0:00:04 > 0:00:06Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10All too often, our wildlife and domestic pets are victims of cruelty
0:00:10 > 0:00:13and persecution and neglect.
0:00:13 > 0:00:19Fighting to save them is a dedicated band of people trying to protect and care for them around the clock.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22This is Animal 24:7.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Today on Animal 24:7...
0:00:45 > 0:00:49It's my dog! Excuse me! Honestly, it's my dog.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54Mayhem as two dogs are taken from their owner.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57- I don't want dog to go!- Fine.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01The innocent victims of an illegal trade.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Keep a cold-blooded animal at the correct temperature or it will die.
0:01:05 > 0:01:12- And a perilous rescue... - I'm on the ledge now.- ..for the sheep trapped on a crumbling cliff.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Whoa, whoa, whoa.
0:01:20 > 0:01:26In too many parts of Britain dangerous dogs are becoming a real threat to humans and other animals.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31Sadly, Newham here in East London is just such a place.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34But they are tackling the problem head on.
0:01:37 > 0:01:45With its razor wire and CCTV, this compound could be mistaken for a maximum security jail.
0:01:47 > 0:01:53But the powerful deterrents here are to keep criminals and others out and away
0:01:53 > 0:01:57from the dangerous animals that have been taken away from them.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04All these dogs have been seized from owners who broke the law.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10Most are pit bull types and in the wrong hands can be used as weapons to intimidate
0:02:10 > 0:02:12and wreak havoc on our streets.
0:02:14 > 0:02:21'Tina Delaney is Newham's animal warden and is on the front line in the battle against dangerous dogs.'
0:02:24 > 0:02:28- So who are we about to meet? - We're meeting Mano and Blackie.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Mano is a male pit bull terrier.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36And Blackie is a female. They were both seized together.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41- I can hear them!- Yes.- Will they be charming and friendly?- They will be.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46'These two dogs were seized from an owner suspected of using them for fighting.'
0:02:46 > 0:02:50- Keen to get out.- Yes. Good boy.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56- So he's a pit bull type? - Yes, he's very athletic.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58You can feel how muscly he is.
0:02:58 > 0:03:04That's without us building him up with a diet that would help him define that muscle
0:03:04 > 0:03:09- and build it.- But he is classed as a dangerous dog?- He is, yes.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11That's the definition by law.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15There's a problem with people using dogs as status symbols, as weapons.
0:03:15 > 0:03:22And intimidating people, fighting their dogs and killing local cats. They're the general complaints.
0:03:24 > 0:03:30'Although Mano is good-natured with people, he is aggressive with other dogs.'
0:03:30 > 0:03:36- If another dog walked in here, he would attack it.- Really? - And it would probably be fatal.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40- And you just can't have that risk on the street.- No.
0:03:40 > 0:03:46If you have a dog that's so dangerous, athletic and powerful and an irresponsible owner with that,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50you have a dog that can cause fatalities.
0:03:50 > 0:03:56'Mano is just one of thousands of dangerous dogs that have been seized from our towns and cities.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02'Tina and her team regularly patrol the streets, serving warrants on owners suspected of keeping
0:04:02 > 0:04:07'aggressive animals. Today is no exception.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13'It's late afternoon.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18'We're on the road tracking down dangerous dogs and their owners.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22'Our first call is to a terrorised neighbourhood.'
0:04:22 > 0:04:28- What's the story?- We've had complaints that two pit bulls are jumping into people's gardens.
0:04:28 > 0:04:35We have had a problem with noise there. He's breached an abatement notice and is being prosecuted.
0:04:35 > 0:04:41We've now had complaints that the dogs are pit bulls. We're just going to make sure that isn't the case.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45'With police back-up, the team closes in on their target.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54'No answer at the front door, so Tina tries a different approach.'
0:04:54 > 0:04:57London Borough of Newham, Animal Welfare and the police.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02'She asks one of the houses on the street for access to the rear.'
0:05:05 > 0:05:11- It looks like the dogs aren't here. What do you think, Tina?- No. It looks like the person's left.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15There has been signs of dogs. It's quite smelly.
0:05:15 > 0:05:22- Dirty, too.- They've been scratching and biting at the door and there's old faeces. Looks like he moved out.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26The neighbour said the dogs haven't been here for about a week.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Maybe because the council are prosecuting him, he's moved on.
0:05:30 > 0:05:36- It's terrifying for the neighbours. They just jump the fence. - Yeah, the fence is quite loose.
