0:00:02 > 0:00:03Good boy.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05Nearly half of Britain owns a pet.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06Nice one, mate.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09It's the council and the police. Can you 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 > 0:00:20When things go wrong, animal wardens are there to protect our pets...
0:00:22 > 0:00:24..and keep their owners in check.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26I'm not having my dog taken off me!
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 > 0:00:36They can change and even save lives.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38I owe my life to these horses.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41This is Animal Saints And Sinners.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Coming up, welfare officers need the help of the police
0:00:50 > 0:00:53when they try to seize what's reported to be
0:00:53 > 0:00:55a banned breed of dog.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Listen to me. Just calm down one second.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01An ex-soldier finds peace in the company of wild horses.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06I was the calmest I've been for the last 15 years.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10A dog warden in Kirklees has to deal with an aggressive, chained dog
0:01:10 > 0:01:12that might be a pit bull.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15We've had some concerns about the dog being tied up
0:01:15 > 0:01:18in the garden all the time. People are frightened of the dog.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Newham in East London is one of the capital's poorest
0:01:25 > 0:01:27and most populated boroughs.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31It's obvious that somebody's home, so can you open the door, please?
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Animal welfare manager Tina Delaney and colleague Sue Heathcote
0:01:34 > 0:01:37are on a mission to improve the lives of pets in their borough.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Come on. It's all right.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46First one is a pit bull. He's not completely...
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Tina and Sue's first call will need police back-up,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52so a briefing is being held for the team.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56PC Pickering runs through the facts of the case.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Gentleman's rung up telling them that he's lost his pit bull.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Then he's rung back again to tell them
0:02:01 > 0:02:03that he's now found his pit bull.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Tina needs to know for certain that the dog is a pit bull -
0:02:07 > 0:02:09a banned breed in the UK.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12As it's on private property, they need a warrant to seize it
0:02:12 > 0:02:14and have it assessed.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19As it's an unknown dog to us, the warrant gives us power
0:02:19 > 0:02:23to search for any articles relating to dangerous dogs - i.e., documents.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28If there's any drugs there to give to the dog
0:02:28 > 0:02:32for post-fighting, or steroids for it fighting.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Bear in mind we have got power of entry into this place,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37but with dogs being unpredictable
0:02:37 > 0:02:39and there being an emotional attachment to these things,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41it'll be a very softly, slowly approach.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44We don't want to aggravate any situation
0:02:44 > 0:02:46where the dog could be agitated.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Tina will be dealing with all dog sides of things,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50we'll be dealing with all the human element.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52That's all we're going to be dealing with.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53Any other questions?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Right, in five minutes out the front.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05We get to know the police officers that we work with,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07because we work with two or three different teams
0:03:07 > 0:03:11and we get to know the teams. We know each other quite well.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13It's quite good cos you know that when you go into a premises,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17they can trust us with knowing that we'll make sure nothing happens
0:03:17 > 0:03:20with any of the dogs, and we know that that's the same with the people.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22Cos, you know, we go into all sorts of houses.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26We go into houses where people have drug addictions
0:03:26 > 0:03:29and there's, you know, needles and stuff like that.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31The last thing you want is somebody coming out
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and stabbing you with one of the needles.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36They're there to make sure that we're protected,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40and we're there to make sure that nothing happens with the dogs.
0:03:40 > 0:03:41It works quite well.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45As this could potentially be a volatile situation
0:03:45 > 0:03:48and a warrant has also been issued, the police attend as well.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53KNOCK AT DOOR
0:03:57 > 0:04:00With no response from the front, the team covers all exits,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03and one of the officers has spotted the dog in the back garden.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Hello, darling. Hello. Are you frightened or are you cold?
0:04:09 > 0:04:14The dog's owner has finally opened the front door and lets the team in.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17The dog and anything related to your dog,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20such as dog towels, dog leads, dog paperwork.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24- Are you the...?- Are you the owner? - I reported my dog lost before.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Tina and Sue head straight to the garden to get a look at the dog.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Hello.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35Hello. Are you all right, darling? Hello. There you go.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Oh, it's people. It's people.
0:04:38 > 0:04:39There you go.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Tina's immediate impression is that the dog
0:04:41 > 0:04:45is one of the banned breeds, and it's against the law to own one.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49The maximum penalty for having a banned dog is a £5,000 fine
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and possibly six months in prison.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Dog belongs to you, does it?
0:04:55 > 0:04:57You're making him anxious. Look at that.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59OK, you're making him anxious, because he's been absolutely fine.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Listen to me... Just calm down one second.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03How can anyone give you any random information,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- I just come in and knock on someone's door.- OK.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09As the dog is beginning to show signs of agitation,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Tina decides to remove him
0:05:11 > 0:05:14so he can be properly assessed to determine if he is a pit bull.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Come on, then. Come on, come on. Good boy. There you go.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Good lad.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Tina briefly returns to the house to explain to the owner
0:05:30 > 0:05:33that she has the right to take the dog, who's called Tyson,
0:05:33 > 0:05:34and that he has to be assessed.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Yep, we've seized what we believe to be a prohibited dog.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Obviously it needs to be examined,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44but I'd be very surprised if it's not a pit bull type.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49He's obviously very upset that his dog's been seized
0:05:49 > 0:05:51and doesn't believe that it is a pit bull.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53I think it's definitely going to be a pit.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57He's a nice dog. He's not very old, but he's a nice dog.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Tyson is taken to the kennels at a secret location
0:06:11 > 0:06:13where he is scanned to see if he has a microchip.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16There you go, good boy.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18He'll be left to settle in for 24 hours.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21Considering he doesn't know me,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24he's handled really well and he's behaving really well.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26He's got a little bit of a bald patch.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28We'll just have a look at that tomorrow
0:06:28 > 0:06:30when he's calmed down a little bit.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33Good boy.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Tina believes that Tyson is a pit bull,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43but he will be assessed by an independent specialist
0:06:43 > 0:06:45to confirm this.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47It's a big responsibility to own a pit bull.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Some people don't want that responsibility
0:06:50 > 0:06:52and some people are quite happy to have that,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55or will have that responsibility because they love their dog
0:06:55 > 0:06:56and they want it returned.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00As long as that dog doesn't pose a danger to the public
0:07:00 > 0:07:03and it's neutered, microchipped, third-party insurance,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06registered with DEFRA, and on a muzzle and lead
0:07:06 > 0:07:08for the rest of its life in public places,,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10then that dog can be returned to its owner.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14But, again, the people have to comply with the restrictions.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15If Tyson is found to be a pit bull,
0:07:15 > 0:07:19his owner would have to agree to the strict conditions.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Otherwise, Tyson will be destroyed
0:07:21 > 0:07:23because it's not possible to re-home banned dogs.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Good boy. TYSON BARKS
0:07:30 > 0:07:34We'll find out later what the future holds for Tyson.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Near Dundee, one dog has made a transformation
0:07:42 > 0:07:44to the way one elderly couple live.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Our dog is a champion.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54He works absolutely wonderfully well.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58He's saved me, I can tell you.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Moira and Alex White have been married for 55 years
0:08:03 > 0:08:06and have three children and eight grandchildren.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12I first met Alex at the dancing.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16It was a fortnight before my 16th birthday.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21My friend and I, we were planning to emigrate to Canada.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24But because I met Alexander, it didn't happen.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30We got engaged in 1956 and married on Midsummer's Day 1958.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Moira was a stay-at-home mum raising their three daughters,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38while Alex worked in telecommunications.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41We had our own lives and our own things to do.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46Alex always was involved in football, but what we always made sure of -
0:08:46 > 0:08:52we always had Sundays together with the children.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Alex retired over 20 years ago,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59and he and Moira enjoy travelling around the world,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02spending at least two months at their holiday home in Malta.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Then around seven years ago,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Moira started to notice a difference in her husband.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12His personality began to change.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14If we were in company, he would fly off the handle
0:09:14 > 0:09:19and just do things that weren't him.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I used to say to the kids, "There's something wrong with Dad,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25"but I can't put my finger on it."
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Soon after, doctors confirmed that Alex had dementia.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33When Alex was first diagnosed, we were...
0:09:36 > 0:09:40..just absolutely gobsmacked.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43'We knew it would be a slow process.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48'But he would be really aggressive and really difficult to manage.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52'I think part and parcel of that was the fact that he wasn't
0:09:52 > 0:09:57'so far gone down the road that he didn't understand.'
0:09:57 > 0:10:00He knew what he had and he knew there would be no cure.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain, lots of different ones.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11but basically it's caused by the loss of nerve cells.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Symptoms may move on from small memory problems and they may evolve
0:10:15 > 0:10:18as well as long-term memory, the can have language difficulties,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21problems with numbers, or perhaps problems with planning,
0:10:21 > 0:10:23whereas before they've managed to plan a full day,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25perhaps they can't quite manage that any more.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Often it is quite difficult for family members.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Carers do have to make quite big adjustments to live with dementia.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37It can also be almost a bigger adjustment for them.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Have another biscuit, Alex. How many have you had?
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Don't know. Two? Three? Two?
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Wait a minute. One, two, three, four, five. You've only had one.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49You can have another one then.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54'We didn't initially think of how it would change our lives
0:10:54 > 0:10:57'because we were still Alex and Moira.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00'We were still together and he wasn't all that bad.'
0:11:03 > 0:11:08But later on, you could see Alex wasn't able to...
0:11:08 > 0:11:14For instance, he used to help me 50% help in the house.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18He didn't know what end of the Hoover worked,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20'and he would get annoyed
0:11:20 > 0:11:24'because he would be looking at this piece of equipment,
0:11:24 > 0:11:29'and he knew that he used it nearly every day of his life before,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32'but he just couldn't figure out where the plug went.'
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Moira and Alex coped as best they could for five years,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39but very quickly the disease took hold.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45I remember our minister said to me one day, "How is Alex doing?"
0:11:45 > 0:11:50I said, "Well, you know that bit in the wedding service
0:11:50 > 0:11:53"'To love and cherish, till death do us part'?
0:11:53 > 0:11:54"It's getting hard."
0:11:57 > 0:12:00In 2012, a pilot scheme training dogs
0:12:00 > 0:12:03to help people with dementia was set up.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06BARKING
0:12:06 > 0:12:07Dogs love routine.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10They like being fed at the same time of day,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13they like going out for their runs at the same time of day.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16It's also shown that people with dementia like their routines
0:12:16 > 0:12:19as well, and benefit from having consistent routines.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26'Dogs also could help with reminders for different things,
0:12:26 > 0:12:31'with alarm clocks, with fetching medication,'
0:12:31 > 0:12:33which would take the onus a little bit away
0:12:33 > 0:12:36from the partner or the other half.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Moira and Alex heard about the project
0:12:39 > 0:12:42through their local dementia support group.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47'I don't want my husband to go into a home and sit in a circle'
0:12:47 > 0:12:49just doing nothing.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54I want him to still be active. I want him to still be fit.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57That's why we applied to have the dog.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02That dog has made the biggest difference.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06In 2013, they were matched with a black Labrador,
0:13:06 > 0:13:10also named Alex, who Moira calls Alex Four-Paws.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12His impact on the family was immediate.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Alex Four-Paws is a saviour.
0:13:17 > 0:13:23'He's so calm. He's so laid back. I call him the horizontal champion.'
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Look at you, you lazy lump.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31Alex was originally in training to be a guide dog.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Unfortunately, Alex didn't make it as a guide dog
0:13:33 > 0:13:38because he didn't have enough confidence to fulfil that role
0:13:38 > 0:13:43in guiding someone. So I looked at Alex for this Dementia Dog project.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46He loved to retrieve and loved to pick things up,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48so when I was assessing him
0:13:48 > 0:13:50and realised that he enjoyed that sort of thing,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I thought he would be quite a good dog
0:13:53 > 0:13:55to perform the Dementia Dog tasks.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57ALARM SOUNDS
0:13:59 > 0:14:04He does medicines in the morning and in the evening for Alex.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Then he does the lunchtime task where the alarm goes off.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17ALARM SOUNDS
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Off he goes and nudges Alex, gets him to follow him.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Follows him into the kitchen,
0:14:27 > 0:14:32and Alex reads the note and hopefully follows through on the note.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35And the dog has turned out to be not just for Alex's benefit.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39The feelings before I got the dog were...
0:14:43 > 0:14:45.."I can't go on.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49"I can't do this every day" I used to waken up in the morning and say,
0:14:49 > 0:14:50"Oh, not another day like this."
0:14:53 > 0:14:54Now I don't do that.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56Alex, sit.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Now their days follow a pattern,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03which always involves taking Alex Four-Paws out for regular walks.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Good boy.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08I think the dog has made a huge benefit,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11not just to Alex but to Moira as well.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14I think that's what we're finding through this project -
0:15:14 > 0:15:17that the dog's giving as much benefits to the carer
0:15:17 > 0:15:19as much as the person with dementia
0:15:19 > 0:15:22because it's given them a focus,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24it's given them a break from everyday life.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28I feel it's brought them a lot closer together.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33There is less tension in their relationship, I feel.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35I've seen a big difference in Alex.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38He has really mellowed since the dog has been in there.
0:15:40 > 0:15:41Come on, then, hon.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43You OK?
0:15:43 > 0:15:45'I can't tell you the difference there has been
0:15:45 > 0:15:48'since that dog came into our life.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50'Alex is much calmer.'
0:15:50 > 0:15:54Less aggressive, less irritable.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57'And I am a lot happier'
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and a lot more energetic, I have to say.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01Come on, baby.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04See what I've got.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10'We all go to bed at the same time, the three of us. We work as a team.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12'We take him everywhere with us.'
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Only place we haven't taken him to is the cinema,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18and we got a baby-sitter for him when we went there.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24Once you get into a good routine, it's a lot easier all round.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26As far as I'm concerned, it's been very helpful.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29He's stopped your wife from shouting at you.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32No, the good thing is that you worked
0:16:32 > 0:16:33in a vet's place for long enough.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Oh, but that was when I was 16, for goodness' sake.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38When you were a young lady.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42- Now you're not so young as you used to be.- Ah-ah, watch it.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46I don't think there'll be a...
0:16:46 > 0:16:50a cure for Alzheimer's in Alex's lifetime or mine,
0:16:50 > 0:16:54but it's going to happen one of these days.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56It'll be better for everybody else.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59But as far as Alex Four-Paws is concerned,
0:16:59 > 0:17:05the hope is as my husband gets worse, which is inevitable,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Alex will be able to do more for him
0:17:08 > 0:17:10because he's part of the family now.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12We're Team Alex, that's what we are.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- We're just going into the car park. - We're going home now.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19Ah, yeah.
0:17:25 > 0:17:26In Kirklees, West Yorkshire,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Tina Shaw is one of the council's dog wardens.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32We aren't giving bags out today.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35It's simply if you haven't picked up, it's a fixed penalty.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Tina and the other four wardens patrol the area
0:17:39 > 0:17:42looking for strays and people who let their pets foul pavements.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48If I could just ask you to put your dog on a lead when you're walking?
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Right, what sort of dog is it?
0:17:50 > 0:17:54They deal with reports about nuisance dogs, animal welfare,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and help the police prosecute owners of banned breeds.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01A dog like this will be very difficult to re-home.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Today Tina's responding to a number of calls
0:18:07 > 0:18:10about an aggressive and very noisy dog
0:18:10 > 0:18:13that's said to be kept tied up outside a house in Huddersfield.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21Hello, dog.
0:18:25 > 0:18:26DOG BARKS
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Some of the dogs we come across can be very aggressive.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Any dog that we meet, potentially, will attack because we're entering
0:18:32 > 0:18:37the property - they guard the property, often they're frightened.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Yeah, we've got to be really careful.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Today Tina's taking no chances.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43DOG BARKS
0:18:46 > 0:18:48There's no answer,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51but she gets close enough to take a proper look at the dog.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54DOG BARKS Come on, then.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00There were also concerns that the dog may be one of the banned breeds.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04We did suspect that this might be a pit bull type dog,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08but having a better look at him now, I think he's more American bulldog.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13If Tina is right in her identification of the dog's breed,
0:19:13 > 0:19:17it doesn't stop her worrying about its aggression or its welfare.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21We do need to make things better for that dog.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24The longer it's left there tied up under the trampoline,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26the more aggressive it's going to get,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28because it's got absolutely nothing to do.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30It's just going to get more aggressive and protect the property.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32So we need to get in there and try
0:19:32 > 0:19:35and sort it out before we have a disaster.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36Find out later what happens
0:19:36 > 0:19:39when Tina returns to talk to the owner of the dog.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47In Scotland, animal welfare is the concern of a charity -
0:19:47 > 0:19:51the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Hello, it's the Scottish SPCA, could you come to the door, please?
0:19:56 > 0:19:58The charity investigates over 20,000 reports
0:19:58 > 0:20:01of animal cruelty a year,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04and are one of the first responders to calls throughout Scotland
0:20:04 > 0:20:06for any animal welfare issues.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09I had a complaint about the dogs.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11They have the power to seize animals
0:20:11 > 0:20:14if they're being neglected or abused.
0:20:17 > 0:20:18Oh, you're great.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Senior Inspector Billy Linton
0:20:21 > 0:20:23has been with the charity for eight years
0:20:23 > 0:20:24and covers a large area around Glasgow.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31I was born in Glasgow. There's no better people than Glasgow people.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36The people that I encounter most of the time look after their pets.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40But animal abuse is there.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45The SSPCA are there to address that.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48We've had a complaint relating to your dog.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52'This job can be confrontational.'
0:20:52 > 0:20:54If you turn up at somebody's door
0:20:54 > 0:20:58because somebody else has accused them of beating their dog,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01not feeding their cat, you suddenly become very unpopular,
0:21:01 > 0:21:07but you have to have a body in place who are authorised to investigate
0:21:07 > 0:21:09and ensure the welfare of an animal,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12because the animals can't speak for themselves.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Billy helps many pet owners,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21giving advice about how to look after their animals correctly.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Today he's responding to a call about the welfare of a husky dog
0:21:26 > 0:21:30that's kept on a lead in the front garden of a house near Paisley.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34And it's tied up outside.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Billy needs to assess the dog for signs of neglect.
0:21:40 > 0:21:41Hiya.
0:21:41 > 0:21:42You've got a cheeky face.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- Good morning, it's the Scottish SPCA, Inspector Linton.- Right.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Somebody's phoned in saying your dog's thin.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Do you think he looks too thin?
0:21:54 > 0:21:56I don't think he looks too thin, I think he looks OK.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58- He eats like so much. - Yeah.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00But they're saying it's tied up with cable.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Yeah, he gets tied there cos he jumps the fence.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03It's not the best thing in the world
0:22:03 > 0:22:05because if he does jump the fence with that
0:22:05 > 0:22:07he's going to end up in quite a bit of a state.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Dog faeces needs to be lifted, right? Things like that.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12You're going to cause a problem with pathogens with him
0:22:12 > 0:22:15if he's going to be stepping on it and then cleaning himself later.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18That kind of thing. Do you have access to a back garden?
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Yeah, yeah, but it's in a real mess now, that's why he's...
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Billy is concerned that the dog is in the full sun
0:22:24 > 0:22:29in the front garden and wants to take a look at the back.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31You've got a good-sized garden. It's not bad.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33- When you said the garden was bad, it's not bad.- It's this.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36He's certainly not going to get over the barrier fence.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38If he gets out here, he's not going to escape or anything.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40I know he's out there and he's out in the sun,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42but being tethered like that is not the best idea,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44cos he's not got any water out there either.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46- Right.- You know what I mean?- Yeah.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49It's nice right now, but who knows what going to happen in half an hour?
0:22:49 > 0:22:53- Right.- Huskies are built for really cold, sharp frost weather.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57They're not really great for wet weather that's windy with it.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Their coats are not really designed too good for that.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03When he's indoors, Austin the dog is kept in a cage which is adequate.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06But as he's mostly kept outside,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and his owner prefers him to stay in the front garden,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Billy has plenty of advice to give Austin's owner.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Clear the front garden of any injurious material.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17Give them a good brush-out.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Bring your bins a bit further this way
0:23:19 > 0:23:21so he's not got access to them.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Make sure he has water at all times when he's out there,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26and if he's out for any length of time he really should have shelter.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Any animal should be able to express normal behaviour,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32and he's only able to take a few steps in any direction
0:23:32 > 0:23:34so he should be able to move properly.
0:23:34 > 0:23:35- Has he been neutered yet?- What?
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Has he been neutered yet?
0:23:37 > 0:23:39- What's that?- Castrated.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- He's not had his testicles removed? - No.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45You know, it stops any...
0:23:45 > 0:23:47..possible risk of any cancers
0:23:47 > 0:23:49and it's a healthy aspect.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51A lot of people don't like to neuter their dogs
0:23:51 > 0:23:53because they think they'll put weight on.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55They shouldn't put weight on,
0:23:55 > 0:23:59so long as they're not getting fed too much and get exercise regularly. OK?
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Billy is satisfied with the general welfare of the dog
0:24:02 > 0:24:07and feels the owner has taken on board all the points he's made.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10You can tell she genuinely cares for the dog.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12The dog was OK, it was happy,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14it was very friendly, it was lively,
0:24:14 > 0:24:18just needed that bit more thought put into the way it was being kept.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20DOG WHIMPERS
0:24:21 > 0:24:24If I'm in the area, I would certainly leave it at least a fortnight,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26certainly if the weather improves
0:24:26 > 0:24:29and it gets really hot, and I think that
0:24:29 > 0:24:31she might not have complied with what was asked for, I would
0:24:31 > 0:24:34have a wee look and just make sure everything was OK.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38If it was any worse, or still in the same situation,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40and they'd obviously not taken the advice,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43then the welfare notice may be required.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48Having a pet to care for
0:24:48 > 0:24:50is thought to be good for our health,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53but there are some animals who help people
0:24:53 > 0:24:55who are suffering in surprising ways.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58If anybody suggested to me
0:24:58 > 0:25:01that a horse would be the route to getting my life back on track
0:25:01 > 0:25:02after trauma,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05then I would have laughed in their faces.
0:25:05 > 0:25:0743-year-old Hugh Forsyth joined the Army
0:25:07 > 0:25:10when he was 16 years old.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Army life is fantastic.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15You get to see the world. You experience a bit of danger,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17which is good when you're younger,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19and it's a tight-knit community within the military,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22and it's almost like having a second family.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25His speciality in the Royal Engineers
0:25:25 > 0:25:28was one of the most high-risk in his unit.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Bomb disposal.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32You didn't know when you'd be called out.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36You didn't know what you'd face when you did have a call-out.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40And the dangers Hugh faced were very real at times.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43My first major trauma was when I was 18
0:25:43 > 0:25:45and my first tour in Northern Ireland.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49I was with my team on a patrol
0:25:49 > 0:25:52to protect the finish line
0:25:52 > 0:25:55of a charity fun run.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Six soldiers were on that run
0:25:57 > 0:26:00and when they'd finished the run they got into their vehicle
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and the vehicle blew up in front of us.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Pretty harrowing, yeah.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10When he was 26, Hugh was threatened at gunpoint
0:26:10 > 0:26:12while helping clear land mines in Bosnia.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17Then, after a spinal injury, he was discharged from the Army on medical grounds.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24It was like the whole world had been taken out from under my feet.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26It felt like I was orphaned.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31Everything that I knew about life as an adult
0:26:31 > 0:26:34was completely the opposite to civilian life.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37So when you leave the military and have to
0:26:37 > 0:26:39make your way in the civilian world,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42it is just as frightening as walking up to any bomb.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48When I came home and got my first job
0:26:48 > 0:26:51in civvy street, in telecommunications,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54I just got on with it and I thought that I was coping.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57But actually I wasn't coping.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59I was having flashbacks.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01And I was terrified
0:27:01 > 0:27:05of going onto buses and trains and dealing with the public.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08I was also very, very scared of
0:27:08 > 0:27:13dustbins and backpacks and people looking at me a certain way.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17It really narrows your lifestyle down to
0:27:17 > 0:27:19literally nothing.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24At the time Hugh was married with two young children.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26My marriage was beginning to fail.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29I was having arguments at work.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32I couldn't form relationships with the people around me.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34I didn't have that team network
0:27:34 > 0:27:37that I felt with the guys I'd served with.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Things disintegrated. Within 18 months I'd had a nervous breakdown.
0:27:41 > 0:27:47I was divorced, and life was just totally, totally black.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Hugh spent the next decade trying to keep a lid
0:27:51 > 0:27:54on his anxieties.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56I did turn to drink.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00I wasn't me, but there was nothing I could do about it, either.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02You know what you're doing is wrong.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05But the pain is so bad that you just
0:28:05 > 0:28:09will do anything for that pain to go away.
