0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Good boy. - Nearly half of Britain owns a pet.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06It's all right, mate.
0:00:06 > 0:00:07KNOCKING
0:00:07 > 0:00:09It's the Council and 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 > 0:00:17and you've had it for a fair few years and not two weeks.
0:00:17 > 0:00:18When things go wrong
0:00:18 > 0:00:21animal wardens are there to protect our pets...
0:00:23 > 0:00:25..and keep their owners in check.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26I'm not having my dog taken of me, mate.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29I love you too. WHISPERS: Yes, I do.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32But for some of us, our animals are more than just pets.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I wouldn't know what to do without him.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37They can change and even save lives.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39I owe my life to these horses.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41This is Animal Saints And Sinners.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42DOG BARKS
0:00:47 > 0:00:48Coming up,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51animal welfare require the strong arm of the law
0:00:51 > 0:00:53when they need to get to animals in a council flat.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Open the door. We have a warrant, we're going to force entry.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Hey, brindle dog. Hey.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04A stray dog in Afghanistan touches the heart of a British soldier...
0:01:05 > 0:01:09The idea of leaving him behind was almost too painful,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11you know, an option to conceive of.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13You're a good boy.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18..and a man who runs a rescue centre for dangerous wild animals.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23This is a 4.5ft caiman that was being kept in a 4ft vivarium in,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25believe it or not, a 15-year-old boy's bedroom.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31BARKING
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Like all other local authorities across the UK,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38the East London Borough of Newham
0:01:38 > 0:01:41has rules about keeping animals in council properties.
0:01:44 > 0:01:45BARKING
0:01:45 > 0:01:48It's the job of animal welfare manager Tina Delaney
0:01:48 > 0:01:52to confront the council tenants who allow their animals to be noisy,
0:01:52 > 0:01:55aggressive or roam unsupervised.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58You're not the only two people that live in that block.
0:01:58 > 0:01:59This can not ever happen again,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03or you allow your dogs to run freely on the communal area
0:02:03 > 0:02:06then the London Borough Of Newham will take legal action against you.
0:02:06 > 0:02:07DOG BARKS
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Today, Tina is taking action against two people living in a council flat
0:02:15 > 0:02:17who've ignored a warning about their pets.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21So, we're going to a premises where it's alleged
0:02:21 > 0:02:23that the dogs have been killing cats.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28In addition to that, the two dogs are very aggressive.
0:02:28 > 0:02:29We've gone round to assess them
0:02:29 > 0:02:32and one of them did actually try to attack us.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36One of them has also bitten the caretaker in the communal area
0:02:36 > 0:02:38and there's a petition up from the residents
0:02:38 > 0:02:41regarding the dogs' aggressive behaviour,
0:02:41 > 0:02:42and people have been intimidated by them.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The owners have ignored a warning to remove the dogs
0:02:47 > 0:02:50and a warrant has been issued for Tina to take them.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53The police will be on hand to deal with any difficult situations
0:02:53 > 0:02:54that may flare up with the owners.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57There's two dogs on the premises
0:02:57 > 0:02:59and we know one of the dogs is very aggressive,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01so what we'd like to be able to do is to have a clear
0:03:01 > 0:03:03in-and-out of the premises.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06If we ask you to move, do not hesitate, just move out the way.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09We want to target the most aggressive dog on the premises first
0:03:09 > 0:03:11to be able to move it from the property.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13If we give the time for the owners to become aggressive as well,
0:03:13 > 0:03:15it's likely to really kick off,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17so we want to move the most aggressive dog
0:03:17 > 0:03:18as quickly as possible.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22There's always a motive if you're taking away an animal
0:03:22 > 0:03:24that they perceive as part of their family.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27So, it is difficult, but at the same time,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30if a dog is behaving in an aggressive manner and has bitten somebody,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34then that isn't tolerated and the dog can't remain on the premises.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Tina has met the dogs before and isn't taking any chances.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41Just cos we're going into the property and we know that the dogs...
0:03:41 > 0:03:42one of the dogs does bite,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45we're just putting some arm protectors on
0:03:45 > 0:03:46just to make sure that, you know,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49if it does manage to kind of get hold of one of us,
0:03:49 > 0:03:50that we limit those injuries.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55There's also an African grey parrot in the property,
0:03:55 > 0:03:57and Tina has given the owners a notice
0:03:57 > 0:04:00to improve its living conditions and have it seen by a vet.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03If the owner hasn't carried out what Tina has asked for,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05the parrot will also be seized.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11From the council. Can you open the door, please?
0:04:11 > 0:04:12BARKING
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Dog's right there.
0:04:21 > 0:04:22BARKING
0:04:22 > 0:04:25It's the council and the police. Can you open the door, please?
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Can you open the door?
0:04:30 > 0:04:33We have a warrant, we're going to force entry. Open the door!
0:04:35 > 0:04:37With no response from the tenants,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41a decision is made to use force to get to the animals inside.
0:04:41 > 0:04:42- Are you ready?- Yep.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Hello, is there anyone in there?
0:04:50 > 0:04:52- Hello, it's the police. - Just hold on. Hold on.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Just give me a lead. Give me a lead.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56One's coming out and he's fine.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57It's in between my legs.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59TWEETING
0:05:00 > 0:05:01OK.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- Hello.- Right, second one's not very happy.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- He's going to come out. Grasp him, go straight in there.- OK.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Right. OK. Let's go for it.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16Hello. You're a good boy.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It's all right. It's all right. Easy, easy. It's all right.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Good lad.
0:05:21 > 0:05:22There you go. It's all right.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Good boy. Ready?
0:05:25 > 0:05:27It's all right. Come on.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29It's all right. Come on.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Come on.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Come on. TWEETING
0:05:33 > 0:05:34WHISPERS: It's just coming out.
0:05:41 > 0:05:42Good lad.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49It's all under control.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Both dogs are contained in the cages.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59The two male mastiff crosses are surprisingly easy to handle.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Hello. Oh.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05The parrot is being kept in a dark hallway,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07and Tina believes little improvement
0:06:07 > 0:06:09has been made to its living conditions.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11She makes the decision to take it away.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17We can't prove at this point that the parrot hasn't seen a vet.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20If it has, it can go back. Um, but still,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22they've done some things to do with the improvement notice
0:06:22 > 0:06:25but not everything. The parrot is in bad condition.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27It's pulled its tail feathers out, a lot of body feathers and stuff.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29The dogs have been removed from the premises.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32They haven't removed them and they should have done,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34and in addition to that, they were quite easy to get out
0:06:34 > 0:06:36and it run quite smoothly, so I'm quite pleased with that.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39We'll find out later what happens to all three pets.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Next, a stray dog brings feelings of home
0:06:52 > 0:06:54to a soldier on the front line.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57It was inconceivable,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59every bit as difficult as leaving one of the soldiers behind.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01It just wouldn't have happened.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07The British military have been present in Afghanistan since 2001.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09But what is less well-known is that many animals
0:07:09 > 0:07:12have been befriended over there by British soldiers.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Dog lover Captain Mark Townend
0:07:24 > 0:07:26was sent out to Afghanistan in March 2010.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32It's certainly the most dangerous deployment that I've done.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34We would have fairly regular interaction with the Taliban,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36that's a nice way of saying,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38more or less on a day-to-day basis.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39I'd been to Iraq before
0:07:39 > 0:07:41when I've also had a previous tour of Afghanistan.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44This was certainly the most dangerous one that I've carried out so far.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Mark had the toughest of jobs ahead of him -
0:07:50 > 0:07:53to command seven men on a six-month tour of duty.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59But there was one thing he wasn't expecting to find when he got there.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02We'd been on...in the base by about three months at this stage
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and we got requests to
0:08:05 > 0:08:07come and have a look at this dog
0:08:07 > 0:08:09that had been brought in by Afghan nationals.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13They believed that they'd rescued one of our search dogs.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16He was a lovely-looking dog.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17We gave him a check over.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21We wanted to see how his health was and what state he was in.
0:08:21 > 0:08:22He clearly had been...you know,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26he had a bad time before he turned up with us and he was very emaciated.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28He was very flea ridden.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30He was very tick infested,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32so there was a lot of care that he needed.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Stray dogs are common in areas of conflict.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Over two months, this one, which they called Brin
0:08:38 > 0:08:40because of his brindle colour,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42became a crucial part of Mark's unit.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47He was a regular feature of life in the patrol base at that stage.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50We'd made a little compound for him away from this other main area.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53He'd come for walks every morning, we'd give him his breakfast
0:08:53 > 0:08:55and I'd put him outside my accommodation in the daytime.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57He'd sit there and lie in the shade
0:08:57 > 0:08:59and do what most Afghan dogs do and sleep.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03But you don't start walking a dog and taking him out for walks
0:09:03 > 0:09:06in the morning and feeding him without finding that you're building a bond to it.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11It's kind of hard to describe what...the environment you're in
0:09:11 > 0:09:13when you're in Afghanistan.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15When you're deployed in operations in general.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18You are away from home, you're away from your normal routine, um,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and...and that can feel quite foreign at times.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Often, with limited time to call their loved ones,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26soldiers on a six-month tour like this
0:09:26 > 0:09:28can feel they're a long way from home.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31I'm a dog owner back in the UK,
0:09:31 > 0:09:33so taking Brin for a walk and, you know,
0:09:33 > 0:09:35and going through that dog care routine
0:09:35 > 0:09:37was in some way, shape or form a little bit of home.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42I'm sure the lads probably wondered why the boss was having a dog
0:09:42 > 0:09:44and taking so much of an interest in him
0:09:44 > 0:09:47but they were very happy to help out.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49He was equally affectionate to all of us as well, you know,
0:09:49 > 0:09:51he obviously felt that he'd found a family.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57Mark completed his tour of duty and Brin hardly left his side.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00But when it was time to go home, Mark faced a difficult decision.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07The idea of leaving him behind was almost too painful an option
0:10:07 > 0:10:10to conceive of, so I had to make sure,
0:10:10 > 0:10:11in the same way that I was making sure that
0:10:11 > 0:10:13the rest of my team were getting home to the UK,
0:10:13 > 0:10:15I wanted to make sure that Brin was...
0:10:15 > 0:10:17you know, in the same way taken care of.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Um, so, it almost was inconceivable
0:10:20 > 0:10:22that I had to leave one of the team behind when we left.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24You know, he was part of the group.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28With the prospect of his loyal friend Brin
0:10:28 > 0:10:30being destroyed when the troop left,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Mark sent word to family and friends back home
0:10:33 > 0:10:36to see if they could help get Brin out of Afghanistan.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42I must admit that it did seem like a fairly impossible thing to achieve.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I wasn't sure, in any way, shape or form, how to go about doing it.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48But Mark had no idea of the commitment of one person
0:10:48 > 0:10:50who was touched by Brin's story.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54I first read about the story on the internet.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56It was a newspaper online.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58And of course, at the top of that article
0:10:58 > 0:11:02it had the iconic photograph, which...