0:05:36 > 0:05:43- It would be really easy for a medium-sized dog to scale that regardless of its breed.- Really?
0:05:43 > 0:05:49These are one of the things we need to stop. We're here because the dogs have been terrorising the neighbours
0:05:49 > 0:05:53and we have to make sure jumping over into gardens doesn't continue.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57- You can see why the neighbourhood is upset, can't you?- Yes.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02'This owner is one step ahead of the patrol.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07'But our beat has only just begun.'
0:06:10 > 0:06:12So here what are we expecting?
0:06:12 > 0:06:17- Here we've got, allegedly, four dogs in a community...- Four?
0:06:17 > 0:06:21..that the neighbours feel are pit bull terriers.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26- 'This owner is quickly tracked down.'- Animal Welfare Service.
0:06:26 > 0:06:32- 'Tina is able to confront him.' - We've had a complaint about the type of dogs.- Eh?- The type of dogs.
0:06:32 > 0:06:38- What dogs do you have? - They're Staffs.- Can I have a look? - Yeah, darling.- Thank you.
0:06:38 > 0:06:44'The owner claims his dogs are Staffordshire bull terriers, a breed not on the banned list.
0:06:44 > 0:06:50'Tina still needs to check. And it's not just the type of dog that's an issue here.'
0:06:50 > 0:06:54- You have a community area.- Yeah. - A community area.
0:06:54 > 0:07:01- Your neighbours are complaining that you are allowing your dogs in the community area.- Never, darling.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08'Now it's time to find out what's really going on at these flats.'
0:07:11 > 0:07:14'Later:
0:07:14 > 0:07:18'I realise just how dangerous Tina's job can be.'
0:07:18 > 0:07:23You can see why they'd scare people if they're around a communal area.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27'And cracking down on a cruel trade.'
0:07:27 > 0:07:32There's an overcrowding issue. You've got five birds in a cage.
0:07:34 > 0:07:40Now we're off to the Pembrokeshire coast. It's an area of outstanding beauty,
0:07:40 > 0:07:46but as this next story shows, the high cliffs can also be extremely dangerous.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56The Blue Lagoon in South Wales.
0:07:56 > 0:08:02This former slate quarry is now a beauty spot, popular with tourists and wildlife.
0:08:04 > 0:08:09Sheep graze happily high above the cliffs, but one's got into trouble.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Big trouble.
0:08:21 > 0:08:28It's stuck on a crumbling ledge and is inches away from falling hundreds of feet to the rocks below.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Ah, it's there.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Oh, blimey.
0:08:34 > 0:08:40Inspector Keith Hogben is part of the RSPCA's specialist Rope Rescue team and has been scrambled
0:08:40 > 0:08:43into action.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48Usually they see a nice bit of lush grass and they just follow the path or something down.
0:08:48 > 0:08:53It's all right for the sheep to get down, but not back up.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59Keith and his colleague Richard Abbott have rescued dozens of sheep here before,
0:08:59 > 0:09:03but this case has an added danger - the cliff is crumbling away.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08The problem is this ledge is very loose. It's not flat as well.
0:09:08 > 0:09:15I haven't abseiled down there before, so there will be a lot more debris to follow as we come down.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23The team begins to prepare for this hazardous operation.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Richard will man the rescue from the top of the cliff.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Whoa!
0:09:29 > 0:09:34Keith and Inspector Christine McNeill will go over the edge...
0:09:34 > 0:09:38just as the weather takes a turn for the worse.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43It's starting to rain a bit. That's made the slate slippery.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Slip and you could injure yourself.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49The climbers begin their dangerous descent.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Go, go, go, baby!
0:09:53 > 0:10:00- Keith successfully negotiates the tricky terrain.- I'm on the ledge now and on the safety, all right?
0:10:00 > 0:10:03But then there's a problem.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Whoa, whoa, whoa.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07ROCKS TUMBLE
0:10:07 > 0:10:12The cliff is falling away beneath Christine's feet.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17Right. Christine's in no man's land. She's dangling there.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22She's on no secure ground. She's trying to find a secure footing.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27OK, tell her to find a hold. We'll shift your line first.
0:10:27 > 0:10:33If need be, we'll get her to follow the path you've just done.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37OK. Don't do anything until I give you the OK.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42- Christine finally gets her footing. - Nice and easy.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Keith attempts to grab the sheep.
0:10:45 > 0:10:51- Whoa, whoa, whoa.- But the animal panics and moves further down.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55This cliff face is literally falling apart.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00And the sheep is becoming more stressed. There's a danger it could jump.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Then suddenly Keith loses his footing
0:11:04 > 0:11:09and the terrified animal panics and jumps.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Down, is he?
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Everybody holds their breath.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Blimey.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19But then...
0:11:21 > 0:11:23The sheep nonchalantly emerges.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Yeah, it's gone to the next ledge, which I think it can walk off.
0:11:27 > 0:11:33It's a great relief for Keith and the team
0:11:33 > 0:11:37and the sheep trots off blissfully unaware of all the fuss.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42Sheep do jump. That's one of the hazards of these cliff rescues.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47I've been doing this for 10 years or so and never had an injured sheep.
0:11:47 > 0:11:53They can jump 20, 30 foot. That one was fine. It trotted off on the footbridge. He's happy.
0:11:53 > 0:11:59Hopefully it's learned its lesson not to go off looking for fresh grass,
0:11:59 > 0:12:05but I dare say we will have another call within the month or so for another sheep at this location.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20'Coming up: another animal gives Keith the runaround.'
0:12:20 > 0:12:22All right!
0:12:22 > 0:12:24All right...
0:12:24 > 0:12:31- 'And hostility on the Dangerous Dogs patrol.' - I don't want this dog to go!
0:12:31 > 0:12:33That's fine.
0:12:36 > 0:12:42Exotic animals like snakes, parrots and tortoises have become popular pets.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47With this demand there's been a huge rise in the trade for people selling them,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50a business governed by strict rules.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54But despite this, some people are prepared to ignore the law
0:12:54 > 0:12:57often putting the animals' lives at risk.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Northumbria Police Station, Newcastle.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Area Command HQ.
0:13:06 > 0:13:12RSPCA Inspector Trevor Walker and a team of police officers are preparing to mount a raid.
0:13:12 > 0:13:19Intelligence suggests someone in the area has been illegally trading in exotic animals.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23He was first prosecuted in 1994 for causing suffering to tortoises.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28It must have been substantial to get a 20-year ban. Banned until 2014.
0:13:28 > 0:13:35What this guy has continued to do is appears to have traded in exotics, basically parrots and tortoises.
0:13:35 > 0:13:42This is a two-pronged attack. One team will visit the suspect's home, the second a lock-up
0:13:42 > 0:13:47- where it's believed he's based. - He's part of a bigger circle.
0:13:47 > 0:13:55It could well lead to a lot of other things, but the first priority is if there are animals, remove them
0:13:55 > 0:13:58and we'll sort it out later on.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Trevor is leading his team to the lock-up unit.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Anyone trading in exotics must have a licence.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10So Trevor will be searching for evidence of illegal trading.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16There are no animals inside the unit, but suspicions are raised.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21The room is stacked floor to ceiling with crates designed for one thing.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- I mean, these are all tortoise boxes. - Are they?- Yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31We'll have one of these open and see what's inside.
0:14:32 > 0:14:38Trevor wastes no time in looking for clues that could lead to a conviction.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43So why is somebody who is disqualified in keeping animals dealing in cages?
0:14:43 > 0:14:46These are obviously bird cages.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52The team beings to load the vans with the boxes.
0:14:54 > 0:15:00Meanwhile, across town, the other team has finished their search of the suspect's home.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Although they failed to find any animals,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08they found some paperwork that opens an entirely new line of inquiry.
0:15:11 > 0:15:16It appears the suspect has been supplying animal cages to another location.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21- Police went straight to the second address...- Will do. Cheers, mate.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23..and now have news for Trevor.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28They've got out there and there is bats and parrots there.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31And there's some tortoises as well.
0:15:31 > 0:15:37I think if we go round and have a look and see what condition they're in.
0:15:37 > 0:15:44Trevor wants to know if these animals have been supplied by the original suspect.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47He heads straight to the new address.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52On arrival, it's instantly clear there are serious issues here.
0:15:53 > 0:15:59Inside the dark and damp garage, the team finds parrots crammed in cages.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06And tortoises being kept in inappropriate conditions.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11There's an overcrowding issue. You've got five birds per cage.
0:16:11 > 0:16:18Trevor believes the animals are suffering and that this man is trading in pets illegally.
0:16:18 > 0:16:24When you consider that we're investigating potential dealing in exotic birds and tortoises
0:16:24 > 0:16:28and we've just happened to come across exotic birds and tortoises,
0:16:28 > 0:16:35the suspicion is that this is possibly part of the ring that we were looking at earlier today.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40Trevor is concerned about the health of these animals.
0:16:40 > 0:16:46All are seized. 10 parrots and 8 tortoises are boxed and put in the vans.
0:16:47 > 0:16:53The man at this address denies any link with the other suspect, but is arrested.
0:17:00 > 0:17:07- Hi, there!- Animal collection officer Dave Dawson rushes the animals to the local vet, Jacquie Paterson.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11These are actually leopard tortoises.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13They come from sub-Saharan Africa,
0:17:13 > 0:17:20so they're not like the classic Blue Peter tortoise that you can get away with holding in your garden.
0:17:20 > 0:17:25These require very high temperatures all year round. They don't hibernate.
0:17:25 > 0:17:31These tortoises are lucky to be alive, but have not come away completely unscathed.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35You can also tell that these have not been well looked after
0:17:35 > 0:17:40because you have this doming of the shell. It should be smooth.
0:17:40 > 0:17:46This doming, we call it pyramiding, is a sign, basically, that they have not had sufficient calcium
0:17:46 > 0:17:53or UV light. If you don't keep a cold-blooded animal at the correct temperature, it can't function.
0:17:53 > 0:18:00It significantly affects its physiology. It may still move about, may eat a little or grow a little,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03it's going to die.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06It seems they've been found in time,
0:18:06 > 0:18:11but now the tortoises need urgent veterinary treatment.
0:18:11 > 0:18:19We need to get them warmed up, rehydrated. We'll take weights before and after they drink.
0:18:19 > 0:18:24We'll almost certainly need antibiotics. I'm suspicious that they've been poorly kept.
0:18:26 > 0:18:33All the tortoises are given a full examination, a shot of antibiotics and then put in a much-needed bath
0:18:33 > 0:18:36to warm up and rehydrate.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Next, it's time for the parrots.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46They have been crammed in a small cage, unable to spread their wings.
0:18:46 > 0:18:52The back of his head's missing its feathers. That's almost certainly another bird pecking at him.
0:18:52 > 0:18:58That goes on with the cage being so small. You get a large number of birds in a small space
0:18:58 > 0:19:04and they pick on one of them. He's getting a bit duffed up, which isn't very pleasant.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06You'll calm down, won't you?
0:19:08 > 0:19:12This case has taken a completely new direction.
0:19:12 > 0:19:19The RSPCA still has plenty of questions to ask and much more to investigate,
0:19:19 > 0:19:26but for now at least the animals are safe and in the best place to begin their recovery.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38Coming up: the injured swan determined not to give up.
0:19:38 > 0:19:45It's quite upbeat. A lot of animals, you can tell if they want to live. He's got the chance to live.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52The Dangerous Dogs Act bans the ownership of certain breeds,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55but any dog can be a threat to the public.
0:19:55 > 0:20:02Specialist units have been set up across the country to crack down on aggressive, intimidating dogs.
0:20:02 > 0:20:08As I found out, it's a job that can take officers face to face with hostility.
0:20:15 > 0:20:22'I'm on patrol with Tina Delaney, on the lookout for dangerous dogs in the London Borough of Newham.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28'55 animals were seized in the district last year.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35'Now Tina's received reports that this owner may have four pit bulls.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40'Residents have also complained that the dogs are terrorising the flats.'
0:20:40 > 0:20:47I'm not suggesting they're vicious, but your neighbours complained about them being in the community garden.
0:20:47 > 0:20:53- 'The owner agrees to show Tina his pets, but he warns they can be boisterous,'- OK.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- They jump on you.- That's OK.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04'The owner has denied owning a banned breed,
0:21:04 > 0:21:08'but after a quick glance Tina fears the opposite.'
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Tony, move the van. Move the van.
0:21:12 > 0:21:18- What were those instructions? - To move the van. From the immediate look at the dogs,
0:21:18 > 0:21:21two may be pit bull types.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25- MAN YELLS - 'Inside, the owner is struggling to control his dogs.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30'Everyone is on high alert.'
0:21:32 > 0:21:38- OK. What I want to do...- Yeah? - ..is see one of them at a time on its own.
0:21:38 > 0:21:44- I'm going to give you a lead. Bring one of them at a time out. - No problem.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48'The first dog emerges gingerly from the flat.'
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Hello. MAN SHOUTS
0:21:51 > 0:21:55That's OK. You don't need to shout. He's fine.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- Hello. - What are you seeing there, Tina?
0:21:58 > 0:22:05- This one's just a sort of Staffie type. She's quite nervous. - 'It's calm and not a pit bull.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09'But the second dog to come to the door is boisterous and powerful.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12'The owner quickly loses control.'
0:22:12 > 0:22:14YELLING
0:22:18 > 0:22:22- 'A frantic case of containment.' - Is that door shut downstairs?
0:22:22 > 0:22:26- 'Four powerful dogs in a small stairwell.'- Give me a lead.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33It's chaos here. He's clearly got no control over his dogs.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37- I'm not worried about him biting me. - He won't bite you.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Thankfully, no evidence yet of them being aggressive in any way,
0:22:41 > 0:22:46but you can see why they'd scare people in a communal area.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50'The priority is to make sure no one else is put at risk.'
0:22:50 > 0:22:55Want to grab hold of that one? Take him and put him in a room.
0:22:55 > 0:23:02- 'Finally, the team restores some kind of order.' - I'm just going to hold the door, OK?
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Calm down, it's OK.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08'But Tina knows that something here has to change.'
0:23:08 > 0:23:14Tina's gone inside, but we felt it was best if I stayed out. It was getting overheated and overexcited.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17And the gentleman was a bit upset.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21You can see them coming to the letterbox still.
0:23:21 > 0:23:27Apparently, this is a council property and he's not allowed this many dogs here.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30As to the breeds, they're having a closer look.
0:23:32 > 0:23:38'If the owner doesn't agree to give up some of the dogs, he could face eviction.'
0:23:38 > 0:23:43Rather than making you get rid of all four, which will upset you even more,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46if you give me two...
0:23:46 > 0:23:51'The owner finally realises he has no option.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55'He signs over two dogs, but as they leave, it all becomes too much.'
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- You make me sick!- I understand that. - You make me sick!
0:24:00 > 0:24:06'Tempers are fraying and as the dogs emerge, the situation becomes tense again.'
0:24:06 > 0:24:08MAN SHOUTS
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Don't let me see them!
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Good.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22'Tina has to work quickly and calmly.'
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Come on.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27'The dogs are becoming stressed.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31'And there's another barrage of hostility.'
0:24:32 > 0:24:36That's my dog! Excuse me! Honestly, it's my dog.
0:24:36 > 0:24:42'The owner's family and friends have now turned up and tensions are rising.'
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Where are you taking him?
0:24:46 > 0:24:48MAN ARGUES
0:24:50 > 0:24:56'Tina and the police must now try to restore calm to a volatile situation.'
0:24:59 > 0:25:06- Right, if I talk to you on your own...- I don't want to talk to you! - That's fine, that's fine.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Please! Leave me alone!
0:25:12 > 0:25:17As you can see, it's getting quite overheated here.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21One of the younger men is claiming the dogs belong to him,
0:25:21 > 0:25:25rather than the gentleman who is getting very overexcited.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29We'll let Tina and the police handle it.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33'Tina explains to the owner's son why she had to act.'
0:25:33 > 0:25:39What's going to happen is the council will evict him because he's got four dogs. If he doesn't get rid of two,
0:25:39 > 0:25:45- he'll have to get rid of all four or be evicted.- "It's been a difficult and tense job,
0:25:45 > 0:25:51- 'but the owner should now find it easier to cope.'- The difficulty is living in a residential block,
0:25:51 > 0:25:59using the community garden. He can't control the dogs and obviously he's an older gentleman.
0:25:59 > 0:26:05When he opened the door, four dogs ran out and he was hitting them, trying to control them.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10- That isn't going to work. - And it was pretty scary for us.
0:26:10 > 0:26:16- Imagine if you had toddlers or an old person.- Yeah. - A frail old person.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21- You'd just be bamboozled by that. - Or even just a regular member of the public.
0:26:21 > 0:26:28'Tina will continue to monitor this case. If she receives any more complaints, she'll be back.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36'For now, though, as darkness begins to fall, we're back on patrol.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40'There's one last job Tina needs to attend.'
0:26:40 > 0:26:46- What's the story behind these doors? - We've had complaints of two dogs of a pit bull type
0:26:46 > 0:26:52that he sets onto people. So we need to investigate the possibility they're pits,
0:26:52 > 0:26:57but also that he has two dogs that he may set onto people.
0:26:57 > 0:27:03'With allegations the dogs have been used as weapons, this could be a serious case.'
0:27:16 > 0:27:20- Still to come:- My problem is that you have a dangerous dog.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23You can't use a dog as protection.
0:27:26 > 0:27:34Earlier in the programme, we saw RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben rescue a sheep that was stranded.
0:27:34 > 0:27:40Now he's about to embark on another difficult job. This time it's on the water.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50On this canal in Cardiff, a bird needs help.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56This male mute swan has damaged both wings.
0:27:56 > 0:28:01He can't fly and is in real danger of being attacked by predators.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Here he is.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09Let's just drop down here nice and slowly.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13The RSPCA has already tried and failed to rescue him.
0:28:13 > 0:28:18I'm just going to try to coax him in with some bread.
0:28:18 > 0:28:24But today Inspector Keith Hogben is back with a team determined to have another go.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28Both his wings are injured, damaged. We're not too sure how.
0:28:28 > 0:28:35It may have been power lines or a number of reasons. He needs to come off and see a vet.
0:28:35 > 0:28:40The first thing is trying to catch him. We could be here all day.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Plans to grab the bird with a swan hook are not going well.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47He's very wary, isn't he, of the hooks?
0:28:49 > 0:28:52So it's time to take to the water.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55One, two, three.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57One, two, three.
0:28:59 > 0:29:00OK.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06The chase is on. This swan has to be caught and has to be caught now.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11The team is gaining on the swan.
0:29:13 > 0:29:19- Nigel manoeuvres the boat. Keith can attempt to catch it. - Gently, gently, Nige. Hang on.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23But then...
0:29:23 > 0:29:27- That's the engine. - ..the boat's engine fails.
0:29:27 > 0:29:32- I think he's struggling in the weed. - Yeah.- I know you are as well.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40- OK, here we go. - The boat closes in once more.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44The longer this rescue goes on, the more stressed the swan becomes.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Keith makes his move.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49All right.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52All right...
0:29:52 > 0:29:55- Hold him. - SWAN HISSES AND CRIES
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Fine.
0:29:58 > 0:30:05- With the bird so frightened... - Hang on.- ..Keith has to work quickly to calm it down.
0:30:06 > 0:30:14You could see the swan is still very mobile and he gave us the runaround.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19- The main thing is we've caught him. - Back on dry land, the priority is medical help.
0:30:22 > 0:30:28He's quickly boxed up and he's now ready for his journey to the surgery.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34A mile away is Valley Vets.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41Experienced bird surgeon Jordi Colas begins his examinations.
0:30:42 > 0:30:43Ssh.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49Right, there's nothing. I can see there's no blood.
0:30:49 > 0:30:54- The colour of the mucous membrane is good.- All right, you.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Just check there's nothing in the throat.
0:30:57 > 0:31:02There are no clues as to why the bird can't fly.
0:31:02 > 0:31:08- There's no obvious fractures. - So Jordi decides further investigation is needed.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13Just in case, it would make sense to take x-rays from the wing.
0:31:13 > 0:31:19If the x-rays show the wing has been broken, the bird may have to be put to sleep.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22Keith's tense, but the first results are promising.
0:31:22 > 0:31:29- There's no indication of an obvious fracture.- On any of the x-rays, there's no indication?- Exactly.
0:31:29 > 0:31:34So if you send him away with meds and just keep observations...?
0:31:34 > 0:31:40- Well, it's not that simple.- OK. - Because then we have these images.
0:31:40 > 0:31:46The x-rays of the bird's chest seem to indicate severe swelling and bruising.
0:31:46 > 0:31:51I don't think that we have a diagnosis at the moment,
0:31:51 > 0:31:56but I suspect that there may be there is an organ problem.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Now we have several options.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03Option one is to see how the bird responds,
0:32:03 > 0:32:10with rehabilitation, with medication based on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.
0:32:11 > 0:32:18But if we don't see a good response to the treatment, we will have to consider taking further tests.
0:32:18 > 0:32:24It's still unclear how the swan received the injury, but Keith hopes that, given time,
0:32:24 > 0:32:28- the bird may pull through. - I'm still positive.
0:32:28 > 0:32:34We haven't put him to sleep. He's hanging in there. The swan itself is quite upbeat.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39A lot of animals, you can tell by their attitude if they want to live.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43If he can go back to the wild 100% fit, great.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Tinkers Hill bird sanctuary.
0:32:54 > 0:33:01For the past 8 weeks, the swan has been recuperating here under the care of Maria Evans.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04- Is this him at the back?- Yeah. - Oh, wow.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07He's on his feet. Hello, handsome!
0:33:07 > 0:33:12It turned out he was suffering from nerve damage, but now he's fit,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15healthy and ready to go home.
0:33:15 > 0:33:21Nerve damage, you never know. There's no treatment for it and you never know how long it'll be.
0:33:21 > 0:33:28- It's just been a case of rest?- Yes. - Maria rehabilitates hundreds of swans here every year.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30Years of experience doing that!
0:33:30 > 0:33:35And she's a dab hand at catching and carrying her patients.
0:33:35 > 0:33:40- Thanks for taking him back.- I've got the best job - releasing him!
0:33:43 > 0:33:47It's a two-hour drive back to the canal where he was found.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52It'll be nice to see him go.
0:33:52 > 0:33:58Keith is met by Animal Collection Officer Fiona Jackson, who helped with the original rescue.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Just watch your footing here.
0:34:01 > 0:34:06The swan is bright, alert and seems to sense he's home.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09All right?
0:34:11 > 0:34:13This is the best part of the job.
0:34:13 > 0:34:19Nothing beats it. We're so privileged to be able to help wildlife out like this
0:34:19 > 0:34:25and to get any wild animal back to where it's from, 100% fit, in its proper surroundings,
0:34:25 > 0:34:33you can't ask for more than that. From the bit of stress he had when we caught him with the boat,
0:34:33 > 0:34:38you wouldn't think it was the same swan. So I'm really pleased.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40Yeah, it's made my week.
0:34:49 > 0:34:55Finally, we're back with Tina Delaney who's been cracking down on dangerous dogs in Newham.
0:34:55 > 0:35:02Earlier we seized two unruly animals who'd been terrorising residents in a block of flats.
0:35:02 > 0:35:08Now we'd been called to a house where neighbours have complained that a dog is used as a weapon.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17'Our shift on the streets of Newham is coming to a close,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20'but there's one more complaint to investigate.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26'There are reports that the dog at this house is being used to intimidate and attack people.'
0:35:26 > 0:35:32- Where's your dogs?- 'The dog's owner doesn't speak much English, leaving her son to translate.'
0:35:32 > 0:35:37- Is he OK with strange people? - No, he just tries to protect us.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41OK, you need to put him on a lead, then.
0:35:41 > 0:35:46'The dog, a Shar Pei, is brought to the door. Although not on the banned list,
0:35:46 > 0:35:49'there's no doubt it's aggressive.'
0:35:57 > 0:36:03'It appears these owners are not in control of their dog. Tina is extremely concerned.'
0:36:03 > 0:36:08My concern is that if this dog is walked out in a public place,
0:36:08 > 0:36:11he may actually attack people.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14'With the dog locked away, Tina can ask her questions.'
0:36:14 > 0:36:19If you had the dog and I asked you the time, how would he respond?
0:36:19 > 0:36:22How would it behave?
0:36:22 > 0:36:25THEY DISCUSS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:36:27 > 0:36:29My mum says he may attack.
0:36:29 > 0:36:35OK. My problem is that you have a dangerous dog. Can you tell that to your mum?
0:36:35 > 0:36:40'But the owner explains there is a reason why her dog is aggressive.
0:36:40 > 0:36:45'She feels vulnerable in the area and uses the dog as protection.'
0:36:45 > 0:36:50So your mum's saying she's scared to go out, yeah? Scared out?
0:36:52 > 0:36:58You can't use a dog as protection. It's against the law. Your dog needs to be muzzled in a public place.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02We've had complaints about him being aggressive.
0:37:04 > 0:37:11'Tina is left in no doubt - this dog is a threat to the public.'
0:37:11 > 0:37:18This needs to be taken further. When he's out, it's a case of when he's going to bite, not if.
0:37:18 > 0:37:24- Can I have something with your mum's name on it, please? - 'Action needs to be taken.'
0:37:24 > 0:37:31The story behind that door is it's not a banned breed. It's a Shar Pei, but it seemed pretty aggressive
0:37:31 > 0:37:38and the mother in the house suggested it's quite...aggressive when it meets people on the street.
0:37:38 > 0:37:43So Tina thinks it should be muzzled. That's what she's getting across.
0:37:43 > 0:37:49- 'The family is served with a restriction order.'- As soon as you go outside with the dog,
0:37:49 > 0:37:53you must have a muzzle on him. Thank you very much.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57'This dog must now wear a muzzle every time it leaves the house.'
0:37:57 > 0:38:02That was apparently a family who didn't want to cause harm.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06- They were fearful, not aggressive. - No, not aggressive themselves,
0:38:06 > 0:38:12but she's saying in the community she's very afraid and she needs something to protect her.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15She's using him to protect her.
0:38:15 > 0:38:22What our difficulty is, if somebody approaches her to ask the time or just ask her a question,
0:38:22 > 0:38:28then the dog will bite. what he's just said is if he shakes the dog's lead, the dog attacks.
0:38:28 > 0:38:34He's taught the dog to do that. So it's not a pit bull type and is not by law dangerous,
0:38:34 > 0:38:39through its sheer nature and training it is being used as a weapon.
0:38:39 > 0:38:46'Tina will check on this case. If the dog is seen out without a muzzle, it could be seized.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57'It's half past nine. Our patrol has now come to an end,
0:38:57 > 0:39:02'but before we call it a night we need to settle down the two dogs from earlier.'
0:39:02 > 0:39:05A bit less crazy now, aren't you?
0:39:05 > 0:39:11'A couple of hours ago, Simba and Wine were seized from an irate owner.'
0:39:11 > 0:39:16- Give me a lead.- 'It was a stressful situation for all,
0:39:16 > 0:39:19'but especially the dogs.'
0:39:22 > 0:39:26- They look all right now they're out. A bit less mad.- Yes.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30What does the future hold for these two immediately?
0:39:30 > 0:39:35Both will be assessed. They seem to be quite nice dogs.
0:39:35 > 0:39:42A bit nervous at the moment coming in to a new environment. They probably haven't been walked much.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46He's an elderly gentleman with four dogs. They'll need socialising.
0:39:46 > 0:39:51What I'm quite encouraged about is they're more likely to find a home.
0:39:51 > 0:39:56When I saw them charging about, I wasn't sure who'd want them.
0:39:56 > 0:40:03The test is whether they're OK with strange dogs and how they are once they feel more confident.
0:40:03 > 0:40:09It's interesting how much calmer they seem here. In that hall they were crashing about.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13- In the flat they were going crazy. - They had a very small environment.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17The four of them form a pack. They are more boisterous.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21He's not got any control over them.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26Here it's new, they're not together and they're easier to manage.
0:40:26 > 0:40:31We need to get these two a square meal and into a kennel. Just before we get rid of them,
0:40:31 > 0:40:37we started the day thinking we might find a few banned breeds, pit-type breeds. In the end, we didn't,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40but we found dogs causing problems.
0:40:40 > 0:40:46Often, once people see a kind of bull-breed dog, they don't know a pit bull from a Staff or cross.
0:40:46 > 0:40:53They just see this broad head and those kind of eyes and think, "It's a pit bull!"
0:40:53 > 0:40:59Absolutely. The main thing is, it's positive. We've gone out, executed a few warrants,
0:40:59 > 0:41:05we haven't found any banned breeds, so we're doing our job properly. There's hardly any about.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09We have found a few problems, we'll hopefully help to solve.
0:41:09 > 0:41:16- These two will go, hopefully, to a nice home. The Shar Pei... - Will get a muzzle on.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20So it can't cause a problem and it prevents a bite, hopefully.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25We haven't seized any banned breeds, but we have made a difference.
0:41:25 > 0:41:31'These dogs will now undergo assessments to find out whether they are safe to get new homes.
0:41:37 > 0:41:42'It's a month later and time to check on Simba and Wine's progress.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49'They have both passed all their personality tests
0:41:49 > 0:41:54'and are now blossoming in the kennels.'
0:41:54 > 0:41:56They are really gentle and nice.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01She's got a bit more energy and needs more training than he does.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06But they are very soft and gentle, they're OK with other dogs, nice with people.
0:42:09 > 0:42:16'Simba and Wine's story was one of two dogs in the wrong home and there is a happy ending.'
0:42:16 > 0:42:21We're confident of them being re-homed. We have got a few rescues on the list.
0:42:21 > 0:42:26When a space is available, they'll go to that, neutered and vaccinated.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30'But for Tina, her work to improve the lives of dogs like these
0:42:30 > 0:42:34'and make our streets a safer place will continue.'
0:42:34 > 0:42:36Good boy.
0:42:41 > 0:42:47If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime or a creature that needs immediate protection,
0:42:47 > 0:42:53there are dedicated professionals out there who will answer your call right around the clock.
0:42:53 > 0:42:58They are the people we meet on Animal 24:7.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2010
0:43:15 > 0:43:17Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk