0:00:01 > 0:00:04- Good boy. - Nearly half of Britain owns a pet.
0:00:04 > 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 > 0:00:16We have reason to believe it is your dog and that you've had it for a fair few years and not two weeks.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18When things go wrong,
0:00:18 > 0:00:21animal 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 from my house.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31- I love you too.- But 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 > 0:00:40This is Animal Saints And Sinners.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- Coming up...- I think it's a potential of type.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51He needs more water.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Dog control officers in Salford
0:00:53 > 0:00:56are concerned about two dogs that live in a scrap-yard.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I really hope that someone's taken that dog in.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01I'm concerned he's hurt.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05We meet a retired racehorse who turned one girl's life around.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09We just looked at each other and from then on there was just
0:01:09 > 0:01:11a spark between us.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15And a heroic dog that put his own life in danger to save his owner.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20I was really frightened. I thought I was going to lose my best friend.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26All local authorities across the UK
0:01:26 > 0:01:28have a duty to deal with stray and lost dogs.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Come here, mate. Do you know him?
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Where does he live?
0:01:33 > 0:01:37But in Salford, dog control officers Will Harris and Erica Eaton
0:01:37 > 0:01:39also work closely with the Greater Manchester Police
0:01:39 > 0:01:43to keep an eye on those listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
0:01:45 > 0:01:46Will, be careful.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48- Good boy.- Look at the side of his head.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50He's got quite a big head.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52You can always tell by the jaw.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55There are four banned breeds of dog in the UK.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58But with an application through the courts, some owners can be allowed
0:01:58 > 0:02:00to keep them, if it's deemed safe
0:02:00 > 0:02:03and certain restrictions are adhered to.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05We've been working with the GMP, Manchester Police,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08just checking the exempt dogs in Salford,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11which means we go to the property,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15we check that the dog's muzzled, tattooed, micro-chipped,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17neutered and they have insurance
0:02:17 > 0:02:19and just to see the general health of the dog
0:02:19 > 0:02:21and to make sure that they're caring for the dog
0:02:21 > 0:02:23and following the rules of the exemption notice.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29In Salford, there are 15 banned-breed dogs that have been legalised.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31The police have asked Will and Erica
0:02:31 > 0:02:35to do an unannounced house-to-house check.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40We're just going to check on Missy, an exempt pit-bull.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42We've been before and we didn't see a muzzle
0:02:42 > 0:02:44so we're going to make sure that the owner,
0:02:44 > 0:02:48a responsible owner hopefully, has got a muzzle this time.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Five weeks ago, Will and Erica visited this address
0:02:51 > 0:02:55and it wasn't just the lack of a muzzle they were worried about.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57They were also concerned that she was under-weight
0:02:57 > 0:03:01and had advised the owner to take her to a vet straightaway.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03- So what's the vet said, she's got tapeworm?- Yeah.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06- And she only took her yesterday? - Yeah.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09It's a few weeks ago now since we last visited.
0:03:09 > 0:03:10Have you got a muzzle?
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Oh, excellent. We'll just have a quick look.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18- Right, is that what they've given her?- Yeah, that's fine.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21We've been before and we didn't have one so I'm glad she's got one now.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And you're beautiful, aren't you?
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Aren't you beautiful? Oh, yes.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29And again, let's see if we can see the tattoo.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33All dogs that are pit-bulls, exempt dogs, will have a tattoo.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Missy's owner is now complying with the rules
0:03:35 > 0:03:38but Will and Erica are still concerned about her weight,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41especially as the vet has confirmed she has tapeworm.
0:03:41 > 0:03:42She's a lovely girl.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46So we called about four or five week ago now, and erm...
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Just on the off-chance, I spoke to your partner about Missy's weight.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Been a long time, really, for her to be that thin.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- Fix her, we'll see you again. - Missy... Come on then. Bye.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I wasn't impressed with the fact that it's four or five weeks
0:04:00 > 0:04:02since we last visited and I told him
0:04:02 > 0:04:05then that Missy needed to see a vet so it's, like,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08nearly five weeks down the line and she's only seen the vet this week.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10That treatment that she's been given
0:04:10 > 0:04:12could have been given a few weeks ago
0:04:12 > 0:04:14and we now could have seen a difference, but...
0:04:14 > 0:04:16You don't know their personal circumstances, do you?
0:04:16 > 0:04:19In fairness, if it had been my dog, she'd have been there the next day.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22But not everybody's the same, are they?
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Will and Erica will keep a close eye on Missy
0:04:26 > 0:04:29until they're happy she's being well cared for.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Their next call is to try and track down the owner of a pit-bull
0:04:34 > 0:04:38who can't be found at the address the dog is registered to.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40We've actually been to a property
0:04:40 > 0:04:42where the dog was supposed to be residing
0:04:42 > 0:04:44and the property was tinned up
0:04:44 > 0:04:48so we've since found out that the dog could be at this address here
0:04:48 > 0:04:50so we're just going to investigate.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58- We've been asked to come round by the police with regards to- BEEP- dog.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01- She's got an exempt pit-bull, hasn't she?- Right.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03That had reason to believe that she was erm...
