0:00:02 > 0:00:06Good boy. Nearly half of Britain owns a pet.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09BANGING ON THE DOOR It's the council and the police! Open the door, please!
0:00:09 > 0:00:12But man and beast don't always live together in harmony.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14I have reason to believe it is your dog
0:00:14 > 0:00:16and you've had it for a fair few years and not two weeks.
0:00:16 > 0:00:21When things go wrong, animal wardens are there to protect our pets.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24And keep their owners in check.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26I'm not having my dog taken!
0:00:26 > 0:00:28I love you too.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31But for some of us, our animals are more than just pets.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33I wouldn't know what to do without him.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37They can change and even save lives.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39I owe my life to these horses.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41This is Animal Saints And Sinners.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42DOG BARKS
0:00:47 > 0:00:50THEY BREAK THE DOOR IN Police! Police!
0:00:50 > 0:00:51Coming up,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55police support is needed to seize two pit bulls in East London.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57I'm seizing your dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Can you take him to the toilet first, then?
0:00:59 > 0:01:02In Salford, dog wardens are on the hunt for the owner of a dog
0:01:02 > 0:01:05that has been running all night on its own.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08At a bit of a loss with this one.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Come here, good boy.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13We meet a very important member of the fire service.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19He's really quickly found that one. He's jumped straight up on the bed.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Oh, look, lovely.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25And a bird of prey that has brought one young boy out of his shell.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29It's like being in school on your favourite subject, only better!
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Like any inner-city borough,
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Newham in East London has its fair share of dogs.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41DOG BARKS
0:01:43 > 0:01:45And while there are many responsible owners
0:01:45 > 0:01:49and well-behaved dogs in the area, there are some who are not.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55From now on, this cannot ever happen again, or you will face prosecution.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58The borough's Animal Welfare team works closely with
0:01:58 > 0:02:03the police and they have warrants on any cases involving dogs.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06That's either seizing illegal breeds or giving the police support
0:02:06 > 0:02:09if dogs are present and they need to search a property
0:02:09 > 0:02:12and deal with the suspects. That includes drugs raids.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16The first one we do is for a drugs warrant,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18we have Animal Welfare with us because we've been
0:02:18 > 0:02:21told there's supposed to be about up to 12 dogs there.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23We're going to force entry.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26And we're going to secure all the people inside,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28we're going to handcuff them and put them in one room.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31All of the dogs will be dealt with by Animal Welfare,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34who are going to round the dogs up and put them in one room. OK?
0:02:46 > 0:02:49It's all about teamwork and Animal Welfare manager
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Tina Delaney regularly works alongside PC Shaun Pickering.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00THEY BREAK OPEN THE DOOR Police! Police!
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Police!
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Quickly! No dogs.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09This time, nobody's home, and there aren't any dogs present.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14But as they leave, Tina's trained eye spots something of interest.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Shaun! Now, quick!
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Hello. Hiya. Can you just stay there for a minute? Hello!
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Is your dog friendly? Very friendly. Hello.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Is that your dog? Yes.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38What type of dog do think it is?
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Well, when he was a puppy, it was supposed to be a Staff cross.
0:03:42 > 0:03:43And what type of dog do you think it is now?
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Well, it looks like a red nose, doesn't it?
0:03:46 > 0:03:50And you know those dogs are illegal, do you? Well, yes,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53but since I've had him, I've changed my life for this, if you
0:03:53 > 0:03:56have a child, you have to change, you have to change your lifestyle.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Yep. If you find that you've got one of these, rather than let it go
0:04:00 > 0:04:04or give it to somebody else, you have to change your lifestyle.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06And my life is wrapped around this dog. What's his name?
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Stitch. Stitch. Hello, Stitch! Hello!
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Everybody knows him around here. Right, OK.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13And even when there's other dogs on the street,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17and they're barking at him, he wants to go to the toilet. Right.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19DOG BARKS Hello, Stitch.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Do you want to come with me to take him to the toilet?
0:04:21 > 0:04:23I'm only going to the green. No.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25I'm not going to come with you to take him to the toilet.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Can you come and see me again? I can't come and see you again.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32He needs to go to the toilet. I do understand that, but the thing is, it's a prohibited breed,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35it's illegal, so I'm seizing him under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Can you take him to the toilet first, then?
0:04:37 > 0:04:39I can't take him to the toilet, because he's in a public place.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41You know what'll happen?
0:04:41 > 0:04:44He's going to be in a bad attitude if you don't take him to the toilet.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46I can't take him to the toilet, because he's illegal.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48DOG BARKS I can.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50You can't take him to the toilet, sir, he's illegal,
0:04:50 > 0:04:55I can't let you leave with him. I understand what you're saying. OK? So what we're going to do...
0:04:55 > 0:04:57DOG BARKS You're making him do that.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Come on, Stitch, Stitch is just excited, he's fine.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02He wants to go to the toilet. I do this every day.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Some people don't realise that they are getting a pit bull,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08people will obtain dogs through internet sites,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12or from a friend or from advertising at a local corner shop,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and they don't actually realise that the dog is a pit bull.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17The difficulty with that is obviously,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19usually, as the dog gets older, people start saying,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22oh, he's got a pit bull, and people become quite fearful, because it's
0:05:22 > 0:05:25been a family pet, and then you have the other scale
0:05:25 > 0:05:28where people knowingly go out and breed pit bulls, knowingly go out
0:05:28 > 0:05:31and sell them, and want a dog that is a status dog for image or,
0:05:31 > 0:05:36you know, to train to be aggressive and it's very difficult when you come across people
0:05:36 > 0:05:40that actually have a nice family pet, that is a very loving dog,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43but it's a pit bull and they haven't obtained it for that reason.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Good lad! Come on, Stitch! Good lad!
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Can you get his name and address for me, please?
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Good boy, Stitch! Excuse me?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Yep. DOG BARKS
0:05:52 > 0:05:56Just show him a bit of love. Yes, we do, it's fine. That's all right.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59He's a good lad. Have you got any ID on you? No, I haven't.
0:05:59 > 0:06:00Come on, Stitch.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Good lad. Good boy.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15How old is Stitch? Three. Three years old. And is he vaccinated? Yes.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18He ain't chipped yet. No, no, when did you get him vaccinated?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Round about two and a half, three years ago.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Right, it has to be done on an annual basis, so he has to be
0:06:23 > 0:06:27vaccinated every year, so he's not been done within the last year? No.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29OK, I need to look at all the information you have
0:06:29 > 0:06:32given me, obviously, Stitch is of a nice temperament. No, that's fine.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35I have no concerns about him at all. I need to look at who owns your property
0:06:35 > 0:06:38and whether they give you consent to have the dog. Yes.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39If you do, we'll get some forms signed
0:06:39 > 0:06:42and look at making him legal for you and having him returned.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46I've got nobody else. Yeah. So, he's everything to me, you know?
0:06:46 > 0:06:48So, this is the telephone number you need to ring.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51You can ring up every day and see if he's OK, that's not a problem.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54You can ring up and see how he is and what I will do is,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58today is Tuesday, by the end of tomorrow, I would have looked into
0:06:58 > 0:07:01everything and let you know whether he can come back to you or not.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Excellent. OK.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06The other thing is, obviously, you know, he ain't been away from me.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10No, that's fine. I have walked him every day of his life.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13So, if he's loud... He's never loud.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16No, dogs deal with being in kennels really, really well,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18most of the time.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Usually, it's the owners that kind of don't cope very well,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23but he is in a really good place, he's going to be well looked after,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26try not to worry, I know it is distressing, but try not to worry.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29A pit bull can be made legal through the court,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32as long as the dog doesn't pose a danger to the public, is neutered,
0:07:32 > 0:07:38microchipped, insured and kept on a muzzle and lead in public places.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40And with updated legislation,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43the owner has to conform to certain rules too.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46When we seize the dog, we're not just looking any
0:07:46 > 0:07:51more at the temperament of the dog. With the change in legislation,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54now, it's the whole picture, so if the person has a recent
0:07:54 > 0:07:58criminal history, that it's violent, then we would bring that in.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02If the person is aggressive and nasty during the process,
0:08:02 > 0:08:03then we will bring that in as well.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Now, it's about looking at the whole picture,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08not just looking at that dog.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Because it's a combination of dog and owner that makes a dog dangerous.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15He'll be absolutely fine and he will be well looked after.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18You can see he ain't a bad dog. Oh, no, no, a little bit fat!
0:08:18 > 0:08:20He's a little bit fat! Do you reckon? Yeah, he is!
0:08:20 > 0:08:24The chip and that as well. That's why he's fat. Chips! Chips!
0:08:24 > 0:08:27No, not chips! A chip! Oh, I thought you meant you were feeding him chips,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29that's why he's fat! He has custard creams, that's why he is fat.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33He'll be microchipped, so if he's made legal, he has to be..l Do I have to pay for that?
0:08:33 > 0:08:35We'll talk about that, because there are organisations
0:08:35 > 0:08:39that if you struggle with the cost of that, that can help you. Cheers.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43See you now, thank you. I'm upset, but... Yeah. All right. Bye.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48Find out later if Stitch the pit bull is reunited with his owner.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56HE WHISTLES Sometimes, relationships with an animal build over time.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Sometimes they can happen in an instant.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03And the impact can change lives for ever. I'm Bradley Church.
0:09:03 > 0:09:09I'm 12 years old. And I have got Asperger's syndrome.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Bradley Church was born in 2001.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Bradley was a big boy.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18He was nine pound five, he was very happy, a bouncy child.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21But as he grew older, his parents, Sarah and Keith,
0:09:21 > 0:09:24knew that something wasn't quite right.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25When Bradley was a toddler,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28we noticed that he wasn't the sort of child that you could
0:09:28 > 0:09:31put in the corner and just leave to their own devices,
0:09:31 > 0:09:36we wasn't sure if it was just normal behaviour, to be expected,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39or whether there was some sort of slight issue going on.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42I remember being at friends' houses and when it was time to go,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45we'd just pick Bradley up and say, look,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48come on, it's time to go now, and he would make a really big fuss
0:09:48 > 0:09:50and he would be, like, kicking and maybe screaming,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53if he didn't want to go, and that was obvious he was having fun
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and everything, but we didn't put anything behind that, we just
0:09:56 > 0:09:59thought he was being awkward and didn't want to come away.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03And the challenges continued.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06When Bradley reached his fifth birthday, the time
0:10:06 > 0:10:08came for him to start primary school.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11School was the hardest part of it, actually.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16I really didn't like going into school because at the start,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18I actually got bullied.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23His anxiety mainly came from going to school.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26It was noted that he didn't join in games so easily.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Bradley used to stand on the sidelines,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31didn't want to get involved quite so quickly
0:10:31 > 0:10:35and his anxiety would build and build, because he didn't want to go
0:10:35 > 0:10:39to school, so it would mean me literally carrying him into school.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43He'd kick me, he would, you know, try to kick teachers.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47And that was very difficult to understand
0:10:47 > 0:10:50and establish what the problem was.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Let's go.
0:10:52 > 0:10:53My life was...
0:10:55 > 0:10:58It was on-off.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01I had problems, I didn't know what to do,
0:11:01 > 0:11:06I couldn't have, like, an interest and I just found it a bit hard.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11And his behaviour when he was at home was becoming increasingly
0:11:11 > 0:11:13difficult to deal with.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16We'd end up, well, sort of fighting sometimes, literally.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20I would have to protect myself, really, more than anything,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24and poor old Bradley, his emotions were all over the place,
0:11:24 > 0:11:28he would go on this high of anxiety and aggression,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32but when he came down, he would think he was the worst child in the world.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34It was really hard on my parents,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37because they didn't know either, so they treated me as if
0:11:37 > 0:11:41I was just misbehaving, because they didn't understand, in a way.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42And I didn't know how to put it across,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45because I was so young when I had it.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Finally, at the age of six, Bradley was diagnosed with Asperger's,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53a form of autism that makes communication
0:11:53 > 0:11:56and interaction with others more difficult.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00When we got the final diagnosis, it was a mixed bag of feelings.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03There was the label, as it were, put on Bradley,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06but at the same time, it gave us something then that we could
0:12:06 > 0:12:11identify and put measures in place to help as best we could.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Although there was a diagnosis, Bradley's behavioural problems
0:12:15 > 0:12:19continued and more worryingly, it was clear that he was suffering.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21When he used to come down from those situations,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23he would feel so bad about himself,
0:12:23 > 0:12:26he often talked about taking his own life, and for a child
0:12:26 > 0:12:32of sort of eight or nine to say that to you, is devastating.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34But that is how down he would become,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37so his emotions were completely all over the place.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39He didn't know how to deal with it,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42so something really did need to change.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45But what Sarah and Keith didn't know was that a ninth birthday
0:12:45 > 0:12:48surprise would provide that crucial change.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Bradley had a good interest with animals and birds.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54He had a birthday coming up,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57so we looked into doing something to establish that interest more,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59really, and sort of kind of help
0:12:59 > 0:13:04him have an experience rather than just a present.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07When we saw the advert for the Hawking Centre,
0:13:07 > 0:13:12it was a great idea and one that we thought would actually help him.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13When Mum and Dad told me
0:13:13 > 0:13:16that I was going to the Hawking Centre, I didn't really know
0:13:16 > 0:13:18how it was going to be,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22and I wasn't like jumping for joy, like I usually do when I go now.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Because I had never really experienced it before
0:13:24 > 0:13:27and it was a first, like, proper animal encounter for me.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34And when the time came for Bradley's visit,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37nobody could have predicted his reaction.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43We're going to take Jess out for a flight.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46And let's hope she behaves herself.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51All of my senses just went and the only sense I had was my hearing
0:13:51 > 0:13:57and most importantly, my sight, and I, oh, it was just heart stopping.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00HE WHISTLES
0:14:04 > 0:14:08It was like being in school on your favourite subject, only better.
0:14:09 > 0:14:15And I was like, right, oh, my God, this is what I want to do.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18And there was like a little spark inside me.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20I've never experienced this before,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22that was the first time I'd had that feeling.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26And I haven't had that feeling at all with other subjects,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29so, I thought that was the one for me.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32This is Jess. Jess is a Harris hawk.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35I really like Harris hawks,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38because I think they're the ultimate hunting partners.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40They're a true bird of prey.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I like the characteristics, I like the way they look,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46that lovely, nice, brown feathers in there. I just love them.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50I remember the particular falconer saying to us, how enthusiastic
0:14:50 > 0:14:55he had been, as soon as we got back, it was just a mine of information.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58And obviously, the impact of flying those birds,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00he just couldn't stop talking about it.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05Cinders does the epic owl face dance. Watch. Cinders, cinders.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09HE WHISTLES Cinders. Look at that.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11HE LAUGHS AND WHISTLES
0:15:11 > 0:15:15The impact of that day was obvious. He got a real interest in it.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19He started making pictures and folders with birds of prey
0:15:19 > 0:15:24and finding out a lot of information about them.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28He wanted books on birds, so, it certainly did have an impact.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The positive effect on Bradley was overwhelming.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34And Sarah and Keith were keen to find a way of helping him
0:15:34 > 0:15:37stay calm and focused when he was away from the birds.
0:15:40 > 0:15:46This is the card Keith made up for Bradley. This is his control card.
0:15:46 > 0:15:51This was taken on his first visit in 2010 and it is a really lovely
0:15:51 > 0:15:55picture, actually, and he is right up to the bird, so, it just shows
0:15:55 > 0:15:59that he's got no fear of them and he is quite happy to be around them.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03The card helped me because it was something to look back on,
0:16:03 > 0:16:04a good memory.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08And when I was in hard times, I would look at that, I would
0:16:08 > 0:16:11have some time to myself, gather my thoughts and I would be thinking
0:16:11 > 0:16:15about flying them birds and that just took all of the bad stuff away.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22But Bradley's new passion had not only been a calming
0:16:22 > 0:16:26influence for him, it's had an impact on the whole family.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Since Bradley has visited the centre, his aggression has almost ceased.
0:16:30 > 0:16:35Which is much, much better for me, as a mum.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39We've got a better relationship, it makes life easier for all of us.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44He's much more happy. You know. He's just a much happier child, really.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49So, I'm very grateful for his visit there.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52And Bradley's parents weren't the only ones to notice
0:16:52 > 0:16:55big improvements in his behaviour.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59Certainly, his primary school noticed the difference.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04He made improvements in the classroom too, so it's been great, really good.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11I'm very proud of him. He really enjoys it.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14And it's great to see him happy in an environment he loves.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18And he's established at school to work towards his GCSEs,
0:17:18 > 0:17:22because he wants to be a falconer, so I don't see how you can
0:17:22 > 0:17:25ask for more than that, if that's the greatest impact it's had.
