0:00:02 > 0:00:05Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08All too often, our wildlife and domestic pets
0:00:08 > 0:00:13are the victims of cruelty, persecution, and neglect.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Fighting to save them is a dedicated band of people
0:00:17 > 0:00:20trying to protect and care for them right around the clock.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23This is Animal 24:7.
0:00:37 > 0:00:38Today on Animal 24:7...
0:00:38 > 0:00:42Hi. He's hiding in the sofa.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45..the dog whose home is a junk-filled back garden.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48He looks really pitiful, to be honest.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51A lucky escape for an orphaned badger.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54The dog or terrier or something has gone down into the set,
0:00:54 > 0:00:56picked it up by the scruff of its neck.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Quite an extensive open wound.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02And I get to grips with a prickly problem.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04If I was a predator, and I had it in my mouth,
0:01:04 > 0:01:08- it would be hitting its spikes into me.- Of course.
0:01:12 > 0:01:18The RSPCA rescue and help more than 130,000 animals every year.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21In many cases, officers pass on some simple advice
0:01:21 > 0:01:24to help owners do the best for their animals.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27But, when it comes to serious neglect,
0:01:27 > 0:01:29sometimes the only appropriate course of action
0:01:29 > 0:01:32is to take the animal away.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Leicestershire.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39And a worried member of the public
0:01:39 > 0:01:43has made an emergency call to the RSPCA.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Inspector Jayne Bashford is responding to a report
0:01:46 > 0:01:49that a dog called Sandy is being kept in a back garden
0:01:49 > 0:01:50in appalling conditions.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53So, she's on her way to investigate.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Just had a call come through now
0:01:56 > 0:02:02about a dog that's meant to be very thin.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04All bones are meant to be visible.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07And it's meant to be living in its own faeces, etcetera,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11in a back garden, with no shelter.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Obviously, from our point of view,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16whenever you get a call that says any animal is so thin
0:02:16 > 0:02:19that you can see its skeleton,
0:02:19 > 0:02:20essentially, through its skin,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22it's never good.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25They're certainly the sort of jobs that you want to get there quickly,
0:02:25 > 0:02:26and have a look at.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32The house looks like a typical family home.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36But, there's nobody inside.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39So, Jayne goes in search of Sandy.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43There is signs of a dog. There's a kennel.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Of sorts.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47And lots of poo.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50And hazards.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53But, sadly, no dog, at the moment.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The report's only just come in,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01so the lack of a dog in the garden is a bit of a mystery.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03SHE WHISTLES
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Jayne decides to get a fresh perspective
0:03:07 > 0:03:09from the opposite garden,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13and, sure enough, quickly spots something moving among the debris.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14Hi.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16He's hiding in the sofa.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Hello, mate!
0:03:20 > 0:03:22Almost hidden from view,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Sandy is cowering underneath the discarded sofa,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28surrounded by rubbish.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31I've got a very, very nervous,
0:03:31 > 0:03:35shivery, timid little dog.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39He looks really pitiful, to be honest.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45The mystery of the missing dog has now been solved.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Are you going to come out, so we can see you?
0:03:48 > 0:03:51But, having seen the state of its living conditions,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Jayne's work is far from over.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Particularly as the complainant says that Sandy's been out here
0:03:56 > 0:03:58for two months.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00We've potentially got an offence
0:04:00 > 0:04:03of failing to meet the needs of this dog,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05in terms of the environment it's living in.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08I need to find out now whether the situation is so bad
0:04:08 > 0:04:11that I can get the dog removed today.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18To do that, Jayne needs to get a better look at shy Sandy.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22What's this?
0:04:22 > 0:04:24What's this?
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Her plan is to try to coax it out into the open,
0:04:27 > 0:04:28with a tin of dog food.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Want some dinner?
0:04:31 > 0:04:33I know. Come on.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36I just want him to smell it. Come on, baby.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42But even the promise of food can't tempt Sandy away
0:04:42 > 0:04:45from the safety of the sofa.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48It looks like the chair there is providing a little bed for him,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52and that's where he's naturally found his comfortable spot.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54It's no wonder Sandy's reluctant to move.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57With potential hazards littering the garden,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01the sofa probably seems like the safest place.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03But, whilst I really want to go and have a look at him,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06at the moment I can't, cos I haven't the powers to do that.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09But, suddenly, Sandy gets restless,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11and briefly scampers out into the open,
0:05:11 > 0:05:16allowing Jayne a few valuable glimpses of its body condition.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Thankfully, he's just jumped out, and back in again.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23I'm quite satisfied, looking at his body condition.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25He's seems to be a lurcher-type dog.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28He's not skinny
0:05:28 > 0:05:31to the degree I'd be worried about, at all.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35So, my main concern now, is the environment that it's living in.