0:11:02 > 0:11:04..really, you know, set it all off,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07this relationship between Brin and Mark.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10It was something completely out of the ordinary.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19I think it was also that the hopelessness of the situation,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22the fact that they're not there to save dogs
0:11:22 > 0:11:25but obviously there was a real friendship there.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27It was a young man, a long way from home,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29and I just wanted to help him save his dog.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35But getting Brin out of the country was not going to be easy...
0:11:35 > 0:11:37as Royal Marine Pen Farthing knows.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43He'd also befriended a dog during his tour of Afghanistan in 2006
0:11:43 > 0:11:45and couldn't bear the idea of leaving him behind.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48He actually became sort of my best buddy
0:11:48 > 0:11:51and my five minutes of peace and quiet
0:11:51 > 0:11:54and just trying to pretend I wasn't in Afghanistan.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58After a long and expensive process,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Pen managed to fly the dog, which he called Nowzad,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04back to the UK to live with him and his other dogs.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07So, when I came back from Afghanistan,
0:12:07 > 0:12:08I wanted to do something more
0:12:08 > 0:12:11because you leave Afghanistan and then that's it.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14You're expected to just get on with the rest of your life.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16And so, for me, I thought, well, hang on,
0:12:16 > 0:12:17I can try and do something here
0:12:17 > 0:12:20because I can help the people and the dogs.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23So, starting the charity was the natural thing to do.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27The aim of the charity was to provide a shelter
0:12:27 > 0:12:30and clinic for the strays in Afghanistan,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33as well as promote neutering to control their numbers,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36and to reunite soldiers with the pets they looked after
0:12:36 > 0:12:38while they were serving in the military.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Sally approached the charity to help get Brin over to the UK
0:12:44 > 0:12:47so that he could be reunited with Mark on his return.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50I was informed about the charity
0:12:50 > 0:12:53and I immediately wrote to Pen Farthing,
0:12:53 > 0:12:54asking him for help.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58The reply came back incredibly fast
0:12:58 > 0:13:01and the wheels were set in motion.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07£4,000 was raised for Brin's vaccinations, flight and quarantine.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09He was now ready to come to the UK.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13It was very sad to see him go.
0:13:13 > 0:13:14And obviously, once he'd left,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17the patrol base did feel that bit emptier without him round the place.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20I didn't have my routine to get up, go and give him breakfast,
0:13:20 > 0:13:21take him for a walk
0:13:21 > 0:13:24but I consoled myself with the idea that he was on his way home,
0:13:24 > 0:13:27he was on the way back and I'd see him when he got back to the UK.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32In September 2010, Brin landed on British soil
0:13:32 > 0:13:34and spent the next six months in quarantine.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40I was met with this incredibly dusty...
0:13:41 > 0:13:43..very skinny...
0:13:43 > 0:13:45but incredibly happy dog.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49It took about three months for Brin to really feel settled
0:13:49 > 0:13:50to come and sit next to me,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52and it was one day I actually fell asleep.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56And I woke up and he was curled up next to me.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00And, um, I think that was the moment when he had realised that,
0:14:00 > 0:14:02actually, I was OK.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11At the same time, it was beginning to occur to Mark
0:14:11 > 0:14:14that he may not be the best person to adopt Brin.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19I did think long and hard about keeping Brin and taking him in.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21There's too many reasons why I didn't.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23The first is that I was still a serving soldier
0:14:23 > 0:14:25at that point in time.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27I was likely to be moving bases every couple of years, you know,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29moving to new jobs and new areas.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30I already have a dog
0:14:30 > 0:14:33and I think it's hard enough on Sam to be bounced from place to place.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35It would seem very unfair, given Brin's history
0:14:35 > 0:14:38and what he's been through, to have to go through that same lifestyle.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40It didn't seem to be the best.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Um, and the second reason is that after having, you know,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45seen the amount of effort and work and...
0:14:47 > 0:14:51..personal investment Sally had put into getting Brin home,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54it seemed wrong to not ask her, at least ask her,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56if she would like to take Brin in full-time.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00When Mark asked us if we would care for Brin,
0:15:00 > 0:15:06deep down we...we as a family were already very attached to Brin.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13The option of giving him to someone else to care for
0:15:13 > 0:15:15just didn't come into the equation.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16We were totally smitten.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Can't believe your luck, can you?
0:15:22 > 0:15:24You can't believe your luck.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27- SHE LAUGHS - It's all gone.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30In March 2011,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Brin went home to live with Sally...
0:15:32 > 0:15:33All gone.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36..and she takes him to see Mark when he's home from his tours.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39KNOCKING
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Who's that?
0:15:42 > 0:15:44I get to see him sort of maybe once, maybe twice a year,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47when I see Sally, and we meet up for various events.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50Hey, brindle dog!
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Hey, Brinny-Brin.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Hey, big guy.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55Hello.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Hey.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58Hey, buddy. What's up?
0:15:58 > 0:16:01I don't think the bond has changed since we left, you know?
0:16:01 > 0:16:04I get the same wag of the tail and the same look from him
0:16:04 > 0:16:05as I got the first day I walked in
0:16:05 > 0:16:07and saw him standing there in the compound.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Hey, you showing me your best side? Can you show me your best side again?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12It's the same look that I used to get
0:16:12 > 0:16:15every time I'd come and see him in the morning.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18And it's... He always remembers, which is brilliant.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22- He's still got the weight but... - But, you know, it's all muscle.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23It's just all muscle.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26- It's good to see you too, Sally, by the way. I'm sorry.- Yeah, hi!
0:16:26 > 0:16:27THEY LAUGH
0:16:27 > 0:16:30- Yeah, I'm just on the other end of the lead, you know?- I know, I know.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37I can't explain what happened to me that summer in 2010.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41I could definitely see there was a real love there
0:16:41 > 0:16:43between the two of them, which remains even today.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46I always say that I care for Brin.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48He'll always belong to Mark.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- We just look after him. - SHE LAUGHS
0:16:51 > 0:16:52Hey, brindle dog.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Come on.
0:16:54 > 0:16:55Good boy.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57He has issues, as every Afghan dog tends to have.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59You know, he's not sure of certain people,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01he's not sure of certain other animals cos
0:17:01 > 0:17:04he's had to get used to being very cautious, but, you know,
0:17:04 > 0:17:08you compare the dog he is now to the dog he was when I first met him...
0:17:08 > 0:17:10and, you know, he's made phenomenal progress.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13He's rehomed really well.
0:17:15 > 0:17:16HE WHISTLES In. Come here.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Mark and Brin's reunion is over for now.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22But he knows his old pal is having a great life with Sally.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26I will always be eternally grateful to her
0:17:26 > 0:17:29because she was able to put the time and the effort and the...you know,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31the attention into what needed to happen to get Brin home
0:17:31 > 0:17:34in a way that I could never have done when I was in Afghan.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39Sally was so taken with the plight of the stray dogs in Afghanistan
0:17:39 > 0:17:42that she now works for the charity that helped rescue Brin.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45You cannot save every dog.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48And our soldiers are not there to save the strays.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51They have very important and vital work to do.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54But I think...
0:17:54 > 0:17:58You know, we have to understand the relationship that does build up.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03When you see a soldier in a photograph holding a tiny kitten,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06or there's a puppy in their back pocket as they're out on patrol...
0:18:07 > 0:18:12..there's a reason why that soldier has stopped to scoop up that animal.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15There is something missing in their life also.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18And yes, I think these animals...
0:18:18 > 0:18:21They should be given a choice of being able to save these animals.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28To date, the charity has helped reunite over 650 soldiers
0:18:28 > 0:18:29from around the world
0:18:29 > 0:18:32with the dogs and cats they've befriended on the front line.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Brin's journey, it's certainly one of the signature points
0:18:36 > 0:18:38from my tour of Afghanistan.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40It's a hell of a thing to see him in the UK.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42I still can't quite get my head around it.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45The impossible nature of what's been achieved
0:18:45 > 0:18:48to get him from a war zone like Afghanistan
0:18:48 > 0:18:49and to the home that he's now at
0:18:49 > 0:18:52and how well he is in Surrey is...
0:18:52 > 0:18:54It's hard to get your head around.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05On the outskirts of Southend-on-Sea in Essex
0:19:05 > 0:19:07is a rescue centre with a difference.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16In the last 10 years, there's been a dramatic increase
0:19:16 > 0:19:19in the desire for exotic pets in the UK.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26In fact, there are believed to be over one million of them
0:19:26 > 0:19:27in our homes.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31But, unfortunately,
0:19:31 > 0:19:35many owners can't cope with the huge demands of an exotic pet.
0:19:37 > 0:19:38There he goes.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41It's a big problem.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42And it's why Iain Newby
0:19:42 > 0:19:46has been rescuing and rehoming exotic and dangerous wild animals
0:19:46 > 0:19:49that are unwanted, neglected or even abandoned.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55We're licensed here to keep up to 25 dangerous wild animals.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58And at the moment we've got things like bearded dragons,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00corn snakes, king snakes,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02reticulated python,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05we've got Burmese pythons, boa constrictors,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07caiman crocodiles, terrapins, turtles,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10box turtles, tortoises, stick insects,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12giant African land snails,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14um, and a partridge in a pear tree.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16I mean, where do we go from here?
0:20:17 > 0:20:19You're a good boy, yes.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22You're not going on my hat, no. No, you're not.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25If you ask me, would I get on with animals better than people?
0:20:25 > 0:20:26The answer is yes.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28And there's one good reason.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30If a person doesn't like you
0:20:30 > 0:20:31they can say to your face what they want.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33They can say they love you, they like you
0:20:33 > 0:20:35but they're two-faced.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36An animal, if it says yes, it means it.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37If it says no, it means it.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40If it says, "I'm going to kill you," it means it. It wants to kill you.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43That's it. Who's a good lad?
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- Shall we move it to the side?- Yeah. There we go.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Scratch-free, for the first time.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Many exotic pets can be bought and sold without a licence
0:20:56 > 0:20:58but some dangerous species require them.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01This is a 4.5ft caiman
0:21:01 > 0:21:04that was being kept in a 4ft vivarium
0:21:04 > 0:21:07in, believe it or not, a 15-year-old boy's bedroom.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10The only illegal thing about it
0:21:10 > 0:21:12is keeping it without a dangerous animal's licence.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14And I know licences are expensive,
0:21:14 > 0:21:16and a lot of people argue the fact, you know,
0:21:16 > 0:21:17"I could give it a very good home.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19"I could look after it.
0:21:19 > 0:21:20"I just can't afford the licence."
0:21:20 > 0:21:22But the licence is there for a reason.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24It's there to protect the public
0:21:24 > 0:21:26and it's also there to protect the animals.
0:21:26 > 0:21:27And that's why it has to be done.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35Today, Iain's had a call about an aggressive male iguana
0:21:35 > 0:21:38that its owner can't cope with any longer.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Iguana can grow into quite a large lizard
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and they can be aggressive occasionally.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Sexual maturity, obviously, is one of the main reasons for a male
0:21:49 > 0:21:50to start becoming aggressive.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Another thing is,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57a male iguana can also pick up on a woman's menstrual cycle,
0:21:57 > 0:22:01and that can make them aggressive as well.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06I'd rather actually handle a 4ft crocodile.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Reason being, once you've caught the crocodile, you've caught it.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10That's it.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15With an iguana, it will use its tail and whip you.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19On the other end is obviously the head, the mouth.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21And the mouth is full of serrated teeth.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24And when an iguana bites,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26the damage it can do is major.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29It can give you a really nasty bite.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- Terry here?- Yeah.- Iain.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37- Nice to meet you. - Pleased to meet you.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Brilliant. Cheers.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- Nice size viv there, Terry. - Yeah, thank you.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47His name is Spike. He's two years old.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50I've had him since he was probably four or five inches long.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54He's turned a bit funny on me now.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57He did go for me a few weeks ago.
0:22:57 > 0:22:58I've got a scar on my nose.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00But I also have small children,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03so I can't risk him biting the children,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06and that's the reason why I called Iain.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07All right. All right.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10All right. All right. No. No, no, no.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12- I think it's a female. - Oh, right.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14That's a guess. It's just a guess, looking at it.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18That is a definite female there.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21I was under the impression that he was a male, obviously,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24hence the name Spike.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26She is very stressed at the moment.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30The way to actually calm these down is actually get them, hold them,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34and actually just spend some time.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36But her condition, it's fantastic, isn't it?
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Look, every spine there, and the weight is gorgeous as well.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- Yeah, she's well looked after. - You must be quite sad to see her go.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46I am very sad to see her go, yeah, to be fair. Um...
0:23:46 > 0:23:48I've always wanted an iguana.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52I done a lot of reading up on iguanas before and, no,
0:23:52 > 0:23:53I am really wounded.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56But that's one of the sole reasons why I wanted you to take her
0:23:56 > 0:23:58because she's going to need looking after properly.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01So if you slide the lid as if it's on. That side.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03That's it, all right.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Then, we'll just carefully, without any stress, close her in.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09That's it.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Yeah, I'm quite upset, to be honest.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18An iguana was something I always wanted
0:24:18 > 0:24:21and obviously I got one,
0:24:21 > 0:24:25but I can't risk her biting my kids, you know?
0:24:25 > 0:24:27I know it sounds like a cliche,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30but she scarred me and I can't risk...
0:24:30 > 0:24:31And you see how feisty that she was.
0:24:32 > 0:24:37It's just not fair on her or the family, really. So...
0:24:37 > 0:24:38Yeah, sad to see her go.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Spike is brought back to the rescue centre
0:24:50 > 0:24:54where she'll live until Iain can find the right owner for her.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58She's obviously... She will be a bit nervous.
0:24:58 > 0:25:04I'm just going to carefully put her in here in the new viv
0:25:04 > 0:25:07and let her have a little walk around and see what she thinks.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09In you go, girl.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15The good thing is she isn't racing around in there like a lunatic.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18It's a shame that she had to leave the last home
0:25:18 > 0:25:21because she was obviously well cared for.
0:25:21 > 0:25:26Um... Yeah, she's gotten a little bit temperamental recently,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28but these things can be overcome.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32I think Terry's done the right thing. He's thinking of the family
0:25:32 > 0:25:36and the lizard. So, but, uh...
0:25:36 > 0:25:39I'm very confident we'll find her a very good home.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46While Spike has been well looked after,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48this three-year-old bearded dragon
0:25:48 > 0:25:50hasn't had such a good start in life.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56This little guy has been here for quite some time now.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00He's actually quite a curious little fella. His story...
0:26:00 > 0:26:02He came in with a group of bearded dragons.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07It was about 12 of them came in the same time.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09They were going to be destroyed
0:26:09 > 0:26:12because they were no good for the pet trade.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14The trouble is, there're still lots of people
0:26:14 > 0:26:16actually breeding these guys.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19There's no need to. There are so many in rescue centres.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24But when people breed them, these guys will have 20, 30, 40 eggs.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Then you got 20, 30, 40 baby bearded dragons.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30They keep them in a viv together and they do take a lot of feeding.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34If you don't feed them properly and enough, give them enough height,
0:26:34 > 0:26:38they then pick on each other and bite bits of tail, bits of feet off.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42So, you can see this guy, he's missing his back leg.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44He's got a little stump there.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45It's totally healed.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47He's fine, he gets around perfectly,
0:26:47 > 0:26:52but we get so many with amputees come in and it's ridiculous.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54It's just a husbandry.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56And no need to do it. In you go, fella.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- Right, do you want to meet him? - Sure do.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Hello, fella. There you go.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10It's OK. It's OK, don't be grumpy. Want to hold him?
0:27:10 > 0:27:14This eight-year-old Red Tegu lizard is being re-homed to a new owner
0:27:14 > 0:27:16who understands the kind of environment
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and attention he will need.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21I'd just watch him for the first week.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- I don't know how much handling he's had.- Yeah.- You know?
0:27:24 > 0:27:26The Red Tegu, which originates in South America,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28can live up to 20 years
0:27:28 > 0:27:32and needs a vivarium that's about half the size of a small bedroom.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37There are a lot of animals now available in the pet trade.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40A lot of them I personally don't think should've ever been
0:27:40 > 0:27:42on the pet trade, but they are. They're there.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46I can understand the fascination with snakes and reptiles,
0:27:46 > 0:27:48and yeah, I love them all,
0:27:48 > 0:27:53but I personally wouldn't own a Burmese python as a pet.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55The only animal, only exotic animal,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58that I've ever decided to keep as a pet,
0:27:58 > 0:28:02and it's taken me 22 years to take one on,
0:28:02 > 0:28:06is the little Salvator water monitor up the end there.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Because at the end of the day I know he's going to grow to eight feet.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13I know he's going to be a considerable size
0:28:13 > 0:28:15when he's an adult.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17But I know I've also got the accommodation
0:28:17 > 0:28:19to be able to look after him properly.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22You know, we've got to look at the animal and think about them.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30Now, an abandoned farm animal
0:28:30 > 0:28:32that helps in the emergency rescue of others.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37I think the fire brigade see Dominic as an important part
0:28:37 > 0:28:38of their training team.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Yes, I'm surprised they haven't promoted him yet.
0:28:49 > 0:28:50Two years ago,
0:28:50 > 0:28:52a horse charity in Bristol were contacted by a local authority
0:28:52 > 0:28:55in South Wales to rescue some animals
0:28:55 > 0:28:58that had been abandoned in a field.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01It was hammering with rain, terrible day.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03We trudged through the mud and in fact came across
0:29:03 > 0:29:08this rather delightful animal who was completely compliant.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11This cooperative animal was a young pig who they called Dominic,
0:29:11 > 0:29:14and his character shone through from start.
0:29:15 > 0:29:21What's this? What have we got here? What have we got here? What's this?
0:29:21 > 0:29:24What d'you want? Pigs can be tricky sometimes.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26If they're not certain about people
0:29:26 > 0:29:29and if they haven't got much experience or been handled,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32they can be fast and very clever at avoiding capture.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34This wasn't the case with Dominic.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37Dominic was brought back to the rescue centre
0:29:37 > 0:29:40and settled in immediately.
0:29:40 > 0:29:41Good lad.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45I consider myself Dominic's best friend,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48but he falls into easy friendship with anybody roundabout,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50be that human or any other species.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53He seems to have an affinity for other individuals.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58If he was a human,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01he'd be the kind of bloke you'd meet down at the rugby club
0:30:01 > 0:30:04probably knocking back the odd pint and being friendly with everybody.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Dominic's easy-going nature soon carved out
0:30:09 > 0:30:11an important role for him at the centre.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18Avon Fire and Rescue Service come here to train their firefighters
0:30:18 > 0:30:20in the rescue of large animals.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26It took us quite a while to find a pig that we could use for training.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28They're very strong animals.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31The male pigs will have tusks which can be dangerous.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33They can cut your leg if you don't realise that.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36And also, they've got teeth and they can bite.
0:30:36 > 0:30:37Well done, Dominic.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Because Dominic was a friendly pig,
0:30:41 > 0:30:44he obviously made it safer for us to use him.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48Unlike firefighters in more urban areas,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51the Avon Fire and Rescue team need extra training
0:30:51 > 0:30:54for more unusual emergency cases.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56It's the duty of firefighters to respond to calls
0:30:56 > 0:30:59when farm animals become stuck or trapped.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02They need to be able to deal with the situation safely,
0:31:02 > 0:31:05so training with real-life animals is key.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Slow him down. Slow him down.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Dominic likes to perform to the crowd.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18If he's in the middle of attention
0:31:18 > 0:31:20and he's got the opportunity to gain attention
0:31:20 > 0:31:22by perhaps being a little bit wicked, a little bit naughty,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24then that's what he will do.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27And he will run them around and challenge them and test them.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Don't go so close.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31We've been using Dominic the pig to help us
0:31:31 > 0:31:35with our animal behaviour training for approximately two years now.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42And along the line, he then got the name of Fireman Ham.
0:31:44 > 0:31:45It should be remembered
0:31:45 > 0:31:48that there's a very serious component to all of this.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50He is there for a genuine purpose.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54They expand their skill level greatly because of him.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58That wouldn't be possible without hands-on activities with a pig,
0:31:58 > 0:32:02and Dominic happens to fit that just perfectly.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04Same again. We've done really well, just going to do it one more time.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Nice distance. Stay close enough but not too close.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09If he starts to run away, back off a little bit.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Nice and gentle. Nice and gentle.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19That's better. Nice and gentle.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24We are trying to train with most farm-type animals
0:32:24 > 0:32:27because of incidents that we're attending.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29We go to incidents where there's fire on farms,
0:32:29 > 0:32:33whether it's a barn or a house, and there may be animals
0:32:33 > 0:32:35that are they or nearby and they need to be moved.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39If we're lucky, there may be a farmer there that's able to help us,
0:32:39 > 0:32:41but quite often they're not.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43So in the past, we might've just opened up a gate
0:32:43 > 0:32:47and hoped the cows have gone from one field to another,
0:32:47 > 0:32:49whereas now we actually know how to herd them.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55Both runs were good, but the first run, the pig went a little bit quick,
0:32:55 > 0:32:58and that's because we encroached on his space.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01If you encroach on an animal's space, it'll normally tend to go away,
0:33:01 > 0:33:05so we did it a second time whereas we had a bigger space,
0:33:05 > 0:33:08and as you can see the pig then went round
0:33:08 > 0:33:10at a much slower pace which suited us
0:33:10 > 0:33:12and we was able to get him in better.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Out of all of the animals we use,
0:33:16 > 0:33:18we've only ever used Dominic the pig.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20We use different cows, we've used different horses,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23and it's always good because you're never 100% sure
0:33:23 > 0:33:25that he's going to play along.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27So he does still keep us on our toes.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31There we go, Dominic. Well worked.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Come on, Dominic. Well worked.
0:33:35 > 0:33:36Good boy.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40Dominic has proved to be a lucky pig, really.
0:33:40 > 0:33:41A bit of kismet involved.
0:33:41 > 0:33:46He was kind of in dire straits in his early life, but here he is.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48He's progressed on through.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51He's proven himself to be a youthful and fulfilled character
0:33:51 > 0:33:53and will continue in that vein, I'm sure.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58I'm now coming up to 35 years within the fire service
0:33:58 > 0:34:00and if you'd have asked me when I first started
0:34:00 > 0:34:03that one day part of my training within the fire service
0:34:03 > 0:34:07would be moving a pig from A to B, I would have laughed at you.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12But now, he does become a bit of a member of us.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Earlier, we saw two dogs being taken from a council flat
0:34:20 > 0:34:22in the Borough of Newham.
0:34:24 > 0:34:25Tina had decided to seize the dogs
0:34:25 > 0:34:27because they were dangerously out of control
0:34:27 > 0:34:30in the communal areas and had bitten a council worker.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35From the Council. Can you open the door, please?
0:34:35 > 0:34:38At the time, the dogs' owners weren't in,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41but as Tina had a warrant, force was used to get inside.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47The two dogs are now being looked after at the Council kennels.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51The dogs have been very aggressive.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53Rear up on their back legs, show a full set of teeth
0:34:53 > 0:34:55and try to attack.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57They've not done that with us.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02Often if you remove the owner from the dog, the dog does calm down.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04Dogs will often behave in an aggressive way because
0:35:04 > 0:35:07that's what their owners teach them to do when they're with him.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10We may take legal action against them
0:35:10 > 0:35:14for the dogs intimidating people in a public place and biting somebody.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16At the moment that's still all part of an ongoing investigation.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Tina also took away an African grey parrot from the property
0:35:25 > 0:35:28as the owners had failed to improve its living conditions.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32Hello.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34Hello.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36We haven't had any contact from the owner yet,
0:35:36 > 0:35:38so we don't know if he's seen the vet.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40When we gave him the improvement notice we did tell him
0:35:40 > 0:35:48that parrots need light and they need a kind of good quality of life.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50Again, he was in total darkness.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52You know, it's near enough midday
0:35:52 > 0:35:56and he should be in a room that's quite well lit that...
0:35:56 > 0:35:58And he has some interaction in.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01You know, we spoken to them about the cage being barren,
0:36:01 > 0:36:03so they've put some bits and pieces in it now.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06However, if you look at the back of him, you can see he's nice...
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Where he should have nice red tail feathers,
0:36:09 > 0:36:11he's got sort of remnants,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13sort of remaining feathers left where he's pulled them out.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16Most of the time they do that through boredom,
0:36:16 > 0:36:20but they should have also had that check by a vet.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22The parrot is on its way to a specialist vet
0:36:22 > 0:36:24outside the borough to be assessed.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28The problem with parrots is often people don't understand
0:36:28 > 0:36:29the work that goes into them.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33Some people will obtain a parrot and it will live its life in a cage.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36He becomes very bored, sometimes the cages are very barren.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38They don't have toys, they don't have stimulation at all.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41A parrot is a very intelligent animal.
0:36:41 > 0:36:46If you leave it in a cage it's likely to start feather plucking.
0:36:46 > 0:36:47It's likely to have behavioural problems
0:36:47 > 0:36:50where it becomes quite aggressive and starts biting.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52What you need to be able to do is interact with it.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54You need to be able to handle it,
0:36:54 > 0:36:58and you need to give it stimulation and environmental changes, as well.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Tina believes the owners didn't provide the parrot
0:37:00 > 0:37:03with these basic needs.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05An independent specialist has now examined the parrot
0:37:05 > 0:37:07to help her decide its future.
0:37:09 > 0:37:10Hello, hold on.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14The vet's supporting our application to take legal action.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16He agrees the bird shouldn't be going back,
0:37:16 > 0:37:20but if he does, his environment is likely to cause suffering.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24So we have several breaches of section nine
0:37:24 > 0:37:26under the Animal Welfare Act
0:37:26 > 0:37:29which we will look at the possibility of taking legal action against
0:37:29 > 0:37:32so he won't be going back. Not going back.
0:37:34 > 0:37:35Wee.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40To obtain a parrot and just leave it in a cage is actually quite cruel.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42A lot of the time people obtain parrots
0:37:42 > 0:37:43and think it's just going to be nice.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47It will talk, it will entertain them, and it will just sit in a cage.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50A parrot is not happy just sitting in a cage.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52Alfie, come. Come on, Alf.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54Good boy.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57Tina knows from first-hand experience the commitment needed
0:37:57 > 0:37:58to look after these creatures.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01This is Alfie. He's my parrot and he comes to work with me every day
0:38:01 > 0:38:04which gives him a nice change of environment and it stimulates him.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06So, he likes that.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08He likes the interaction with people and, yeah,
0:38:08 > 0:38:10he comes to work with me every day, so...
0:38:10 > 0:38:14He's quite happy to do that. Aren't you, Alf?
0:38:14 > 0:38:15He's a rescue bird.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19I got him when he was 12 weeks old and he's now 13 years old.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22He's quite good. He trains my dogs.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24He gets all three of my dogs to sit and he feeds them,
0:38:24 > 0:38:26and he gives them treats.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29He lives with two cats as well which is absolutely fine with him.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33He will sit with them and just talk to them as well, so he's quite fine.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35He also does chicken noises cos I've got a couple of chicken
0:38:35 > 0:38:37so he does chicken noises as well.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39Go on, go up there for a minute.
0:38:39 > 0:38:40PARROT WHISTLES
0:38:46 > 0:38:50Newham Council's dog kennels are the second largest in London.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53Any stray dogs found in the borough are brought here
0:38:53 > 0:38:54and held for seven days.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59For three of the dogs, their time here is coming to an end.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05This guy here, he was tied to a road sweeper's dustcart
0:39:05 > 0:39:07and abandoned there.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10He went off for a moment and came back and the dog was tied to it.
0:39:10 > 0:39:11Yeah, it is quite surprising.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14You don't imagine that someone would be that calculated that they think,
0:39:14 > 0:39:16"Oh, there's a dustcart there.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18"I'm going to tie my dog up there and run away quick."
0:39:18 > 0:39:21He's an older sort of Staffordshire terrier type.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24He's a really nice dog with people. He's actually really friendly.
0:39:24 > 0:39:25Sit.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29Most of the dogs that we pick up are bull breeds.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32They're either Staffie types, Staffordshire bull terriers.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35They're some kind of terrier.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39Bull breeds at the moments, every rescue is so inundated with them.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41They far outnumber the amount of homes that are out there.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43People just don't want them.
0:39:43 > 0:39:4780% easily of all the dogs we pick up are stray dogs are bull breeds,
0:39:47 > 0:39:51so to actually go and breed a Staffordshire bull terrier type dog
0:39:51 > 0:39:53is so irresponsible.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57A lot of places will offer either reduced neutering or free neutering.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00We can't stress the importance of neutering them.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04Good girl. Come on.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08To help decide what to do with each stray dog that isn't claimed,
0:40:08 > 0:40:10Tina needs to assess their temperament.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Sit, Duck. Good girl. Sit, Duck.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19So, this is Duck. Duck is a stray dog as well.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23She's a cross Staffordshire bull terrier type.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28She was found stray running along the road in a little close.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31She's been with us for seven days now and no-one's come forward for her.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Duck, sit. She's got good command...
0:40:36 > 0:40:39basic commands which is nice and she's of nice temperament.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43She's really nice with people and she's really nice with other dogs.
0:40:43 > 0:40:44Come here, Duck.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51Seven days is the required amount of time for councils to keep strays.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54After that, they're no longer responsible for them.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57At Newham, the aim is to always try and get the dog
0:40:57 > 0:40:59into a re-homing centre.
0:41:01 > 0:41:02This is Puddles.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06We called her Puddles because she likes to run through the puddles.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08She was found running in and out of traffic in quite a busy road,
0:41:08 > 0:41:11so she's lucky not to have got hit by a car
0:41:11 > 0:41:13and seriously injured or killed.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15She is absolutely fine with people as you can see,
0:41:15 > 0:41:17and she's been temperament tested
0:41:17 > 0:41:19and she's absolutely fine with other dogs.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Puddles! Puddles!
0:41:25 > 0:41:28But if the dog's behaviour isn't right for re-homing,
0:41:28 > 0:41:31there is only one option left.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35If people that don't socialise their dogs and they come into us as strays,
0:41:35 > 0:41:39there are very, very few places that will take a bull breed for re-homing,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42and none if the dog is dog-on-dog aggressive.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44So the only option for that dog is to be euthanized
0:41:44 > 0:41:46and we bear the brunt of that.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48It's all right, Puddles.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51That is really, really difficult to sit...to look after a dog
0:41:51 > 0:41:55for seven days and then to sit and hold it while its life is ended.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57It's very difficult.
0:41:57 > 0:41:58And very heartbreaking.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03Good girl.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05When I first started in Newham 22 years ago,
0:42:05 > 0:42:07we put to sleep four dogs a year.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09Last year we put 101 dogs to sleep
0:42:09 > 0:42:12for aggression or through build or type.
0:42:12 > 0:42:13That's a huge increase.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16And then when you say that we're a nation of animal lovers,
0:42:16 > 0:42:20well, I don't think people that are doing hard core animal welfare
0:42:20 > 0:42:22are actually agreeing with that.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25We need to, generally as a society, we need to look at why
0:42:25 > 0:42:28and we need to look at how we can change that because dogs are dying
0:42:28 > 0:42:30and people are just turning their backs
0:42:30 > 0:42:32and pretending it's not happening. And they are.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37The female iguana, Spike, is now with a new owner
0:42:37 > 0:42:40who has other iguanas, and has settled right down.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44The spectacled caiman and the bearded dragon with the missing leg
0:42:44 > 0:42:46have also been re-homed.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50The parrot is now in a foster home,
0:42:50 > 0:42:52but the two dogs are still at the kennels.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55The Council is taking legal action against their owners.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Duck has since been claimed by her owner.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04Puddles is up for adoption at a re-homing centre.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08But sadly, the dog that was abandoned tied to the dustcart
0:43:08 > 0:43:09has been put to sleep.