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Had links to this property.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08It turns out that the dog's owner doesn't live here either.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13We have about 15 dogs on the exempt list in Salford at the moment.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16We need to make sure that we know when they've moved to tell us
0:05:16 > 0:05:18and to keep a regular check on these dogs because, you know,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21they are exempt and we need to make sure
0:05:21 > 0:05:24that the residents of Salford are safe
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and do know that there's exempt dogs in the area.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29She's got a new property.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32- Right.- But I think, at the end of the day,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35knowing that her dog's like it is,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37she should have rung you and told you.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42Yes, part of her exemption for the dog, has to.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Dog attacks is headline news at the moment
0:05:45 > 0:05:48so obviously we want to make sure she's following the rules
0:05:48 > 0:05:50so that there's no problems in the future.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54The tenants of the property hand over the details they have for the owner of the dog.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Because the owner has moved out of Salford,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01the case will be handled by the police in that area.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Alongside the pit-bulls that are exempt,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Will and Erica also have to report any dogs not on the register
0:06:07 > 0:06:10that they believe may be banned breeds.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14We're in Lower Kersal and we're going to a scrap-yard where,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18I believe, there is a pit-bull on site.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22This isn't Will's first visit to the scrap-yard.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23Earlier this week,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26he found a husky dog roaming in the area which had run loose from there.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30He took the husky back to the pound,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33but the owner has yet to pay the fine and collect the his dog.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39The owner of the scrap-yard isn't in, but someone opens the gate
0:06:39 > 0:06:42to let them take a look at the dog Will suspects is a pit-bull.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43Can we come in?
0:06:46 > 0:06:47Very, very careful.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Where's the dog? Is he tied up?
0:06:50 > 0:06:51Right, this is the dog we saw, yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56When I came here on Monday he was running around.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01- I think it's a potential of type. - It's potentially of type, OK.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06- He's locked up here.- Hello. - Has he got food and water in there?
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Well, he's no water there at the moment, there's no food.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Hello, mate. Are you a handsome boy, yes, he is...
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- He needs more water.- Yes.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19OK, thank for your help, thanks for your assistance.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Thank you very much indeed, thank you.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23Thank you, see ya.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26We've seen the dog now.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Doesn't look like it's very well kept in the conditions,
0:07:28 > 0:07:29there's no water for it.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32We believe it could be of type, we've taken a photograph
0:07:32 > 0:07:35and we're going to submit that photograph
0:07:35 > 0:07:37to our contact at the police for assessment.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41We're authorised to issue fixed penalties.
0:07:41 > 0:07:42That's where our powers end.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47We have no control over cruelty cases, we can't seize dogs.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49All we can do is advise.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52And sometimes the fact that erm...
0:07:52 > 0:07:56If we keep going back, if we suspect a dog's being not treated correctly,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59if we keep going back, sometimes it's more of a deterrent
0:07:59 > 0:08:05than actually for anyone with court cases, fines and stuff like that.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07It's just keeping on top of them sometimes.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Back at the pound, the owner of the scrap-yard has arrived
0:08:11 > 0:08:13to pick up the husky that Will had seized from the premises
0:08:13 > 0:08:15earlier in the week.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19- So the guy who owns the dogs... - Yeah.- He's on holiday?
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Yeah, he's coming back after tomorrow, I think.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23- Does he live in Salford?- Yeah.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27- So that's the dog's chip number.- OK.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29It's chipped with Pet Log and that's their telephone number
0:08:29 > 0:08:32so if you tell him to ring them, give him that number,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- tell him he needs to change the dog's details.- Lovely. Thank you.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38And also we need to look out for any holes in the fence
0:08:38 > 0:08:41how the dog got out in the first place.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Because obviously it's got out, we don't know how.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Right. Now let's get the dog.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56OK, make sure when you get the dog home give him plenty of water.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59He's just had two big bowls, but make sure he has some more.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01It's warm over in the kennels as well.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04But he's been well looked after.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Where are you? You're not going to go anywhere.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08The dog has escaped twice already.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Both times, this man has come to collect him,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13although he claims the dog is not his.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16So make sure you get that chip changed, it's very important.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18- Also a tag.- Yeah.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Because what would happen, a member of the public would have found him,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25they would have looked at the tag and would have phoned the owner straightaway
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- and it would have saved you 25 quid. - OK.- OK?- I'll sort it out, yeah.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Find out later what happens
0:09:33 > 0:09:36when the husky is allowed to escape yet again.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41If he's hurt he could be lying in the bushes or something, you just...