0:17:25 > 0:17:30And if it becomes a career for him, I think he will be more than happy.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32Oh, look, lovely.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36I want to do it for a career when I'm older now.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39And I want to own my own Harris hawk when I get older.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42So, basically, it is just for experience and I love it.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52In Salford, Greater Manchester's sprawling urban borough,
0:17:52 > 0:17:57the dog warden service are always kept on their toes. What we got?
0:17:57 > 0:18:02German Shepherd by the name of Rocky. Beautiful dog. Hello, Rocky.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Hello, handsome. Good boy.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11They deal with the entire borough's lost, stray and dangerous dogs.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Come on, mate. Good lad. Good lad.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Today, dog control officers Will Harris
0:18:20 > 0:18:25and Erica Eaton are out patrolling in a popular Salford park.
0:18:25 > 0:18:26Hey, hey!
0:18:26 > 0:18:29You're mobile, aren't you, mate?!
0:18:29 > 0:18:31And it's not long before they get a call-in about a Staffy
0:18:31 > 0:18:34roaming the streets with no sign of an owner.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38We just had reports of a Staffordshire bull terrier
0:18:38 > 0:18:42coming onto the park on the side of the park,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44which is just down there.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47So, while Will's having a look around in the van,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49I'll have a look around on foot.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51I have me squeaker, me treats and me lead.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59No-one has yet reported the dog missing.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01It could have been abandoned,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04but it may be the case that the owner simply hasn't noticed it gone.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Because it's such a huge park, and there are
0:19:07 > 0:19:11so many different entrances, it literally could be anywhere.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13SHE WHISTLES
0:19:17 > 0:19:20After a long search, there is no sign of it in the park.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24They'll continue to keep an eye out for it.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26But for Will and Erica, it's an ongoing
0:19:26 > 0:19:29battle to keep the streets of Salford free of roaming dogs that
0:19:29 > 0:19:33can be a danger to the public and can be at risk of getting injured.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39No, it's there, in front of this house here. I've just seen a dog.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42A little Shih Tzu has just run across the road. There it is. Hello!
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Come on. DOG BARKS
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Come on! SHE SQUEEZES HER SQUEAKER
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Well, we're going to have to try and catch it.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54I can't let it run around like that.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57It's been groomed, so it looks like it's looked after,
0:19:57 > 0:19:59because it's had its hair cut.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Sometimes, while we are out on patrol we will spot a dog just
0:20:03 > 0:20:05wandering down the road on its own,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07but our priority is getting that dog safe,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10whether we have to chase the dog for ten minutes or five hours,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13we will pursue the dog until we catch it.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Is that your dog? Yes.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19Is your mum in? My mum? Yeah. Can I have a chat with her?
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Can you make sure your dog's kept in?
0:20:21 > 0:20:22Make sure she's got a collar
0:20:22 > 0:20:25and a tag on just in case she does get out again.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27But especially with this road being so busy. Yes, yes.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Just be careful.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31When, today? Just now. Yes.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34We were at another property down the road and she's come running out,
0:20:34 > 0:20:35down the road.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Just be careful in future, especially with this road being so busy.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40DOG GROWLS
0:20:40 > 0:20:41He'll be a pit bull any day.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Make sure, if you can, put something across there. Yes, I know.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47I know it's the children's holidays, and they are going to be in and out
0:20:47 > 0:20:51on a nice day, but make sure that the dog stays indoors or in the garden.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55The Shih Tzu is back safe with its owners and Will and Erica make
0:20:55 > 0:20:58their way back to the pound, where a Staffy has been handed in.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Will has a theory that it may be the dog they've been looking for.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Let's see if we're chipped.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11No chip. Obviously, no...
0:21:11 > 0:21:14That's just the lead. There's no collar and tag.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16The dog has been handed in to us.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18We believe it could be the dog from the park
0:21:18 > 0:21:20that we were looking for earlier in the day.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23The dog was found in the same street,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27obviously in the same area, and it fits the description of the dog
0:21:27 > 0:21:30so it could well be, and that will be a bonus if it is
0:21:30 > 0:21:35because it is one more off our list of roaming dogs.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37With no tag on its collar or microchip,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41they'll need to use other measures to track down the owners.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44The photograph now is for our social media page where we're going to
0:21:44 > 0:21:47put the dog on and hopefully we'll get some information
0:21:47 > 0:21:50from members of the public who may know where the dog comes from.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54He's been found with a lead, so Will and Erica are hopeful,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58but we'll find out later if the dog's owner does come forward.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Over 200 miles south, in Newham, East London,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07one of the dog warden service's priorities is protecting
0:22:07 > 0:22:11the public from dangerous dogs and banned breeds.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15We are just getting a couple of graspers that one of the police
0:22:15 > 0:22:20officers will hold, so that if we do need them, they can hand them to us.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22It saves us going in there heavy-handed,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24especially if the dog is a nice dog and are not needed.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Often if people see a grasper straightaway,
0:22:27 > 0:22:28it can make them quite upset.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30But we've got them there for safety reasons,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32just in case the dog does become aggressive.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Brilliant, thank you.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Animal welfare manager Tina Delaney is working with the police
0:22:37 > 0:22:41who have warrants to seize potentially dangerous dogs.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46When you have a warrant, you can enter the premises
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and we need to be able to do that with police.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51We do that for our protection
0:22:51 > 0:22:56and they deal with the humans on site and we deal with the dogs.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00Tina has applied for a warrant to seize one of two dogs that
0:23:00 > 0:23:04local residents suspect to be a pit bull, an illegal breed.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Hello, good morning. I'm from the London Borough of Newham.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08This officer is from the Metropolitan Police.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Do you have a dog on your premises? Yes.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13OK, we've got a warrant to have a look at your dog.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15The police officers have got the warrant with them.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Are your dogs friendly? Yeah, he's all right.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20What breed are your dogs, sir?
0:23:23 > 0:23:25What breeds are your dogs?
0:23:25 > 0:23:27He's only a puppy. Yes, what breed is it? Yes.
0:23:27 > 0:23:28Sit!
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Hello.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Come on, then.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36What breed do you think he is?
0:23:36 > 0:23:37Hello.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Hmm?
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Do you not understand what I'm asking you? No.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44What breed of dog do you think you have? A Staff, I think.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48You think it is a Staff, are you sure? Yes, yes, he is all right.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51How old is he? He is about three.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Three years old? Yes.
0:23:53 > 0:23:54Hello, darling. Hello.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Has he been vaccinated? Yes.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00When did you vaccinate him? I don't know, because I was in...
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Does he belong to you, does he? Yes. Right, OK.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Do you want to take your dog for an assessment to see
0:24:07 > 0:24:09if she is a prohibited breed, OK?
0:24:09 > 0:24:12So I'm going to seize your dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act. OK?
0:24:12 > 0:24:14If he is not a prohibited breed,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17he will be returned to you within the next couple of days. OK.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19If he is a prohibited breed... You might want to get your other dog
0:24:19 > 0:24:22because your other dog has gone for a walk.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26While Tina takes the dog safely to the van,
0:24:26 > 0:24:30the police officers attempt to track down the loose Staffy.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36As well as concerns about the suspected pit bull,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38there have also been other complaints.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41The other complaint we've had is about dogs going wandering off
0:24:41 > 0:24:43on their own. They are not doing that.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Well, he is obviously used to going wandering off on his own, isn't he?
0:24:46 > 0:24:47Do you want to talk to my wife?
0:24:49 > 0:24:50Thank you. Hello.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52'Hello?'
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Hello, I am from the London Borough of Newham Animal Welfare Service,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56my name is Tina Delaney.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58We've got a warrant to seize one of your dogs.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00What type of dog do you think you own?
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Tina is trying to get as much information as she can about
0:25:03 > 0:25:08whether the owners are aware that they may have a banned breed of dog.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Right, OK, so the dog belongs to you and your wife, does it? Yes.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Right, OK, so what's your contact number, please?
0:25:14 > 0:25:17This is quite serious, can you stop your gardening for a second?
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Can you tell me what your contact number is, please?
0:25:20 > 0:25:21Yeah, what is it?
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Chico, get inside. What is it, then?
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Hey, put that away, man.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29And before long, some family members arrive,
0:25:29 > 0:25:31questioning where the dog is.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33As you can see, that's not a pit bull.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36What do you mean? It's a Shar-Pei.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37OK...
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Is that your father? You're havin' a laugh! Right, OK.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43So I've just explained to your father the dog is going to be assessed.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46If it is not a pit bull type, that is fine, and it will come back.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48What, you're going to bring it back here, yeah?
0:25:48 > 0:25:51If it's not a pit bull type, then it will come back, yes.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53If it is, then we will talk to your mum
0:25:53 > 0:25:55and your father about possible options.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58You have got nothing better to do in the morning, have you?
0:25:58 > 0:26:01We've seized the dog to see if it's a type. It is very difficult
0:26:01 > 0:26:05to tell in that moment, especially as they're a bit irate.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07We don't want to get it out and assess it here,
0:26:07 > 0:26:09so we are going to take it back and assess it.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11The mother's confirmed on the phone to me
0:26:11 > 0:26:13that the dogs do run out, they run around.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15But she said, "It's no problem, they do come back,
0:26:15 > 0:26:17"or if they're gone a long time, we do come and find them."
0:26:17 > 0:26:20So, obviously, that's a problem.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Zip the dog will be fully assessed by an expert
0:26:23 > 0:26:25in the next couple of days.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26If it is found to be a pit bull,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Newham Council will advise the court on whether the dog should be
0:26:29 > 0:26:32returned to the owners with certain restrictions.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43Find out later if Zip gets reunited with its owners.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53I couldn't imagine life without my dogs now.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Good boy, Zip, lay down.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56Good boy.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00They come to work with me, they live with me, they are my life.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04In the UK, there are around 9 million homes with a family dog.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09And Nikki Harvey's home in Hertfordshire is one of them.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13But unlike most people, her pets are a crucial part of her working life.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Nikki works for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
0:27:18 > 0:27:22and has been a firefighter for 20 years.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26For the last seven, she has been a Watch Commander with
0:27:26 > 0:27:30the Fire and Investigation team, which examines how fires start.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36The role is extremely different to being a firefighter.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38The scenes we attend are more after the fire -
0:27:38 > 0:27:41obviously the fire's been put out and fully extinguished.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Reqs, Nikki's two-year-old Labrador, is one of only 17
0:27:47 > 0:27:50fully trained Fire and Investigation dogs in the UK.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53And he's been working with her for a year.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57At home, he is like any ordinary dog.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06But when he's on duty, he's quite a different animal.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09He knows that as soon as Nikki puts on his protective boots,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12it is time to go to work.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15We'd find it extremely difficult to investigate fires
0:28:15 > 0:28:18that are definitely of a suspicious or deliberate nature without
0:28:18 > 0:28:20the use of Fire Investigation dogs.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Their speed and accuracy and locating these traces of ignitable liquids
0:28:23 > 0:28:27at fire scenes makes our job so much easier.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32A dog's sense of smell is 1,000 times greater than humans.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34After training, it means that
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Fire and Investigation dogs can quickly sniff out different
0:28:37 > 0:28:41quantities of ignitable liquids, such as petrol, white spirit,
0:28:41 > 0:28:44paraffin, diesel or lighter fluid.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47It would probably take human investigators several days,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50sometimes weeks, to establish any trace of ignitable liquids
0:28:50 > 0:28:52that may have been used to start a fire deliberately,
0:28:52 > 0:28:55as opposed to the dogs going in the scene - that can take minutes.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01After a fire, Reqs is trained to go into a building to sniff out
0:29:01 > 0:29:05accelerants to verify whether the fire was accidental or arson.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Each year, he's given an assessment to test his skills which
0:29:10 > 0:29:13means his training is always ongoing.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15I'm going to simulate that somebody started
0:29:15 > 0:29:17a fire on top of the building,
0:29:17 > 0:29:20and they've accidentally dropped a glove fleeing the scene
0:29:20 > 0:29:22which I'm going to contaminate with some white spirit,
0:29:22 > 0:29:24so we are going to place that on the roof
0:29:24 > 0:29:27and then we are going to get Reqs and take him up in the aerial ladder platform,
0:29:27 > 0:29:29take him on to the roof, and get him to search that area
0:29:29 > 0:29:32to identify the missing glove that's been dropped.
0:29:36 > 0:29:37OK, let's go.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Reqs needs to be competent with the aerial ladder platform
0:29:41 > 0:29:44which is used to get to upper floors
0:29:44 > 0:29:47where the stairs may have been burned away.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Any evidence that Reqs locates for us at the fire scene in a
0:29:50 > 0:29:53deliberate or suspicious fire then forms evidence for part
0:29:53 > 0:29:57of criminal proceedings in a court of law, so the whole process,
0:29:57 > 0:30:01from start to finish, of investigating a fire is extremely rewarding.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04This way. Good lad. Steady.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Good boy.
0:30:09 > 0:30:10Good lad.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12So, you see now he is pointing with his nose,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15he's freezing at that, and that is a positive identification that there
0:30:15 > 0:30:19are two drops of white spirit on that glove, so he now gets his reward.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21Good boy! That's a good lad!
0:30:21 > 0:30:24And obviously, lots of praise because he has done his job,
0:30:24 > 0:30:26he's found what we have asked him to find.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28Who's a good boy?
0:30:28 > 0:30:29Good lad!
0:30:30 > 0:30:34From the outset, training a Fire and Investigation dog
0:30:34 > 0:30:35is based on reward.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38The dogs need to display a huge drive
0:30:38 > 0:30:41to want to locate their favourite toy initially.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Once you've established that big drive to want to look
0:30:43 > 0:30:46and find their favourite toy, that's when we can start introducing
0:30:46 > 0:30:49all the liquids that we are asking them to find.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53The next practice exercise for Reqs is in the station smokehouse
0:30:53 > 0:30:56where the firefighters test their breathing apparatus.
0:30:56 > 0:31:01It's just an area of rooms, hallways and corridors and things.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04I'll just do the two drops of petrol in the corner here.
0:31:04 > 0:31:05There we go.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10Let's put some upstairs.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17I'm doing a slightly larger spill this time.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20Although his body language would tell me there is
0:31:20 > 0:31:23something in this room, that is not good enough for us,
0:31:23 > 0:31:24we need to know where that liquid is located.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Reqs is clever enough to say, "There's something here,
0:31:27 > 0:31:30"I know there's something here I'm trained to find in the form
0:31:30 > 0:31:31"of ignitable liquid," but obviously
0:31:31 > 0:31:35he can't establish for us whether it's petrol, white spirit or paraffin.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38The lab analysis can tell us exactly what that is.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Let's go in the little bedroom here.
0:31:41 > 0:31:42Just a small spill down there.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49On average, Fire and Investigation dogs are called upon to
0:31:49 > 0:31:52investigate around 80 fires a year.
0:31:54 > 0:31:55Are you ready? Go on, go find it.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06This way. Reqs, down!
0:32:06 > 0:32:09'The dogs can get into those confined spaces'
0:32:09 > 0:32:11obviously far more easier than humans.
0:32:11 > 0:32:12Good boy.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Good lad.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20Good boy. Good boy!
0:32:32 > 0:32:35OK, so his breathing has now changed. And he's slowed himself down.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37Again, I am picking up his body language.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39He's picking up on something,
0:32:39 > 0:32:42obviously he hasn't located exactly where it is at the moment.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45Obviously he's had a good sniff of the area.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48And there you go. He's pointing with his nose
0:32:48 > 0:32:50exactly the area where we put the petrol earlier on.
0:32:50 > 0:32:51Good boy.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Find some more!
0:33:07 > 0:33:10He's really quickly found that one, he jumped straight up on the bed
0:33:10 > 0:33:13and he's indicating that one straightaway.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17After each find, Reqs' favourite toy is his much deserved reward.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21Good boy, there's a good lad!
0:33:21 > 0:33:25Yes, who's a clever boy? Yes. Good lad.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Good boy!
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Even after seven years of working with the dog, I can always put
0:33:30 > 0:33:34something out for a relatively small training scenario
0:33:34 > 0:33:37and he still amazes me what they are able to find.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Reqs had been working for Nikki for a year
0:33:41 > 0:33:46and although he's just started his career, he's already become a hero.
0:33:46 > 0:33:47Who's a good boy?
0:33:47 > 0:33:49Hey? Clever boy.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53Whilst searching a house to see if ignitable liquid had caused
0:33:53 > 0:33:57a gas explosion, he and Nikki found more than they had bargained for.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02During the course of searching the rubble of the collapsed house,
0:34:02 > 0:34:04we were alerted to a whining noise
0:34:04 > 0:34:07and while Reqs was searching the rubble,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10he immediately went over to the area where the whining noise was
0:34:10 > 0:34:14coming from, and to our amazement, a collie's head popped out.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20They'd had investigators within that scene for over 48 hours
0:34:20 > 0:34:23and nobody heard a dog whining at all.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25And instantly, within seconds, really,
0:34:25 > 0:34:28of Reqs entering the scene, the dog was whining,
0:34:28 > 0:34:33so we firmly believe that the dog was sensed by another dog being on scene.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37It's quite possible, without the use of the dog,
0:34:37 > 0:34:39that Carrie may never have been found alive.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45And to our amazement, she is absolutely fine after that.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48Together, Nikki and Reqs form an unstoppable team.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52We work together very closely so we have a really big bond between us
0:34:52 > 0:34:54and a lot of trust between us.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02I really can't imagine working and doing my role without Reqs.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10Up in Salford, dog control officers Will and Erica are on a mission
0:35:10 > 0:35:14to keep the dogs of Salford safely with their rightful owners.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20On a day-to-day basis, our main priority is a stray dog.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23It doesn't matter what you are doing, as soon as that call comes
0:35:23 > 0:35:26through, it's a case of jumping in the van and off you go.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33We've just had a call from the office to say that somebody's found
0:35:33 > 0:35:37a brindle, unknown breed dog, a male, wearing a collar,
0:35:37 > 0:35:39and a snapped lead,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41so we're just going to find out what's happening.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Whereabouts did you find the dog? What's the story?
0:35:44 > 0:35:46We found the dog this morning, just outside.
0:35:46 > 0:35:47Just outside your property?
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Yes, and somebody said it has been on the road,
0:35:50 > 0:35:52the main road, at six this morning. It had nearly been run over.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55Have you got bitches? Yes, two.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57Any in season? No, no.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Is the dog that you found a male? Yes, a male.
0:36:00 > 0:36:01Right, it could be...
0:36:01 > 0:36:04Has he got a snapped lead or something attached?
0:36:04 > 0:36:05Yes, a snapped lead. Right, OK.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Do you want to come round the back? Yes, no problem.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Thank you.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12Hello.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18He's lovely, he is, he's got a lovely personality.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Haven't you, hey, buddy? You have.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23Let's get him secure first, there we are.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26Oh, behave. So, that's what he came with?
0:36:26 > 0:36:28Yes, that is what he looked like.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30But they said at 6.30 in the morning,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33he had been on the main road and had nearly been run over, so...
0:36:33 > 0:36:35Hello, mate! Right, he's got a chip, that's good.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37He could have been out all night, you know. You never know.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39Yeah, quite possible. Let's take that off him.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42He looks like a well fed dog and everything, so...
0:36:42 > 0:36:46Yes, he looks like he has been tied up somewhere.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49But, the size of him, he has just snapped it,
0:36:49 > 0:36:51because it is not the strongest of chains.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53He's not a guardian dog or anything like that, is he?
0:36:53 > 0:36:56No, definitely a pet. Yes, it's a Staffy, isn't it?
0:36:56 > 0:36:58He's lovely. He's not a full Staff.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Not a full Staff, no. Look at his face. He's got floppy ears!
0:37:00 > 0:37:02His ears, yes.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Right, well, he's got a chip, so we'll check him over.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Oh, he's got a chip? Yes. Yes, he's chipped.
0:37:07 > 0:37:08Absolutely brilliant.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11So, see you later, buddy. Hey, you have a good day.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Right, thank you so much. Thanks a lot.
0:37:14 > 0:37:15Right, no problem, thank you.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17Come on, thank you.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23There have been no recent reports of missing Staffies.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27So the first thing Will does is trace the dog's microchip details.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30We've found a stray dog and he's got a chip.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32But it's not good news.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37Unfortunately, all three numbers we have are disconnected.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39We've not seen any passers-by, have we? No.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41To ask.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45The park, we could try there. It's not too far away.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49Are there any shops on the main road? There's some shops on the main road.
0:37:49 > 0:37:50I'm not sure if there's a dog groomers.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53We could try the vets down the road as well.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55I'll put him on the social networking sites now and see
0:37:55 > 0:37:58if anybody recognises him.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Without any leads to follow up,
0:38:00 > 0:38:04Erica and Will resort to trying to canvass any local knowledge.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06I'm just going to have a look round,
0:38:06 > 0:38:08see if there's anybody about that might know him.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16Nobody about at all.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19If Will and Erica can't find the owner of the dog, it'll be
0:38:19 > 0:38:23the council's responsibility to keep him for seven days.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25After that time, they'll do their best to re-home him.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30Lots of different roads leading off, so he could have come from anywhere,
0:38:30 > 0:38:34so it's hard to pinpoint where he may have actually come from
0:38:34 > 0:38:36so a bit of a loss with this one.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43They're not willing to give up without a fight...
0:38:44 > 0:38:47..and, before long, they get a lead.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Did you find it on the estate? Yes.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53It's somebody that lives up near Prospect Road. Prospect Road?
0:38:53 > 0:38:56Yeah, up that way, cos they walk it on my dog field. Prospect Road, OK.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59They walk it on the dog field up at the top of the allotments,
0:38:59 > 0:39:01so he does live on that estate.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03OK, thank you very much indeed. Thank you.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08If you don't ask, you don't get, so we might be able to get
0:39:08 > 0:39:10the dog back home, so that would be brilliant. We'll go now.
0:39:12 > 0:39:13Finally, they hit the jackpot.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17We were just driving up to Prospect Road where the lady had told us
0:39:17 > 0:39:22that she knew the dog from and we saw this gentleman walking down the road,
0:39:22 > 0:39:24so we asked him was he looking for his dog
0:39:24 > 0:39:26and, yeah, sure enough, he was.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29It's not actually his dog, it's his daughter's.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33They've only been in the area a week, so that's how he's escaped
0:39:33 > 0:39:35and he's just showed me the chain that he snapped,
0:39:35 > 0:39:39so we'll go and sort him out now.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41There we go. Come on. Who's that, Bust?
0:39:41 > 0:39:44Buster, come here.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46So you've only just moved to the area?
0:39:46 > 0:39:49He's only just come. You need to get a thicker chain for him.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51The privet's there and that's where he's going through,
0:39:51 > 0:39:53that's the only part we've not panelled off.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56That's how he's got through. That's how he's got through.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59There's his chip number and that's the number you need
0:39:59 > 0:40:04to phone to change the chip over to your daughter's address, OK?
0:40:04 > 0:40:08Give them a call, get the details changed over, get a tag as well.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10OK, well, as I say, I'll sort it. That's it. No problem.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Well, he doesn't know the area, does he?
0:40:12 > 0:40:14And there's a main road over there
0:40:14 > 0:40:16and if he likes to get out, if he likes to have a walk. All right.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18That's it. Thanks for your help.
0:40:18 > 0:40:19No, thank you. No, no problem.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24He's been missing since this morning, say, seven o'clock.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Very relieved, not for me, but my daughter, cos it's her dog.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29She's been worried about him.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31Well, sometimes you have to play detective,
0:40:31 > 0:40:33ask in the local newsagent, vets, go to the park.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35We'll give the finder a quick ring,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38he'll be happy that we've got the dog back to its owner.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41It's a great result for Will and Erica,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44as Buster is now safe and sound back at home.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Back in East London, Animal Welfare Manager Tina Delaney has two dogs
0:40:50 > 0:40:54in the kennels that have recently been seized from their owners.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Zip was taken away because he's thought to be a pit bull.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Zip is going to be assessed to see if he's of type,
0:41:03 > 0:41:06so I'll be assessing him today and then tomorrow we'll have
0:41:06 > 0:41:09an independent expert that comes in to assess him
0:41:09 > 0:41:11in addition to that.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15If he is of type, because of the family's history,
0:41:15 > 0:41:18we will not be supporting...
0:41:18 > 0:41:21The council will not be supporting an application for him to go back.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25If he isn't of type, then we will microchip him, offer them
0:41:25 > 0:41:28a neutering voucher and send him home again.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30We will often come across people
0:41:30 > 0:41:32that know what type of dog they've got and some...
0:41:32 > 0:41:35A lot of the time people will say to us, "It's got part pit bull in it.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38"He's not a full pit bull, it's got part pit bull in it."
0:41:38 > 0:41:42It's a pit bull type and in the UK, we define that as a pit full type.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45It is either a pit bull or it isn't,
0:41:45 > 0:41:48and a lot of people will be kind of confused about the legislation,
0:41:48 > 0:41:51saying, "Yeah, but my dog isn't a dangerous dog."
0:41:51 > 0:41:54We're not looking at the temperament of the dog,
0:41:54 > 0:41:56but, by definition, the breed - it's classed as dangerous.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Also in the kennels is Stitch,
0:42:02 > 0:42:05a red-nosed pit bull who was seized from its owner
0:42:05 > 0:42:07on the public highway.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09DOGS BARK Good boy, Stitch.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13Stitch is going to be going home. He's a really nice boy,
0:42:13 > 0:42:17he's got a really nice temperament. He is a big softie, he's a bit tubby.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20He's a bit on the tubby side, so when he's castrated,
0:42:20 > 0:42:22he might put on a bit more weight,
0:42:22 > 0:42:24so we're going to advise his owner on a proper diet
0:42:24 > 0:42:29and adequate exercise so he doesn't become a bit bigger than he is.
0:42:29 > 0:42:30He has a lovely temperament.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33His owner's been really cooperative through the whole process,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36so there's no problem with him being made legal and going home.
0:42:36 > 0:42:37He's a lovely boy.
0:42:40 > 0:42:41Oh, gone again.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Will and Erica never did hear from the owner
0:42:47 > 0:42:49of the Staffy handed in to the kennels.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53They had to treat it as abandonment and it is now being re-homed.
0:42:54 > 0:42:59Zip the dog was assessed and confirmed as a pit bull type.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01Legal action is being taken against the owners
0:43:01 > 0:43:03under the Dangerous Dogs Act
0:43:03 > 0:43:06and because of this he is not allowed to return home.
0:43:06 > 0:43:11He's still in secure kennels and soon a court will decide his fate.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45ALL: Happy New Year!
0:43:45 > 0:43:46SHE PANTS
0:43:46 > 0:43:48TV ON SOFTLY
0:43:48 > 0:43:49HE CHUCKLES
0:43:49 > 0:43:51MUSIC ON TV
0:43:51 > 0:43:54'Let's bring you...' '..The latest headlines...'
0:43:54 > 0:43:56'He's not your father.'
0:43:56 > 0:43:57HE SNORES, SNOOKER ON TV