0:00:02 > 0:00:06Britain's animals are under threat. All too often, our wildlife
0:00:06 > 0:00:09and pets are the victims of cruelty,
0:00:09 > 0:00:11persecution and neglect.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Fighting to save them is a band of people
0:00:14 > 0:00:18trying to protect and care for them around the clock.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20This is Animal 24:7.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37'Today on Animal 24:7 -
0:00:37 > 0:00:40'Flint faces a desperate battle to save his leg,...'
0:00:40 > 0:00:43The main concern is the injury
0:00:43 > 0:00:45to his front right leg here.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48We may be looking at limb amputation.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53'..the precarious mission to return an injured swan to the wild...'
0:00:53 > 0:00:56We need to watch that he is waterproof
0:00:56 > 0:01:00and that he doesn't roll over in the water and drown.
0:01:00 > 0:01:06'..and I meet one of Britain's most controversial birds of prey.'
0:01:06 > 0:01:11He doesn't actually look scared. There's attitude in those eyes.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20When our pets have accidents, it usually means a trip to the vet.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24The RSPCA operate four animal hospitals around the UK
0:01:24 > 0:01:26and the busiest is in Manchester.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30There they take in around 30,000 animals every year
0:01:30 > 0:01:34and the vets are used to dealing with every kind of emergency.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42'9.15 on a Monday morning
0:01:42 > 0:01:45'and the waiting room at Manchester's animal hospital
0:01:45 > 0:01:48'is full of new patients.'
0:01:48 > 0:01:52'Among the dogs awaiting treatment is two-year-old Flint,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56'a schnauzer who's been the victim of a road-traffic accident.'
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Miss Jones with Flint.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03'Vet Andy Gibson's first priority is to check with owner Paula Jones
0:02:03 > 0:02:06'about how Flint suffered his injuries.'
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Explain to me what's happened, then.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14It happened last night. Sees a cat across the road, runs across,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17a car really hit his shoulder
0:02:17 > 0:02:23and just sent his arm right round, so it was right near his head.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27'Flint immediately saw an emergency vet for an initial assessment.'
0:02:29 > 0:02:31He's quite tense there.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36'Paula's brought him in to establish the full extent of his injuries.'
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- Did he lose consciousness at any point?- No.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43He was just screaming, so we took him into the house,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46got him on a blanket and took him...
0:02:46 > 0:02:49You went straight to the emergency vet.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52'Andy knows that a high-speed impact
0:02:52 > 0:02:57'could cause internal injuries, so he examines Flint thoroughly.'
0:02:57 > 0:02:59OK, let's have a look at him.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03'But it's Flint's leg which is the prime focus
0:03:03 > 0:03:05'of Andy's attention.'
0:03:06 > 0:03:11The main concern is the injury he's got to his front right leg.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14There was a minor wound on the notes
0:03:14 > 0:03:17and they were concerned about a leg fracture,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21so he's stable at the moment, his heart's nice and slow
0:03:21 > 0:03:26and he seems OK mentally, so we'll admit him to the hospital
0:03:26 > 0:03:29and get him on some more pain relief
0:03:29 > 0:03:31and fluids and then we'll sedate him
0:03:31 > 0:03:36and take an X-ray of that leg and look at what's going on there.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40'An X-ray picture should show any major damage.'
0:03:40 > 0:03:44'But Andy knows that if there's a break, it may not be possible
0:03:44 > 0:03:47'to fix it.'
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Worse-case scenario, we may be looking at limb amputation,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54depending on the severity of the injury there.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59'For owner Paula, it's a very worrying time.'
0:03:59 > 0:04:04'We got him when he was six weeks old, he's a member of the family.'
0:04:04 > 0:04:09'The kids were devastated, none of us have really slept proper.'
0:04:09 > 0:04:14'They didn't want to go to school, they wanted to make sure he was OK.'
0:04:14 > 0:04:19You know, when you're all worked up? I just want him sorted out.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Just want to know he'll be all right.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29'While Flint is admitted, another dog is brought in to be treated -
0:04:29 > 0:04:33'Rin has been suffering from a sore paw and his owner,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36'Susan Jones, is worried it's infected.'
0:04:40 > 0:04:43'Vet David Yates needs to take a closer look.'
0:04:43 > 0:04:48- How are you doing? - Two weeks ago, she hurt her paw,
0:04:48 > 0:04:53so I took her to the other veterinary surgery that you have
0:04:53 > 0:04:55and she was given antibiotics.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59The paw is still swelling up and pus is coming out
0:04:59 > 0:05:02so I took her back this morning
0:05:02 > 0:05:06and the vet said she thought she could feel something in the paw
0:05:06 > 0:05:08and she thinks it's gone back in.
0:05:08 > 0:05:14'The other surgery couldn't X-ray Rin's paw, so Susan's come here,
0:05:14 > 0:05:16'hoping to get answers.'
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Do you want me to lift Rin up? No?
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Did she say what it looked like?
0:05:21 > 0:05:24No. She said she thought she felt something,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26she's not absolutely sure.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- Can you pull Rin's head in towards you?- Yeah.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32It's on the front paw.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36'So now David wants to take a closer look
0:05:36 > 0:05:39'to check that nothing else is lurking inside.'