0:09:41 > 0:09:43It's going to be by chance that someone finds him.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47Horses are very, very important.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52They're a big part of my life.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59But there's always one that holds the key to my heart which is Monty.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08Montendre, also known as Monty, is a 27-year-old ex-racehorse.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Monty's a really special horse.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16He was very highly raced in his career,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20104 races altogether was a lot over 11 years.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23He had 12 wins, two of the wins
0:10:23 > 0:10:26when he was a two-year-old with Frankie Dettori on board.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Monty now lives a life of leisure at a horse charity in Wiltshire.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Monty has been with the charity about 12 years now.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Since he's come out of racing, I think
0:10:38 > 0:10:42he was fairly quiet but his confidence has sort of grown now.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44He's a lovely horse, very intelligent.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47He's looked after horses, I think he looks after people as well
0:10:47 > 0:10:52and he tends to choose the people he likes so he's a very special horse.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Good boy.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- Good boy.- Six years ago, Monty made friends with Amy from Marlborough.
0:11:03 > 0:11:09When I was 13 I got put into care because of troubles at home.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Amy prefers to keep the details private
0:11:20 > 0:11:23about what happened before she went into care.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31Obviously I was quite a way away from my friends and family
0:11:31 > 0:11:35so I was away from everybody that I knew.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40And put into a new place and that was very, very scary as well.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44Amy was so distressed
0:11:44 > 0:11:47that she found it incredibly difficult to speak to anyone.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53I've always been very, very, very shy.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56And not wanting to talk to people or...
0:11:56 > 0:11:58I couldn't go to a shop to buy sweets,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00I couldn't leave my mum's side.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07At school, I was struggling with, like, English, maths...
0:12:07 > 0:12:10The basics really and then when you work into teams,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12I didn't like that either.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Amy was offered conventional counselling and therapies
0:12:16 > 0:12:18to try and help express her feelings
0:12:18 > 0:12:22and start talking again but nothing seemed to help.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27My school decided to...
0:12:27 > 0:12:31They came up with this idea that I didn't actually realise
0:12:31 > 0:12:33that it was going to change my life.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37The idea was for Amy to take part
0:12:37 > 0:12:39in a special training programme with horses.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46When Amy first arrived here, she was troubled and withdrawn
0:12:46 > 0:12:49and was finding it difficult to communicate with people.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Erm... And generally felt unhappy.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57All the programmes that we do here are specifically targeted
0:12:57 > 0:13:00for emotional literacy
0:13:00 > 0:13:04so that is why we felt that perhaps Amy was a person
0:13:04 > 0:13:07that could possibly benefit from coming to us
0:13:07 > 0:13:11and maybe she could come out of her shell a little bit
0:13:11 > 0:13:14and see and love and trust an animal.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16I didn't think I needed help at the time.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I thought it was a silly idea...
0:13:19 > 0:13:21..that they came up with.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27But they...when they started talking about, it's animals,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30it's horses, and...
0:13:30 > 0:13:34Like, you learn how to look after them and groom them,
0:13:34 > 0:13:38I started coming round because horses are my favourite animals
0:13:38 > 0:13:42and it's something that I really, really wanted to do from a young age.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45So that's how they got me around to wanting to come here.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53But Amy's strong feelings for the horses came up against her inner fears
0:13:53 > 0:13:54and when she arrived at the centre,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Amy wouldn't get out of the car and didn't speak to anyone.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04It was very scary, it was out of my comfort zone.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08They'd taken me out of school to come to a place that I didn't know anyone.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Er...very scary.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20Eventually, Amy overcame her anxiety and agreed to go and see the horses.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Hello, Mont.
0:14:23 > 0:14:24Monty.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32I was walking around with the teacher,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35just meeting every horse
0:14:35 > 0:14:38and I walked into this barn.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Every horse sort of looked at you because they're like, "Oh, new person."
0:14:42 > 0:14:44So Monty did exactly the same.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45He just looked at me.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50But we both, we just looked at each other
0:14:50 > 0:14:54and from then on there was just a spark between us.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57I don't know what. It just kind of happened.
0:15:03 > 0:15:04(Good boy.)
0:15:06 > 0:15:09I would say it was love at first sight
0:15:09 > 0:15:12because he didn't do anything different to any other horse,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16he just looked at me and there was an...
0:15:16 > 0:15:18There was just something there.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22That made be love him and obviously he...hopefully feels the same way.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25SHE LAUGHS
0:15:26 > 0:15:27Don't you?
0:15:30 > 0:15:32The special training programme was set up
0:15:32 > 0:15:35to help vulnerable children and young adults.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40We offer a service for the local community in as much that
0:15:40 > 0:15:44if children and young people are not flourishing in a normal classroom environment
0:15:44 > 0:15:46and they have special educational needs,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48we can provide something here,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50by their relationship with an animal
0:15:50 > 0:15:54that will build up their self-esteem, build up their confidence
0:15:54 > 0:15:57and also having to work together so it builds up teamwork
0:15:57 > 0:16:01and we all have to be working in a team as life goes on, don't we?
0:16:01 > 0:16:02So it's all that type of thing.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05So it's social skills and of course then it's the fact that
0:16:05 > 0:16:09these horses do give something back to these children and young people.
0:16:12 > 0:16:20Monty helped me through the toughest times. He listens to me.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22He was the first thing that I spoke to
0:16:22 > 0:16:26when I started coming out of my shell at Greatwood, erm...
0:16:27 > 0:16:30I don't know, there's just something about him that
0:16:30 > 0:16:37made me feel like I can actually do something with my life.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Looking after him, I kind of did everything for him.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Which was really good, it built our bond up even more.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50Er... I used to sing to him and he would fall asleep in my arms.
0:16:52 > 0:16:58He's just big, cuddly fluff-ball.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00He's, like, he's not just a horse.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02He's my best friend.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09I think Monty's had a significant effect on Amy's life,
0:17:09 > 0:17:14in as much that from Monty, she has gained confidence.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16She's blossomed and flourished
0:17:16 > 0:17:18and she's found a direction in her life that perhaps
0:17:18 > 0:17:21she wouldn't have been able to find before
0:17:21 > 0:17:25and she's an extremely gifted young girl
0:17:25 > 0:17:28and has obviously got great talent in looking after the horse
0:17:28 > 0:17:30which perhaps, if she hadn't met Monty
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and hadn't wanted to help Monty and to groom Monty
0:17:33 > 0:17:37and look after Monty, perhaps she'd never have discovered that talent.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41In July 2012, Amy started working full-time as a groom at the centre.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46I just, I can't leave this place.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50It's helped me out that much that I had to keep coming back.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52And obviously see this guy.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58Good boy.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04Good boy.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21Back in Salford,
0:18:21 > 0:18:25dog control officers Will Harris and Erica Eaton have been concerned
0:18:25 > 0:18:27about the welfare of two dogs that live at a scrap-yard.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31One is a husky they've found multiple times
0:18:31 > 0:18:33roaming the streets on his own.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37The other, they think, may be a pit-bull.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40I think it's a potential of type.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Because dangerous dogs fall under the remit of the police,
0:18:43 > 0:18:47- Will and Erica immediately informed them.- He needs more water.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49They have now assessed the suspected pit-bull
0:18:49 > 0:18:52and confirmed that it was not a banned breed.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55However, during their visit,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58the husky made it's fourth escape attempt.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01We've just took a call for roaming dog in the M6 area.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03We believe it to be a male husky.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Given the description, we think it might be one we've had before.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09He's a bit of a serial roamer so we're going to head up there
0:19:09 > 0:19:13and see if it's him. We've had him...three times last week?
0:19:13 > 0:19:15- Yes.- Three times last week.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19It's a Friday and Will and Erica need to find the dog before the end of the day,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22otherwise it could be left out roaming all weekend.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Ace!
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Ace!
0:19:27 > 0:19:29SHE WHISTLES
0:19:29 > 0:19:32It is the dog we thought it was, the husky.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Two times I've picked him up from here
0:19:34 > 0:19:36so we thought he might be round here.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38We're just looking round for him,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40but normally if you shout him, he comes running, so...
0:19:41 > 0:19:44We'll have a look around, see if he's about.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45Ace!
0:19:45 > 0:19:48SHE WHISTLES
0:19:48 > 0:19:49The husky?
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Has he gone that way? Cheers.
0:19:53 > 0:19:54Ace!
0:19:54 > 0:19:56SHE WHISTLES
0:19:58 > 0:20:00He lives in the local scrap-yard which...
0:20:01 > 0:20:04..in my own personal opinion, it's not the best place for him.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07Husky?
0:20:07 > 0:20:09Like a reddish colour, reddy-brown.
0:20:11 > 0:20:12This way?
0:20:12 > 0:20:14All right, thank you.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Ace! SHE WHISTLES
0:20:18 > 0:20:19Yeah, a husky.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- He went up there, but... - All right, thank you.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23Everybody's seen him apart from us.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26There's a bit of confusion over the dog's actual name.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31They've called us he's called Ace, they've told us he's called Buddy.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Erm...there was another name, I can't remember now.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Buddy!
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Buddy!
0:20:45 > 0:20:47I'd hate for something to happen to him
0:20:47 > 0:20:49because the roads are so busy round here.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53I don't know if he's actually got any road sense.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Each time the husky has been found by the dog control officers
0:20:58 > 0:21:00and taken to the kennels,
0:21:00 > 0:21:04he's been collected by someone on behalf of the owner.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Well, there's a bit of confusion with regards to ownership
0:21:06 > 0:21:09because every time we've had him,
0:21:09 > 0:21:14he's picked him up and paid the money, the fee for claiming him.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16But then says he doesn't belong to him
0:21:16 > 0:21:20so when I've questioned as to where the actual owner is,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23first off he tells me the owner was on holiday,
0:21:23 > 0:21:29then he tells me the owner was in Bedfordshire, because that's where they live, apparently.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32And then he tells me the owner's in hospital with blood pressure.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36And now apparently the owner's in Bedfordshire again
0:21:36 > 0:21:39so you don't know what to believe, do you?
0:21:39 > 0:21:43A roaming dog in a public place is classed as a stray.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46So it automatically comes under the control of the council.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50But the afternoon is drawing in and it's not looking good.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Buddy!
0:21:52 > 0:21:55I really hope that someone's taken that dog in.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57I'm concerned he's hurt.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01He could be anywhere now.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06If he's hurt, he could be lying in the bushes or something.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09It's going to be by chance that someone finds him,
0:22:09 > 0:22:10unless someone has taken him in.