0:05:36 > 0:05:42It's a minor miracle Sandy appears to have avoided serious harm.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43Jayne has seen enough.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45She decides to call a vet.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50We've got a very, very, very nervous, depressed-looking
0:05:50 > 0:05:53lurcher-type dog.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55With a vet onside,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Jayne may be able to get things moving.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00We have ways and means, under the Animal Welfare Act,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03that if a vet says the environment an animal's living in
0:06:03 > 0:06:05is unacceptable,
0:06:05 > 0:06:09and that it's likely to suffer if its circumstances don't change
0:06:09 > 0:06:11in this environment,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13that then gives me the green light, as it were,
0:06:13 > 0:06:17to get the police out, to help me to remove the dog.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Around two hours after the emergency call,
0:06:22 > 0:06:23vet Emma Crust arrives
0:06:23 > 0:06:26to make her own assessment of Sandy's situation.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30It looks like a lurcher-type dog.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Its body condition's fair.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34That's not really a concern,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36but it's the environment.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38It's really quite awful.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41And its behaviour. It looks so subdued.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45- I'll just be grateful for your opinion, really.- OK.- All right?- Yep.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51If the vet agrees the conditions are likely to cause suffering,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Jayne will have powers to call the police, and seize the dog.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59It's not a suitable environment at all, is it?
0:06:59 > 0:07:03My primary concerns for contacting you
0:07:03 > 0:07:07was the amount of potential obstructions that are around.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09There are lots of foreign body material around.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11I think it needs to come out.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Emma knows the garden is full of hazards,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19which could make Sandy very sick.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Basically, you've got plastic articles, wood that can be chewed.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28There's metal, obviously a lot of stonework and things.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Anything that potentially a young dog would pick up
0:07:32 > 0:07:34and become an obstruction in the gut.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37It's just not a suitable environment for the dog, really.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42With the vet's backing, Jayne calls the police.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45She plans to enter the garden and seize the dog for its own safety.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53Still to come...
0:07:53 > 0:07:55It's all right. I'm not going to hurt you.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59..It's gently does it, as Jayne attempts the rescue.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02That's a very scared dog, isn't it? Good girl.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07And I find out why this tortoise ended up with crumpled body work.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09He's all collapsed.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12He's dented like this, and his legs are sticking out sideways.
0:08:12 > 0:08:13He's an extraordinary shape!
0:08:18 > 0:08:23The spring breeding season brings a real boom in Britain's wildlife,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26and among the most vulnerable casualties are young badgers.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30The cubs face not only the challenge of surviving in the wild,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34but also they can become victims of animal cruelty.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37So, it's no wonder that staff at one animal rescue centre
0:08:37 > 0:08:40find this one of busiest times of the year.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Secret World in Somerset.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51For the past 25 years,
0:08:51 > 0:08:55it's been a safe haven for wildlife of all shapes and sizes.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01But it's also a specialist rescue centre for badgers.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Every year, they take in and care for
0:09:04 > 0:09:07around 50 abandoned and injured cubs.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12Today, the founder Pauline Kidner is tending to three orphans
0:09:12 > 0:09:14who are in need of special care.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Meet Saffron, Lavender and Nutmeg.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22They came in incredibly small. We've never had anything as tiny as this.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26In fact, the smallest was 55 grammes.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30To get three cubs that size through to now is quite incredible,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33but I think that probably was because they've had the first milk
0:09:33 > 0:09:37from the mother, which gives them the anti-bodies.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40We've gone from 12 feeds a day, when they first came in,
0:09:40 > 0:09:42to a nice manageable four meals a day,
0:09:42 > 0:09:44which is brilliant, as far as I'm concerned.
0:09:44 > 0:09:49Found in North Wales, the tiny cubs were the only survivors of four
0:09:49 > 0:09:52badger setts, which had been flooded in heavy rain.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55To survive, they needed specialist care,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58so a relay of drivers transported the cubs
0:09:58 > 0:10:01on a six hour journey to Secret World.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04That's scent marking going on.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07You can see the scent markers quite extended there.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10And you'll now get the smell of musk.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13It's important that they lay that sense of smell on to their mother
0:10:13 > 0:10:16so that they become part of the family smell.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Over the past four weeks,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24thanks to the care of Pauline and her team,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27the cubs have already made huge progress.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31They've gone from 55 grammes to 865 grammes.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Fat as butter.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35But they've got a long way to go,
0:10:35 > 0:10:39and they still require the constant care of Pauline,
0:10:39 > 0:10:41who's become their surrogate mum.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44And then before we feed,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46it's just a question of wiping them over.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48All we're doing is mimicking what the mother would do,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50just come and give them a jolly good clean.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Put a little bit of talcum powder on him,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58and that's just so they smell the same,
0:10:58 > 0:11:03and if anyone else had to do the feeding instead of me,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06it's a smell they would recognise.
0:11:06 > 0:11:07For these tiny cubs,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11Pauline's front room is an unusual but welcome sanctuary.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Their eyes are just beginning to open.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Because they're normally underground,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20they don't need their eyes and ears,
0:11:20 > 0:11:22so they don't open for the first five weeks.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Goodness me, you're still hungry.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29You see those lovely sharp claws,
0:11:29 > 0:11:30which, when they get a bit older
0:11:30 > 0:11:33obviously is going to be so important for digging.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Clean and full of milk,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Saffron, Lavender and Nutmeg settle down.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40They may have put on a lot of weight,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43but Pauline knows they're still very much at risk.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Even now, there's always that risk of losing them.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Feeding them, getting pneumonia, where they can get fluid on their chests.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53So, we're a long way clear of being successful.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58Obviously, we hope all the time and effort is going to be worthwhile.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02There are still many challenges ahead for these cubs to overcome
0:12:02 > 0:12:06before they're fit and ready to return to the wild.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14It's now a month on.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17And thanks to the efforts of all the staff,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21the three cubs are putting on weight and doing well.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27But on the other side of the centre, there is a new arrival.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29This is Minty.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33He was found injured and alone, after being attacked by a dog.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38Animal care manager Sara Cowan is nursing him back to health.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41You quite often see dog injuries with badger cubs,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43especially at this age,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46because a dog or terrier has gone down into a sett and picked it up.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49He had lots of puncture wounds,
0:12:49 > 0:12:54and like I say, probably where a dog's picked him up by the scruff of his neck,
0:12:54 > 0:12:56quite an extensive open wound.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57It's not uncommon.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Orphaned and on his own,
0:12:59 > 0:13:05it's hoped Minty will be able to join up with Lavender, Saffron and Nutmeg.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Making them a family unit
0:13:06 > 0:13:09will give them all the best chance of survival
0:13:09 > 0:13:11when they return to the wild.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13They're naturally very gregarious.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16They live in big groups and they like to play,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18but the problem is when they're on their own,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20their play is with a human being.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23That's ultimately, in the long-term, not going to be beneficial,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26so we need to get them ignoring us.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Although unfortunately for Judith it's hard to give them away,
0:13:29 > 0:13:30it's the right thing to do.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35But before he can join the other orphans,
0:13:35 > 0:13:39like all new arrivals, Minty needs a series of health checks.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43What we do now, we need to go upstairs,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46we need to check his teeth out and do a dental record,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50measure him and introduce him to the gang.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53First up is a trip to the dentist.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Animal care assistant Andy Parr will help with the examination.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- Hello. I've got another badger cub for you.- Excellent.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- The numbers are going up.- They are.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08We're going to be looking at Minty's development as he goes along.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11What we need to do is record the rate at which his teeth are erupting.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15We need to have a good feel in his mouth, see what ones are coming,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17and Andy's going to do the recording.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22Sara uses her finger to see what teeth Minty has already,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and which ones are coming through.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29Premolars on the lower teeth. Two. First two.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30And I have got one big molar.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Badgers eat a wide range of different foods,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40from small mammals to plants and nuts.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42With such a varied diet,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44it's essential Minty's teeth are in good order.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47The next tricky test is to measure this little badger,
0:14:47 > 0:14:51which will tell Sara roughly how old he is.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- So what we do, if you come here, Andy.- OK.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57I hold his nose here, at the edge.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00You have to pull him out to the tip of his tail,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02then keep your finger on the mark.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Then we measure it.
0:15:05 > 0:15:06Right. OK, go.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Keep your finger down.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10He is...
0:15:10 > 0:15:1342 centimetres.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16That gives us an indication he's about eight weeks old.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18He's about the same size as the others.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Now, the next job to put him in with the rest of the gang.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27After being attacked by a dog and left an orphan,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Sara wants to introduce Minty to his new family.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35But it's not clear whether Saffron, Lavender and Nutmeg will accept him.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Probably what will happen, he'll fall asleep with them,
0:15:40 > 0:15:41but we'll see what happens.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43He might disrupt the entire group.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Come down you lot, move over here a bit.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Let's pop Minty in there.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Here's your new friends.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01After a bit of huffing and puffing,
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Minty finds himself a place in the heap of relaxed badger cubs.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Well, he's in there now quite happy having a little
0:16:10 > 0:16:13bit of a sniff around and seeing who's who, giving them a little bit
0:16:13 > 0:16:18of a bite as well and lots of play interaction, which is really nice.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Basically, it's all gone very well. I think he'll be fine.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Secret World aims to release their badger cubs into the wild
0:16:27 > 0:16:31but, before that can happen, they will all have to pass
0:16:31 > 0:16:34a life-or-death test to ensure they're free of disease.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49'Still to come, the tests prove a trying time for Minty the badger.'
0:16:49 > 0:16:51When they come in and out of an anaesthetic,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53they can be very hyper-sensitive.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56You're a little cry baby, aren't you, Minty, eh?
0:16:56 > 0:17:00'I get to handle Hermon, the bearded dragon.'
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Oh, it feels a bit weird.
0:17:03 > 0:17:04They're prickly, ain't they?
0:17:04 > 0:17:08Yeah, like the very roughest, coarsest sandpaper.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Now, we're returning to Leicestershire where earlier,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19we were with RSPCA inspector Jayne Bashford
0:17:19 > 0:17:23as she investigated the story of Sandy the lurcher.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Jayne found her frightened and all alone in a junk-filled back garden.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31With so many hazards surrounding Sandy, Jayne knows that
0:17:31 > 0:17:37drastic action is needed to rescue the dog.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Jayne's discovery of Sandy cowering underneath a sofa in a dirty
0:17:44 > 0:17:48and dangerous backyard has deeply shocked her.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52So far, she's called in vet Emma Crust to support
0:17:52 > 0:17:56her assessment that Sandy needs to be seized and taken to safety.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03It's really unusual for a dog just to sit and not move and not bark
0:18:03 > 0:18:06and not show any interest in strangers poking their heads
0:18:06 > 0:18:09over a fence into his environment.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14So, it is a real concern that the dog's behaving in that way.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20In a few minutes, two local officers arrive on the scene.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22They have legal powers to gain access
0:18:22 > 0:18:24and help get the dog to safety.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Yeah.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Hello.
0:18:33 > 0:18:34Right, let's see.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Hello, mate.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Are you going to come, then?
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Go walkies? Hello. You're terrified, aren't you, eh?
0:18:44 > 0:18:46As the team enter,
0:18:46 > 0:18:50it's clear this frightened dog doesn't know friend from foe.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Hello. Look, what's this? Smell that, sniff, sniff.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59It's all right, I'm not going to hurt you.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03It takes a lot of reassurance before Sandy cautiously allows Jayne
0:19:03 > 0:19:05to attach a grasper.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06Good.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14But even then, she's reluctant to leave the sanctuary of the sofa.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18That's a very scared dog, isn't it?
0:19:18 > 0:19:22I'll tell you what we'll do, yeah, if we try...
0:19:22 > 0:19:26Shall we try pulling the chair as well? OK.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28- All right, good girl. - There we are.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33Slowly, Jayne is able to lead Sandy into the open.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Good girl, come on, button. There we are. I got you.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38The grasper looks brutal...
0:19:38 > 0:19:39Good girl.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42..but it means she can't hurt herself or the people trying to help.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49I've used the grasper to take hold of the dog purely and simply
0:19:49 > 0:19:51because it's the first dealings I've had with it.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55We've had no indication of how it might've responded when approached.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58So far, it's been absolutely fantastic.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01It's not showing any problems other than just being utterly terrified.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04So, I think, the sooner it can be removed from this, and the
0:20:04 > 0:20:09memories that this garden obviously holds, the better for this animal.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15Sandy is very scared and reluctant to move.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19To reduce the stress on her, Jayne fetches a portable kennel.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25- There's a good girl. You're ever so good.- Good girl. In you go. Oh, oh.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29In you go. OK. OK. That's it.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Now she's finally out of harm's way,
0:20:41 > 0:20:46Jayne can take a closer look at the dumping ground that's been her home.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50It's littered with hazards to make even an experienced inspector shudder.
0:20:50 > 0:20:58It just gets worse and worse really. We found an open Stanley knife blade lying in the dog's
0:20:58 > 0:21:00main living area, as it were.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Then, quite alarmingly, as we've walked up the garden to look at this area
0:21:04 > 0:21:08where the dog has obviously been using as its main toilet,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11we found what looks like...
0:21:11 > 0:21:16a samurai sword of some description dug into the ground.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24So, it just all adds to the picture, really, of it being a completely unsuitable environment.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29It's a wonder that Sandy hasn't come to any harm.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33The state of this garden is enough for Jayne to consider prosecution
0:21:33 > 0:21:38so she gathers evidence that could be used in court.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40It's just important to work around the garden
0:21:40 > 0:21:44and take as much photographic evidence as you can.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47You can see also the way the dog's been jumping up at the windows
0:21:47 > 0:21:51and the door in an attempt to attract attention, I would imagine.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58It seems this visit hasn't come a moment too soon for Sandy.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01The water bowl was completely empty.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06She's loaded into the safety of Jayne's van.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10So, now that we've got the dog out, that's the most important
0:22:10 > 0:22:14thing now, we just need to let the owner know what's happened.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16So I've posted a card from the police to let him know
0:22:16 > 0:22:19that the police have also been here.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21I'll put a notice on the door explaining what's happened,
0:22:21 > 0:22:25that we've removed his dog and asking him to get in contact with me
0:22:25 > 0:22:26as soon as possible.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29So, hopefully, as soon as he sees the notice, he'll ring me up.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34For this dog, it's off for a full health check
0:22:34 > 0:22:35and a little bit of TLC.
0:22:44 > 0:22:49Still to come - there's a real surprise for Jayne at the vets.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51She's gone from being very, very quiet
0:22:51 > 0:22:55and timid to a really bouncy, happy buoyant little girl.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57You wouldn't think it was the same dog.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04Taking care of a domestic pet like a cat or dog comes with
0:23:04 > 0:23:08its own responsibilities, but owning an exotic animal,
0:23:08 > 0:23:13which requires much more care, can prove too much for some people.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15That's when they often get discarded
0:23:15 > 0:23:19and wildlife rescue centres can be called in to pick up the pieces.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Tiggywinkles in Buckinghamshire is one of the country's busiest
0:23:30 > 0:23:32wildlife rescue centres.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Most of the animals they take in are native to Britain,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37but founder Les Stocker
0:23:37 > 0:23:40is worried about the growing number of abandoned exotic pets
0:23:40 > 0:23:44from across the globe which he and his staff are having to deal with.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50We've got in here a couple of African pygmy hedgehogs.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54I was going to say, they look familiar, particularly to Tiggywinkles.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- Yeah.- They're not quite the same, are they?- No, they're very cute.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00They shouldn't be here, that's the whole point.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- Did they come as pets, is that why they're here?- Yes, that's right.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06There's a big pet trade going on now. It was in America.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07It's big business in America.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11They're selling these hedgehogs and they've started selling them over here
0:24:11 > 0:24:13and people are buying them as pets, but they ain't very good pets.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15- I'll show you.- Oh, really? - Put them on.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18You're not going to cuddle and stroke these things, I'll tell you.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20I think there's a clue in the gloves
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- as to why they may not be great pets.- Yeah.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Because the European hedgehog is protected and cannot be
0:24:26 > 0:24:30kept as a pet, the African pygmy species have been specially bred
0:24:30 > 0:24:32as an attractive legal alternative,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35but Les feels their prickly nature makes them
0:24:35 > 0:24:39a real handful and that's why owners often lose interest in them.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42That movement that he's doing, is that a defence thing?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45- It's called boxing. Yeah, they just bounce and bounce.- Really?
0:24:45 > 0:24:47He's very stressed.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49If I was a predator and I had it in my mouth, it would be
0:24:49 > 0:24:51hitting its spines into me?
0:24:51 > 0:24:55- Yeah.- Oh! You can really feel that movement. It comes out pretty fast.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Those spikes are moving, aren't they?
0:24:57 > 0:25:00We should probably put him down on the ground so he's less stressed.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Yeah. Every time you've got one and you pick it up it's stressed, it's stressed out of its mind.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06That isn't good for a hedgehog.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10When you buy one as an owner, then what can you do with it?
0:25:10 > 0:25:13You can't sit in front of the telly and stroke it like you would a cat or
0:25:13 > 0:25:17a dog at night, it's just going to be prickly and it's going to bite you.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18Just not pets.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20People just dump them
0:25:20 > 0:25:24because they're hard to look after and the poor thing's going to suffer.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33Another demanding pet, but one which is much more common in this country, is the tortoise.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Our last species had an attitude problem,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39but these guys are pretty calm, aren't they?
0:25:39 > 0:25:42They are calm, but they're very, very sophisticated.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46These prehistoric reptiles may have been a family favourite
0:25:46 > 0:25:50for many years, but Les believes we still have a lot to learn
0:25:50 > 0:25:52about how to care for them properly.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56They are very difficult to look after. They have their problems.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59You've got to give them every bit of tender loving care.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Despite their hardy looking appearance, you're saying
0:26:01 > 0:26:05they're actually fairly delicate and they need very sensitive handling?
0:26:05 > 0:26:06Yes. Very, Very much so.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Providing the right habitat for a tortoise is a tricky business
0:26:10 > 0:26:11as they crave warmth
0:26:11 > 0:26:16and also ideally need a large outside space to roam in.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19One of the biggest mistakes made by their owners is failing to
0:26:19 > 0:26:21feed them the right food.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Now, you look at him compared with that one.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Now, this guy is 18 years old.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27You can see he's all collapsed,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30he's dented like this and his legs are sticking out sideways.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32- He's an extraordinary shape.- Yeah.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35This is because he was brought up on the wrong diet, it was the wrong food.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39People think tortoises, "Oh, they eat lettuce", they don't, very sophisticated food.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42They need a bit of meat in with their food and things like that.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Do they actually suffer because of this?
0:26:44 > 0:26:47They do suffer, especially when they're young.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50If you get a small tortoise and you start feeding it the wrong food,
0:26:50 > 0:26:52its insides are going to suffer.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55The shell is going to compress. It's going to muck up its internal organs.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59A lot of them die. A lot of them don't actually make it to teenagehood, you know,
0:26:59 > 0:27:03because they've just been crushed by the shell pressing down on all their organs.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09Luckily for this fella, he came to Tiggywinkles just in time.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13But, as I continue my tour of the centre with Les, it's clear
0:27:13 > 0:27:17he's not the only exotic pet who suffered due to a lack of care.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20This is Hermon the bearded dragon.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24We're up here in our vet's flat and this is another one we've had
0:27:24 > 0:27:27to adopt because it's been dumped in the wild.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29It's got major problems, this one.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31He's got what's called metabolic bone disease.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34This is, basically, when he was growing up,
0:27:34 > 0:27:35he hadn't ate the right diet
0:27:35 > 0:27:39and he's got a lack of calcium and his bones are just not strong enough.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43Also, it needs ultra violet light just to make it absorb the calcium.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46So it was just missing both those things which now
0:27:46 > 0:27:48we have to give it to him.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53Just like us with vitamin D in our skin, sunlight helps them. They need UV.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56They need sunlight and British sunlight isn't good enough for them.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58They need one of these special bulbs in here.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02I can see it's 35 degrees in there.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05- It is all right for me to handle them?- Please do. There you go.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10- Ooh. It feels a bit weird. - It's prickly, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13It's like the very roughest coarsest sandpaper.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17It feels surprisingly warm for a cold-blooded creature,
0:28:17 > 0:28:20but I guess that comes from a very warm place in there.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24That's what keeps them going. They need that extra warmth.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28The issue here is that his legs are not sufficiently strong, they have developed poorly?
0:28:28 > 0:28:31The bones are thin and fragile.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33How common are they as pets?
0:28:33 > 0:28:36They are very common as pets.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39They're not too much money, they're cute, tiny animals,
0:28:39 > 0:28:40but unfortunately,
0:28:40 > 0:28:41they grow quite big.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Places that rescue bearded dragons are getting quite a few now
0:28:44 > 0:28:48where people have just dumped them.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52It's clear that owning an exotic pet is a big commitment and requires
0:28:52 > 0:28:55a strong understanding of exactly how to look after the animal.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59That way, hopefully, more creatures like Herman here won't end up
0:28:59 > 0:29:01abandoned and in need of help.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13Still to come, Sandy undergoes urgent health checks,
0:29:13 > 0:29:15but what will the future hold?
0:29:15 > 0:29:20My strong hope is that Sandy is now safe
0:29:20 > 0:29:24and will not be put back into a situation where she could find
0:29:24 > 0:29:27herself in the same position again later in life.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34Now, we're heading back to Secret World Wildlife Rescue in Somerset.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38Earlier, we saw how staff were preparing for four badger cubs
0:29:38 > 0:29:41who'd been brought into the centre after they'd been orphaned.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43Saffron, Lavender, Nutmeg and Minty
0:29:43 > 0:29:47had been brought together to form a new family,
0:29:47 > 0:29:51but before they can be released back into the wild, they face a series
0:29:51 > 0:29:55of crucial medical checks which will decide whether they live or die.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04At the centre, animal care manager Sara Cowan is preparing
0:30:04 > 0:30:06the cubs for their big day.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11Today, we're taking the first blood test from the baby badgers
0:30:11 > 0:30:14which is to test them for tuberculosis.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18In the wild, badgers can carry TB
0:30:18 > 0:30:23and this can be passed on to cattle through the badgers' faeces.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Any farm animals infected have to be put to sleep.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33So, to stop the spread of the disease, every rescued badger
0:30:33 > 0:30:38must be checked for the virus before it can be released.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43In the treatment room, the first cub Minty is given anaesthetic.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47We want to ensure we are putting badgers out
0:30:47 > 0:30:50that we know are completely free of bovine TB.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55One of the first jobs for vet Liz Molyneux is to take blood
0:30:55 > 0:30:56from Minty to be checked in a laboratory
0:30:56 > 0:30:59for any sign of the TB virus.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04When we do the blood test, the positive numbers are extremely small.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06I think it is 1 in 200.
0:31:06 > 0:31:12Of those, only a small percentage are confirmed as being TB positive.
0:31:12 > 0:31:13So, really, really low numbers.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15But we have to ensure that confidence
0:31:15 > 0:31:17that farmers and landowners,
0:31:17 > 0:31:20that when we're putting the cubs back,
0:31:20 > 0:31:22the cubs that go back are TB free.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25Aside from this test, staff at Secret World
0:31:25 > 0:31:29also go to the extra lengths of getting every rescued badger drugs
0:31:29 > 0:31:32to protect them against the disease.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35We want to vaccinate them as young as we possibly can
0:31:35 > 0:31:39so they're protected before they have any chance of coming into contact with TB.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45The cubs are given oxygen as they come round to help reverse
0:31:45 > 0:31:47the anaesthetic as quickly as possible.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51When they come in and out of the anaesthetic,
0:31:51 > 0:31:54they can be very hypersensitive.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57They react. Sometimes they cry, sometimes they thrash around a bit.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02It is purely because they're all a bit confused
0:32:02 > 0:32:04but there's no pain.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07It's just a traumatic period. You're a little cry baby, aren't you, Minty, eh?
0:32:09 > 0:32:13The aim is to keep their time in a strange environment to a minimum.
0:32:13 > 0:32:18- Once Minty is weighed...- 1.75 kilos.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22..Saffron, Lavender and Nutmeg have their blood tests.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25They're followed by their vaccinations.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34It's now two months later.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39The results of the latest TB test have so far revealed
0:32:39 > 0:32:41they are all free of disease.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Today, Sara is preparing to move the cubs
0:32:47 > 0:32:50into their brand-new outdoor enclosure.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53It's the next step on the journey back to the wild.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55It's a great big playground for them.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59On a nice windy day, they will have a good time running round.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03We have various things we have put in the enclosure for them to play around,
0:33:03 > 0:33:07to run in, just to get some enrichment for them.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12What is so perfect about this enclosure is that we have
0:33:12 > 0:33:14completely underwired it so they can't dig out
0:33:14 > 0:33:16so they'll be safe and nothing can get to them.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20The other thing is, the whole area is double-meshed so at no point
0:33:20 > 0:33:25can the badger cubs come into contact with other wild badgers.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30Whatever happens, where they go, we will know they are completely healthy
0:33:30 > 0:33:31disease-free badgers.
0:33:34 > 0:33:35In the middle of the pen,
0:33:35 > 0:33:39Sara and the team have built the cubs their very own badger sett.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41With tunnelled entrances and straw bedding,
0:33:41 > 0:33:45Sara hopes this will be the perfect new home for the cubs.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49It even has its very own state-of-the-art CCTV
0:33:49 > 0:33:51so staff can monitor their progress.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Getting them in it could prove a tricky business.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56BADGERS SQUEAL
0:33:56 > 0:34:01Hopefully, they'll quietly go in and inquisitively look at it.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03Obviously, it is a new environment.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07They are stressed because they are out of their comfort zone.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09So, we'll see how it goes, really.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Badgers are inquisitive and love to explore.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17This lot seem to be dragging their heels.
0:34:17 > 0:34:22- They're not sure, are they? They want to go.- One's gone.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Off you go. Once one goes in, they'll start following.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29That's two in. The natural behaviour is to go
0:34:29 > 0:34:32and have a good look at what is in there.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34They'll all follow each other.
0:34:34 > 0:34:40No sooner are some in than they are back out again.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43Go on, back with your friends, there you go.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45That's them all in. That wasn't so bad.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48We will wedge this end with some of this hay to keep them
0:34:48 > 0:34:53in there so they can settle down, have a good old sniff around.
0:34:53 > 0:34:58You can hear them snorting about in there. We will retreat out of the pen.
0:34:58 > 0:35:03Hopefully, once they have settled down, they'll push the hay out and have a rummage around.
0:35:06 > 0:35:0815 minutes later, and to Sara's delight,
0:35:08 > 0:35:13it seems like the cubs are ready to venture further afield.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15Hello.
0:35:15 > 0:35:16Hello.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20Well, one of them anyway.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24We've got a little nose poking out now. He's almost like a weasel.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27He's having a sniff. Oh, no, that's scary. That's new.
0:35:27 > 0:35:28Ooh, hello.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30I might come out and have a look round.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33One's out. Being brave.
0:35:33 > 0:35:34Ooh, no. That's scary.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37Aww!
0:35:37 > 0:35:40The most important part of their rehabilitation process
0:35:40 > 0:35:44is that there now learn to be badgers as opposed to baby badgers.
0:35:44 > 0:35:49They need to interact with each other, forage, dig and everything
0:35:49 > 0:35:53that we'll now observe with them as a new group will give them
0:35:53 > 0:35:57everything they need to be able to survive out in the wild.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00After a traumatic start in life, these orphaned cubs,
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Saffron, Lavender, Nutmeg and Minty have had all the care
0:36:03 > 0:36:05and attention they'd ever need.
0:36:06 > 0:36:11From bath time to bottle feeds, and even trips to the dentist,
0:36:11 > 0:36:15it has firmly put them back on the path to becoming wild animals again.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18This is probably the best part of the job
0:36:18 > 0:36:20and I never get bored of it, even after 20 years.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24Every time you watch this, it makes you realise that it is worth it,
0:36:24 > 0:36:28all the effort that you've put in through the last few months.
0:36:28 > 0:36:29And it's just fantastic.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34In around four months' time, they will be taken to a special
0:36:34 > 0:36:37release site and set free, back into the wild.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49Now, we're back to the story of Sandy the lurcher who had been left
0:36:49 > 0:36:53outside and neglected at a house in Leicestershire.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Earlier, we saw how RSPCA inspector Jayne Bashford
0:36:56 > 0:36:59discovered her in a junk-filled back garden
0:36:59 > 0:37:03and as events continued to unfold, this is becoming
0:37:03 > 0:37:06one of the most shocking cases Jayne's ever had to deal with.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16Jayne found Sandy under an old sofa, shaking with fear...
0:37:16 > 0:37:23I've got a very, very nervous, shivery, timid dog.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26..hiding in a garden littered with danger.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30A Samurai sword of some description.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32On the advice of the vet Emma Crust,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Jayne called the police and seized Sandy.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37That is a very scared dog, isn't it?
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Come on, button. There we are.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44Now this young dog is in urgent need of a health check.
0:37:46 > 0:37:47As she arrives at the vet's,
0:37:47 > 0:37:52Jayne isn't sure how Sandy will react in a strange environment.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54She's just extremely nervy.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56Come on, button. Good girl!
0:37:57 > 0:38:00But Sandy settles much quicker than she expected.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03She seems to be enjoying the attention.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07Hello, sweetheart. Hello. You've got a nice, waggly tail.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10You're not as scared as I thought you were going to be. Ooh!
0:38:11 > 0:38:13She's very sweet.
0:38:13 > 0:38:14Yeah.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17The change in this dog is quite spectacular.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20She has gone from being very quiet and timid,
0:38:20 > 0:38:25perhaps one of the most timid dogs I've seen in my service so far,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29to a really bouncy, happy buoyant little girl.
0:38:29 > 0:38:34You wouldn't think it was the same dog in the space of half an hour.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37It's lovely to see her.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39She seems to be a lot happier
0:38:39 > 0:38:41and quite grateful to be out of that situation.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43What's happened to you?
0:38:43 > 0:38:47Why are you so bouncy now? Are you happy now?
0:38:47 > 0:38:52So, Sandy seems happy, but is she healthy? Emma needs to examine her.
0:38:52 > 0:38:53It's OK.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Aww, good girl.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59And she has an enthusiastic patient.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02I can't believe it's the same dog!
0:39:02 > 0:39:03Let's have a listen.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08First, she checks her heart rate.
0:39:08 > 0:39:09It sounds OK.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11Does it? Good.
0:39:11 > 0:39:12Then her temperature.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16It's a bit high, but I suspect it's probably raised because of stress.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18And her ears.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22That's a very good girl. One second.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25- Spotlessly clean.- Good.
0:39:26 > 0:39:31And, despite her ordeal, remarkably, Sandy has a clean bill of health.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35Clinically, there doesn't appear to be any health problems going on.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38Her ears and teeth are nice and clean. No discharge from her eyes.
0:39:38 > 0:39:45She looks as if she hasn't had any injuries from being in the garden that she was in.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50Jayne is relieved that she saved Sandy before she came to any harm.
0:39:50 > 0:39:54'It's heartbreaking when you see an animal like that,
0:39:54 > 0:39:57'living in those conditions.
0:39:57 > 0:40:02'And looking into her face in the garden, she was utterly depressed.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04'You shouldn't keep your animals in that way.'
0:40:04 > 0:40:08Jayne will continue the investigation.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10She needs to contact Sandy's owner.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14My strong hope is that Sandy is now safe
0:40:14 > 0:40:17and will not be put back into a situation
0:40:17 > 0:40:21where she could find herself in the same position again later in life.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Four months later,
0:40:33 > 0:40:37this is the RSPCA's animal home at Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40To help put her old life behind her, Sandy has been renamed Lily.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Jayne's here to check on her progress.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Oh! Hello, Lily.
0:40:50 > 0:40:55Lily is now in the shop window with dozens of other dogs
0:40:55 > 0:40:58hoping to catch the eye of would-be owners.
0:40:58 > 0:40:59Good girl.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06Until she does, at least now, she has a big safe area to play in.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08- Good girl.- Good girl.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14Good girl.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18Lily's owner has signed her over to the RSPCA.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22They've acknowledged that there were some circumstances at the time
0:41:22 > 0:41:26which had led to the conditions that Lily had been left in.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28They've taken the brave decision
0:41:28 > 0:41:32and have acknowledged that that was far from ideal for Lily.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35The only objective for me was to make sure that she was removed
0:41:35 > 0:41:41from that situation and so that she could start to look to have a happier future.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45The staff here have been working with Lily to build her confidence.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Since she has been at the kennels, the staff have reported
0:41:48 > 0:41:55that she is very friendly and happy to see people, very interactive.
0:41:55 > 0:42:00They are reporting a few small issues in terms of her behaviour.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04She is still shy around some people and she will withdraw at times.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08But I'm quite confident that with time and the right new home,
0:42:08 > 0:42:12it's nothing that can't be put right with a bit of love.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15And Lily should have a new home soon.
0:42:15 > 0:42:20She has been viewed by members of the public that have visited the centre.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23Lots of people have expressed an interest in her.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27One lady in particular has expressed a strong desire to re-home Lily.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31I'm confident she will fit in very well into a loving home.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36Oh, bless her!
0:42:42 > 0:42:46If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime or a creature
0:42:46 > 0:42:48that needs immediate help, remember,
0:42:48 > 0:42:50there are dedicated professionals out there
0:42:50 > 0:42:53who will answer your call right around the clock.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57They are the people we meet on animal 24:7.
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