0:05:39 > 0:05:41It's very swollen.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46- It is, yeah.- We've got a swelling which has actually burst
0:05:46 > 0:05:48between these two digits.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Because we've got an open, discharging wound
0:05:51 > 0:05:55we need to sedate your dog to look inside and X-ray
0:05:55 > 0:05:58to make sure we're not missing anything.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01It can be pieces of glass or thorns that can get embedded.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09'The paw's very swollen and David doesn't want to hurt Rin further.'
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Pull her in tight towards you.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15'He gives him an injection to send Rin to sleep.'
0:06:15 > 0:06:18It stings, so I'll be quick. OK.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21'In a few moments,
0:06:21 > 0:06:25'Rin will be asleep and won't feel a thing.'
0:06:25 > 0:06:29I'm hoping that if there is something in her foot, they find it,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32then the paw can heal.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36At the moment, it just keeps producing pus,
0:06:36 > 0:06:38so until that stops,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41it's not going to dry up and it's not going to heal.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43'With Rin dozing away,
0:06:43 > 0:06:47'David can get a look at what's causing the swelling.'
0:06:47 > 0:06:53'And immediately, he spots something tucked inside the fur.'
0:06:57 > 0:06:59A twig or something?
0:07:00 > 0:07:03It's a splinter of wood.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06I think I'd like to still take the X-ray.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11These abscesses, when they burst, they can bring the material out,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14but I want to get all the fragments,
0:07:14 > 0:07:19so we're going to take an X-ray just to be on the safe side.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24'It appears the problem was just a splinter, but David knows
0:07:24 > 0:07:26'this may not be the whole story.'
0:07:26 > 0:07:30It's not uncommon to get abscesses in the feet.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34What is unusual is to find what's causing it.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38A lot of the time, the foreign material comes out with the pus.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43'Now Rin is undergoing an X-ray to make sure
0:07:43 > 0:07:46'there's nothing else inside.'
0:07:46 > 0:07:48What we can see
0:07:48 > 0:07:51are the four digits, the four "fingers"
0:07:51 > 0:07:55and the main pad. I can't see any foreign material,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58I can't see any wood or splinters still in there.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02'After a couple of anxious hours, it's good news
0:08:02 > 0:08:07'for Rin's owner - she just needs advice on how to clean the wound.'
0:08:07 > 0:08:12So what I'd like you to do at home is bathe the foot in saltwater.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Get a cup, put a teaspoon of salt in and stand the foot in.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Don't squeeze too much because things can go up as well as down.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25- Just bathe, antibiotics, and we'll see you in a few days.- Smashing.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27'Once Rin wakes up,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31'it's time to step gingerly home.'
0:08:33 > 0:08:36A tiny piece of wood did so much damage.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38I'm happy! SHE LAUGHS
0:08:38 > 0:08:43I'm sure me son'll be happy too cos it is his dog.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48He's only 14. He'll be able to take him for walks again soon.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00'Still to come - the vets face an uphill struggle
0:09:00 > 0:09:02'to save Flint's leg...'
0:09:02 > 0:09:06See how it's moving from side to side.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11We'll have to look on an X-ray to determine the level of damage.
0:09:11 > 0:09:17'..and the challenge of helping newborns survive their first weeks.'
0:09:17 > 0:09:22They get very tired very quickly. That's why we use a small syringe,
0:09:22 > 0:09:24cos we don't want to choke them.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Britain is a haven for wildlife,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33though it's often hard to spot in our inner cities.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38Today I'm in Edinburgh, searching for a controversial bird of prey
0:09:38 > 0:09:42that even divides opinion amongst wildlife lovers.
0:09:42 > 0:09:47'The sparrowhawk - one of the country's smallest birds of prey.'
0:09:47 > 0:09:50'They're often spotted
0:09:50 > 0:09:54'in our gardens looking for food and this has led to many
0:09:54 > 0:09:57'seeing them as an enemy,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01'blaming them for killing off our songbirds.'
0:10:02 > 0:10:05'Now a new city-based project,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07'headed up by Mike Thornton,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10'is set to change all that.'
0:10:10 > 0:10:14- Hi, you must be Mike.- I am. - I'm Tom, nice to meet you.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- What are we looking for in the city today?- Breeding sparrowhawks.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21They're now breeding in Edinburgh after a population recovery
0:10:21 > 0:10:25and they're breeding in parks, gardens, cemeteries,
0:10:25 > 0:10:27and have become an urban predator.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Tell me about your project.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32The Lothian and Borders Raptor Study Group
0:10:32 > 0:10:36are monitoring the productivity of sparrowhawks
0:10:36 > 0:10:39within urban green spaces in the city
0:10:39 > 0:10:41and this is telling us
0:10:41 > 0:10:46a lot about the quality of the biodiversity here in Edinburgh.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- Do you think we might see some today?- Yes, I think we will.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54- I can take you to some nest sites. - Brilliant. Can't wait.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59'The first stop on our tour takes us to the botanical gardens,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02'right at the heart of the city.'
0:11:02 > 0:11:07'A new feathered family has chosen this tourist attraction as home
0:11:07 > 0:11:10'and now Tracey Stewart from the RSPB -
0:11:10 > 0:11:13'plus Big Brother - are watching.'