0:22:10 > 0:22:11I want to go back to the yard.
0:22:13 > 0:22:14- OK.- I want to go back to the yard.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21But on their way back to the scrap-yard,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23they get the call they've been waiting for.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27A family have a husky fitting his description in their front garden.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32Hello. Come on, Buddy. Oh, is he tied up?
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Sorry, I didn't realise he was tied up.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Hiya, mate. Hiya, have you missed me, Buddy? Oh, there we go.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- BOY:- So, has it got an owner? - Yeah, yeah.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44- MOTHER:- Does his owner not know he's missing?- Yeah, yeah.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46It might sound dead petty of me,
0:22:46 > 0:22:51but...I want to make sure it gets reunited with its owners.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52Erm, he...
0:22:52 > 0:22:55In our personal view, he doesn't deserve to be back
0:22:55 > 0:22:58- with his owners, he deserves a better home.- OK.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59I'm glad you're safe.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02With only a few minutes until the end of their shift,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Erica and Will have finally tracked him down.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Dead chuffed, yeah, dead pleased.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12I really thought the worst will have happened.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Erm... I'd have been out looking for him tonight, definitely.
0:23:15 > 0:23:16Come on, mate.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19The dog, known as Ace, Buddy or Blue,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22is once again going to be taken to the place he knows well,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24the council kennels.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Good boy. Let's get him back, get him sorted.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29- CHILD:- Where are you going with it?
0:23:29 > 0:23:32We're going to take him to our kennels and look after them both.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36- All right.- Give him a nice bed, give him some food and some water.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Put the radio on, some nice music We'll put One Direction on for him.
0:23:39 > 0:23:40Do you think he likes One Direction?
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Er, I'm not entirely happy for...
0:23:45 > 0:23:49..Blue to go back to his owner, or to the yard because
0:23:49 > 0:23:54I know he's going to be out again and I know, if he's out again...
0:23:54 > 0:23:56He could end up under the wheels of some dirty big HGV
0:23:56 > 0:23:59driving down that road and that would break my heart.
0:23:59 > 0:24:00It really would.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Later, we'll find out what the future holds for the husky.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13Stay.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21You'd always say, dogs are a man's best friend
0:24:21 > 0:24:24but it doesn't even comprehend what Geo done for us.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27Good boy.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Geo is a two-year-old German shepherd cross of Carly Riley
0:24:30 > 0:24:32and her family from Clacton-on-Sea.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36They got him when he was just a young pup
0:24:36 > 0:24:40and it was a dream come true for eldest son, Charlie.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42I wanted one for ages.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Charlie, yeah, he really, really wanted a dog,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48but we thought if we got a puppy, he could grow up with him.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50But we've always wanted one.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Well, we wanted a German shepherd
0:24:54 > 0:24:57because we knew they were good with children and with families.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59And we just planned to go and have a look at him
0:24:59 > 0:25:01and see what he was like.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04And the breeder just brought him out and it was love at first sight
0:25:04 > 0:25:08so we just ended up coming home with him that day.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10When I got home from school,
0:25:10 > 0:25:14there was just this weird little puffball on the floor.
0:25:14 > 0:25:15I was like, "What's that?"
0:25:15 > 0:25:18And then it got up and started moving and then it jumped on me.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22I got really excited, I wanted one for ages.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Young pup, Geo, quickly settled in with his new family.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30He was brilliant with them from the beginning.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33He just plays with them non-stop from the minute they wake up.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34They run him round the house.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38They do laps of the house running after each other, all of them.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42I play ball with him with his ball and we throw it
0:25:42 > 0:25:46and he, like, skids across the floor and head-butts the wall.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52He's obsessed with all of the children, especially Charlie.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55I mean, he's so protective.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58He feels like my dog but Mum says he's a family dog.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08When Geo was just over seven months old,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11he proved to be more than just a family pet.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Just a normal day, I'd picked the children up from school,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18we'd come back, get Geo and take him for a walk before dinner.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22He's always been so good at roads, we just used to sit there,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25we'd say sit and he'd just sit at a road so at the end of our road,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28where there's a field, but you have to cross the main road to get to.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30So it was just waiting there.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34And then, suddenly, just this truck.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38We heard it and I yelled to the boys to step back a bit from the kerb
0:26:38 > 0:26:41and suddenly it just mounted the kerb.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Carly was holding the hands of her two younger boys.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49I pulled my two youngest back and just hollered at Charlie
0:26:49 > 0:26:51because he was a little bit away, to move.
0:26:52 > 0:26:5512-year-old Charlie was standing on the pavement
0:26:55 > 0:26:58and the truck was heading straight for him.
0:26:58 > 0:26:59My first thought was obviously Charlie
0:26:59 > 0:27:01because I knew the other two were safe
0:27:01 > 0:27:03because I'd got them out the way
0:27:03 > 0:27:06and literally, I just thought Charlie would be hit.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10I just thought my son would be dead, it was horrific.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Not even worth thinking about, it's horrible.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15With eldest son Charlie too far out of her reach,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Carly could only stand and watch.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20But their young dog, Geo, took action.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Geo had got up on his hind legs
0:27:24 > 0:27:27and with his front paws he'd pushed Charlie on his chest
0:27:27 > 0:27:28backwards away from the road.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30He'd actually pushed him with such force,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Charlie had scratch marks on his chest
0:27:32 > 0:27:36where Geo had just literally shoved him out of the way of the truck.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38It felt like someone was head-butting me,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40but it was actually my dog pushing me
0:27:40 > 0:27:45and I bashed my back on the floor and I had a bruise on there.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48But Geo's quick reactions to save Charlie put himself in danger.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Charlie was out of the way and the truck was still on the path
0:27:54 > 0:27:56and it just came and got Geo.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59The truck went back onto the path and then ran over Geo again
0:27:59 > 0:28:01while he was laying in the road.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04And the truck just drove off, didn't even slow down.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Nothing, not even to check that it was Charlie he'd hit or the dog,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09he just drove off.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15I was really upset. I felt like he was going to die.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16And I was never going to see him again.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20It was like a pick-up truck with the open back
0:28:20 > 0:28:24so it was quite a big, hefty truck to get hit by.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26After the impact, Geo was actually lying in the middle of the road.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Without even a thought, I just ran in the middle of the road and sat with him,
0:28:29 > 0:28:32like cars still coming, they're just driving by you,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35until one of them stopped and literally cordoned off the road.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38He was still awake and that in the road
0:28:38 > 0:28:39but I thought he was going to die
0:28:39 > 0:28:42because he wasn't moving or anything.
0:28:42 > 0:28:43That's why I told them to face the other way
0:28:43 > 0:28:47because I didn't want my children to see their pet die in front of them.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51It felt really upsetting because, like, we just got him
0:28:51 > 0:28:55when he was a pup and, like, we'd had him for a year
0:28:55 > 0:28:58and he just fitted in like a part of the family.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01It was awful, I was in absolute floods of tears,
0:29:01 > 0:29:04the children were screaming their heads off. It was absolutely awful.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Just to think, I thought I was comforting him to die.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13I was really frightened, I thought I was going to lose my best friend.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Luckily a couple of neighbours up the road
0:29:18 > 0:29:22had actually heard the impact from in their house and heard Geo's yelp
0:29:22 > 0:29:24and they'd come running out and helped me with him
0:29:24 > 0:29:28and they put him in the back of a van and they took me up to the vet's with him.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32I had a lot of thoughts driving from my work to the vet's,
0:29:32 > 0:29:35you know, making sure the kids were all right, not actually
0:29:35 > 0:29:41knowing exactly what had happened, I was like, sort of, panicky and...
0:29:41 > 0:29:44Then when I got there and I saw my three boys,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47they were all right, and my wife.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49And then my attention straightaway turned to Geo
0:29:49 > 0:29:54and saw the condition he was in. He looked really, really bad.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56He couldn't move, he was just laying there.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01You could tell he was in a lot of pain because he was whimpering.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03DOG WHINING
0:30:05 > 0:30:09- He wasn't well at all. - They did some X-rays
0:30:09 > 0:30:12and really looked after him but they said he needed a specialist
0:30:12 > 0:30:15because they thought he'd broken his back.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19The family took the decision to drive Geo 70 miles away
0:30:19 > 0:30:22to see a specialist vet in Newmarket.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26The vet actually did tell us that it was touch and go.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31He did advise us that he couldn't guarantee that Geo would come through it fine
0:30:31 > 0:30:33and it wasn't until we was actually leaving the vet's
0:30:33 > 0:30:35that night because we'd had to leave him there
0:30:35 > 0:30:37and on our way home they actually rang and said, look,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40were we committed to it because it was going to cost a fortune
0:30:40 > 0:30:42and there wasn't any guarantee...
0:30:43 > 0:30:48Geo had fractured his spine, his leg and had damaged his internal organs.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51Didn't think he'd survive at all.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55Even at the vet's that we went to, the second vet's, they said
0:30:55 > 0:30:57that if he was old, an older dog, he wouldn't have survived it.
0:30:59 > 0:31:00The family had pet insurance,
0:31:00 > 0:31:04but that was only going to cover a fraction of the bills.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08There was no way we was going to let him down, it was...
0:31:08 > 0:31:11It was a given that we would do anything we could for him
0:31:11 > 0:31:14so there wasn't a question in my mind that I wouldn't have helped him.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Geo went through two and a half weeks of care at the vet's
0:31:17 > 0:31:20and then had weekly hydrotherapy sessions.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25He was over the worst, but there was no knowing
0:31:25 > 0:31:29if he would ever make a full recovery from his injuries.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35We can't actually walk Geo down the road any more,
0:31:35 > 0:31:38we have to take him in the car to the field we used to take him to
0:31:38 > 0:31:41because he just absolutely freaks out at the road.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Any road now, Geo is just...
0:31:43 > 0:31:48He absolutely goes mad, tries to get away and cowers and barks.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50He just doesn't like them at all.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53What he's been through, you can't really blame him, bless him.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00The family's determination to save Geo came at a cost.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03To start with, the original vet bill was 17,000.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06After he had a lot of publicity,
0:32:06 > 0:32:09they've agreed to put it down to 8,500.
0:32:10 > 0:32:16We had 3,000 insurance and the rest we're paying in instalments,
0:32:16 > 0:32:18still, to this day.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22Yeah, he's worth every penny.
0:32:22 > 0:32:27He's our family, that's it. Geo's just...he's amazing.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Geo's since been given two awards for bravery.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38Oh, we're very proud of Geo, yeah. He's just brilliant.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42Everyone's always commenting on him, they recognise him everywhere.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46To actually put himself in harm's way to actually save his owner,
0:32:46 > 0:32:48I would never have thought,
0:32:48 > 0:32:50not in a million years that he would have done that.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55He has a bond with all of them the same but since the accident,
0:32:55 > 0:32:57he is very protective of Charlie.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59He is with all the children and me
0:32:59 > 0:33:03but he's got a special little soft spot for Charlie, I think, yes.
0:33:10 > 0:33:15Geo is the best dog I've ever had and he's the best in the world.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20I'm very thankful for what he did to me, he saved my life.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26I think he's our hero. The kids call him, Geo the Hero.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30He's everything, I can't believe what he done, it was so selfless.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43Back in Salford, dog control officers Will Harris and Erica Eaton
0:33:43 > 0:33:46have had a husky in the kennels for two days now.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51He lived at a scrap-yard but had been found roaming on his own
0:33:51 > 0:33:55not once, but four times over the last two weeks.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58- Buddy!- And was in danger of getting seriously injured.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00I'd hate for something to happen to him
0:34:00 > 0:34:02because the roads are so busy round here.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06I don't know if he's actually got any road sense.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16Because they're responsible for the welfare of all animals in their borough,
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Will and Erica now have real concerns about handing over the dog again.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24And Erica has started to get attached.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27He's my best friend now, aren't you, Blue? Eh?
0:34:27 > 0:34:30We've bonded, haven't we, mate?
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Yes. He smiles at me when I come over in the morning.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37When I shout, "Where's me boy?"
0:34:37 > 0:34:38Don't you, eh?
0:34:40 > 0:34:42As you can see, he's really aggressive.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44SHE GIGGLES
0:34:45 > 0:34:48Aren't you? Oh. Oh, Blue.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52He's absolutely gorgeous.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55Such a shame.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59We have actually had him now for two days.
0:34:59 > 0:35:04His owner hasn't been in touch so we've contacted him.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08We've spoken to him and he's agreed to sign the husky over to us.
0:35:09 > 0:35:14Erica has made best efforts to ensure the owner is who he says he is.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16If he turns up to sign the dog over,
0:35:16 > 0:35:18he will no longer have any legal right to him.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21The council will have sole responsibility.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24How can you not love that face?
0:35:24 > 0:35:28Some of them just get to you more than others and I think it's the fact
0:35:28 > 0:35:32that he was living in a scrap-yard and he had no kind of life.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35He was just left in the yard. I mean, don't get me wrong,
0:35:35 > 0:35:39his owners probably loved him in their own way.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43But they couldn't give him the attention that he needs.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47Yes. All right, I'll hold your paw.
0:35:47 > 0:35:48Come here.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51As suspected, the owner doesn't make an appearance.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54He's sent a family member to sign the dog over for him.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59Hiya, erm, sorry about that. Which one of you's signing for him? Right.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02All this is, is just to say,
0:36:02 > 0:36:05that's the reason why he's being given a rescue space is
0:36:05 > 0:36:08because he keeps escaping, he lives in the yard,
0:36:08 > 0:36:10it's not great living conditions for the dog.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14This just says that yourself relinquish any rights to the dog
0:36:14 > 0:36:17and hand over responsibility to Salford City Council which is us.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23- That's great, that's it, all sorted. All right then.- Thank you very much.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25- No problem.- Thank you.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28- Have a good day.- You too. - Thank you, see you.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32- Thank you.- Thanks. See ya. - See ya, bye.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Even though the dog now belongs to the council, they can't keep him.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42By law, they're only required to house a dog for seven days
0:36:42 > 0:36:44and they don't have the facilities to do more.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Where's my kiss? Thank you.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51I know what you want, don't you? Come on.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53Blue... Oi! Come here.
0:36:57 > 0:36:58Not want it now?
0:37:06 > 0:37:08Not many dogs you could do that with.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17Normal practise would be to take the dog to a rescue centre
0:37:17 > 0:37:19and hope that it gets re-homed.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22But in this case, Erica has personally arranged for him
0:37:22 > 0:37:25to go straight to a temporary foster home.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30- Erica.- Hi, Erica.- This is my partner-in-crime, Will.- Hi, Will.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32- Pleased to meet you.- Pleased to meet you.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35- Do you want to come over and see him?- Yes, please.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37- I'd like to see him once he's had a bath.- How long has he been with you?
0:37:37 > 0:37:41Er, on and off now for two weeks.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44This time he's been with us since Tuesday.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49Erm... So we've got to know him a little bit and what he likes and stuff, yeah.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51He's lovely.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55Erica has found a charity what specifically rescues huskies,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58placing them in foster homes before finding them permanent ones.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Where's me boy?
0:38:01 > 0:38:06- Hello, sweetie.- My boy.- Hello.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08- Oh, you're gorgeous. - Isn't he lovely?
0:38:10 > 0:38:14Hello, darling. Oh, you're beautiful.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Really beautiful.
0:38:17 > 0:38:22Are you going, boy? Are you going? Yeah, I know, all right...
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Oh, giving you kisses.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28- You all right? We'll keep you updated, I promise.- Erica.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31SHE LAUGHS
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Come on, we're going now. Can I have a kiss? Kiss?
0:38:35 > 0:38:36Good boy. Good lad.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45Yeah, it is really hard not to get involved with the dogs
0:38:45 > 0:38:49and nine times out of ten, I do. I cry quite often.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51Not because there's something wrong with the dog
0:38:51 > 0:38:53or it's not a happy ending.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56If an owner comes to claim the dog, and they get upset,
0:38:56 > 0:38:58I get upset with them.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01It's just part and parcel of the job and, to be honest,
0:39:01 > 0:39:04I wouldn't change it.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06It shows that we care.
0:39:06 > 0:39:07Hey? Blue?
0:39:09 > 0:39:10I need that, mate.
0:39:14 > 0:39:15You all right?
0:39:17 > 0:39:19SHE LAUGHS
0:39:26 > 0:39:29I know I can speak on Erica's behalf.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31I know she's going to bawl her eyes out
0:39:31 > 0:39:34but Erica, I know, is absolutely delighted.
0:39:34 > 0:39:35Just nod your head.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Yeah. We're so pleased. Erm...
0:39:39 > 0:39:43We've made a dog very, very happy even though he can't tell us,
0:39:43 > 0:39:44we've made him happy.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46And that's the beauty of this job.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Come on, there's one more waiting for us round the corner.
0:39:55 > 0:39:56Let's go.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03Here we are, Blue. Here we are.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07- A new mum and dad.- The husky's new home is with a couple in Sheffield.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Let's go meet them. Good boy.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15- Hello.- This is Blue.- Hello.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17- Is he all right to come in? - Yeah, he's all right to come in,
0:40:17 > 0:40:19really just into the room.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Here, Blue, this way. Come on, Blue.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25Where are you, eh?
0:40:26 > 0:40:29- Come here. He's very, very mucky.- Is he?- Blue?
0:40:33 > 0:40:36He's been living in a scrap-yard so he's pretty dirty
0:40:36 > 0:40:37and he needs a good brush.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Living in a house instead of a scrap-yard
0:40:42 > 0:40:43will take some getting used to.
0:40:45 > 0:40:46Hey?
0:40:49 > 0:40:52We don't even know if he's been in a house before, do we?
0:40:52 > 0:40:56Might never have been in a house, if he been kept at a scrap-yard.
0:40:56 > 0:40:57Come on.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02Well, Rob's one of our fosters
0:41:02 > 0:41:05and all dogs that we have no history on
0:41:05 > 0:41:09that have come from dog wardens or pounds have to be assessed,
0:41:09 > 0:41:12obviously for safety reasons we wouldn't out them in a family home
0:41:12 > 0:41:18with children in case they bite or they show any signs of aggression.
0:41:18 > 0:41:19So Rob and his wife, Carly,
0:41:19 > 0:41:23will spend the next four weeks putting him in different situations,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26gradually introducing him to children,
0:41:26 > 0:41:29getting used to being on a lead and then when they're satisfied that
0:41:29 > 0:41:33he's safe to be re-homed, we then look for a "forever" home for him.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38But I'm sure, he's so beautiful, people will be fighting over him.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40He'll have no problems getting homed. He's gorgeous.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Come on. Good boy.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47The dog will be sharing his foster home with another husky,
0:41:47 > 0:41:51a female, so it's important to find out if they're going to get on.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56Lots of wagging tails, that's a good sign.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59Hello.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01- SNARLING - Hey, hey...
0:42:01 > 0:42:03Play nicely.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- Come on.- The two dogs are curious of each other.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12But it doesn't take long for them to settle down.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18They'll get on together like a house on fire, I think.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29Erica and Will have been back to visit Missy,
0:42:29 > 0:42:32the underweight exempt pit-bull.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Although she's not yet at her ideal weight,
0:42:34 > 0:42:36they're happy that she's much healthier
0:42:36 > 0:42:38and will continue to keep an eye on her.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42The dog kept at the scrap-yard has also been revisited
0:42:42 > 0:42:45and they're now happy that it's being looked after properly.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50And Blue the husky has now been renamed Bear.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54He's formed a close bond with Rio, the female husky at his foster home
0:42:54 > 0:42:57and his carers are now hoping to adopt him permanently.