0:28:09 > 0:28:14At mu utter lowest point I just wanted to actually end my life.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16So I attempted to commit suicide.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20At that point your brain isn't functioning
0:28:20 > 0:28:23in the way it would normally function.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27So ending your life seems to be
0:28:27 > 0:28:30a good step, actually, at that point.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33I know it's quite strange and quite shocking to say that,
0:28:33 > 0:28:36but that, compared to what you're dealing with,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39is a really good option at the time,
0:28:39 > 0:28:41and it's really scary that is an option.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44But thankfully I didn't succeed.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49Hugh was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder
0:28:49 > 0:28:53and spent six years in cognitive behavioural therapy.
0:28:53 > 0:28:59But his experiences in the Army kept resurfacing.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01Hugh had almost lost hope,
0:29:01 > 0:29:05until a friend suggested equine-assisted therapy
0:29:05 > 0:29:07and a programme called Dare to Live.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10I was recommended to come here
0:29:10 > 0:29:13as part of an alternative therapy, fully expecting
0:29:13 > 0:29:16just to come down and stroke horses and that would be the end of it.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Well, actually what I did attend was a three-day
0:29:19 > 0:29:22psychological retraining programme.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24What we're going to explore today
0:29:24 > 0:29:27is the idea that we have different boundaries
0:29:27 > 0:29:29for different reasons.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32I would say they're survival instinct boundaries.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35The Dare to Live programme is a transition programme,
0:29:35 > 0:29:37specifically designed for servicemen
0:29:37 > 0:29:40as they come out of what might be termed a very institutional
0:29:40 > 0:29:43way of life into civilian life.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47The horses at the centre aren't stabled or ridden.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Instead, they live an almost wild existence.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54They live in the woods, they use each other for shelter,
0:29:54 > 0:29:59which is the more natural way horses are out in the wild.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02What you're getting is a much more realistic
0:30:02 > 0:30:05behaviour from the horses here.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09The theory behind the work here is that, as horses are highly sensitive
0:30:09 > 0:30:11to humans' intentions and feelings,
0:30:11 > 0:30:14they're naturally able to help people understand
0:30:14 > 0:30:18how their actions or behaviours appear to others.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20I arrived on day one,
0:30:20 > 0:30:25Coley came forward out of the herd of six horses that are here
0:30:25 > 0:30:27and stood by the fence and literally put his
0:30:27 > 0:30:30head out to me as soon as I got out of the car.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33And there was an instant connection.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35It was like a bolt of lightning. For some reason,
0:30:35 > 0:30:37the anxiety dropped away.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Nice, warm feeling throughout my body.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43I was the calmest I'd been for the last 15 years.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46It was life-changing.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Hugh is a prime example of somebody who came
0:30:49 > 0:30:54very crushed, thought he had no hope of ever working again,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57was starting to settle for
0:30:57 > 0:31:01a fairly limited way of living.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05And certainly had a lot of stress in his life.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08I wasn't living very much of a life, to be honest,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10and now I've got a job back,
0:31:10 > 0:31:12my children are much more at ease around me.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15And another great reward from this is that now
0:31:15 > 0:31:18I've progressed on to become a facilitator.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21I'm now watching other veterans and their families
0:31:21 > 0:31:24benefit from this fantastic programme.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29And it warms my heart to give them their lives back as well.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32If you try and take a nice, big, deep breath...
0:31:32 > 0:31:34HE BREATHES OUT
0:31:35 > 0:31:38Today he's with Army veteran Ben Meade,
0:31:38 > 0:31:41who was in a plane that was shot down in Afghanistan.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43I'll give you around ten minutes.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Sleep was a big problem.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Eating was very hit-and-miss.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54But, really, it was the stress levels that were very high.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57And then realising, waking up one morning, that you've got nothing,
0:31:57 > 0:31:59from having everything to nothing,
0:31:59 > 0:32:02you put it into perspective and think, "It's time to get help."
0:32:02 > 0:32:05Working with the horses, what it helps us do
0:32:05 > 0:32:10is really understand, "What is it I'm doing
0:32:10 > 0:32:14"and what effect does that have on the other?"
0:32:14 > 0:32:17What we're looking for is every ear movement, every eye movement,
0:32:17 > 0:32:20the position of the mouth, the position of the horse's body,
0:32:20 > 0:32:23they all mean something
0:32:23 > 0:32:25in horse language.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28What we get from that is a visual representation
0:32:28 > 0:32:30of what is resonating from the client.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36When she turned to face me, she was quite relaxed.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38And she offered a lot there.
0:32:38 > 0:32:39She did, she offered a lot.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42I went to her but she got a little bit tense again.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46So what we'll try again is if you approach
0:32:46 > 0:32:49with even more noticing than you have done before.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52Then every time you notice any change,
0:32:52 > 0:32:56just take that step back and sigh.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59And see if you can take more time.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Something like this does make you find your inner peace.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05I know from being ill in hospital
0:33:05 > 0:33:06you can do relaxation therapy,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09but coming here, working with animals,
0:33:09 > 0:33:12it really does make you find your true self.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15So what do you think you could use from this experience,
0:33:15 > 0:33:17this session today?
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Understanding each other's boundaries,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23and don't encroach on somebody's space.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30You don't have to be overbearing on someone.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32And understanding their needs.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35Brilliant. Good work.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Over the last four years, the horses here have helped
0:33:42 > 0:33:45around 350 people.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53Because of the traumas I've experienced in the military,
0:33:53 > 0:33:55I will more than likely always have
0:33:55 > 0:33:58post-dramatic stress disorder to some extent.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02However, because of the work I've done here with the horses,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05the post-traumatic stress will not control my life any more.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07I'm in more control of it.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Just being in a field with the horse,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16for more than five minutes,
0:34:16 > 0:34:18it's like the world doesn't exist out there
0:34:18 > 0:34:20and it's just you and him,
0:34:20 > 0:34:22which is fantastic and it helps me
0:34:22 > 0:34:25be in the moment, not worried about the future,
0:34:25 > 0:34:27not worried about what happened in the past.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30And that is the way I want to live my life.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Like other boroughs across the country,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45Newham receives its fair share of hoax calls from timewasters
0:34:45 > 0:34:47and those trying to get someone else into trouble.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49But they all have to be followed up,
0:34:49 > 0:34:52just in case.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54Today, Tina Delaney and Sue Heathcote
0:34:54 > 0:34:56are responding to a report about some dogs
0:34:56 > 0:34:58that are dangerously out of control.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04- Do you have any dogs on the premises? - No, I've got cats.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Come in, and you're more than welcome to see my gaff.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09Tina and Sue immediately realise the information
0:35:09 > 0:35:12they've been given is from one of those
0:35:12 > 0:35:14nuisance calls.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16- How many cats do you have?- Three.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18- Are they neutered?- Yes.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19Oh, brilliant.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22But the tenant is keen to show Tina and Sue
0:35:22 > 0:35:25that she's a responsible pet owner.
0:35:25 > 0:35:31Here, look, come...that's what they've got left over from last time I got paid.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35There's their biscuits.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39If you want to find fault with me, find it.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41But the only fault you'll find with me is I have
0:35:41 > 0:35:45a hangover and I ain't fed 'em this morning.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47- Sorry.- No, that's fine.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Tina and Sue try to reassure her that they're not
0:35:50 > 0:35:52concerned with the welfare of her cats.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55There's three bowls there.
0:35:55 > 0:35:56That's fine.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00The only thing I would suggest is that maybe
0:36:00 > 0:36:02you have two litter trays.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04That's the only thing I'd suggest.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05That's only cos the litter has built up.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09Tina explains that there have been no complaints about the cats.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12She's keen to move on to their next call.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15But the cats' owner has other ideas.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20There's their blanket, look.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23No, I'm absolutely fine with the cats. Where are they anyway?
0:36:23 > 0:36:27- They're hiding from you.- All right, OK! I'd hide from me as well.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30All right, then. You can go back to bed now.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33I'm going to feed the cats before I go back to bed.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35OK.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39I'm not concerned that there's any dangerous dogs on the premises.
0:36:39 > 0:36:45- And, like she said, she wouldn't have dogs there because she's got three cats.- No, makes sense.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Each call-out they receive is different,
0:36:49 > 0:36:53so Tina and Sue never quite now what's coming next.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55You have some really unusual things,
0:36:55 > 0:37:00cos you go into people's homes and you never know what to expect.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03We've had goats running along the road and stuff like that.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05I suppose that's unusual for a London borough.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08We had a pig along the A13.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11We were trying to catch him and people stopped in a car,
0:37:11 > 0:37:16shouting things like, "Are you trying to catch the bacon?"
0:37:16 > 0:37:18What do you think's the most unusual thing?
0:37:18 > 0:37:22I think it was the alleged porcupine somebody had in their garden.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24We never found it, so I don't think it really existed.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28But it was interesting for a while. You ought to go left here.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31We've had snakes in people's toilets and all sorts of things.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34I suppose once you've been doing a job for a long time,
0:37:34 > 0:37:38I think it's very hard to define what's unusual,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41cos you get used to things being different.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43It's only when you start talking to somebody else
0:37:43 > 0:37:46that you realise that's not
0:37:46 > 0:37:48everyday occurrence, really.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Over in Kirklees, Tina Shore's returning to a house
0:37:59 > 0:38:02in Huddersfield where there have been a number of calls
0:38:02 > 0:38:04about an aggressive, noisy dog tied up in a yard.
0:38:04 > 0:38:05DOG BARKS
0:38:08 > 0:38:11There had been suspicions that it was a banned breed,
0:38:11 > 0:38:14but Tina wasn't convinced.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16It's an American Bulldog.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19As you can see, it's not the most ideal environment
0:38:19 > 0:38:21to keep a large dog on the end of a chain
0:38:21 > 0:38:23in such a residential area.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26The dog itself is in good condition,
0:38:26 > 0:38:28and they've given it some bedding, but it has no
0:38:28 > 0:38:30real exercise area.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35So what I need to speak to them about is how often it's exercised,
0:38:35 > 0:38:37who takes it out, whose dog it is,
0:38:37 > 0:38:40and so on, and just have a general chat with them, really.
0:38:40 > 0:38:41Good boy, good boy.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Good boy.
0:38:43 > 0:38:44DOG BARKS
0:38:50 > 0:38:51Hello?!
0:38:54 > 0:38:57Hiya. The reason we've come, really,
0:38:57 > 0:38:59is because we've had some concerns
0:38:59 > 0:39:02about the dog being tied up in the garden all the time, and people
0:39:02 > 0:39:04are frightened of the dog.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06We've come across dogs that are tied up to chains.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08These dogs need exercise.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10If they don't get that they become aggressive, they get bored
0:39:10 > 0:39:12and they bark.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15It's really not good for anybody to have it tied up all the time.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17The residents explain that the owner
0:39:17 > 0:39:19of the dog isn't in.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21But what I wanted to ask you to do is, really,
0:39:21 > 0:39:25if you can just make sure your dog's always got water,
0:39:25 > 0:39:28if you can just make sure you keep the area clean for us, yeah?
0:39:28 > 0:39:31But people in the area are a little bit frightened of the dog.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35Because when you're not in the house,
0:39:35 > 0:39:36she's here on her own, isn't she?
0:39:36 > 0:39:39That can be dangerous cos anybody could just walk into your garden,
0:39:39 > 0:39:42so it's a little bit dangerous as well.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44Dealing with families and pets is very emotive.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47The animals may not be kept in good conditions,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50but they love them, and it's just getting people to try and think differently
0:39:50 > 0:39:53about how they're keeping them,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56and looking for a better way forward.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59If I leave my card do you think your brother will give me a ring?
0:39:59 > 0:40:00- Erm...yes.- OK.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03We're not just all out to sort of
0:40:03 > 0:40:05tell people off all the time,
0:40:05 > 0:40:07we're trying to help people as well with the dogs.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09OK, thank you for your time, then.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12- See you later.- Bye.- Bye.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Tina will pass on her advice
0:40:14 > 0:40:16once she finally gets to speak to the dog's owner
0:40:16 > 0:40:19and will continue to monitor the dog's welfare.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24Earlier in Newham, Tina Delaney
0:40:24 > 0:40:28responded to a call which required police back-up.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30A pit-bull type dog, called Tyson,
0:40:30 > 0:40:32had escaped from his owner's garden.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36And a warrant was issued to seize him.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Hello.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Pit-bulls are a banned breed in the UK,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44and any that are allowed to be kept as pets
0:40:44 > 0:40:45must never escape from a garden
0:40:45 > 0:40:49and must wear a muzzle at all times in public.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Good boy, he's a good boy.
0:40:53 > 0:40:59Tina took Tyson away to find out exactly what breed he is.
0:41:00 > 0:41:05Both Tina and an independent assessor agree
0:41:05 > 0:41:07that Tyson IS a pit-bull.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Tyson's a really nice boy, as you can see.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11He's lovely.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14He's actually been well trained, he's quite a nice dog.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17The only thing that concerns me is that he may go home
0:41:17 > 0:41:20and escape again.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23This is such a common occurrence of dogs escaping
0:41:23 > 0:41:27through gardens, and one of the things we always say to people is to make sure
0:41:27 > 0:41:29that you regularly check your garden
0:41:29 > 0:41:32that your dog's not escaping and it can't get out of there,
0:41:32 > 0:41:34especially when there's been storms or high winds.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38You should always check your garden, regardless of the breed of dog you have,
0:41:38 > 0:41:41because dogs do readily escape out of gardens,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44especially with fences that are made out of wood.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48As Tyson is a good-natured dog, and his owner has agreed to comply
0:41:48 > 0:41:50with all the strict conditions of the Dangerous Dogs Act,
0:41:50 > 0:41:54Tyson will be returned to his owner.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58We have explained to the owner that this is his second chance.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01If he doesn't make sure that Tyson never escapes,
0:42:01 > 0:42:04and he escapes again,
0:42:04 > 0:42:07then the dog will be seized and there's a very strong likelihood
0:42:07 > 0:42:10that he will be prosecuted.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12And, ultimately, usually
0:42:12 > 0:42:15that dog pays that cost with its life.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18And that's something we don't want to happen.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20It's a happy ending for Tyson
0:42:20 > 0:42:23and a good day's work for Tina.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26I love my job because it varies.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28It can be very, very heartbreaking
0:42:28 > 0:42:33but at the same time it can be very, very rewarding.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36I absolutely love working with animals and always have done,
0:42:36 > 0:42:39so that's one of the reasons I love my job.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43The owner of the American Bulldog has been spoken to
0:42:43 > 0:42:46and has taken on board Tina Shore's comments.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49The Husky dog, Austin, is still with his owner,
0:42:49 > 0:42:55and the SSPCA are happy he's now being well looked after.
0:42:55 > 0:43:00Tyson, the pit-bull, has now been reunited with his owner.