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Tracey, what are we looking at?
0:11:15 > 0:11:18It's one of our fantastic sparrowhawk chicks
0:11:18 > 0:11:21that we have nesting in the botanic gardens.
0:11:21 > 0:11:27This is one of six chicks that we've had in this nest this year.
0:11:27 > 0:11:32He's got bits of fluffy down left, but mostly he's all adult feathers.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36And a second chick's come in to peck at the feathers to show you!
0:11:36 > 0:11:40'But this watch station isn't just about pretty pictures.'
0:11:40 > 0:11:44'It's also about trying to change public opinion.'
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Are you saying they need good PR? Because they're blamed
0:11:47 > 0:11:52for attacking songbirds and people don't necessarily like them.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Very much so. Sparrowhawks are a vilified predator
0:11:56 > 0:11:58by many people.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03People believe sparrowhawks are driving population decline in birds,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06but to date there's no real and strong scientific evidence
0:12:06 > 0:12:09which suggests they are causing these declines.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14- Is it always scenes of domestic bliss?- Unfortunately it's not.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18We do usually have two nesting pairs of sparrowhawks here
0:12:18 > 0:12:21and the first live images we had
0:12:21 > 0:12:25were of this nest here. These eggs had been there about three days
0:12:25 > 0:12:29before we recorded some dramatic scenes which we'll see here.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32This is actually a carrion crow,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34trying to enter the nest.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38- He's big, isn't he? - Yes. He has a go at those eggs,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42but the female sparrowhawk's not about to give up.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Vigourously defending her eggs.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48That was the last time we saw her. We never saw her again,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52we're not entirely sure what happened,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56but the carrion crow sneakily came back about 20 minutes later
0:12:56 > 0:13:01- and he did eat the eggs.- Oh, really? - An unsuccessful nest attempt.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- Do you try to stop this?- Not at all.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07We want to basically not interfere
0:13:07 > 0:13:09with nature here.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14We want to showcase nature in a natural way and not interfere,
0:13:14 > 0:13:19but we want to observe and monitor it and interpret what we see
0:13:19 > 0:13:21and find to the general public.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28'Although Mike wouldn't interfere with nature,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31'he does want to monitor how the birds are doing.'
0:13:31 > 0:13:34'At this city golf course,
0:13:34 > 0:13:39'the team is ringing newborn chicks and I've come to see how it works.'
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Giles is our chief climber.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45And Alan, he is our ringer, very experienced ringer.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47So what's the plan here?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50The plan is now for Giles to climb the tree
0:13:50 > 0:13:55and lower down the chicks in a bag for Alan to ring.
0:13:55 > 0:14:01Alan will take some key measurements from the chicks and then ring them.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04'This is the nest we're interested in -
0:14:04 > 0:14:08'25 feet up in a tree and very much out of bounds.'
0:14:08 > 0:14:13'A short way into the rough and we arrive at the base of the tree.'
0:14:13 > 0:14:17'And after a few adjustments to his safety gear,...'
0:14:17 > 0:14:22- So is that you ready to go, Giles? - Yeah, that's me kitted up.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27'..Giles can now begin the big climb to retrieve the chicks.'
0:14:27 > 0:14:32'He works quickly to reduce stress for the youngsters and the parents,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35'who'll want to return to the nest.'
0:14:35 > 0:14:38How are you doing, Giles? Can you see into the nest yet?
0:14:38 > 0:14:41There's two chicks here.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44'He's used to the pressure -
0:14:44 > 0:14:49'within a few minutes, the chicks are lowered down to the ground.'
0:14:53 > 0:14:55They laid a clutch of four here
0:14:55 > 0:14:58and only two of them have hatched
0:14:58 > 0:15:01out of the clutch of four.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04They're still small, which is interesting.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Oh, look!
0:15:06 > 0:15:10They still look pretty young. They haven't really developed
0:15:10 > 0:15:15any body feathers. So I'd estimate these chicks are ten days old.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- Would you agree, Alan? - I would think so.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Aren't they fantastic?
0:15:20 > 0:15:24He doesn't look scared, he looks like he has attitude
0:15:24 > 0:15:27- in those eyes.- He does, yeah.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30You can see... Well, we think
0:15:30 > 0:15:32this one is probably a female.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38'A few measurements are taken and then it's time to attach the rings.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41'Each one has a unique number
0:15:41 > 0:15:46'which will allow the bird to be tracked throughout its life.'
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Why are we doing this ringing?
0:15:48 > 0:15:52- What do you hope to learn? - By ringing sparrowhawk chicks
0:15:52 > 0:15:57and other birds' chicks, you can get good information on the survival
0:15:57 > 0:15:59of the young
0:15:59 > 0:16:02and the dispersal of young as well.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07Now we take the weight. That also gives us an indication of the sex.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09171.
0:16:09 > 0:16:14- 171. That weight would indicate that we have a female.- Males that size
0:16:14 > 0:16:16would be virtually fully grown.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20The average weight of an adult male is about 150 grams -
0:16:20 > 0:16:22these are already greater than that.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25So how long before
0:16:25 > 0:16:28she's flying and potentially catching birds for herself?
0:16:28 > 0:16:32In another 20, 25 days, this bird will start
0:16:32 > 0:16:35branching - they branch out of the nest.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37They essentially walk out the nest,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40start flapping their wings
0:16:40 > 0:16:43and then in three or four days, they take their first flight.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47'But now it's time for these two to be taken home.'
0:16:47 > 0:16:50So we probably shouldn't leave them
0:16:50 > 0:16:54too much longer. They'll need another feed as well.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Well, gonna say goodbye to you.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03'And, after being popped swiftly back into their travel bags,...'
0:17:03 > 0:17:05OK, Giles!
0:17:05 > 0:17:08'..it's back to bed for these baby birds.'
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Well, it's time to leave the chicks
0:17:15 > 0:17:18up there in their penthouse flat overlooking Edinburgh
0:17:18 > 0:17:24and, in a few weeks, they'll be able to fly over the city themselves.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32'Still to come - fears grow for a cat trapped
0:17:32 > 0:17:35'and abandoned in an empty house.'
0:17:35 > 0:17:38There are scratch marks on the letterbox -
0:17:38 > 0:17:42I suspect there isn't much food and water left inside.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Spring is a boom time for wildlife.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52But it's also when rescue centres are inundated with casualties.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56At one Lincolnshire centre, they're used to dealing with the rush,
0:17:56 > 0:18:00but that doesn't mean it can't come without unexpected challenges.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07'From outside, this semi-detached house
0:18:07 > 0:18:09'looks like many others.'
0:18:09 > 0:18:11'But, for the past 22 years,
0:18:11 > 0:18:15'owner Ali Townsend has been running Weirdfield Wildlife Hospital
0:18:15 > 0:18:18'from her back garden in Lincoln.'
0:18:18 > 0:18:21'Every year, more than 2,000 wild animals of all kinds
0:18:21 > 0:18:25'are nursed back to health by Ali and her team of volunteers.'
0:18:25 > 0:18:30'Feeding wild animals like this feller requires a trained hand
0:18:30 > 0:18:33'and plenty of patience too.'
0:18:33 > 0:18:35This is one of two squirrels
0:18:35 > 0:18:39that came in about three days ago
0:18:39 > 0:18:43and we needed to start them on some milk supplement
0:18:43 > 0:18:46and get them under some heat, which we've done.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48As you can see now,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51they are readily taking milk
0:18:51 > 0:18:55and, with all babies, we want their hands to be free.
0:18:55 > 0:19:00In the wild, they would be pounding on mum's tum to get the milk out.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04'At six weeks old, this squirrel needs feeding every two hours.'
0:19:04 > 0:19:06'But there are also
0:19:06 > 0:19:08'smaller orphan squirrels here
0:19:08 > 0:19:12'whose feeding is a more delicate and lengthy process.'
0:19:13 > 0:19:16These are much, much smaller.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19They've only opened their eyes today,
0:19:19 > 0:19:24but as you can see, they've still got that instinct to survive.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Because these are so tiny, we have to go very slowly.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32These will run out of energy and get very, very tired,
0:19:32 > 0:19:36so we tend to give them a little bit, let them have a rest.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39But this one's quite hungry today.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41We'll hand-feed these squirrels
0:19:41 > 0:19:44probably for the next three weeks
0:19:44 > 0:19:47and then start to wean them.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52And that'll probably start with an egg-biscuit food that's made up
0:19:52 > 0:19:56with the milk they drink now and then they'll go outside in an aviary
0:19:56 > 0:19:58to ensure they can grow
0:19:58 > 0:20:03and jump and land safely and doing all the things squirrels should do.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05'Ali's next young, hungry customers
0:20:05 > 0:20:08'are a litter of fox cubs.'
0:20:08 > 0:20:13These cubs are fed on a supplement milk which is quite high in fat,
0:20:13 > 0:20:18so hopefully it mimics the amount of fat that mum's got in her milk.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20And we make sure it's always warm
0:20:20 > 0:20:24because if it was coming out of mum, it would be warm as well.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26If they're not taking well,
0:20:26 > 0:20:31we need to warm it up a little bit more.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35'The team checks every animal is putting on enough weight
0:20:35 > 0:20:37'on a daily basis.'
0:20:37 > 0:20:41Yesterday he weighed about 333 and today he weighs 361,
0:20:41 > 0:20:46so that's a sensible gain - about 30 grams a day. I'm pleased with that,
0:20:46 > 0:20:49he's doing very well.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51'It will be months
0:20:51 > 0:20:57'before any of these animals have grown strong enough to be released.'
0:20:57 > 0:21:00'But, on the other side of the centre,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03'Ali needs to assess whether another resident
0:21:03 > 0:21:08'IS well enough yet to be returned to the wild.'
0:21:08 > 0:21:11When he came in, he'd crash-landed on a wet road
0:21:11 > 0:21:13and was unable to use his legs.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17And we worked out if we gave him some physio and exercise,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19he would do very well.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22This morning, he's been outside to see how he gets on.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24He is a bit wobbly still,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27still looks like he's had too much to drink,
0:21:27 > 0:21:29he's had some exercise,
0:21:29 > 0:21:33but later, he's going to go onto the water.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36'But before he tests his water wings,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39'Ali needs to assess his sea legs.'
0:21:39 > 0:21:43- HE SNORTS - When we want to use some exercise on their legs,
0:21:43 > 0:21:48we tend to sort of bounce them to see how much weight they're taking
0:21:48 > 0:21:52and as you can see, he's resisting quite nicely.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56When we first started this, he would just drop onto the floor
0:21:56 > 0:22:00and he wouldn't hold any weight at all.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03But he is taking quite a lot of weight now
0:22:03 > 0:22:06and bouncing works wonders really.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11'Like all the wild animals at Weirfield, it's crucial for Ali
0:22:11 > 0:22:14'that this swan still rejects human contact.'
0:22:14 > 0:22:18It's good he's getting aggressive with us, trying to eat me,
0:22:18 > 0:22:22because that's proving that he is feeling better in himself
0:22:22 > 0:22:25and he doesn't like me holding him,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29which is also a good sign, he doesn't want to be handled.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34He's quite thin, so we'll get him built up a little bit.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38'Ali's also anxious about another potential problem
0:22:38 > 0:22:42'which could prevent the swan from being released back into the wild.'
0:22:42 > 0:22:46We're looking to see how waterproof he is.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50He looks quite lively, he's splashing around nicely,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53he's having a drink, which is a good sign,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56but we do need to watch that he is waterproof
0:22:56 > 0:23:00and that he doesn't roll over in the water and drown.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03If he's not waterproof, that is possible.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08'At first, he looks like he's coping well, but when he's on dry land,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11'Ali's experienced eye detects a problem.'
0:23:11 > 0:23:14As you can see, the way the water's dripping off him,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17he isn't very waterproofed,
0:23:17 > 0:23:22whereas the swan at the back - the water's rolled off him
0:23:22 > 0:23:25and he has got very soaked and wet.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28So he's not as waterproofed as we'd like,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31so we'll take him back in,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33get him dry and try again tomorrow.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37And he will start preening, like he is now,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39which will bring the oils back.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43I think this one's going to take some time to recover.
0:23:52 > 0:23:58'Still to come - it's testing time for the swan - and Ali.'
0:23:58 > 0:24:03This can either go very easily or it can be extremely difficult.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08When our pets are injured or ill,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12vets are called upon to deal with problems of all shapes and sizes.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Earlier, we saw how a schnauzer called Flint
0:24:15 > 0:24:19came to the RSPCA animal hospital in Manchester
0:24:19 > 0:24:21after being hit by a car.
0:24:21 > 0:24:27Vets are now seeing whether they can save Flint's injured leg.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39'It's now 24 hours since Flint's serious accident.'
0:24:39 > 0:24:42OK, it's all right.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47'Now vet Rachel Watkinson wants to assess the damge to his leg.'
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Flint has been on fluids for four hours, on the drip,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53and he's looking relatively bright,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57so we're going to assess the injury he's got to the forelimb.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00We'll try and remove the dressing
0:25:00 > 0:25:04with him awake first so we can see how he's using the leg,
0:25:04 > 0:25:07so we can see how bad the damage is
0:25:07 > 0:25:10and whether we're likely to see anything on X-ray.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14'If at all possible, the priority is to save Flint's leg.'
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Good boy. HE SNUFFLES All right, all right.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22'But, as the dressing comes off, it's clear that Flint
0:25:22 > 0:25:25'is in some pain.'
0:25:25 > 0:25:27HE YELPS
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Good boy!
0:25:30 > 0:25:32'Early indications aren't good.'
0:25:32 > 0:25:35I don't like the way that leg moves.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39'Every movement of the leg is causing Flint pain,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41'so Rachel changes strategy.'
0:25:41 > 0:25:45DOG GROANS That's as far as I'm going to take this dressing.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49The way the leg is moving, there may be some bone damage,
0:25:49 > 0:25:54so we're going to sedate him and carry on the examination.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58'With Flint asleep, Rachel can get to grips with the injury
0:25:58 > 0:26:00'and her fears are confirmed.'
0:26:00 > 0:26:04See how it's moving from side to side,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07so it's very likely we've got a couple of breaks,
0:26:07 > 0:26:12or at least one break, in the two bones of the forearm.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16We'll have to look on an X-ray to determine the level of damage.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19'And the forearm might not be the only problem.'
0:26:19 > 0:26:21The paw is swollen here
0:26:21 > 0:26:23so we need to be careful
0:26:23 > 0:26:27he hasn't got fractures to the bones of the toes as well.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32I can't feel anything obvious, but we'll see those on X-ray as well.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39'It's a crucial time. The X-rays will hopefully reveal
0:26:39 > 0:26:41'exactly what's wrong with his leg.'
0:26:41 > 0:26:46'It's not long before Rachel can see why he's in so much pain.'
0:26:46 > 0:26:48A nasty break in the forearm
0:26:48 > 0:26:52and it's clear to see the break in the radius.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57'The second X-ray paints a more graphic picture of the damage.'
0:26:57 > 0:27:01We've got a complete break, but also the bones are displaced,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04they're not sitting with the ends next to each other.
0:27:04 > 0:27:10'An injury this serious might be beyond the help of the vets
0:27:10 > 0:27:13'and Flint could be looking at an amputation.'
0:27:13 > 0:27:18The main problem is trying to get these bones together again
0:27:18 > 0:27:20so they have any chance of healing.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23'All Rachel can do is cross her fingers.'
0:27:23 > 0:27:28'They can't put a cast on until the wounds have healed,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30'so they put Flint in a splint
0:27:30 > 0:27:32'and hope for the best.'
0:27:32 > 0:27:36It is a nasty break and not an ideal situation for Flint,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40but we'll have to do what we can to salvage the limb.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42'They hope they can save Flint's leg,
0:27:42 > 0:27:47'but for now he faces an uncertain future.'
0:27:50 > 0:27:54'It's two weeks later and Flint's owner, Paula Jones,
0:27:54 > 0:28:00'brings him back to the vets so they can see how his leg is healing.'
0:28:00 > 0:28:03He was a bit quiet the first few days,
0:28:03 > 0:28:07but he's back to his normal self now. He's got used to it,
0:28:07 > 0:28:12he just hobbles along and sounds like a peg leg on the floor.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16'Today, vet Andy Gibson will assess Flint's injuries
0:28:16 > 0:28:20'and will decide whether the limb can be saved.'
0:28:23 > 0:28:27If the fracture's still very unstable, two weeks down the line,
0:28:27 > 0:28:31then,... it's not really good news.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36But we'll take another X-ray to compare with two weeks ago
0:28:36 > 0:28:39and make our decision from there.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45'Flint gets a sedative before Andy starts to remove the splint
0:28:45 > 0:28:47'from the leg.'
0:28:47 > 0:28:52We don't want to move the fracture site more than necessary
0:28:52 > 0:28:56because it won't be completely stable.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59'The wounds at least are in much better shape.'
0:29:02 > 0:29:06'But an X-ray will offer a clear image of the injuries and only then
0:29:06 > 0:29:10'can the team decide the best course of action.'
0:29:12 > 0:29:15'It's now nearly three months later
0:29:15 > 0:29:21'and Flint's going for a walk with Paula and the rest of the family.'
0:29:21 > 0:29:25'After weeks of hoping Flint's leg would heal,
0:29:25 > 0:29:29'Paula took the hard decision to have it removed.'
0:29:29 > 0:29:32Flint was getting really depressed,
0:29:32 > 0:29:35just going out for a wee, chewing on the plaster -
0:29:35 > 0:29:38wasn't socialising with us or anything.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41I said to the vet "He's not himself" -
0:29:41 > 0:29:45that's when we made the decision to have his leg amputated.
0:29:45 > 0:29:51'But far from being a problem, Flint has got used to life on three legs
0:29:51 > 0:29:54'and now there's no holding him back.'
0:29:54 > 0:29:56As the weeks went by,
0:29:56 > 0:30:01we all got more used to it and now we don't treat him any different.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05He's up and down the stairs like a rocket, chases the kids,
0:30:05 > 0:30:10he's just back to normal as if he has got four legs.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22In tough economic times when money's in short supply,
0:30:22 > 0:30:26it's often our pets that can be the first to suffer.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31In 2009, more than 21,000 pets were abandoned by their owners
0:30:31 > 0:30:33and left to fend for themselves.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37That's an increase of six per cent on the previous year.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41When cases like that do occur, it's often down to the RSPCA
0:30:41 > 0:30:44to step in and save lives.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50'Hull in East Yorkshire.'
0:30:51 > 0:30:55'RSPCA Inspector Sarah Keith is responding to a neighbour's call
0:30:55 > 0:31:00'that a cat has been locked in a house for the past three days.'
0:31:00 > 0:31:04'And it's feared it has no food or water.'
0:31:04 > 0:31:08CAT MEWLS This property that I sealed up on Friday,
0:31:08 > 0:31:14there's a cat inside, a neighbour is feeding it through the letterbox,
0:31:14 > 0:31:16these seals have been checked
0:31:16 > 0:31:19and nobody's been in or out of the property.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23It's difficult to assess the cat's condition
0:31:23 > 0:31:25because it's just crying.
0:31:25 > 0:31:30It looks in reasonable condition, there's a few piles of faeces.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33'Now that it's been three days,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36'Sarah is going to get the cat out of the house.'
0:31:36 > 0:31:38'But she can't do it alone.'
0:31:38 > 0:31:43'She begins by trying to find the owner of the rented property.'
0:31:43 > 0:31:47Hi, I'm just wondering about a property in Hull.
0:31:47 > 0:31:52I'm calling from the RSPCA, we need to find the housing association.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56If I give you the address, can you tell me who I need to speak to?
0:31:56 > 0:32:01'And she calls for help from the police.'
0:32:01 > 0:32:05I need police assistance with a property in Hull.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07We need the police on a job like this
0:32:07 > 0:32:10because we have no power of entry or seizure.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15Even if the housing association allows us into the property,
0:32:15 > 0:32:20we can't remove the animal without permission or a police presence.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23'As she waits, she contacts a vet
0:32:23 > 0:32:29'to get a certificate saying the cat's welfare is at risk.'
0:32:29 > 0:32:33'That will allow her to take the cat without the owner's consent.'
0:32:33 > 0:32:38This sort of thing shouldn't happen. People, because it's a cat, think
0:32:38 > 0:32:41"They can look after themselves",
0:32:41 > 0:32:44but for nobody to check on it for a few days,
0:32:44 > 0:32:46it could get ill or trapped -
0:32:46 > 0:32:50they should be checked at least once every 24 hours.
0:32:50 > 0:32:55The cat knows it's getting fed through the letterbox,
0:32:55 > 0:32:59there are loads of scratch marks on the letterbox,
0:32:59 > 0:33:03so I suspect there isn't a lot of food and water left in the house.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06'The police turn up
0:33:06 > 0:33:11'and then property manager Kerry Whitehead arrives.'
0:33:11 > 0:33:15I can call our property-maintenance team and see if they can gain entry.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19- That'd cause less damage to the door.- OK.
0:33:19 > 0:33:24'She offers to get the joiner to take the lock off the door,
0:33:24 > 0:33:28'rather than have it broken down by the police.'
0:33:28 > 0:33:31It's still on the window ledge!
0:33:31 > 0:33:35'After being imprisoned inside the house for three days,
0:33:35 > 0:33:39'the cat's clearly desperate to get out.'
0:33:39 > 0:33:41Right, we're in.
0:33:41 > 0:33:46'Sarah's anxious to check whether the cat's been left alone.'
0:33:46 > 0:33:49No, no, not coming out. Staying in.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51'But no-one's at home.'
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Hello! RSPCA!
0:33:56 > 0:34:01'Getting inside the house has been a struggle, but now there's another.'
0:34:01 > 0:34:04Can someone open that? Quickly!
0:34:04 > 0:34:07'After being confined for so long,
0:34:07 > 0:34:11'a small cage is clearly the last place he wants to end up.'
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Ow.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16'With the cat finally in the basket,
0:34:16 > 0:34:20'Sarah wants to assess how it's managed to survive.'
0:34:20 > 0:34:24'There are signs that some food was left for him, but no water.'
0:34:24 > 0:34:26There's a tiny bowl
0:34:26 > 0:34:30that may or may not have had water in it at some point.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34The toilet is full of excrement, so it couldn't drink there.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38There's no access to any water. And it's very skinny.
0:34:40 > 0:34:45'Sarah then gathers evidence for a possible prosecution
0:34:45 > 0:34:50'and leaves a note for the owner to tell them she has seized the cat.'
0:34:50 > 0:34:54I've left a property receipt and an abandonment notice
0:34:54 > 0:34:56for when the owner comes back
0:34:56 > 0:34:58to say that we've got his cat.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02'Sarah's now named the cat Bec
0:35:02 > 0:35:06'and her next priority is to take him for an urgent checkup.'
0:35:08 > 0:35:13'John Levison is immediately concerned about its thin condition.'
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Hi, sweetheart. He's got quite a thick coat,
0:35:16 > 0:35:20but even from a distance, you can see his pelvic bones.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23If you put your hand in there,
0:35:23 > 0:35:25I'm onto bone,
0:35:25 > 0:35:29the transverse processes of his spine.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33So we class them from fat, just nice, thin to emaciated.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35This chap's emaciated.
0:35:35 > 0:35:40'John's next job is to establish just how thin Bec is.'
0:35:40 > 0:35:425.6.
0:35:42 > 0:35:47'After taking the weight of the cage into account,
0:35:47 > 0:35:49'John makes a shocking discovery.'
0:35:49 > 0:35:52He's 3.05 kilograms. OK?
0:35:52 > 0:35:56I would expect this cat to be, what, 5.5 kilos?
0:35:56 > 0:36:00'After being stranded alone with little food for the last week,
0:36:00 > 0:36:06'John's astonished to see how Bec responds to a free meal.'
0:36:06 > 0:36:10I think you'd describe it as a voracious appetite.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13There aren't many cats that eat like that. Starving.
0:36:13 > 0:36:20'For Sarah, this case of neglect is totally unnecessary.'
0:36:20 > 0:36:22It makes me angry
0:36:22 > 0:36:24when I see a cat eat like that
0:36:24 > 0:36:30cos cats don't eat like that. They pick. A cat, given the opportunity,
0:36:30 > 0:36:32will eat eight times a day.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35They don't want to wolf an entire meal like that.
0:36:35 > 0:36:40From what the neighbours say, it's a regular thing, this person
0:36:40 > 0:36:44leaves this cat unattended for long periods.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46'Bec's owner couldn't be traced,
0:36:46 > 0:36:50'so later he was taken to the RSPCA's animal home in Hull
0:36:50 > 0:36:53'from where he'll be found a new home.'
0:36:55 > 0:37:00Now we're heading back to Weirfield Wildlife Hospital in Lincoln.
0:37:00 > 0:37:05Earlier, we saw founder Ali Townsend dealing with an influx of casualties
0:37:05 > 0:37:08including baby squirrels and a swan.
0:37:08 > 0:37:13But now there are some new arrivals which demand immediate attention.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21'At the height of the spring breeding season,
0:37:21 > 0:37:24'staff at Weirfield are run off their feet.'
0:37:24 > 0:37:28'Today, Ali's dealing with a particularly sad case.'
0:37:28 > 0:37:30These cubs came in last night.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35Somebody was doing some building work and the digger killed the mum.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39There were four alive cubs and one that was very poorly
0:37:39 > 0:37:41and died on its way here,
0:37:41 > 0:37:45so these four are very, very frightened,
0:37:45 > 0:37:47very, very subdued.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50They don't like noise or being here,
0:37:50 > 0:37:53so we've decided that the best thing for them
0:37:53 > 0:37:57is to put them outside in one of the aviaries.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01They've eaten a bit, but not enough. There's too much stress in here.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05'Before moving them to an outside pen,
0:38:05 > 0:38:08'Ali gives them a health check.'
0:38:08 > 0:38:10They look quite well in themselves.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12They've got a good set of teeth.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15And the skin looks good.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18I'm happy for this one to go outside.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20'With 22 years' experience
0:38:20 > 0:38:23'dealing with wild animals, Ali knows
0:38:23 > 0:38:27'it's the hidden factors which can prove fatal.'
0:38:27 > 0:38:33Stress can be a killer, so we want to make it as stress-free as we can.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35We've checked all four over,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38there's no injuries to them.
0:38:38 > 0:38:43Although they are very subdued, I think that will subside
0:38:43 > 0:38:46once we get them out into somewhere that's quieter.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51'They need food that reflects what their mother would've brought them.'
0:38:51 > 0:38:55We need to keep their food as natural as possible.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00We have roadkill bunnies brought in, so we will be feeding them those.
0:39:00 > 0:39:05If something here doesn't survive and it's something foxes would eat,
0:39:05 > 0:39:09we will feed it to them because that's their natural food.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13But at this minute, the only thing we've got is the dead chicks.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15So we just put those at the side.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19'After all the trauma of the past few days,
0:39:19 > 0:39:24'Ali thinks they'll be able to help these cubs have a brighter future.'
0:39:24 > 0:39:28So now we just want them to grow, erm,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31and basically stay wild.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34If they do that, in a couple or three months,
0:39:34 > 0:39:37we'll probably be able to release them successfully.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46'Earlier, we saw how a young swan
0:39:46 > 0:39:49'was being nursed back to health after injuring his legs
0:39:49 > 0:39:52'in a crash-landing on a wet road.'
0:39:53 > 0:39:57'Five weeks on, the swan is recovering well.'
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Once he started eating properly
0:39:59 > 0:40:01and gaining weight, he did recover.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04His unbalanced stature
0:40:04 > 0:40:08was a bit slow, but he's now much better on his feet
0:40:08 > 0:40:10and he is swimming well.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14He's had a busy morning, so he's now having a rest.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18This can either go very easily or it can be extremely difficult.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21'Catching swans can be tricky,
0:40:21 > 0:40:24'but Ali's encouraged by his putting up a fight.'
0:40:24 > 0:40:27'It's a sign that he's ready to be released.'
0:40:27 > 0:40:31This is the original bird that came in,
0:40:31 > 0:40:33that was very unsteady on his feet,
0:40:33 > 0:40:35extremely unhappy,
0:40:35 > 0:40:39was very light in his weight and was unable to stand up.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41There's a big difference.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44He looks loads better. Doesn't want to be handled
0:40:44 > 0:40:46and that's a good sign.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48If they don't want to be handled,
0:40:48 > 0:40:51they're fit, they want to go back.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54He's got shiny eyes, he's been eating well
0:40:54 > 0:40:57and he's a lot better than he was.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00I'm happy that this one goes back.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04'Ali puts the swan into a special bag so he can be transported
0:41:04 > 0:41:06'to the release site.'
0:41:08 > 0:41:14'He'll be joining two others who are also ready to go back to the wild.'
0:41:14 > 0:41:18'But their new home won't be some rural retreat -
0:41:18 > 0:41:21'they're heading for a waterway in Lincoln city centre
0:41:21 > 0:41:24'which has a large swan population.'
0:41:24 > 0:41:30This is our Brayford Pool and it's common ground for the swans.
0:41:30 > 0:41:35There is no territories, no issues on "This is my bit of the lake",
0:41:35 > 0:41:39so we can actually safely release the birds here
0:41:39 > 0:41:41and they can find their own way.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45It's big enough that they can take off
0:41:45 > 0:41:49and go where they want to be if they choose not to stay.
0:41:50 > 0:41:55'After five weeks of care from Ali and her staff at Weirfield,
0:41:55 > 0:41:59'this swan is clearly eager to get back on the water.'
0:42:01 > 0:42:04'And so are his two friends!'
0:42:04 > 0:42:08'All in all, it's a rewarding result for Ali.'
0:42:08 > 0:42:11This is one of the best parts of a rehabilitator's job.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14The birds come in
0:42:14 > 0:42:17looking poorly, then we nurse them back to health
0:42:17 > 0:42:19and then get the advantage
0:42:19 > 0:42:23of being able to bring them here and take them for release.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27That's what we do. That's what we're here for.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38If you know of a case of wildlife crime
0:42:38 > 0:42:41or a creature that needs protection,
0:42:41 > 0:42:46there are dedicated professionals out there around the clock.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50They are the people we meet on Animal 24:7.
0:43:13 > 0:43:18Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd