.
0:37:19 > 0:37:20'That was part of the problem.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23'To look after that number of animals every day
0:37:23 > 0:37:25'takes a lot of time and a lot of effort.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29'But there's a new Animal Welfare Act.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33'People need to look at the cage sizes and give the animals space.'
0:37:33 > 0:37:37They need access to outside runs and fresh grass, that sort of thing.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40It's something that Alan now understands.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45But the lesson has been a painful one.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57In the end the RSPCA removed over 300 animals.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04Finding places for them to go will be a major operation.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10The rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks and chinchillas
0:38:10 > 0:38:13have been dispersed to all points of the compass.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17It's been a massive undertaking...
0:38:18 > 0:38:20that's involved people from all over the country.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30At the RSPCA home in Bawtry, South Yorkshire,
0:38:30 > 0:38:34Alison Pring has been trying to find homes for these chipmunks for a month.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40It's not easy when most visitors are only looking for cats and dogs.
0:38:40 > 0:38:45We've had no interest in the rodents that we've currently taken in.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50The chipmunks do have a lot of size requirements on the cages
0:38:50 > 0:38:54and the cost of the cages can be quite prohibitive to a lot of people.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58Obviously, they're not ideal pets for children, either,
0:38:58 > 0:39:01because they're very hyperactive and just need space.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05They're very much a visual pet rather than a handleable pet.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07All we're desperately requiring at the moment
0:39:07 > 0:39:11is for people to come forward and offer these animals a really nice home
0:39:11 > 0:39:13and a happy future ahead of them.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21Meanwhile in Northumberland, volunteer Brian is taking two rabbits
0:39:21 > 0:39:23to vet Kerry Taverner.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26They're about to have their health checks, ready to be rehomed.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29We're going to check both of them over.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32There's no known problems with them.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34Just to make sure that they're fit and healthy.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37We're going to vaccinate them today against myxomatosis,
0:39:37 > 0:39:39which, as everybody knows,
0:39:39 > 0:39:44is a very unpleasant and very common condition in wild rabbits.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46For rabbits that are in high-risk areas,
0:39:46 > 0:39:50it's recommended that they are vaccinated every six months.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Both these rabbits seem to be in good health.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56They're beautiful rabbits, very placid, very gentle,
0:39:56 > 0:39:59and hopefully they'll make very good pets for somebody.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04Next stop for these rabbits is Kathy Fisher,
0:40:04 > 0:40:07who's going to act as their foster carer until a new home is found.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11- All right?- Hello, Brian.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14They're just lovely little rabbits. They're full of fun.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17They're going to go to a really, really nice home.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19They're going to neutered on Monday
0:40:19 > 0:40:22and we'll keep them a couple of days, make sure they're all right.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26I just think they've all got their own little characters.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29They can be trained to be in the house. Kids have so much fun with them.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32They're just lovely. They're just gorgeous.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Yeah! They're very gorgeous!
0:40:39 > 0:40:41And 140 miles away,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44there's a happy ending for this family of chinchillas.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47They've travelled a long way from Tyneside
0:40:47 > 0:40:50and found a new home with this family in Doncaster.
0:40:50 > 0:40:51Nathalie...
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Holly, Rebecca and Sammy.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Ooh! A poo.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59They like animals in a big way.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03- We've got ten chickens. - Ten chickens, one dog.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07- One dog.- Two hamsters and...
0:41:07 > 0:41:09three chinchillas.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12So why take on three more?
0:41:12 > 0:41:15When we went to the RSPCA, I saw the chinchillas
0:41:15 > 0:41:18and I thought they was really cute.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21I got Charlie, the dad, out of the cage
0:41:21 > 0:41:23and he just snuggled up on me straight away.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26I thought, "I've got to take him home with me."
0:41:26 > 0:41:29They wasn't in a position where they was cared for before.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33I think it's really good that they've got somewhere to be looked after properly.
0:41:36 > 0:41:41This was a story that began with hundreds of small animals living in filth.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45It involved dozens of rescuers, countless man hours,
0:41:45 > 0:41:47and hundreds of road miles.
0:41:48 > 0:41:53But it ends here with well cared for animals and appreciative owners.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime
0:42:03 > 0:42:06or a creature that needs immediate protection,
0:42:06 > 0:42:10there are people out there who will answer your call around the clock.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12They're the people we meet on Animal 24:7.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Next time on Animal 24:7...
0:42:18 > 0:42:22Concern for the dog lover living in a World War II bunker.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25You shouldn't be in a state like that
0:42:25 > 0:42:27but I'm here to help you.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29All right, we can work together on this.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32Oh, yeah. I'd rather do that than lose my dogs.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36A breakthrough in the search for 11 missing donkeys.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39We scanned this donkey here
0:42:39 > 0:42:41and it turned out that he was a stolen donkey,
0:42:41 > 0:42:45which leads me to suspect that the other two may well be stolen as well.
0:42:46 > 0:42:47'And...'
0:42:47 > 0:42:51Here at the Leeds Dogs Trust they're struggling with a new breed -
0:42:51 > 0:42:53the sticky dog.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55What's that all about?
0:43:16 > 0:43:18Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:18 > 0:43:20E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk