0:00:03 > 0:00:05Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08All too often our wildlife and domestic pets
0:00:08 > 0:00:12are the victims of cruelty, persecution and neglect.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Fighting to save them is a dedicated band of people,
0:00:15 > 0:00:18trying to protect and care for them right around the clock.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21This is Animal 24:7.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Today on Animal 24:7...
0:00:45 > 0:00:47A pit bull. You know they're banned?
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Used and abused,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52the dogs being kept as a show of strength.
0:00:52 > 0:00:58Dogs are being acquired to look good on the end of a lead, and not necessarily as pets.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Treating the casualties in animal A&E.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06When they purr inappropriately it's because they're in extreme pain.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10He's rather stressed, so I'll take him through straight away.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15And I come under attack as I help protect the puffins.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20You've got the mad spiky arctic terns that want to peck your head,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23and then the cool and easy puffins in the background.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33Over the past few years there's been a huge rise in the number of so-called status dogs.
0:01:33 > 0:01:39They're often bought for show or protection, but who's there to protect the dogs themselves?
0:01:39 > 0:01:47Sometimes the welfare of these animals gives the RSPCA real cause for concern.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Inner-city Birmingham. An area that has seen
0:01:59 > 0:02:04a huge rise in the number of powerful dogs being kept as status symbols.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11These animals are often seen as a must-have accessory,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15not a pet. Their needs are often ignored.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Inspector Jayne Bashford is following up the most recent complaint.
0:02:19 > 0:02:25I had a call about a dog, a boxer-type dog that's meant to be at this address.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27It's meant to be quite thin,
0:02:27 > 0:02:31and the caller is also concerned that it's being kept in an under-stairs cupboard
0:02:31 > 0:02:34in dirty conditions with its own faeces around.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37We need to have a look at it and see what the situation is.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Jayne believes this is a status dog.
0:02:43 > 0:02:44SHE KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Hi there, sir, you all right?
0:02:48 > 0:02:52I'm from the RSPCA and I just need to speak to you. Have you got a dog?
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Boxer-type dog? What sort of dog have you got?
0:02:55 > 0:02:57- A pit bull.- Have you?- Not a boxer.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00A pit bull. You know they're banned?
0:03:00 > 0:03:03This response raises the stakes.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Pit bulls are illegal unless the owner has a licence.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Can I have a look where he's living, is that all right?
0:03:09 > 0:03:11They can also be dangerous.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13What's his temperament like?
0:03:13 > 0:03:17The owners admit the dog, Benson, is unpredictable.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21You'd better get him on a lead for me, because if he bites me that's a whole other issue.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And he's shut away in a tiny cupboard.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Is it locked, is it?
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Once the door is opened, Jayne is appalled by what she sees.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Benson is living in his own mess.
0:03:33 > 0:03:40The only place he has to sleep is a filthy bed, and there's no food or water.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Right. You do not have to say anything,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned
0:03:45 > 0:03:47something which you later rely on in court.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49That dog is unacceptably thin,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52and it's being kept locked in an under-stairs cupboard.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55The owners also tell Jayne they bought Benson for protection.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59He's not going to be much of a guard dog locked under the stairs.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01But he's in urgent need of help himself.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Jayne wants to get him to a vet.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Shall we pop him in the van? Is that all right?
0:04:06 > 0:04:10And as they emerge from the house, the dog owner seems more concerned
0:04:10 > 0:04:14about who reported him than the condition of his dog.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Benson is underweight.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24He may also be a banned breed.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26This is a very serious case.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31Before you start shouting to all the neighbours about you being grassed up about not feeding the dog,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35there are other issues about the way that dog's being kept.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- I know that.- So let's just get a little bit of perspective.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Benson has been shut under the stairs for more than 12 hours.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Jayne spells out why this can't be allowed to continue.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53You or your partner have locked that dog
0:04:53 > 0:04:58in that cupboard from 11pm last night until 12 noon today.
0:04:58 > 0:05:06That dog smells so strongly of urine, all the white fur on him has turned yellow.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Jayne could use police powers to seize Benson.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13I'm not here to give you grief. I'm here to protect that animal.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- Yeah.- But she manages to persuade the owners to sign him over.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20This is an animal acceptance agreement form.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25This means that you are now signing all ownership and responsibility for that dog over to me.
0:05:25 > 0:05:31Jayne's glad to have got Benson out, but the family may well hear from her again.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36Having seen him I've obviously cautioned him, I've cautioned both of the people in the property.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41Looking at the condition of that cupboard and the condition of the dog,
0:05:41 > 0:05:46I would suggest that dog has been in there for some considerable amount of time.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54Benson will need to be checked by an expert to decide whether he is in fact a pit bull.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01But for now, the priority is his health.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Good boy. Good boy. Good boy.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08Vet Steve Adelle immediately realises this dog is malnourished.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12He is 5 kilograms underweight,
0:06:12 > 0:06:17which doesn't sound a lot, but as a percentage of his body weight that's quite a significant amount.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Shall we have a look at him, shall we?
0:06:19 > 0:06:24Status dogs are feared because of their aggression and power.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25Have we got a muzzle at all, Steve?
0:06:25 > 0:06:30Benson is becoming agitated. Jayne and Steve must proceed with caution.
0:06:30 > 0:06:36These muzzles often look worse than they are, but it's for his safety as well as ours.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39But the muzzle provokes an extreme reaction.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Good boy. Good boy. He's trying to get it off.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Jayne tries to restrain him.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Good boy.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54I'm going to have to let him go.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57But is quickly overpowered.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Behave, behave, behave. Good boy.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Benson's behaviour clearly demonstrates his brute force.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09It could mean he'll be difficult for anyone to control.
0:07:09 > 0:07:15This dog probably doesn't get as much fuss, love, TLC,
0:07:15 > 0:07:19as what we would expect from a normal family pet.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23After taking some blood, Benson is given a much-needed meal.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26What have we got here?
0:07:26 > 0:07:31The focus now shifts to the conditions in which he was being kept,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33evidence stored on Jayne's camera.
0:07:33 > 0:07:40That is his general living condition. This is a chocolate tin which was completely empty and dry.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44- No water in there?- No water in there. There was no food present.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47You've got the evidence of old takeaway foil cartons.
0:07:47 > 0:07:54- Which tends to suggest it's not having the best and most appropriate diet for a dog.- Not at all.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Both agree this is a clear case of neglect.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04We're building up a picture here with this dog,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07not necessarily of one particular problem,
0:08:07 > 0:08:11but a whole pattern of general sort of neglect in the case
0:08:11 > 0:08:15that he's not been fed very well, he's not been kept in a good environment.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18He's not getting much interaction with people,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21so we've built up a whole picture of this dog's existence,
0:08:21 > 0:08:26which, at this stage, it appears that he's not being kept appropriately at all.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41A few weeks later Benson was assessed and deemed to be a pit-bull type.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44He joins the growing list of dangerous dogs being abused
0:08:44 > 0:08:48which are only discovered through tip-offs.
0:08:48 > 0:08:53The law states that a pit bull can never be re-homed.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Sadly, Benson had to be put to sleep.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Coming up, Jayne's patrol continues.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13I question how that dog's come about those wounds.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Especially considering you've got it from Alum Rock.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19You know Alum Rock is where all the dog fights take place?
0:09:19 > 0:09:21And the cute birds that pack a punch.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26The bill is vicious enough, but the claws are very sharp.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34For many owners, their pets are very much part of the family,
0:09:34 > 0:09:39so when they fall ill or become seriously injured it can be very distressing.
0:09:39 > 0:09:45Across the country there are animal hospitals equipped to do emergency procedures right around the clock.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, or PDSA,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53is a charity which provides veterinary care for owners on low incomes.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Bow, East London.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08This is the PDSA Animal Hospital.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14Day and night, pets and their owners arrive here with all manner of medical problems.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Just take a seat, and the nurse will call you through. Thank you.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22An army of skilled vets and nurses is on hand to give them treatment.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29Some are routine procedures, others are in a critical condition...
0:10:31 > 0:10:34..like the latest casualty on the cat ward.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Last night, Sam was brought in by his owner after being hit by a car.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45He has a suspected broken jaw, but it's his eye that's causing most concern.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52Geraldine Coles must now decide if Sam is stable enough to undergo vital surgery.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55He's obviously had painkillers straight away.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59He's been put on IV fluids for shock and given antibiotics.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03We know he's got a jaw problem, he can't close his mouth properly.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08And you can see that he's got an eye problem, he's probably going to be losing that eye.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11I'm looking at his breathing, it's quite laboured.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Sam is an elderly cat, and he's extremely distressed.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20He's actually purring, which is not a good sign.
0:11:20 > 0:11:26When they purr what I call inappropriately, it's because they are in extreme pain.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28He's stressed, so I'll take him through straight away.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31This cat desperately needs an operation.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35But first, tests are needed on his heart and lungs.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41If they are damaged, Sam may not be strong enough to survive the surgery.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46Right, well, the monitor shows that his oxygenation is good
0:11:46 > 0:11:52and his chest is looking good, considering the injury that he's had.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57It's a positive sign, and now the X-ray results are back.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01He's obviously been gasping for air,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04which is why his stomach's full of gas.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08And he's got a huge bladder here, so we'll empty that for him.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10But other than that, it looks OK.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13So that means we can now get on to surgery.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Sam is rushed through for his life-saving operation.
0:12:19 > 0:12:25Surgeon Peter Fox is to completely remove his left eye and fix his jaw.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28So hopefully, Sam, after his surgery,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32will make a full recovery. Apart from being a character cat with one eye.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Vets here see five cats every week that have been hit by cars,
0:12:39 > 0:12:44but this is a particularly delicate job and Sam is an elderly cat.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51Finally, the eye is removed, but Sam's not in the clear yet.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Peter must now begin to tackle his shattered jaw.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02The PDSA in Bow treats around 190 patients a day.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06And some are not that keen to see the vet.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10German shepherd Roxy could be the latest.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17Her owners, Carol and Linda Wainwright, know she's in pain and it's getting worse.
0:13:19 > 0:13:24She snapped one of her back claws in half but on the way here, it fell off.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29It has split, so we've still got to see the nurse.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Roxy Wainwright, please.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Roxy is booked in to see senior vet Elaine Pendlebury.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Treating the injury will be painful.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43When dogs are in pain, there's a real chance they can turn nasty.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48Before Elaine begins her examination, Roxy's owner muzzles her dog.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50What exactly happened, do we know?
0:13:50 > 0:13:54We don't know. My daughter said this morning she was licking it.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59And when I looked, it's snapped in half.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Right. OK. Let's have a look. What we... Oh dear.
0:14:01 > 0:14:07Probably caught it in a bit of carpet or something like that.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Usually, it gets caught in something.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Dogs' claws are made of keratin, similar to human nails,
0:14:13 > 0:14:18but they have a sensitive nerve called the quick, running through the middle of each one.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Exposing the quick is what causes the pain.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24DOG BARKS
0:14:24 > 0:14:25- OK.- Come on.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27DOG BARKS AND GROWLS
0:14:27 > 0:14:32Elaine works quickly to treat Roxy, as her owners try to restrain her.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33I know.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35DOG WHIMPERS THEN BARKS
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Her foot is cleaned and dressed to prevent infection
0:14:40 > 0:14:45and Elaine is happy that Roxy's claw will soon grow back.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50- We'll give you some antibiotics, then I'd like to see you back on Monday, please. OK?- Can she get down?
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Yes, get down now. Brilliant.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Roxy's now free to go home,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58complete with her rather fetching new pink sock.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00- Cheerio.- Bye.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09For Sam, the elderly cat, his ordeal is far from over.
0:15:09 > 0:15:16With his eye successfully removed, surgeon Peter is working on wiring his shattered jaw.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21Sam is 14, but despite his age, the team here is determined to do everything they can.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26We don't put any limit on surgical time.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29If it's fixable, we will always try and fix it.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33So hopefully, he's going to do.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36But anaesthetic is risky with any animal.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37Right.
0:15:37 > 0:15:43With an older cat, the risks are huge and Sam is now extremely weak.
0:15:45 > 0:15:51Animals lose heat under anaesthetic.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53So we're just going to check his temperature.
0:15:53 > 0:15:59In the meantime, he's got some little warming bags to keep him warm
0:15:59 > 0:16:01and help him come round.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Because he's a little bit gurgly up here, I'm going to get somebody
0:16:04 > 0:16:08in kennels to stay with him until he's fully round,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10to make sure that he doesn't choke on anything.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14Vicky, would you be able to stay with Sam?
0:16:14 > 0:16:19After a traumatic accident, and extensive surgery, Sam has been through a lot.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24The operation has been a success, but the next few hours are going to be crucial.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39Later, how eating a juicy bone has left Missy's life in danger...
0:16:39 > 0:16:43There's lots of little bits, but they're just all rattling around in the stomach.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45That's what's causing all the problems.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49And what really lies behind this garage door...
0:16:49 > 0:16:54The gentleman that lives here was seen to go into the garage with a stick and then the dog fell quiet.
0:16:54 > 0:16:59Further ground really, for me to want to see what's in that shed.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07Northumberland is home to some of the most fantastic wildlife in Britain.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11But even here, some species are facing real challenges.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14I'm heading off to the Farne Islands,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18to meet some researchers using some new hi-tech science
0:17:18 > 0:17:23to understand the puzzle of what's happening to one of our favourite seabirds.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33The bird I'm talking about is the beautiful and much loved puffin.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37They were once a major success story here,
0:17:37 > 0:17:42but now there's trouble in this colourful Northumbrian paradise.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45I've travelled over to the island to find out what's going on.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48I'm met by head warden David Steel.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53They're so cool, sitting there watching us. They're very chilled kind of birds.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Very chilled. Very relaxed.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00I can see puffins all around us here, but how are they doing over all on the Farne Islands?
0:18:00 > 0:18:01We had a big crash in the population,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04we lost nearly 30 per cent of our puffins.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09We dropped from 55,500 pairs to just over 36,000 pairs.
0:18:09 > 0:18:10A real mystery plummet in the numbers?
0:18:10 > 0:18:16- Absolutely, yeah.- And how important is it to you to see a thriving colony of puffins here?
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Well, it's really vital, a real indicator for the Farnes,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23because if the puffins are doing well, all the other sea birds are doing well.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29Scientists have now begun to look more closely at the puffins' behaviour.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33And David's going to take me to someone who is using the latest technology to track them.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36But he's not an easy man to get to.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- You've got to use a hat now, just to protect your head. - Not from these guys?
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Not from these guys, from a bird called an arctic tern. Follow me.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44OK.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48There are hundreds of pairs of arctic terns on the islands,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50and they're not too keen on the attention.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Pretty soon, we're under attack.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59I love the variety in the sea birds here.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02You've got these mad, spiky, arctic terns that want to peck your head.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06And then the cool and easy puffins in the background.
0:19:06 > 0:19:12One theory surrounding the decline is that the sand eel, the puffin's favourite food, is dwindling.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19Zoologist Richard Bevan is now tagging the birds with GPS devices,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22to track where and how they're feeding.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24When they're at sea is when they're gathering their food.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27And if we don't know where they're going
0:19:27 > 0:19:33to get their food, then there is no way that we can actually ascertain how well their food source is doing.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36And the key tool you're using are these electronic tags
0:19:36 > 0:19:38that keep an eye on where they are?
0:19:38 > 0:19:43Yes. Absolutely. That's a GPS logging tag.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47'But to tag them, you have to catch them. And that's no easy task.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52'Puffins don't build nests, but, like rabbits, dig burrows in the ground.'
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Wow. So these are all puffin burrows?
0:19:55 > 0:20:00These are all the puffin burrows. Rather a densely packed colony.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02'We're looking for a mum with a chick,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06'so we can tag the adult and check the baby over.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09'And it's here that Richard really has to chance his arm.'
0:20:09 > 0:20:11You need long arms for this business!
0:20:11 > 0:20:13You need an extremely long arm!
0:20:13 > 0:20:17This is longer than my arm.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25- Nothing in that one? Or possibly just too deep?- There is but it is far too far down.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29'Maybe we'll have more luck next door.'
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- A real lucky dip this, isn't it? - It is.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40This time, Richard gets lucky, and the skill now is making sure he doesn't get pecked.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44The bill's vicious enough, but the claws are very sharp.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- So, do you want to pop that in there?- Yes.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Keep my fingers away.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52There we go.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55'Now, it's my turn to risk my right arm.'
0:20:58 > 0:21:00All right, buddy.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04'Thankfully, though, I grab a chick which is easier to handle.'
0:21:05 > 0:21:09The tag has been programmed to record
0:21:09 > 0:21:13a GPS position to its memory every 30 seconds.
0:21:13 > 0:21:19When the bird returns to the burrow we can recapture it, remove the tag and then download the data.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23'The tag's stuck on with a glue which only lasts for seven days.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27'If they're not caught before then, the tag falls off naturally
0:21:27 > 0:21:30'to ensure there's no long-term effects for the puffin.'
0:21:30 > 0:21:33The bird's putting up a bit of a fuss now.
0:21:33 > 0:21:40He's got to wait until the glue goes off because what you don't want is an animal covered in unhardened glue.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44'Only the adult is tagged but various measurements are taken of both...'
0:21:44 > 0:21:4729.3.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50'..before they're both returned to their burrow.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54'I put the chick back exactly where I found it.'
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Go on, go.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01'The mum can't resist a little peck before saying goodbye.'
0:22:01 > 0:22:03There we go.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12The story of our puffins' adventures will be ready within a week
0:22:12 > 0:22:16but the information from previously tracked birds
0:22:16 > 0:22:21is starting to come in to Richard's research base on the island, with some interesting results.
0:22:23 > 0:22:31This is brilliant, so this red line is an actual route of where the puffin flew and probably swam?
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Absolutely. We can follow where the bird has gone.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Instead of being a relatively straight line, it's a lot more
0:22:38 > 0:22:43convoluted and that's suggesting that they're spending time in one place.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47- This might be where they're picking up a lot of sand eels. - This could be where they're fishing.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54All these results will be collated to help build up a picture
0:22:54 > 0:22:56of why the population is dwindling.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04For me though, it's time to leave this magnificent wildlife haven.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14Puffins and man have been living alongside each other on the Farne Islands for centuries
0:23:14 > 0:23:17but now, thanks to this hi-tech gadgetry,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19mankind could really help those little birds
0:23:19 > 0:23:25by unlocking the secrets of their sea voyages that could help their population to thrive.
0:23:33 > 0:23:38Coming up - more risky surgery for Sam, the cat hit by a car.
0:23:38 > 0:23:44If he's 14 years old, then his kidneys are on a bit of a knife edge
0:23:44 > 0:23:46so it's really worrying for the poor little thing.
0:23:51 > 0:23:58In Birmingham, RSPCA inspector Jayne Bashford is on the trail of a number of so-called status dogs,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01whose condition is giving her cause for concern.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Now she's continuing her patrol of the city.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16In a back yard at the bottom of this alleyway,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18there's a report that a powerful dog needs help.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23This is Blade and it's the state of his skin
0:24:23 > 0:24:28that's causing alarm bells to ring within the neighbourhood.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33- Inspector Jayne Bashford wants to speak to Blade's owner, Nadim Hussein.- Do you own this dog?
0:24:33 > 0:24:35- Yeah.- What sort of dog is it?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37It's a Staff crossed with a mastiff.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- Can you get him on a lead? - I can get the lead.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Is it all right if I just get changed?
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Yes, do you want to throw a jumper on and get the lead?
0:24:48 > 0:24:53I need to find out how those sores have been caused.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55It could be a number of things really.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57I have got concerns about that dog.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02Blade is a Staffordshire bull terrier and bull mastiff cross.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Neither breed are banned but they're both powerful.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Is he on the lead?
0:25:07 > 0:25:10In the wrong hands, they can be aggressive.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Jayne needs to make sure this dog is fully under control.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Have you got him?
0:25:15 > 0:25:16Yeah.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19That's it, take him a little bit further back.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23I don't doubt he's a very friendly dog but...
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Nadim tells Jayne he's only had this dog for a month.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30- Had he got these wounds when you got him?- Yeah.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33He explains he's taken him for treatment.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35So you took the dog to the vet?
0:25:35 > 0:25:37What did the vet say that was?
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- He said it was a burn or something like that.- A burn?
0:25:40 > 0:25:44I'm very concerned about how that dog's got those areas of scarring.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48- That's why I was concerned myself. - It's not good.
0:25:48 > 0:25:55Jayne wants to investigate Blade's wounds further by finding out where he came from.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Which part of Birmingham?
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Alum Rock.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03This answer opens up a potentially more sinister explanation.
0:26:03 > 0:26:09Nadim tells Jayne the dog is from Alum Rock, an area notorious for holding illegal dog fights.
0:26:09 > 0:26:10The people you bought it from,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14- did they say it had been in a dog fight?- No, they didn't say nothing like that.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18You know Alum Rock is where all the dog fights take place?
0:26:18 > 0:26:20- You know that?- Yeah, I know that.
0:26:20 > 0:26:26I question how that dog's come about those wounds, especially considering you've got it from Alum Rock.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27That's what I want to know myself.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32There's no suggestion that Nadim has caused these wounds
0:26:32 > 0:26:38but as well as the old scars on his back, Jayne is concerned about the way the dog is being kept.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41It's cold, isn't it? Cold weather.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44- That mat there, in the shed? He's lying on that.- It's not good enough.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46He's a short-coated dog.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51He's going to feel the cold and the law states that you must provide
0:26:51 > 0:26:57any animals that you're responsible for with clean, fresh, dry bedding.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Jayne doesn't know what has caused Blade's scars in the past
0:27:01 > 0:27:04but she wants to make sure he's cared for in the future.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09I'm going to leave you an advice notice.
0:27:09 > 0:27:18Jayne believes Nadim cares for his dog but needs advice and this is one job she's not going to give up on.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21I think that dog's been involved in something in the past.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I'll never be able to prove it.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26The main thing now is that the dog is healing.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28I've asked him to take it to the vets.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32He's claiming it's registered and he can go.
0:27:32 > 0:27:38I'd like him to get it checked over and this call is in my area so I'll keep my eye on it.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Issues around the treatment of large dogs
0:27:47 > 0:27:51are taking up an increasing amount of the RSPCA's time.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56Back on her beat, Jayne's on the trail of another powerful dog.
0:27:56 > 0:28:02The report suggests this one is being kept in a back yard and is severely underweight.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Jayne can't see anything through the fence.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07And then there's a development.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11DOG BARKS
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Sorry, just one minute.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Jayne hears barking coming from the garage next to the yard.
0:28:17 > 0:28:23There's definitely a dog inside the garage, I've heard him scratching, so I want to find out what's going on.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27And it's not just this dog's weight which is of concern.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30There are also allegations that it's been mistreated.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34The gentleman that lives here was seen to go into the garage
0:28:34 > 0:28:37where the dog is at the moment with a stick and then the dog fell quiet.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Further ground for me to want to see what's in that shed.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43It may be nothing but I can't walk away from it
0:28:43 > 0:28:48and leave it in good conscience, not knowing what's inside that garage.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59Still to come...
0:28:59 > 0:29:01They've come up with the expression "red-nose pit bull"
0:29:01 > 0:29:05so obviously I'm now thinking Section One, Dangerous Dog.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07She's meant to be quite friendly but...
0:29:13 > 0:29:17Earlier in the programme we saw Sam the cat undergo major surgery
0:29:17 > 0:29:20at the PDSA Hospital in London's East End.
0:29:20 > 0:29:26In a moment we'll catch up with Sam but first, there's another animal that needs help.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37At this East London hospital, morning surgery is in full flow.
0:29:37 > 0:29:42For any owner, bringing in poorly pets for treatment is an anxious time.
0:29:43 > 0:29:49But for Nicola Houston and her dog, Missy, it's going to be unbearable.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Hello, she looks a lovely dog.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54She's lovely.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58These two have an incredibly strong bond but worryingly for Nicola,
0:29:58 > 0:30:03Missy is now poorly after eating an old bone she found in the garden.
0:30:04 > 0:30:10It was on the grass and she got away from me and by the time I got to her, she'd munched some of it.
0:30:10 > 0:30:11If they have eaten anything,
0:30:11 > 0:30:18- it must be quite painful really but she looks a bit sad at the moment.- She knows I'm leaving her.
0:30:18 > 0:30:24Left untreated, bones stuck in a dog's intestine can prove fatal.
0:30:24 > 0:30:30Missy needs urgent assessment. It's time for these two to be parted.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41It's an hour later and Missy has taken a turn for the worse.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45She's started to vomit.
0:30:45 > 0:30:51X-rays are quickly taken and surgeon Rachel Kilroy has the results.
0:30:51 > 0:30:52I've got a view of the dog's abdomen here.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57From the stomach in this section, we can see some little bits of bone.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00We had hoped that they might move through
0:31:00 > 0:31:04but they haven't and the dog is still vomiting so we are going to operate to remove them.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06With Missy's condition worsening,
0:31:06 > 0:31:10these fragments of bone need to be removed immediately.
0:31:10 > 0:31:16I'm just going to cut into the abdomen and then examine all the intestines in turn,
0:31:16 > 0:31:21looking for any blockages in the intestines, but also those bits
0:31:21 > 0:31:27of bone you can see in the stomach, we'll be cutting into the stomach and removing those.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29These bone chips are tiny.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32There's a bit under your finger, isn't there?
0:31:32 > 0:31:36Finding them is tricky and painstaking work.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Just lots and lots of little bits
0:31:38 > 0:31:41but they're all rattling around in the stomach.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45Rachel carefully recovers each individual bone fragment.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Finally, Missy's stomach can be stitched back up.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52I'm quite pleased with how the surgery went.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54The wound through the muscle there takes 10 days to heal.
0:31:54 > 0:32:00But hopefully she should be eating in a couple of days.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02Missy will now be left to recover.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07In a few hours' time, she should be reunited with her owner.
0:32:15 > 0:32:20Across on the cat ward, another patient has now recovered from his surgery.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24Sam was badly injured after being hit by a car.
0:32:24 > 0:32:31Yesterday he had emergency surgery to remove his eye and wire his jaw, but it's still not over.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Oh, hello, someone is gorgeous.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38Sam's injuries have left him unable to feed.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41If he can't eat, he can't recover.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Oh, dear.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48Surgeon Richard Walker wants to give him every chance.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50We're going to place a feeding tube for us
0:32:50 > 0:32:53to give him his nourishment whilst his body goes about fixing it.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57This tube will put food directly into Sam's stomach.
0:32:57 > 0:33:02It'll help him build his strength up, but it's not without risk.
0:33:02 > 0:33:08If he's 14 years old, then his kidneys are on a bit of a knife edge
0:33:08 > 0:33:11and when we give him loads of drugs to induce anaesthesia,
0:33:11 > 0:33:14we drop his blood pressure and reduce the oxygen to his kidneys.
0:33:14 > 0:33:21If this anaesthetic goes on too long, he could have life-threatening danger to his kidneys.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24Yes, it's quite worrying for the poor little thing.
0:33:24 > 0:33:30Richard wants to limit the time Sam is under anaesthetic, so works quickly.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32- Got that far to go.- Lovely.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36Within a few minutes, the tube is inserted.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41Two days ago, the odds were firmly stacked against Sam.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44But this tough tabby has fought back.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48He's survived being hit by a car and two major operations.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52When he begins to come round, it's a great relief for the team.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00We want him home as soon as we possibly can.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03Sitting in a hospital is not a very nice experience for a cat.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Yeah.
0:34:06 > 0:34:13And Sam did go home three days later, his nine lives not quite used up.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22It's nearing the end of the day shift at the Bow Hospital,
0:34:22 > 0:34:26the waiting room is empty but one owner still remains.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30Nicola Houston has come back to pick up her dog, Missy.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32I can't wait to see her.
0:34:32 > 0:34:39It was five hours ago I brought her in and since then she's had surgery done and, touch wood, it's OK.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Touch wood, I'm hoping.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45Being without Missy has been hard for Nicola.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47Missy Houston's owner.
0:34:47 > 0:34:53She's desperate to be reunited but first Elaine needs to explain how things went.
0:34:53 > 0:34:58We took some X-rays and we saw some bony mass in there,
0:34:58 > 0:35:02so we had to go in and do an operation to remove it.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06We removed all of that and I'll show that to you, but she's doing very well.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Was she OK with the anaesthetic?
0:35:08 > 0:35:11- Yes, she was fine. - Can I see her, please?
0:35:11 > 0:35:13I won't be a minute.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17I know how anxious she was when I left her in that room.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20The look on her face was like I'd abandoned her.
0:35:20 > 0:35:25So I just want to see her wee face again, to let her know that she's not been dumped.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27Oh, Missy!
0:35:27 > 0:35:29I need to get your collar.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31All right.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34She's doing very well, as you can see.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36Finally, the two are back together.
0:35:36 > 0:35:42Missy seems delighted to be enjoying some much needed cuddles.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44- OK?- Thank you.
0:35:44 > 0:35:51The operation has been a huge success and now Nicola can take her much loved pet back home.
0:36:00 > 0:36:05One of the big problems for the RSPCA is the plight
0:36:05 > 0:36:08of so-called status dogs in some of Britain's inner cities.
0:36:08 > 0:36:13They're often bought for protection or just to show off, but many owners
0:36:13 > 0:36:17give little thought as to how the dogs themselves should be cared for.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21Finally today, we're back in Birmingham where RSPCA inspector
0:36:21 > 0:36:26Jayne Bashford has been giving some of these dogs top priority.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35I've just seen it.
0:36:35 > 0:36:40Locked in a garage with no-one around, Jayne is worried about the dog inside.
0:36:40 > 0:36:41Bruno.
0:36:41 > 0:36:47Neighbours on this estate have told Jayne the dog is called Bruno and he's painfully thin.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Bruno.
0:36:49 > 0:36:54At the moment, just through the crack of the garage door, I can see him jumping up.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58It's a tan-coloured dog but...
0:36:58 > 0:37:02I'm unable really to see for certain.
0:37:02 > 0:37:09There's a new concern. Jayne has been tipped off that Bruno is a pit bull, a breed on the banned list.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12The police are now on the scene.
0:37:12 > 0:37:18They've come up with the expression "red-nose pit bull", so I'm now thinking Section One, Dangerous Dog.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20She's meant to be quite friendly, but...
0:37:23 > 0:37:24Walk through.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27The officers make their way into the garden.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29Hello.
0:37:30 > 0:37:37Now it's time for the police dog handler to take over and it looks like the rumours may be true.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41- I'd say it's a pit cross.- Right, OK.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43- It's very skinny.- Is it?
0:37:43 > 0:37:46It's very skinny, yeah.
0:37:46 > 0:37:52With confirmation that this may indeed be a pit-bull type, the handler must proceed with caution.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57- Got him?- Yeah.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01Despite being shut away, Bruno is remarkably friendly.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Hello, you, hello, you.
0:38:04 > 0:38:09But like so many status dogs, there's been little regard for his welfare.
0:38:09 > 0:38:10Let's have a look at the conditions.
0:38:10 > 0:38:15He's been forced to sleep inches away from a deadly cocktail of chemicals.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20Obviously when you walk into this garage, there's quite a strong, chemical smell.
0:38:20 > 0:38:25I was struck straight away by these barrels of corrosive materials
0:38:25 > 0:38:27which are lying right next to the dog bed.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33Although Bruno has been fortunate to escape
0:38:33 > 0:38:38from this potential deathtrap, his future is far from certain.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42On first glance of that dog, he does have a number of characteristics
0:38:42 > 0:38:46which would suggest he is of a pit-bull type.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51To keep a banned breed, an owner must prove they're responsible and obtain a licence.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56The way Bruno has been kept is far from responsible.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59We can take him in on Section One, Dangerous Dogs.
0:38:59 > 0:39:06He'll be taken in and assessed to see if he scores high enough
0:39:06 > 0:39:10on the pit-bull scale. I think he will.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14Jayne only discovered this dangerous dog by chance.
0:39:14 > 0:39:20Alarmingly, plenty of others out there living in better conditions go undetected.
0:39:20 > 0:39:26Had he been kept in a decent environment and looked after as an animal should be,
0:39:26 > 0:39:31the likelihood is he'd never have come to the RSPCA's or the police's attention.
0:39:31 > 0:39:36Ultimately he needs to be assessed by an expert in the field
0:39:36 > 0:39:39to find out exactly what sort of dog he is.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45Unfortunately, if he's deemed to be a pit bull,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47his fate is sealed, really.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51Pit bulls cannot be re-homed.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Bruno may have to be put to sleep.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Two months later
0:40:01 > 0:40:07and Jayne needs to make a return visit to Blade, the dog with the unsightly wounds on his back.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09The last time Jayne was here,
0:40:09 > 0:40:13Blade's owner told her that the dog had the injuries when he bought him.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Jayne believed he may have sustained them in a dog fight.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20The people you bought it from, did they say it had been in a dog fight?
0:40:20 > 0:40:21No.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27There was no suggestion that Blade's current owner had done
0:40:27 > 0:40:33anything wrong, but Jayne is keen to see if the skin has improved.
0:40:33 > 0:40:38Looking at them, it's as it was on our first visit, really. They're not infected
0:40:38 > 0:40:42and they're not causing him any problems by the looks of it,
0:40:42 > 0:40:46but it's just an unusual fur loss area on his body.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49- Hiya, mate, do you remember me?- Yeah.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Jayne wants to see if the owner has provided any treatment.
0:40:52 > 0:40:57- Tell me honestly, have you taken him to the vet?- Yes.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00In your name, or in somebody else's name?
0:41:00 > 0:41:03- My uncle.- Your uncle's name.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07The owner cannot prove that he's taken his dog to the vet.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Jayne gives him an ultimatum.
0:41:09 > 0:41:14I'm going to give you 24 hours to call me back
0:41:14 > 0:41:18with the details of this vet appointment that you've been on, all right?
0:41:20 > 0:41:27The RSPCA regularly visits people new to owning dogs - often, they do need guidance.
0:41:30 > 0:41:36Blade isn't in pain, but for Jayne it's clear she's going to have to continue working with his owner
0:41:36 > 0:41:40to ensure the dog gets the care he needs.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43Obviously for my peace of mind,
0:41:43 > 0:41:47I'd just like to know that that dog has seen a vet
0:41:47 > 0:41:49and that this skin problem is harmless
0:41:49 > 0:41:54and won't cause any long-term problems for the dog.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Over the past couple of months,
0:41:58 > 0:42:02Jayne has visited three powerful dogs whose welfare has caused concern.
0:42:05 > 0:42:12Sadly, this is symptomatic of the plight of so many so-called status dogs.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14The dogs are being acquired...
0:42:16 > 0:42:19..to look good on the end of a lead
0:42:19 > 0:42:21and not necessarily as pets.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25They're not being...treated fully in the way
0:42:25 > 0:42:28that you'd hope they would be treated.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime,
0:42:41 > 0:42:44or a creature that needs immediate protection,
0:42:44 > 0:42:48remember there are dedicated professionals out there
0:42:48 > 0:42:50who will answer your call right around the clock.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54They are the people we meet on Animal 24:7.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:00 > 0:43:03E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk