- 4 weeks ago
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00:00:00In the heart of glorious North Yorkshire lies the quaint market town of Thirsk.
00:00:07Good morning, Skulldale veterinary centre.
00:00:11Where ten years ago we were introduced to two mixed practice vets.
00:00:18I'm going to put my top on. I'm not quite as well torn as he is.
00:00:23Following in the footsteps of the world's most famous vet, James Herriot.
00:00:27Since then, we've admired their work.
00:00:35Enjoyed colourful characters.
00:00:38Well, she's pregnant.
00:00:41What? Bingo!
00:00:43And been on emotional journeys.
00:00:45I'm going to continue working as a mixed practice vet in the heart of the North York Moors.
00:00:51It's fun starting a new practice.
00:00:54We've also seen the arrival of a new generation.
00:00:57They're a bit wild, the cattle over here.
00:00:59Of town and country vets.
00:01:01It's not normal sledging, but there's always a creative solution to every problem.
00:01:05Do you mind being catcher?
00:01:07I'm not sure I signed up for this when I signed the contract.
00:01:09Come on, vets!
00:01:10So, sit down with us tonight as we look back.
00:01:14Good lord!
00:01:16I'm like the ice water in.
00:01:19No, no, no, no.
00:01:21A few more swear words I recall saying.
00:01:24It sounded good in my head at the time.
00:01:26We'll revisit some of the people and animals who shared this adventure with us.
00:01:31You look back and you think that the hole wasn't even the width of a man's shoe.
00:01:35Yeah.
00:01:36And come together to celebrate ten years.
00:01:39So now I've got a little surprise for everybody.
00:01:42Of the real life, all creatures great.
00:01:45Gary, calm down. I don't think you've had enough foreplay.
00:01:48And small.
00:01:50Are you feeling better?
00:01:51Oh!
00:02:03Yorkshire.
00:02:04A timeless inspiration for poets and storytellers the world over.
00:02:11So in 2015, when we were offered a window into the world of mixed practice vets here.
00:02:18A protégé of Alf White, the real name of legendary veterinary author James Herriot.
00:02:23Peter Wright seemed like the perfect fit.
00:02:27Some of us have ferrets, some of us have whippets, some of us have flat caps and some of us have pigeons.
00:02:32Some of us have them all.
00:02:34But at first...
00:02:35I'll be very brave.
00:02:36He wasn't keen.
00:02:38Okay.
00:02:39We're all done.
00:02:42I did think back to what Alf White would say and what he would have done in this situation.
00:02:47And I know for a fact he wouldn't have done it.
00:02:50He was very shy.
00:02:52So I didn't think this would work at all.
00:02:54I thought nobody would watch it.
00:02:56Peter's partner Julian Norton was intrigued about the birth of this new idea.
00:03:01Look at that. What a whopper.
00:03:04It was going to be about the animals of North Yorkshire, about the vets obviously.
00:03:09And the Yorkshire countryside was going to play a big part as well.
00:03:14I think initially we were all a little bit sceptical about how it might turn out.
00:03:20But I have to say my first instinct was one of excitement.
00:03:25Aha!
00:03:26There was this niggle at the back of my mind all the time.
00:03:29A challenge.
00:03:30A challenge.
00:03:32I've always liked a challenge.
00:03:35And this was the reason why I thought we could maybe just give it a try.
00:03:41It's a monster.
00:03:44Obviously there was the Heriot legacy within the town.
00:03:48I thought, you know, what have we got to lose?
00:03:51Home free!
00:03:52You've been sick everywhere.
00:03:54Stay there.
00:03:55All in the days worked this.
00:03:57In those early days, it was a steep learning curve.
00:04:01It was quite daunting, really.
00:04:03Do you strip to the waist for these?
00:04:05I do, yes.
00:04:06Yeah.
00:04:07I'm not quite as well-toned as these, so I'm going to put my top on.
00:04:10And you've also got to bear in mind that, you know, our fellow professionals are going to be looking at this.
00:04:16So I've got to get it right.
00:04:18Yeah!
00:04:19There's our testicle there.
00:04:21Lovely.
00:04:22Yeah!
00:04:23It was quite stressful, if I'm honest.
00:04:26This is the tumour.
00:04:28Wow.
00:04:29And, of course, the added pressure was we didn't know how this was going to be perceived or appreciated by the general public.
00:04:37Yeah, it's terrible, isn't it?
00:04:41It's basically an inoperable mass on the pancreas that's extended to the spleen of the intestine, so it's not operable.
00:04:49But Peter and Julian were immediately reassured by what they saw from themselves and their team.
00:04:55There!
00:04:56There!
00:04:57There!
00:04:58There!
00:04:59Stop!
00:05:00Stop!
00:05:01You're fine!
00:05:02My goodness!
00:05:03Me!
00:05:04Julian and myself looked at each other and we said, wow, this is fantastic.
00:05:07Ordinarily, by now, we would be seeing the penis extruding.
00:05:10It's still not there, I'm afraid.
00:05:13What I saw was a million times better than what I dared have hoped for.
00:05:19And there was a fitting tribute to the much-loved dramatic inspiration.
00:05:23As summer warms the splendid Yorkshire scenery, Mother Nature breathes new life into the landscape and her creatures.
00:05:33Christopher Timothy had played James Herriot in the original All Creatures Great and Small series.
00:05:40It is one of my favourite jobs, of course it is.
00:05:42I'm very proud of it and I love doing it.
00:05:44Meandering through the moors and dales of Yorkshire are an endless network of roads and country lanes with a surprise around every corner.
00:05:54Lots of people ask about how it compares with the Herriot ethos.
00:05:59It's about animals.
00:06:03It's got some of the most glorious scenery in the country.
00:06:06Stolid, good Yorkshire folk.
00:06:09No nonsense.
00:06:10And the whole thing is a grand beast for the job, I'd say.
00:06:18Now, after ten years, six vets.
00:06:21Everyone's sitting comfortably.
00:06:23Four farmers.
00:06:24Right.
00:06:25I'll be looking forward to this.
00:06:26It's like a movie night for us.
00:06:28Hey, you've got your fancy glasses.
00:06:29Put them on, Steve, and then you'll be able to see.
00:06:31I don't want you to miss this.
00:06:33A couple of nurses and one vet's wife are looking back at some landmark moments, starting at the very beginning.
00:06:48Right then.
00:06:49Here we go.
00:06:50Spring has sprung in the dales.
00:06:52The moors are bright and beautiful.
00:06:56And lambing season has begun.
00:07:00Is this your first ever time on camera?
00:07:04First ever.
00:07:05Look at them bags of trousers.
00:07:09So, those trousers were huge, weren't they?
00:07:11I've recently sold them on Vinton for ten pounds, those trousers.
00:07:14Stop it.
00:07:15This is a sheep farm that's just outside first.
00:07:19We've got a sheep that is having difficulty giving birth.
00:07:24If there's a problem, it usually means it's something that's either a bit tight or a bit complicated or legs jumbled up.
00:07:30I can't get over that it's been going ten years now.
00:07:342015, so I was a year graduated, you were still at vet school.
00:07:39But we'll see what we've got when we get there.
00:07:43Oh, look at the little lambs.
00:07:47Morning, Janet.
00:07:49Poor old Janet was exhausted.
00:07:51So this is right at the end of lambing time.
00:07:54So this is the water bag, and basically inside this bag is the lamb.
00:07:59Oh, and look at you with your tie on, that's smart.
00:08:02We always used to wear ties.
00:08:03Things have changed over the last ten years.
00:08:05I've never been to a lambing with a tie on, maybe I need to up my game.
00:08:09I'm feeling inside now to see what's in there.
00:08:13Yeah, it's quite a big lamb, which is maybe why she's not been getting on with it naturally.
00:08:18I know that first time we filmed for television, it was a really nerve-wracking experience,
00:08:23but Julian looks quite confident.
00:08:27She's been doing much in the way of pushing, haven't I?
00:08:29I'm trying. Not yet.
00:08:30There we go.
00:08:32Were you nervous at all?
00:08:33It sounds a bit odd, but it didn't feel like I was on telly.
00:08:36It felt like I was going to Janet's, to the lamb machine.
00:08:38Yeah.
00:08:39That's nice then, I guess.
00:08:40That's a fair-sized lamb.
00:08:42Look at that.
00:08:44That's a lovely little lamb.
00:08:46What a big, look at that, what a beauty.
00:08:50That is a big lamb.
00:08:52Came out all right now.
00:08:53I actually remember watching this series when I was at vet school.
00:08:56Do you?
00:08:57I watched it then and it genuinely was quite inspiring.
00:08:59That whole idea of being a mixed-practice vet.
00:09:04There we are, little fella.
00:09:06None of us knew how it was going to turn out, whether anybody would watch it,
00:09:10whether anyone would be interested.
00:09:12It's everyday work, but at the same time, how does it become a television programme?
00:09:16And that was a mystery to me.
00:09:19So yeah, there's another one in there.
00:09:22Usually the second one comes out without too much trouble.
00:09:25And there we are.
00:09:27Tell you what, it doesn't get much better than that, does it?
00:09:30Two beauties like that.
00:09:32And they're both big, aren't they?
00:09:34I mean, this was as good as anything in vet school for giving you a taste of what it's really like being a mixed-practice vet.
00:09:40Definitely.
00:09:41I do remember thinking that.
00:09:43She's a good mother, isn't she?
00:09:45We never wanted to be on telly.
00:09:47We never had any expectation that, you know, we'd be making 250 episodes.
00:09:52And it just felt like quite a privilege, really, to be sharing our work with anybody who wanted to watch.
00:10:02Whenever you see them sitting up and shaking their head and taking the first few steps,
00:10:06it's always a massive, massive buzz.
00:10:10That was the very, very first story on the Yorkshire Vet.
00:10:14It was a good one, and it turned out perfect.
00:10:17And here we are ten years on.
00:10:19Coming up...
00:10:25My giraffe, my sprocket, my Lola, my Bob's tail.
00:10:30Jean relives her darkest hour.
00:10:32God.
00:10:34Oh.
00:10:35This was probably the most emotional episode of the Yorkshire Vet.
00:10:41And after his own troubled times...
00:10:44Have you had a feel of that? That sounds a dark question at all.
00:10:47A reunion with Cannon Hall Farm's favourite donkey.
00:10:51Did you ever think, Matt, at school, that you'd be dealing with a donkey's penis on national television?
00:10:56Aren't we too surprised?
00:10:57From the autumn of 2015, a combination of captivating countryside...
00:11:14Come on, children.
00:11:16All kinds of creatures and workplace camaraderie.
00:11:19I think we are fashion icons, aren't we really?
00:11:21I think so.
00:11:22And people gripped by the endeavours of mixed-practice vets in Yorkshire.
00:11:27You've got some spectators, look.
00:11:29This is gold dust, isn't it?
00:11:30Yes.
00:11:31All right, big fella.
00:11:32Hey.
00:11:33All right, big fella.
00:11:34Ah.
00:11:35This is my first story on the Yorkshire Vet.
00:11:39That's a good boy.
00:11:40You can smell something.
00:11:41You can smell it.
00:11:42Yeah.
00:11:43You can smell it.
00:11:44Are you young there, lad?
00:11:46They've got a bit more hair on there than you have now.
00:11:49What are you saying?
00:11:50It was like a ton up.
00:11:56Gene and Steve Green have also been on the journey since the very start.
00:12:00Here they are.
00:12:02Hand in hand.
00:12:03And it was back in September 2015 that we saw their world turned upside down.
00:12:11Steve had to go into hospital suddenly for an operation.
00:12:15And, sadly, they've said at his age he won't be able to continue looking after his cows.
00:12:27Steve was on this farm when James Herriot came to Thirsk.
00:12:31It's a very sad day.
00:12:33Very sad for all of us.
00:12:35Because there aren't many people left like Steve and Jeannie.
00:12:39This was probably the most emotional episode of the Yorkshire Vet.
00:12:45Everybody that watched the programme was talking about it.
00:12:48You're right.
00:12:49The herd was due to be collected and sold at auction.
00:12:53And Peter arrived at the farm to check if any of the cows were in calf.
00:12:57I remember watching when I was a vet student and thinking, God, that is so moving.
00:13:03How touching it was.
00:13:05And how privileged you are as a vet to be in those positions where you can see the relationship he's got with them for so many years.
00:13:11Well, it's the amount of times in the counselling that you give to people and things like that, isn't it, and supporting them.
00:13:15It's a day you don't want, isn't it, when you give up farming.
00:13:19This is the only farm I come to where people put my gloves on for me.
00:13:23Does this bring back a lot of sad memories for you?
00:13:26It does for me.
00:13:28It's a night breaker.
00:13:30It is, really.
00:13:32Because that's a routine that would have been bringing them in for milking twice a day.
00:13:36Yes.
00:13:40She's pregnant, Jeannie, in her right horn.
00:13:43Eight weeks pregnant.
00:13:45With the auction just a few days away and Steve still in hospital.
00:13:49Yeah, well, I want to know when he's coming home.
00:13:52It was too much, even for the famously tough Jean.
00:13:56It's very upsetting, Jean.
00:13:59I can't bear anything.
00:14:03I remember being at home.
00:14:04My mum and my dad were in tears watching this thing.
00:14:07They were absolutely sobbing.
00:14:09When the cows go, the soldiers go out of the buildings.
00:14:13So it's the end of an era.
00:14:16End of an era.
00:14:17Very sad.
00:14:18Despite his illness, Steve was back home in time to say goodbye to the herd.
00:14:24I'm very hard-wrong, really.
00:14:30But you see, it might be a bit much for me in winter.
00:14:35Straight out of hospital, but grafting on the farm.
00:14:37Yeah, I know, right.
00:14:38That's the farm's life, isn't it?
00:14:39Two hundred years of being cows on here.
00:14:47I just can't come.
00:14:50Two hundred years, plenty of hell.
00:14:53Aww.
00:14:55Oh dear.
00:14:56I really felt for you that day.
00:15:00Tough, innit.
00:15:03Bye Giraffe.
00:15:04Bye Sprocket.
00:15:05Bye Lola.
00:15:06Bye Buck too.
00:15:11Oh God.
00:15:12Aww.
00:15:17Bye girls!
00:15:18I just think it's so sad that all these little old farms have gone.
00:15:31Where they just, they knew every animal, didn't they?
00:15:33Every animal had a name.
00:15:34Yeah.
00:15:35They'd supply milk to the village.
00:15:38I've done cows like loving kids.
00:15:41What?
00:15:42That's the end of the matter.
00:15:44We've still got these lipids.
00:15:46Yeah, I know, but I like the old girls.
00:15:50I did.
00:15:53The old girls were my favourite.
00:15:56Aww, Jean, don't.
00:15:58You're really living it, aren't you Jean?
00:16:04I'm glad you've come.
00:16:14Bye Giraffe.
00:16:15What about your girl?
00:16:17Oh, it is heartbreaking.
00:16:20See you babies.
00:16:22I'll see you darling.
00:16:24I think so many people watched this up and down the country and just fell in love with Mr and Mrs Green at that moment, didn't they?
00:16:29Yeah.
00:16:32Look at that.
00:16:34They'll never find another owner like Steve and Jean.
00:16:37After the emotional start, the Greens and Peter...
00:16:43Hello.
00:16:45Hello.
00:16:47...have had lots of fun.
00:16:49Oh.
00:16:50Unkydory.
00:16:51Unkydory, Jackanari.
00:16:53It's the A-Team, isn't it Jean?
00:16:54Yeah, that's it.
00:16:56And B-A brackets.
00:16:58No, no, no, no.
00:17:00Well, what can possibly go wrong?
00:17:04Come here you.
00:17:06It's like the Green Wild West Rodeo.
00:17:07Excuse me, no, no, no.
00:17:08Hello, Jean.
00:17:09I don't know where I can.
00:17:13Oh, all the shambles.
00:17:15Be a good lad.
00:17:16Never mind.
00:17:17Just stand still.
00:17:20Right, give up.
00:17:22Get yourself out.
00:17:23Go on, Jean.
00:17:24Jean and Steve have travelled up and down the country.
00:17:29Long time since I've been on a steam train.
00:17:32It brings back memories.
00:17:34And this evergreen happy couple...
00:17:37I love you, Jean.
00:17:38You know, romantic, aren't you?
00:17:40Yes.
00:17:41I love you.
00:17:43...have remained firm favourites.
00:17:45I love it when the plan comes together.
00:17:47Oh, yes, yes.
00:17:48Where are you, son? High five line.
00:17:50Yeah, Peter.
00:17:51Happy New Year to your son.
00:17:52I've always spoilt that lad.
00:17:55From day one coming here.
00:17:56He's fantastic.
00:17:58Bye, Peter.
00:18:00See you again.
00:18:05While the Greens represent a bygone era,
00:18:08in 2018 we dropped in at Rob and Dave Nicholson's
00:18:11modern visitor farm for the first time.
00:18:14How are you doing?
00:18:15Hello, you all right?
00:18:16Very well, are you?
00:18:17And the two worlds have occasionally come together.
00:18:19Shall we let them touch noses over the door, do you think, Steve?
00:18:22Or...?
00:18:23Have every best.
00:18:24Yeah.
00:18:25She's got a toy boy from Barnsley.
00:18:26I thought you meant Mrs. Green's getting a toy boy from Barnsley.
00:18:31He's here.
00:18:32No, I don't need a toy boy.
00:18:35Arguably, Cannon Hall Farm's most famous donkey is Gary.
00:18:39Gary, calm down.
00:18:40I don't think you've had enough foreplay.
00:18:43He first appeared in 2019 when he was having not-so-private problems.
00:18:48So that looks like a very bad thing to have on your penis, doesn't it?
00:18:53No.
00:18:54Have you had a feel of that?
00:18:55That sounds a dark question.
00:18:57Although Julian was able to remove Gary's growth without surgery...
00:19:01Would that be donated to the James Herriot musician?
00:19:05It wasn't the end of the matter.
00:19:08Hello, sunshine.
00:19:09How are we doing?
00:19:10I think it's twice as bad as last time.
00:19:12Me neither.
00:19:14It's come back with a vengeance, hasn't it?
00:19:15Yeah.
00:19:16It's not so bad.
00:19:17That's his penis, look.
00:19:18What's wrong with it?
00:19:20Urgh.
00:19:22I need to operate in a more vigorous way.
00:19:24So I've got a pair of hands to help me in the shape of Matt,
00:19:27who's a fantastic local vet.
00:19:29Here he is.
00:19:30Oh, look at me now.
00:19:31Fresh-faced.
00:19:32You all right, Matt?
00:19:33You all right, Julian?
00:19:34Good to see you again.
00:19:35You can see the problem.
00:19:36Ah, it looks quite nasty as that, doesn't it?
00:19:38Can you see the problem, Matt?
00:19:42He was a local vet for Cannon Hall.
00:19:44That's what we need.
00:19:45And I thought he'd be a good person to work with.
00:19:48So the first step is to get this drug into his vein.
00:19:52Oh, boy.
00:19:53Initially, we were trying to avoid operating,
00:19:55because they didn't really want to do an operation.
00:19:57Oh, okay.
00:19:58Boy.
00:19:59This will make him go very sleepy.
00:20:00He's a sedative.
00:20:01So Gary's the sort of main stud donkey.
00:20:04You can't have that on your penis then, can you, Gary?
00:20:08All right.
00:20:10So he's had his anaesthetic,
00:20:12and then with any luck in the next few seconds,
00:20:15he should go completely asleep.
00:20:18All right.
00:20:19Ready to go.
00:20:21Are we all right?
00:20:23That's going beating steadily away there.
00:20:26I was thinking to myself, right, keep Gary asleep.
00:20:29Make sure he's fast asleep.
00:20:30Yeah.
00:20:31That was all I could focus on.
00:20:32I was like, keep him asleep, keep him asleep, keep him asleep.
00:20:35And this is the problem.
00:20:36If he goes wrong, you're just in the middle of a barn.
00:20:40If I just cut through that, then it's going to bleed and bleed.
00:20:43So it's...
00:20:44It's not easy, but no.
00:20:49I'm shaking.
00:20:50I don't normally get like this when I'm operating.
00:20:53I feel quite nervous now, just watching it now.
00:20:57Julian just said he's shaking and he don't normally get like that.
00:21:00There were a lot at stake.
00:21:01Literally the past couple of minutes his breathing rate's increased.
00:21:04Mind you, my breathing rate's quickened a bit.
00:21:07There's just one more stitch, I think.
00:21:10I think that's done.
00:21:11When you were done with him, were there any penis left?
00:21:16It looked like we'd taken away all of his penis there,
00:21:18but it was actually just like the foreskin bit.
00:21:22So the actual penis itself was perfectly intact.
00:21:25I could still use it then.
00:21:27Hooray.
00:21:28Oh, is it all ready?
00:21:29Hooray.
00:21:31Well, look at it.
00:21:32Fair enough.
00:21:33There you go.
00:21:34Oh, some Bob-on.
00:21:35They weren't going to be the words I was going to use,
00:21:37but Bob-on is about right, yeah.
00:21:39He's a very brave donkey.
00:21:41Mm-hmm.
00:21:42And a lucky donkey.
00:21:50Six years on,
00:21:52the lucky donkey...
00:21:54Morning, you all right?
00:21:55How are you, Matt?
00:21:56How are you all?
00:21:57He's as happy as Gary.
00:21:59Gary's in rude health.
00:22:00Good.
00:22:01That is what I like to hear.
00:22:02It was really worrying, wasn't it?
00:22:03You know, we thought we were going to lose our stallion donkey.
00:22:06I think when you get a lesion like that on your penis,
00:22:09you start to worry.
00:22:10And I worried for Gary.
00:22:11It was a big injury.
00:22:12I didn't know if he'd recover.
00:22:14I thought he was speaking from experience then for a bit later.
00:22:17I also wondered where this conversation would have done this, right?
00:22:20It certainly brought tears to my eyes,
00:22:21and I think it did the same to Gary.
00:22:24We're just going to give him a bit of hay if you want to give his hand.
00:22:26Oh, yeah.
00:22:27Find me a fork.
00:22:28Let's hope he doesn't remember you.
00:22:31Well, here he is, Matt, and he's showing you his best side.
00:22:33Oh, look, he's smiling at you, isn't he?
00:22:35Matt, that's what forgiveness looks like.
00:22:38Joking apart, Matt, you must get a lot of satisfaction coming here,
00:22:44and six years ago he was in terrible peril,
00:22:47and now, look at him, he's living a wonderful life.
00:22:49You've left a legacy of greatness,
00:22:51and I'm sure Gary's grateful, and so are we.
00:22:53Flattery gets you everywhere, Rob.
00:22:55And he's also a right-to-right Billup as well.
00:23:00He's had more falls than I've got fingers to count.
00:23:02Two ladies are pregnant again for early next year,
00:23:05and the two falls that were born in the spring
00:23:07are doing wonderfully well.
00:23:09So Gary's legacy continues.
00:23:11Well, he never misses a year.
00:23:15What I think is mental when you think about it,
00:23:16that was six years ago.
00:23:18I've been graduating now for 11 years,
00:23:21so, you know, Gary and all the filming's been going on
00:23:25for, like, over half of my career,
00:23:26and we've filmed every single thing that's been going on with Gary.
00:23:29Did you ever think, Matt, at school,
00:23:30that you'd be dealing with a donkey's penis on national television?
00:23:34I can't say I ever thought that, you know.
00:23:36But, in hindsight,
00:23:38shouldn't be too surprised.
00:23:40Coming up...
00:23:50This is when we popped your cherry.
00:23:52I remember this day very well.
00:23:54I'll never forget it.
00:23:56Rohin's attention-catching first job...
00:23:58My nickname is still the expert semen catcher.
00:24:01..and catching up with the cat...
00:24:03This is Khufu.
00:24:05Oh!
00:24:06..who shocked Skeldale.
00:24:07Oh, my!
00:24:09Wow!
00:24:10In all my years in practice,
00:24:11I've never seen anything quite like this.
00:24:13What the heck?
00:24:15While the Yorkshire countryside is famous for its tranquility
00:24:27and incredible landscapes...
00:24:29Over the past ten years,
00:24:33we've seen vets interrupting patients' peaceful days...
00:24:37..and spoiling the view.
00:24:39I don't think it's nice for him to see his testicles when he comes round, do you?
00:24:43No, exactly!
00:24:45Right in front of his nose, eh?
00:24:47That's taking the mickey.
00:24:49That's pushing it a bit too far.
00:24:51We've also witnessed Julian and Peter's journeys through life.
00:24:55Happy birthday!
00:24:57They're trying to kill you, do you?
00:25:00They're sending you up in a glider.
00:25:02Wow, this is fantastic.
00:25:04..and progression in their veterinary careers.
00:25:07I've got a really sharp needle down here,
00:25:09right very close to Nessie's half pen.
00:25:14It's fun starting a new practice.
00:25:16I have a lot of memories here, a lot of happy memories,
00:25:20but things come to an end.
00:25:24I'm going to continue working as a mixed practice vet
00:25:27in the heart of the North York Moores.
00:25:30Then in 2020, we were introduced to a traditional mixed practice
00:25:34in Huddersfield with its newly built modern animal hospital.
00:25:38This is Larry Dolphin.
00:25:41And a young team of vets, Matt, Shona, Rohin and David.
00:25:46So cool.
00:25:48As a newly qualified graduate...
00:25:50Oh, this is when we popped your cherry.
00:25:52I remember this day very well.
00:25:54I'll never forget it.
00:25:56..Rohin's first appearance alongside Shona
00:25:59caught everyone's attention.
00:26:01Fresh-faced, fresh out of vet school.
00:26:03Here he is.
00:26:04Look at that cocky swagger.
00:26:06Who does that guy think he is?
00:26:07Yeah, yeah.
00:26:08Who does that guy think he is?
00:26:09Yeah, yeah.
00:26:10Doesn't know a thing.
00:26:11You've got your stethers
00:26:13got stellar tipped back together.
00:26:15Yeah, yeah.
00:26:17What a fool.
00:26:18Can't believe how much I've learned from that point to now.
00:26:21The job was to help Shona with a fertility test on Gina's stud bull, Trigger.
00:26:27Hiya, Gina.
00:26:28Nice to see you this afternoon.
00:26:30Yay, Shona.
00:26:31She's very good.
00:26:32So much better than the men.
00:26:34Don't tell him, Rob.
00:26:36Don't tell him.
00:26:38But she is really good.
00:26:40We're just going to do a semen test now
00:26:43and actually see what the semen's like.
00:26:45We should have a pretty good idea today
00:26:47of whether he's got plenty sperm.
00:26:49I guess she was worried that he might not be fertile,
00:26:52but there was quite a lot resting on this, wasn't there?
00:26:55Right, we'll get having a look at him then.
00:26:57We'll have a feel of the important areas.
00:26:59Yeah.
00:27:04Good lad.
00:27:05It has to be the consistency of a ripe tomato.
00:27:08Or a firm bicep.
00:27:09Firm bicep's quite a good one, yeah.
00:27:11The bigger the testicles, generally speaking, the better.
00:27:14Is that right, Stephen?
00:27:16The bigger the testicles, the better.
00:27:18Oh, yeah.
00:27:20Yeah.
00:27:21It's when you're doing it, you've got to laugh about it, haven't you?
00:27:24Because it is a bit weird.
00:27:26And I was a couple of weeks out of vet school
00:27:28and I was a bit like, what the hell?
00:27:30Do you mind being catcher?
00:27:32That's all right, yeah.
00:27:34Good lad.
00:27:35You can catch.
00:27:37So my job is the expert semen catcher today.
00:27:40Where's me catcher?
00:27:41It's the top line in the ultimate.
00:27:43To this day, I never know why I said that.
00:27:45And do you know, to this day, in my group chat with my friends from uni,
00:27:49my nickname is still the expert semen catcher.
00:27:52Oh, Roy got so much thick for this.
00:27:54Expert semen catcher.
00:27:56It sounded good in my head at the time.
00:27:58I mean, it's definitely given entertainment, hasn't it?
00:28:00No idea.
00:28:01It is good, really.
00:28:02Catcher of the spell.
00:28:03Surprising what we learn, Lynn.
00:28:05Well...
00:28:06It's not something I'll ever need to remember, I don't think.
00:28:08And it's not something you need to know about.
00:28:10It's...
00:28:11I'm not sure I signed up for this when I signed the contract.
00:28:14Check the terms and conditions.
00:28:16I'm not so sure Rowan's got a clue what he's about to experience.
00:28:19Oh, he does look a bit nervous.
00:28:21So, Rowan's keeping an eye on the functional end.
00:28:25He might get his willy out.
00:28:26He might not.
00:28:27If we just put loads and loads of lube on it.
00:28:31Now, that's what she's going to use to stimulate him.
00:28:35Oh, my...
00:28:36I make the eyes watterly.
00:28:38Look at the size of that.
00:28:39Oh, my gosh.
00:28:40Oh, that is a rocket.
00:28:41Good lord.
00:28:42Put it in this way up.
00:28:43I actually felt the pressure there, because I was like, if you don't get that first sample,
00:28:56it kind of messes it up, doesn't it?
00:28:57Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:28:58Right, it's in.
00:28:59So, we're just gradually increasing the electric current through the prostate gland.
00:29:04And then, hopefully, we'll get to a level of stimulation.
00:29:09Five.
00:29:10Here he comes.
00:29:12The music is great on the edit, isn't it?
00:29:15The tension.
00:29:17He's getting his head a bit close there.
00:29:19Can I catch it from a distance?
00:29:21Do I look?
00:29:23Trying to keep myself as far away as I could.
00:29:25There, that's it.
00:29:26Right.
00:29:27Get in there, Rowan.
00:29:28Come on, Rowan.
00:29:29Concentrate.
00:29:30Right, brilliant.
00:29:31Grab it in your hand.
00:29:32Done.
00:29:33Keep it warm.
00:29:34Keep it warm.
00:29:35Grab it.
00:29:36One.
00:29:37Come on.
00:29:38There we are.
00:29:39Hold on to it.
00:29:40Oh, my gosh.
00:29:42Oh, dearly me.
00:29:44And it was all good news, wasn't it, in the end?
00:29:49Yeah.
00:29:50Yeah.
00:29:51He did really well.
00:29:52So, he got an A+.
00:29:54He passed with 93% more.
00:29:56Better than me at school.
00:29:57Brilliant.
00:29:58Yeah.
00:29:59Brilliant.
00:30:00Well done, Trigger.
00:30:02A good Yorkshire Bull takes some beating.
00:30:04Good boy.
00:30:05Good boy.
00:30:06Good boy.
00:30:07Good boy.
00:30:08Everyone was messaging on the work group chat saying, have you had any nice messages from
00:30:12your family?
00:30:13About the episode when it first went on.
00:30:15And you were messaging, showing nice messages like everyone say, oh, we're so proud of you.
00:30:20from my cousin saying you have brought shame on the family the only thing the
00:30:27family is known for is a is the expert semen catcher
00:30:37while Yorkshire's scenery has always served up the sublime over the past
00:30:43decade there's also been a decent helping of the ridiculous thanks to
00:30:47greedy dogs this is Bailey and uh he's tops up onto the kitchen counter today
00:30:52and I've just sprung from the sink just swallow all sorts of unusual items
00:30:58discovered inside them so we've got numerous stones there on x-ray he's four
00:31:03months old and he's eaten party poppers so I understand we've been a bit naughty
00:31:08what we've seen a spatula
00:31:11look look what that is that's the streamers from the party popper
00:31:15that's pretty big that needs to come out yes
00:31:20well I've learned something there I can put a little wooden handle on it and give it to my wife
00:31:24yeah there we are a spongy and a dog is not really a good thing
00:31:30ha that's amazing rope or string
00:31:33whoa
00:31:34it's a sack
00:31:36it's definitely the biggest sock I've seen
00:31:38has anybody seen a dog that's ever ingested cocaine
00:31:42Peter has pulled plenty of unsuitable snacks out of naughty dogs
00:31:48oh grief there's more material in there than losing marks and spenders isn't there
00:31:53but today he's visiting his old friend trisha whose cat khufu landed himself in a hairy situation
00:32:01back in 2018
00:32:08hello how are you
00:32:10good to see you
00:32:10do you know I'm really pleased to see you
00:32:13obviously you know I'm working a bit more of the area now and we've lost touch a bit
00:32:17but you've never changed
00:32:18you're exactly the same as the first day I met you
00:32:21well a bit grey
00:32:23no
00:32:23do you want to come see khufu?
00:32:26I'd love to
00:32:27khufu arrived at Skeldale with a mystery illness
00:32:34yes I know love you
00:32:36we'll get you better
00:32:38we've got this strange mass of material sitting in khufu's stomach
00:32:44and it will make him poorly in the long run
00:32:48so we've got to get him out
00:32:49well hello children
00:32:53hello
00:32:54well that's a nice welcome
00:32:56yeah well this is khufu
00:32:58oh
00:32:59I'll tell you what he doesn't look 12
00:33:01no no he's gorgeous
00:33:03do you know when I saw khufu when he was ill there
00:33:07he just he wasn't desperately ill but he wasn't right
00:33:10and his appetite had diminished
00:33:12and I could feel this horrible mass there
00:33:16you can just feel his stomach poking out from behind his ribcage
00:33:21and whatever's in there it feels very solid
00:33:24yeah yeah
00:33:25very solid
00:33:26Trisha did have her suspicions about what khufu might have consumed
00:33:31we've got a little hair bound thief somewhere in the house
00:33:34every time I put one on the side and then I come to tie my hair up
00:33:39and it's disappeared and I find it in the cat's food bowl
00:33:42um looking particularly mashed up and fishy
00:33:46well if you have to choose between a nice plate of fish or half a dozen hair bands
00:33:51you'd go for the fish wouldn't you
00:33:53well
00:33:54here's khufu's stomach
00:33:58hmm crack it
00:34:00you can feel all these heart things in there
00:34:03oh my god
00:34:19oh my god
00:34:20oh my god
00:34:21oh my god
00:34:23oh my god
00:34:25oh my god
00:34:27good grief
00:34:27it's like green spaghetti
00:34:30I told you it'd be like spaghetti
00:34:32when we opened him up
00:34:37I'll never forget that day
00:34:39working with Rachel
00:34:40our head nurse
00:34:41yeah
00:34:42and we just looked at each other in amazement
00:34:45yeah
00:34:45when we started pulling one after another
00:34:48of these hair bands out of his stomach
00:34:49oh my
00:34:51wow
00:34:54I've never seen
00:34:55in all my years in practice
00:34:58I've never seen anything quite like this
00:34:59how many years he's taken to collect all this bottle
00:35:04it stinks
00:35:04what the heck
00:35:09it was just the fact that there were so many
00:35:12I know
00:35:13there were just
00:35:14his stomach
00:35:15was just one ball of them
00:35:17well no wonder Trish said she was short of hair bands
00:35:20I think it's fair to say
00:35:22he's a very serious collector
00:35:24this chap isn't just doing it part time
00:35:26he's in it for the long term
00:35:28the other thing
00:35:30not only was just
00:35:31feeling incredulous as to what we're seeing
00:35:33but we thought
00:35:35well
00:35:35this isn't cancerous
00:35:37we've got a cure
00:35:38an immediate cure
00:35:40so it was the elation of that
00:35:42and the relief
00:35:43I know
00:35:44loads of foreign bodies
00:35:45but not on that scale
00:35:47I think this fellow will probably need counselling
00:35:49because
00:35:50he's got some very strange tastes
00:35:52so has it been 10 years
00:35:5510 years
00:35:5610 years of the Yorkshire Vette
00:35:5610 years of the Yorkshire Vette
00:35:58that's incredible
00:35:59it's the quirkiness of the animals
00:36:01yes
00:36:01you know the fact that he
00:36:03felt
00:36:04that he needed to
00:36:05devour all your hair bands
00:36:07slightly odd don't you think
00:36:08quirky
00:36:09slightly
00:36:11bonkers
00:36:12yeah
00:36:12yeah yeah
00:36:13you are a strange one
00:36:15you really are
00:36:16coming up
00:36:20I can just have a bit of a massage of that
00:36:23sheep skills
00:36:25massaging a sheep
00:36:26he's enjoying that
00:36:27and the wolfhound in wall strife
00:36:32is reunited with Rohin
00:36:35you were a puppy when I last saw you
00:36:37I guess for a young dog to go through
00:36:39such a big trauma
00:36:41it takes a lot of getting over that
00:36:42it wasn't a good start in life
00:36:44while Yorkshire is full of wonder and warmth
00:36:55it can be wild
00:36:57and bitterly cold
00:36:59so over the past 10 years
00:37:01it's not just animals that have presented a stern challenge
00:37:06oh my gosh
00:37:07this isn't looking good
00:37:08we've sort of hit a wall of snow now
00:37:10I've got to try and meet her
00:37:12because this cow really could do with some meds
00:37:14right
00:37:16this is just mad isn't it
00:37:20in 2021
00:37:22on the moors of West Yorkshire
00:37:24it was David who had to brave the harsh winter weather
00:37:28I know where we are now
00:37:30Benny
00:37:31Benny the sheep
00:37:32never forget this one
00:37:34looks bloody baltic
00:37:36remember how that night
00:37:41the weather was really drawing in
00:37:43no one could get anywhere
00:37:44most of the roads were closed
00:37:45we just sort of made it to him
00:37:47in time to
00:37:48to give him a bit of help
00:37:49is it Ben and it's in that tent?
00:37:53he'd slid
00:37:54fallen down
00:37:54and then there was that gate there
00:37:56and he'd kind of got stuck
00:37:57partly under the gate
00:37:57when they found him
00:37:58they popped that tent
00:38:01to keep the snow off him
00:38:02see when anything's poorly
00:38:04and the weather's bad
00:38:05you know you're in trouble
00:38:06yeah
00:38:07without that tent
00:38:08he wouldn't make it through the night
00:38:10it's always a worry
00:38:11when any animal
00:38:12can't get onto its feet
00:38:13and stand up
00:38:14with this weather
00:38:15you know
00:38:15the energy requirements
00:38:17are so much higher
00:38:18for any animal
00:38:19so
00:38:19it's really important
00:38:20we get on top of it
00:38:21straight away
00:38:21it's a stadium I had
00:38:29steady steady steady steady
00:38:30look at this
00:38:31this is proper Yorkshire winter weather
00:38:34isn't it this
00:38:34I must feel a bit cold watching it
00:38:36you can feel it
00:38:37it's like
00:38:38you know
00:38:39your fingers start losing
00:38:40your fingers go cold
00:38:41and you're trying to draw up injections
00:38:43or
00:38:44do surgery
00:38:45and you've got
00:38:46icicles for fingers
00:38:47it makes it so much harder
00:38:48let's see what he's doing
00:38:50so let go
00:38:51if he can't walk
00:38:53he won't go far
00:38:53I just want to see how he's walking
00:38:54so he seems a bit weak on that back
00:38:57right
00:38:57alright lad
00:38:59good lad
00:39:02good lad
00:39:02steady steady steady steady steady
00:39:05steady
00:39:05alright
00:39:07not looking great is he
00:39:09it's not often good news
00:39:10when they look like that is it
00:39:11no
00:39:12he's obviously
00:39:14very unsteady on it
00:39:16and he's knackered
00:39:17I think energy wise
00:39:18I think the important thing for him
00:39:19is to be sheltered tonight
00:39:21give the injection some time to work
00:39:23and
00:39:23and keep his energy up
00:39:25and hopefully get him back on his feet
00:39:26tomorrow morning
00:39:27the next day
00:39:30with a break in the weather
00:39:31David was thinking outside the box
00:39:34to get Benny moving
00:39:35what I'm going to do now is
00:39:38get him on his
00:39:39other side
00:39:41so I can just have a bit of a massage of that
00:39:44try and get it going a bit more
00:39:47massaging a sheep
00:39:49he's enjoying that
00:39:50Megan get that Dave
00:39:54when you get home
00:39:55no comment
00:39:56have I got a sledge
00:40:00how do we got the sledge
00:40:02it's not normal sledging
00:40:05but we'll see if it works
00:40:06there's always a creative solution
00:40:08to every problem
00:40:09I know
00:40:09good one
00:40:10I know if people can say
00:40:11they've sledged a sheep
00:40:12magic
00:40:14that's perfect
00:40:15look at this accommodation Benny
00:40:19he's standing on all four feet
00:40:24on that hard ground
00:40:25he's just that much warmer
00:40:26so we're getting some hay
00:40:28some food and some water
00:40:29steaming
00:40:30going to leave a course of anti-inflammatories
00:40:33for him for the next few days
00:40:35he's got a really good chance
00:40:36we've had a sheep in a tent
00:40:38we've had a sheep sledging
00:40:40and now we've got a sheep in a stable
00:40:42even when the Yorkshire weather
00:40:49has been relatively mild
00:40:50we've seen all kinds of creatures
00:40:52find themselves in unusual
00:40:54and unfortunate situations
00:40:56so badly entwined around his antlers
00:40:59that he would have just died
00:41:01if he hadn't been found
00:41:02right on John
00:41:04hey
00:41:06I think the snake could be anywhere
00:41:09I mean I don't know
00:41:10how you go about it
00:41:11I just feel she's in the ducting somewhere
00:41:13we're all praying Matthew's confident
00:41:15that she's alive
00:41:16but I don't know
00:41:18aww it's alright
00:41:21I thought she's alive
00:41:22so we tried to have sex with a hedgehog
00:41:31well you know I've been in practice many years
00:41:34well this is a first for me
00:41:36ship it into her
00:41:37and run for your life
00:41:38seriously
00:41:39run for my life
00:41:41is it going to be that bad
00:41:42oh you little mother
00:41:50we're going to stick together Julian
00:41:54it's sticking
00:41:56it's sticking
00:41:58they're sticking together
00:41:59bless him
00:42:01it's just calling yourself a bat
00:42:03but in 2023
00:42:09a freak accident
00:42:11saw Rohin rush to an emergency
00:42:12more instantly shocking
00:42:14than any before
00:42:15a young dog called Lulu
00:42:18a big Irish wolfhound
00:42:19got wedged in between
00:42:21a dry stone wall
00:42:22and is trapped
00:42:24we don't know if she's broken her back
00:42:26there's a risk that the wall can just collapse
00:42:28it just sounds like an absolute nightmare situation
00:42:30this is just the most unusual emergency call that I've ever had
00:42:35you know you wish she had a siren
00:42:37just to get there as quick as you can
00:42:38panicked owner Nicola
00:42:42had already called in two builders
00:42:43to start carefully dismantling the wall
00:42:46before Rohin and nurse Beth got to work
00:42:49the least we know now
00:42:50she's not going to panic
00:42:51she's got pain relief on board with that injection as well
00:42:54the big question is
00:42:58how much trauma has already happened
00:43:00and that's something we won't know
00:43:02until she's out
00:43:02without sedation
00:43:06and without dismantling the entire wall
00:43:08she's just going to pass away
00:43:09and be trapped there
00:43:10but suddenly
00:43:13there was a glimmer of hope
00:43:15all the legs are moving there
00:43:17one, two, three
00:43:21good girl
00:43:23all right now darling
00:43:28I've got you
00:43:29I've got you
00:43:31cheers
00:43:32steady, steady, steady
00:43:35steady, steady
00:43:36that's fine
00:43:38reflexes are intact
00:43:42we know there's not a catastrophic level of spinal cord damage
00:43:46at this point
00:43:46but the outcome is still very much uncertain
00:43:49yeah
00:43:50Lulu was rushed to the animal hospital in Huddersfield
00:43:54that's looking okay
00:43:56she seems like quite a lucky dog so far I think
00:43:59where the next day
00:44:01she was reunited with Nicola
00:44:03there she is
00:44:05looking remarkably bright isn't she
00:44:08there she is
00:44:12there she is
00:44:14there she is
00:44:14the tail wagging now
00:44:15well you are such a
00:44:16that's the most it's wagged in 24 hours I think
00:44:18you are such a
00:44:18what a barraio
00:44:19oh goodness me
00:44:21you are the luckiest dog in the world
00:44:24you are
00:44:25I just can't believe it
00:44:27from where she was 24 hours ago compared to now
00:44:29it's an absolute miracle
00:44:31and just such a bizarre sequence of events
00:44:33I'm just so happy at the end of it
00:44:35she's doing so well
00:44:36two years on from her miraculous escape
00:44:45Lulu and Nicola are living in the Peak District
00:44:47and Rohin's come to check on his most memorable patient
00:44:51I still remember the first thing when
00:45:17you know pulling up in the car on that day
00:45:19and just hearing this awful whimpering
00:45:22I just I remember thinking this is something bad
00:45:24and for us to go through that whole thing
00:45:26and her to actually recover
00:45:28with relatively minor injuries
00:45:30it's a miracle
00:45:31it's both horrendously unlucky
00:45:33but also very lucky that she managed to get away okay after isn't it
00:45:37she was very nervous for a long time afterwards
00:45:40so we were very carefully walking
00:45:42and just gradually building her up again
00:45:44because her legs were a bit wobbly for a long time
00:45:46but yeah she turned out great
00:45:48I guess for a young dog to go through such a big trauma
00:45:51it takes a lot of getting over that
00:45:53it wasn't a good start in life
00:45:54you can survive that
00:45:55I think you can survive anything can't you
00:45:57when you look back and you think that the hole wasn't even the width of a man's shoe
00:46:03yeah you just you couldn't make it up could you
00:46:05it was such an unfortunate thing to happen
00:46:07I remember already from when she was in the hospital
00:46:09she was so gentle and trusting
00:46:11it was a real testament to her temperament
00:46:14that despite everything she'd just been through
00:46:16she would just let you do whatever you need to do
00:46:18I must admit when I brought her to the hospital
00:46:21I didn't think she'd come out again
00:46:23I honestly didn't
00:46:24really
00:46:24I didn't think I'd ever see her again
00:46:26it's just one of those horrendous bits of bad luck
00:46:29that like I say it's probably the sort of thing
00:46:30I would see once in an entire career
00:46:32I don't imagine
00:46:32I'll ever go to a similar place
00:46:33I fully hope so
00:46:34no more
00:46:34no more
00:46:35hello Cliff
00:46:39bliss time
00:46:41happy dogs now
00:46:42bliss time
00:46:42off you go
00:46:43there we go
00:46:44it's a gorgeous area
00:46:51but I don't think I've ever seen so many dry stone walls in my life
00:46:53I hope she's not traumatised by those anymore
00:46:56no these are small ones
00:46:57and we're quite safe
00:46:58we don't have any two together
00:47:00so she's okay with these ones
00:47:03none with a wolfhound size gap in it
00:47:05no absolutely not
00:47:05come on Lulu
00:47:08come on baby
00:47:09come on
00:47:09it's been awesome
00:47:12being able to come here
00:47:13catch up with Nicola and Lulu
00:47:15she got over everything that happened
00:47:17she recovered with only minor injuries
00:47:19and now a couple of years down the line
00:47:20you'd never know anything was ever wrong
00:47:22good girl
00:47:24plenty of these walls around here as well
00:47:27but I think Lulu's learned her lesson
00:47:29and she'll have a good life here in the P district with Nicola
00:47:32coming up
00:47:36whoa not so clean anymore
00:47:39remembering to bite your tongue
00:47:41there were a few more swear words
00:47:43I recall saying at that point in time
00:47:45and the famous fiver
00:47:47obviously she has an extra leg
00:47:50I remember thinking this is a very odd thing to be doing
00:47:54and then it all became a bit hectic all of a sudden
00:47:58you're not sweating
00:47:59I think that would be an arm and I feel awful
00:48:00across Yorkshire's moors and dales for the past 10 years
00:48:12the Yorkshire vet team have never shied away
00:48:15right let's have a go from huge challenges good boy my boy which is what faced matt back in 2019
00:48:25lord yeah i remember this one with a nearly one ton cow who pushed out her uterus after giving
00:48:32birth this is the first one i think i was on my own on yorkshire vet god i remember this like
00:48:38it was yesterday the mom look how big she's absolutely massive and she was a bit spicy as
00:48:44well she's a big animal good girl this is quite a bad one is this see look at matt straight to work
00:48:55he's very very dynamic isn't he you know he's a real action man that's a proper prolapse as well
00:49:01isn't it you know when you're walking in you go i'm gonna be here a while yeah
00:49:05that'll be an 800 kilo cow strong man is our man isn't he yeah
00:49:12come on that's it yeah hold on hold on yes yes that'll do this is one of the most knackering
00:49:25jobs i think i've ever done is this one this position that she's in now is perfect for
00:49:30getting the ports back in so it'll sit and make the job so much easier for me oh not so clean
00:49:35anymore so the effort we expanded trying to get her like this is well worth it looks like
00:49:41he's been trying to put it back in with his head right then old school loads of salt this
00:49:46will shrink everything down give me something to grip and that'll provide disinfectant as
00:49:51well the tricky thing is as well you like you well know yeah i could get this pull us back
00:49:55in but she still might die and then you know cast off without her mother so we need to treat
00:49:59this really carefully and try and just gradually get it back in piece at a time piece at a time
00:50:05every prolapse i do now i just think piece at a time piece at a time i'm glad i'm glad i give you
00:50:12that mantra the calf this point in time desperately needs its first milkings you can see there that
00:50:19matt is slowly but slowly he's doing all right he's slowly getting it back no that's no no no
00:50:33no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no you know i can't believe that i can it's on fire me
00:50:42So far, I mean, I feel like it can go wrong, it does.
00:50:47The editing team was so good because there were a few more swear words
00:50:50that I recall saying at that point in time.
00:50:54Right, let's reset yourselves.
00:50:55Get that leg back.
00:50:57She's moved and pushed her toe back out.
00:50:59So we're having to have a restart.
00:51:03Right.
00:51:04Good girl.
00:51:06I think if you're a Yorkshire vet, you never give up.
00:51:08And Matt's a Yorkshire vet.
00:51:12Oh, my gosh.
00:51:23Wow.
00:51:25Piece of cake.
00:51:27Piece of cake.
00:51:28Oh, the relief when I got that in.
00:51:30The elation on Matt's face there, when that goes in, that smile of success.
00:51:36Well, well, well.
00:51:37Credit to Matt.
00:51:38You get stuck in, doesn't he?
00:51:40You can't fault his work ethic and his character.
00:51:43He's brilliant.
00:51:44Nothing's too much trouble, is it?
00:51:46And it's always done with a smile.
00:51:47Absolutely.
00:51:49Come on, who's this?
00:51:52This is a little car for me.
00:51:53Come on, Matt.
00:51:55Good girl.
00:51:56It's a bit of a workout.
00:51:57I think I've got my heart rate up for the day and I'm hungry, I'm wet.
00:52:03Literally, everything was sodden.
00:52:04Yeah.
00:52:05Like, the waterways hadn't kept any of the fluids out.
00:52:08Sticky feeling.
00:52:09And you're stood and all the fluid went down your legs and your trousers.
00:52:12Like, right now, I'm just stood like that because it feels like I've wet myself.
00:52:15Plan for me now is to get a quick shower, or if I can't manage a shower, at least a change
00:52:19of clothes.
00:52:20Of course, this is going to smell very fresh by the time I get back to practice.
00:52:23While Yorkshire is a land with a rich sense of history and heritage, it's now home to
00:52:35all kinds of exotic creatures, which is where Matt comes into his own.
00:52:43Don't look up the nosh, at the nosh, at the nosh, at the nosh.
00:52:45Crap.
00:52:47Today, we've come down to see Manu became an alligator.
00:52:50Not a happy morning.
00:52:56Okay, just everyone shut the door and just let me corner the monkey.
00:53:00We've got it, we've got it.
00:53:02So, let you into a little secret here, Matt.
00:53:04Albert is masturbating in your hand.
00:53:07Oh, wow.
00:53:07That's a first.
00:53:09You know what?
00:53:09As long as he's having a good time, we're all happy.
00:53:12The old guard have had their feathers ruffled by exotics, too.
00:53:16Whoa!
00:53:17He's going to take some catching, isn't he?
00:53:26Oh, hell.
00:53:29That's spoilted.
00:53:30I think he's going up there to have a good laugh.
00:53:35But maybe the most memorably unusual creature of them all was a farmyard animal.
00:53:40And today, Julian's travelled to Cumbria to see his former colleague, Katie.
00:53:47Hello, Katie.
00:53:48Hello.
00:53:49How are you doing?
00:53:49Yeah, good.
00:53:50How are you?
00:53:50Good to see you.
00:53:51Yeah, good to see you.
00:53:52How are you doing in Cumbria?
00:53:53Is it good?
00:53:54Yeah, I love Cumbria.
00:53:55It's a great place to be.
00:53:57Back in 2017, as well as working as a vet, Katie was helping on her dad's farm when a newborn knocked everyone for five.
00:54:09When I think of sheep, I always think of five of the lamb that we operated on.
00:54:14God, that was a while ago, wasn't it?
00:54:17This is five there.
00:54:18She was called Fiver, as obviously she has an extra leg.
00:54:23But it was your dad's lamb, wasn't it?
00:54:26He hadn't even realised initially, but he was penning them up and saw that it had this extra big leg that was starting to already get in the way.
00:54:35Is it not getting in the way of him eating and stuff?
00:54:37Not at the moment, but that's why we're going to remove it, because it will catch on things and start getting in the way.
00:54:43Because this is an abnormal part of the body that shouldn't be there, the anatomy is completely different.
00:54:49There's a joint of some type in there.
00:54:51I mean, what we'll need to do is just cut it off as close to the body as we can.
00:54:55Just as long as there's no big blood vessels in there.
00:54:58Go gently.
00:55:00Exactly.
00:55:01And I remember thinking, this is a very odd thing to be doing, but in a way we didn't really have any choice,
00:55:06because if she would have got bigger with an extra leg, it would have really got in the way.
00:55:12Yeah, it would have, and it was better to do it while she was young and it was small.
00:55:18Are we ready?
00:55:22What I would do, Katie, is just cut around there, through the skin and the muscle, and see what we've got underneath.
00:55:29That's it.
00:55:30Everything's different, the anatomy's completely different, so it's a bit of unknown territory, really.
00:55:36That's it.
00:55:37That's it.
00:55:38Go through.
00:55:38So that is the leg off.
00:55:43The bone looks like a normal bone in there.
00:55:46It was still a bit stressful though, wasn't it?
00:55:48And the anaesthetic wasn't particularly smooth.
00:55:50And then it all became a bit hectic all of a sudden.
00:55:53I keep sensing anxiety from Kate.
00:55:57Kate, would you mind if I just do the rest of it?
00:55:59Because I think the cut the way we can get it done, the better.
00:56:05I'm sweating from pressure at the moment.
00:56:08You're not sweating.
00:56:09I don't know, I'm looking awful.
00:56:15We've done that at the last stitch.
00:56:18My mammy.
00:56:18It's ingrained in my memory that day.
00:56:32And she did all right, didn't she, in the end?
00:56:33She did really well.
00:56:34I think she was actually exceptionally lucky to have had an extra leg, because she got a life of luxury.
00:56:40And got a special pet home.
00:56:44And there's been a pet sheep ever since.
00:56:47See what I've seen, grass horse sheep.
00:56:50They're coming to say hello, look.
00:56:51Still to come.
00:56:58Thanks, Rick.
00:57:00A flock of Yorkshire vets.
00:57:02Which page of the lecturers did it say, take your top off?
00:57:07Plus a couple of James Herriots.
00:57:10Peter, Julian and the team, congratulations.
00:57:13Hello, everybody.
00:57:14Hey!
00:57:21Leaving behind those mesmerising views of Yorkshire, Julian's travelled across the north to Cumbria,
00:57:34where he's reminiscing with his former colleague, Katie, about the past decade.
00:57:39Ten years, yeah.
00:57:40Yeah.
00:57:40I mean...
00:57:41How's it been?
00:57:42It's been something I never, ever expected.
00:57:46Oh, come on.
00:57:48Listen.
00:57:49Look at him a squeeze, old girl.
00:57:53Look at all those legs.
00:57:54Look how long it is.
00:57:55Well done, Cinderella.
00:57:59Wow.
00:58:00Don't see that every day.
00:58:02Yeah, look at all.
00:58:05You must have had some other quite good memories from working in Yorkshire.
00:58:09Absolutely, yeah.
00:58:10A lot of fun memories.
00:58:11Do you remember Chris Jeffrey?
00:58:13Oh, yeah.
00:58:13With all his animals.
00:58:14Geoffrey.
00:58:15We were always there, weren't we?
00:58:16Helping out with his various things.
00:58:19Ready, Elsa.
00:58:19Ready, Elsa.
00:58:21Yes, yes.
00:58:22Move.
00:58:23Yes.
00:58:24Move.
00:58:26It's it.
00:58:29There you are, Peggy.
00:58:30Welcome to the world.
00:58:31Look at him.
00:58:32He's trying to talk already.
00:58:34Hello, mate.
00:58:35But she's pregnant.
00:58:36What?
00:58:37Oh, ho, ho, ho.
00:58:39Bingo.
00:58:40Come on.
00:58:41She's definitely, yeah.
00:58:42I can feel her calf, so that's good news.
00:58:44She's on race tonight.
00:58:45I'm Betty Taylor.
00:58:49Oh, Betty Taylor.
00:58:51Yes, I do.
00:58:52With the boiled sweet.
00:58:54Billy and the boiled sweet.
00:58:55Yeah, yeah.
00:58:58My first thought was it was a tumour that was coming out of his skin.
00:59:01It's rock hard, isn't it?
00:59:02It's like a pebble.
00:59:06Oh, poor Billy.
00:59:10It couldn't be a jelly baby, could it?
00:59:12I think it's a jelly baby, Mrs. Taylor.
00:59:15Billy with a jelly baby.
00:59:18I don't know if it's a jelly baby.
00:59:22It's a sweetie.
00:59:24It is.
00:59:26It's one of those mints.
00:59:27Smell it.
00:59:28Oh, it is.
00:59:29It's a mint, I think.
00:59:30Billy, honestly, you're full of surprises, aren't you?
00:59:35She's done good form, actually.
00:59:37Oh, that's good to hear.
00:59:39Nice lady.
00:59:39I thought, oh, it might be an operation.
00:59:42I'd have felt a complete idiot if we anaesthetised him, only to surgically remove a sweet.
00:59:48Oh, I'm it.
00:59:50Don't come to me, Tommy.
00:59:52Over the last ten years, a bond has been forged between six vets and their teams, as they've shared the highs and lows of life in rural Yorkshire, in and out of work.
01:00:12We can probably knock this off ourselves, do you think?
01:00:14Oh, phew.
01:00:21Half-white was the yardstick by which all veterinary surgeons are measured, really.
01:00:28My old boss, James Henry, said about these other jobs.
01:00:31Plenty of patience and plenty of lubricant, and I think he would look at me with some amusement.
01:00:37He would think, Peter, what on earth have you got yourself into here?
01:00:41Well, it could have been worse, couldn't it?
01:00:46But at the same time, he would have a wry smile on his face
01:00:50and he would be nodding his approval
01:00:52because it's done something that he did really.
01:00:55He portrayed Yorkshire like nobody else has, in my opinion,
01:00:59and we've carried on that work to showcase what a fantastic place Yorkshire is.
01:01:04And I'd like to think, hopefully, I've done him proud.
01:01:09Come on, vets!
01:01:11In some ways, 10 years seems like a lifetime away.
01:01:15The programme started off, it was based in a small town in North Yorkshire
01:01:18where James Herriot himself used to work.
01:01:22Now, the whole programme has evolved.
01:01:25It's brilliant, isn't it?
01:01:26It is!
01:01:29I mean, we've had Peter and Julian
01:01:30that definitely gave us some confidence to go ahead and do it.
01:01:34And they've really coached us along the way, haven't they?
01:01:36Yeah.
01:01:36Peter, how are you?
01:01:37Hi, Peter!
01:01:38Nice to see you.
01:01:39Nice to see you.
01:01:41We've loved it, haven't we?
01:01:42Oh, yeah.
01:01:42And I think, hopefully, in 20 years' time,
01:01:45we'll be able to look back and see it and appreciate it all
01:01:48in a way that you can't really now.
01:01:51Let's go.
01:01:52Lead the way.
01:01:54It's about the countryside,
01:01:56it's about the animals in the countryside,
01:01:57and it's about the community,
01:01:59including the vets,
01:02:01and how we interact
01:02:02and how we look after those animals.
01:02:04Good job!
01:02:06I think that's why it resonates so much with people,
01:02:09is that it just captures that,
01:02:10the spirit of Yorkshire
01:02:11and the way that communities are brought together by animals.
01:02:14Yeah.
01:02:15It's something really special
01:02:16and it is something unique.
01:02:18It's not found everywhere in the world
01:02:20and you've got to cherish that, haven't we?
01:02:21I think it's the Yorkshire people
01:02:27that make it what it is.
01:02:29It's just the friendliness
01:02:30and the diversity of Yorkshire and the people.
01:02:35What I've really taken from the programme is,
01:02:37you know, we get a great deal of satisfaction
01:02:39by carving a cow or mending a, you know,
01:02:42a broken leg or whatever,
01:02:43but when there's a camera pointing at you,
01:02:45you can take that into people's living rooms.
01:02:48You know, they get to share it with us
01:02:49and that's what I've found really satisfying.
01:02:52I don't want to be famous.
01:02:53I just want to be a good vet.
01:02:55I just want to do a good job
01:02:56and be part of a community
01:02:58and if a few more people think,
01:03:01I can do that job
01:03:02because I've seen someone on the telly
01:03:03who can do that job,
01:03:05then that's brilliant
01:03:06because we need more vets.
01:03:08You know, I set off with Julia myself
01:03:10and then when you four joined us as well,
01:03:13I think that put an extra dimension on things.
01:03:16I think it broadened it out still further
01:03:18because you work in a different way,
01:03:21you look at things in a different way
01:03:22and I think that's good for the profession
01:03:24and I think it was good for the programme.
01:03:27Well, on the flip side,
01:03:28when it all first acted,
01:03:30seeing you and Julian,
01:03:31it actually was quite educational.
01:03:33I was a pre-clinical vet student.
01:03:35I'd not done hardly anything practical at that stage
01:03:38and I'd watch it with my parents
01:03:40and then I feel like, you know,
01:03:42that's what actually happens
01:03:44when you go to a programme.
01:03:45I don't know what I should be doing, I know.
01:03:46Yeah, no, he really did help.
01:03:47He's doing it, taking his shirt off.
01:03:50Which page of the lecture notes did it say,
01:03:52take your top off?
01:03:55So now I've got a little surprise for everybody.
01:03:58Okay, ready?
01:04:00Here we go.
01:04:00Ten years!
01:04:02Who would have thought that, eh?
01:04:04But heartwarming TV.
01:04:06All I can say is I hope it's there for another ten years.
01:04:10Congratulations to you all.
01:04:12I have so much love and respect for all of you
01:04:14and a decade of heart, of healing, of humour,
01:04:18of wonderful stories, wonderful people.
01:04:21Congratulations, everyone.
01:04:22Thank you for a decade of doing an amazing job,
01:04:26a decade of being brilliant
01:04:27and a decade, most importantly, of caring.
01:04:30A decade of sharing your great skill
01:04:33and compassion for all the animals
01:04:35that come under your care.
01:04:38So here's to you, and I hope,
01:04:40another decade, at least.
01:04:42Well said, Jules.
01:04:43Peter, Julian and the team,
01:04:45congratulations on a decade of stories,
01:04:48smiles and saving lives.
01:04:50You've inspired us all with your commitment,
01:04:53dedication and love for every creature,
01:04:56great and small.
01:04:57Yeah, that's nice.
01:04:58We're proud to be part of the Yorkshire Met
01:05:01for the past ten years
01:05:03and cheers everybody.
01:05:07Hello.
01:05:08I just want to say how proud I am
01:05:09to be one of the voices behind the Yorkshire Met
01:05:11and its various spin-offs.
01:05:14Even if I am speaking to you
01:05:15not from the beautiful Yorkshire countryside,
01:05:17but instead from my cupboard under the stairs.
01:05:20Hello, everybody.
01:05:23Hooray.
01:05:24It has been a privilege and a joy
01:05:26to tell all your stories
01:05:28for the past ten years.
01:05:30Now, I just do the words,
01:05:33but I watch the stories unfold
01:05:35and I cannot tell you
01:05:37how proud I am
01:05:39and how much I enjoy being part
01:05:41of such an enthusiastic
01:05:43and dedicated team.
01:05:44I think you're amazing.
01:05:47That was ace, was that one, man.
01:05:49That was so nice.
01:05:52Right, boys and girls,
01:05:53I think this deserves a toast.
01:05:55They always say, don't they,
01:05:56that pride can be a vice,
01:05:58but I think it can also be a positive thing.
01:06:01And I think we have an awful lot
01:06:03between the six of us,
01:06:04a lot to be proud about.
01:06:06I think we can be proud of who we are.
01:06:09I think we can be proud of what we do.
01:06:12And I think we can be proud of the Yorkshire Vette.
01:06:15It appeals to four-year-olds
01:06:17through to people in the 90s.
01:06:19So, I think we need to raise a toast.
01:06:22The Yorkshire Vette.
01:06:24The Yorkshire Vette.
01:06:25The Yorkshire Vette.
01:06:26Well said.
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