- 2 months ago
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TVTranscript
00:00I'm Pete Wicks.
00:08I've been helping out at Dogs Trust a while now.
00:10Yeah! Yeah!
00:12And I'm already starting to look like part of the furniture.
00:15Ooh, that's nice.
00:17I can't hear anything.
00:19So far, there's been challenging times.
00:21I imagine they're terrified.
00:24We need to do the surgery, otherwise she'd struggle to be mobile at all.
00:27She's a baby.
00:28As well as heartwarming ones.
00:31It's just so nice to see them like this.
00:33Hey, little baby.
00:34It's just been an amazing day.
00:36And this week's no exception.
00:38I did it.
00:40As the team and I do everything in our power.
00:42She's still got the rest of her life to live.
00:44To help our four-legged friends.
00:46It's a secret mission.
00:47I would love to come.
00:48Love you.
00:49Love you.
00:51I've got something special for you.
00:58Today, I'm starting off in my home away from home, Basildon, where Lisa's asked me to help her out with something.
01:13Lisa.
01:16Hi, are you all right?
01:17Why are you not in uniform?
01:18Well, you know we help dogs that are in quarantine.
01:21We've been asked to go and pick some dogs up today.
01:23So, because we can't have staff associated with the location, civvies.
01:29It's a secret mission.
01:30You and your civvies?
01:31In my civvies.
01:32Do you want to come along?
01:33I would love to come.
01:33Yeah?
01:34Shall we go?
01:34I'm ready now.
01:35Dogs Trust acts as the first responders for dogs illegally smuggled into the country and seized at the border.
01:43Ready?
01:44Yeah.
01:44After spending a mandatory six weeks in quarantine kennels, the dogs have nowhere else to go.
01:50What do we know about the dogs that we're going to pick up?
01:53They're desirable breeds.
01:54There's a little pom, a cavalier and a poodle.
01:57They were underage when they came in.
01:59Sought-after breeds can have a street value of thousands,
02:02but the gangs that smuggled them in have no care for the damage
02:05that separating a young puppy from its mum too soon can do.
02:09How traumatic is it for them?
02:11Yeah, I think it's about as bad as it gets, really.
02:13It's like a small crate in the back of vans, travelling, young puppies as young as like four weeks old,
02:19travelling for 30 hours without any food or water.
02:22Puppy smuggling is something quite close to home for me.
02:25So Eric was smuggling my dog and I know when he came across he was in quite bad conditions
02:33with his brother and sister and his sister had unfortunately passed away on the journey
02:37and Eric and his brother had horrendous skin conditions.
02:40Could you imagine, like, the trauma that little Eric went through?
02:43It's just heartbreaking, isn't it?
02:44With this kind of animal cruelty being so lucrative,
02:48criminal gangs will stop at nothing to steal them back.
02:52Crates in the back.
02:53Yeah, we should have little beds in there for the guys.
02:55So to protect the quarantine kennel's location, we're swapping into an unmarked car.
03:01Right, we're here.
03:02So if you don't mind waiting, I'm going to find out what's right.
03:05Is that all right?
03:05Yeah, thanks to Pete.
03:06I am quite nervous about the whole thing because I don't know what condition they're going to be in
03:12and how they are.
03:13We don't know anything about them, really.
03:15It just sounds so horrific and traumatic.
03:18For their own safety, the staff here will remain anonymous.
03:24He's tiny.
03:25He's very tiny.
03:28What have you been through?
03:30Hello, buddy.
03:31Hello, baby.
03:34Little jumpy.
03:36It was very nervous.
03:38Before we take them back, Lisa wants to assess them out in the open.
03:43Hello, buddy.
03:45Starting with the poodle pup and the spaniel.
03:48Hello, baby.
03:50Who were travelling together in a tiny cage all the way from Poland.
03:55What's their story with these two?
03:56These two were seized together coming in over Doverport
04:00and there was suspicion of them being under the actual age they were meant to be
04:03for coming into the UK.
04:04Despite their rough start in life, it's obvious these pups are resilient.
04:10You would look at them and you would think, those are great puppies,
04:13so no kind of signs of, oh, I've had a terrible start.
04:17And actually, behind that, who knows what's happened to them?
04:21This is the start of your new life then, boys.
04:25So you need some names?
04:26Need some names?
04:27Got any ideas?
04:27I mean, the other little one was very jumpy.
04:30Yeah.
04:31So I immediately fall, Tigger.
04:36So then, hello, puppy.
04:39What if we have Eeyore?
04:41Yeah.
04:42And what about Piglet?
04:44It's really cute.
04:45They're the poo puppies.
04:46That's really cute.
04:48Oh, you're ready.
04:49You got Piglet, have you got your lead?
04:51Are you ready to go?
04:52The lead's bigger than you.
04:55With Eeyore and Piglet raring to go,
04:57it's time to check the last of the trio, little Tigger.
05:01Oh.
05:02Tigger!
05:04Baby, Tigger!
05:05He seems tiny.
05:07Apparently, according to his paperwork,
05:09he should have roughly been about 22 weeks old.
05:12They believe he was about eight.
05:15Wow.
05:16Do you have any idea of where he travelled from?
05:18From Bulgaria.
05:20So that's several hours and eight weeks old.
05:22He's still missing his mum, still missing his siblings.
05:24Yeah.
05:24Oh, puppy.
05:25We're lucky that these guys are...
05:28These guys look great.
05:29Look great.
05:30Right, shall we get him on the road?
05:32Yeah.
05:33Come then, Tigger.
05:34Come on then, buddy.
05:36Oh.
05:40You can just go in the glove box.
05:43No, buddy.
05:44It's been stressful.
05:46It's been nerve-wracking.
05:47But I'm just really pleased that all three puppies
05:49seem to be doing well.
05:51You know now they're fully, fully safe.
05:54This is literally the beginning.
05:55This is the start from this moment onwards.
06:00It's not always the case, though, that dogs are brought in
06:03because they haven't been loved.
06:05Grow, grow, if you never try, you'll never know.
06:11Sometimes they've been loved their whole lives.
06:16Isola is in Leeds with her elderly dog, Paige,
06:18who she's had since she was a puppy.
06:22Hello, my love.
06:23How are you?
06:24I'm Pete.
06:25But due to ill health...
06:26Hello, Paige.
06:27..can no longer give her the care that she needs.
06:30How old have you had, Paige?
06:3215 years.
06:3315 years?
06:34Oh, you're an old girl.
06:36Yeah.
06:37Got when she was eight weeks old.
06:39So she's kind of been with you since a puppy.
06:41Yeah, yeah.
06:42So it's a really difficult...
06:43Yeah, it's going to be a big loss.
06:46Lovely dog, lovely memories.
06:48Yeah.
06:48That's a career everywhere.
06:50When I've not been well, she's been really, really attentive,
06:53which has been really nice.
06:55And it's coming to terms with the fact that I can't do it.
06:59You're sorry to hear that, though.
07:00Yeah.
07:00It's a really tough decision.
07:03Yeah, it's a tough decision.
07:05This is just the best thing for me to do.
07:08You obviously love her so much, but...
07:10Mm.
07:11She just wants to enjoy the rest of her life.
07:13Really brave thing to do.
07:21For all day it was rough
07:24But lately I've been doing better
07:27So maybe she's going to be great.
07:29Yeah, she is.
07:31I know she is.
07:33She's had her since she was eight weeks old.
07:35You know, they've had her over 14 years together.
07:38She said she was like her little shadow.
07:40Do you want to say goodbye?
07:41Yeah.
07:42Bye, babe.
07:43It's really tough.
07:44Like, that would break my heart.
07:46Yeah.
07:47You know, the dog's been in her life for such a long time.
07:51This way, darling.
07:53Come on, puppy.
07:54It takes a bit of courage.
07:56I think it's very brave for her to be able to do that.
07:58But she's made the right decision.
08:01And she seems like a lovely little dog.
08:03Thank God every day
08:05For the girl here sent my way.
08:09Although rehoming elderly dogs can sometimes be challenging,
08:13Paige is now in the best possible place for her chance to find someone who loves her just as much.
08:18In Basildon, though, six puppies have just been handed in.
08:27Although they appear to be healthy, they were handed over with their mum.
08:33Who's in one of the worst states they've ever seen.
08:35And showing clear signs of starvation.
08:41Oh, come on, darling.
08:44Come on, Cleo.
08:46Come on, Cleo.
08:50Staff have named her Keira.
08:53Oh, my darling.
08:54I'm heading down there as fast as I can.
08:59Oh, God, I need these beautiful things that I've got.
09:07You all right, Lisa?
09:08Hello, Pete.
09:10Where's my old?
09:11She's at the back.
09:12Oh, wow.
09:13Hey.
09:14Oh.
09:16Oh, Keira.
09:18Oh, he's so cute.
09:19Oh, darling.
09:21Wow.
09:23Are you OK?
09:24Hello, puppy.
09:25Wow, she's in a real state.
09:26Yeah, she's really hungry.
09:28Like, she's ravenously hungry.
09:30So she's been incredibly neglected.
09:31Yeah.
09:32She's literally skin and bones.
09:33She's not eating properly for a long time.
09:35Correct.
09:36And if these are only three or four weeks old,
09:37she was incredibly underweight when she actually gave birth.
09:40Probably.
09:41Honestly, it broke my heart when she came in.
09:44And the puppy's actually looking in pretty good health.
09:46So they've literally just taken everything from her.
09:48She's just given them everything.
09:50She could easily have died.
09:53Just even feeling her is just heartbreaking, can't it?
09:56Yeah, it is.
09:57She's so sweet.
09:59And, you know, and it's just testament that, you know,
10:01everything that humans do to these dogs,
10:03and they just still are so trusting.
10:06Friends, I love you too.
10:08You do.
10:09This one's upset you, hasn't it?
10:10It has.
10:11Yeah, it really has.
10:11Because there isn't really an excuse.
10:14How long is it going to take before she's at full capacity weight-wise?
10:18It'll be weeks.
10:19Weeks of recovery.
10:19We need to be a bit careful that we don't overfeed her,
10:22because that can cause medical problems.
10:24So Charlotte's working on a feeding plan for her, isn't she?
10:28That was a lot.
10:31You never want to see any kind of dog in that sort of state.
10:36Not only could we have lost Kira,
10:38those puppies wouldn't be her either.
10:40How she's managed to bring up six puppies who seem pretty healthy,
10:46pretty lively, it's a miracle.
10:52I kind of feel like she's been so loving
10:54because she knows people are here to help.
10:56And sometimes you can't explain it to some dogs,
10:58but sometimes they just know.
10:59I feel like it's one of them situations
11:01where you kind of look at her
11:03and she was probably towards the end of hope.
11:07In Basildon, everyone's hard at work.
11:26Is that filming you?
11:29Yeah.
11:29Oh, so it's got us gas bagging in the back.
11:31Yeah, nice.
11:33No, no, no.
11:34Honestly, it's just all normal, isn't it?
11:35It's a day-to-day life, so...
11:38We always like having a chat, don't we?
11:41Including me.
11:43What a lovely side.
11:45Always happy to help.
11:46Anything else that they's doing?
11:47And after their first night in the puppy block,
11:50the hard work starts with my quarantine pups.
12:00As we know so little about their lives
12:02or what they've been through,
12:04the team need to start assessing them
12:06before they can get you all clear
12:07and go up for rehoming.
12:09I've got something special for you.
12:11What have you got?
12:12And the first step is a vet check
12:15with James and Charlotte.
12:16Guys, I'd like you to meet Tigger.
12:20So, I mean, he's a Pomeranian.
12:22Is there anything specifically
12:23that you would be looking at differently
12:25because he's a Pomeranian?
12:26Because it's a...
12:27Yeah, they can be prone to heart problems,
12:28but his heart sounds fine.
12:29Sounds fine.
12:30So, no, looks all good.
12:32Looks all good.
12:33It's a relief to hear Tigger's doing well.
12:36Oh, you know you look good.
12:38All right, I'm going to get him back then
12:39and I'll go and get the other two, yeah?
12:41Next up is Eeyore.
12:44Just looking at his heart, yeah?
12:46Yeah, isn't it?
12:47All fine.
12:48Well done, my little floof.
12:49What was that?
12:50He's got very cold hands.
12:51Warm them up.
12:53Shall we swap?
12:54Yeah.
12:55So, this is Piglet.
12:56What is quite typical
12:57in terms of health problems for Cavaliers?
12:59Commonest one tends to be the heart.
13:01They can be prone to neurological problems as well.
13:04Oh, yeah.
13:04All good at the moment.
13:07Piglet, you're fine.
13:08What's that?
13:09He said thank you.
13:10Oh, that's all right.
13:11All good for all three.
13:14After such a rough start,
13:16it's great to see all three puppies
13:17get a clean bill of health.
13:20She said, oh, hi, nice to meet you too.
13:24Night, maybe we could go.
13:26Let's get up off our feet.
13:27But for seriously underweight Kira,
13:29the situation is much more critical.
13:32Isn't that exciting?
13:34Since arriving,
13:36she's been put on an urgent feeding plan
13:38to try and help her gain weight.
13:40She's very hungry.
13:41But she can only be fed little and often
13:44because if a malnourished dog eats too much,
13:47it can lead to refeeding syndrome,
13:50a potentially life-threatening condition
13:52that can result in complete organ failure.
13:54All right, Charlotte.
13:58Hi, Pete.
13:59Hi, Kira.
13:59Can I come in?
14:00Yeah, come in.
14:01Hello, darling.
14:02Oh, God.
14:03How are you, darling?
14:05Are you OK, Kira?
14:06You're getting too overexcited.
14:08She's so beautiful, isn't she?
14:10She is lovely.
14:11But she looks bad.
14:12Yeah, it's awful.
14:13My first thing was,
14:14oh, she's been seized, has she?
14:15And they was like, no, she's a handover.
14:17That is shocking to me.
14:18I thought she'd been roaming the streets for weeks
14:21feeding these puppies.
14:22But no, she's been living in a home
14:24like this.
14:25I don't know what the situation was in that house,
14:28but she was being starved to death.
14:30This could have been critical.
14:31Yeah.
14:32I mean, you can see what a good mum she is.
14:35As soon as mum gets in that bed,
14:36they're all straight to the old mummy bar.
14:38Yeah.
14:39I mean, I'm surprised that she is
14:41as bright and alert as she is
14:44because she's surviving on nothing
14:46and she's feeding six puppies.
14:48Kind of like a miracle mum in a minute.
14:50Yeah.
14:51In terms of grading,
14:52how bad her body condition is,
14:54what would you say?
14:54Because it's normally done out of...
14:55So it's one to nine.
14:57One to nine.
14:57Nine being morbidly obese.
15:00Yeah.
15:00One being skin and bone.
15:01Yeah.
15:02She's a one.
15:03Yeah.
15:04There's not much left of her.
15:06It doesn't get much worse than this.
15:07And she just looks gaunt in her face.
15:09You can see the shape of her skull.
15:11But that takes a long time
15:12to, you know,
15:14start losing the fat on your face
15:16and to get that gaunt look.
15:18Considering the shocking condition she's in,
15:21she's such a beautiful girl, aren't you?
15:23Yeah, she's lovely.
15:25I know you are, babe.
15:27As well as being severely underweight,
15:29unfortunately, Kira has another problem.
15:32I mean, there's obviously
15:33some sort of lump on the back end.
15:36Do you have any idea what that could be?
15:38I would never like to say.
15:39So we'll send it for histology
15:40to find out for sure.
15:42Would that be done
15:42as a kind of a matter of urgency as well?
15:44That's not her biggest problem at the moment.
15:46The body condition is the biggest problem
15:48and she is still feeding puppies as well.
15:50So we really need to focus on that.
15:52Also, if we were to put her
15:53under a general anaesthetic now,
15:54that would be really risky
15:55at her current body condition.
15:57I know, babe.
15:59You're going to be OK.
16:00You just need a little bit of love.
16:08For Kira, it's a case of taking things slowly.
16:13But back in Leeds,
16:15hopefully it will be a different story
16:16for 15-year-old Paige
16:18and she'll be in a home in no time.
16:20Go on, Paige. Good girl.
16:22Handler Kevin and I
16:23are taking her to see vet nurse Sue
16:25for her very first vet check.
16:28Hi, Sue. Hello.
16:28Hello. This is Paige.
16:30Hello.
16:32And I understand she's an old girl.
16:34She's 15.
16:35Well...
16:35She looks great for 15, though.
16:37She does, actually.
16:37Look at her.
16:38Look at her little waggy tail.
16:40Hi, Paigey.
16:41Hello.
16:42Oh, good girl.
16:44What sort of thing would you be looking for
16:45for a kind of a handover
16:46of a dog of this age?
16:47One of the first things
16:48that we would expect
16:49is some form of arthritis
16:51in one or more of the limbs.
16:53Yeah, you can notice that.
16:53When she's walking around.
16:55Yeah, this one.
16:55She's definitely guard.
16:56She's not putting very much weight
16:57on that leg.
16:59But Paige is also
17:00showing signs of stress.
17:03Yeah, you can definitely notice
17:04that the legs are quite shaky.
17:05Yeah, she's very wobbling.
17:07She's very stressed.
17:08Her tail's down.
17:09She's panting.
17:10Also, if she is sore,
17:12she's not going to want a stranger
17:13prodding and poking her.
17:16Sue decides to cut her examination short
17:19and let Paige have a bit more time
17:21to settle in.
17:22We couldn't really do it today.
17:24It's not fair on her first visit
17:26when she's, you know, a bit stressed.
17:28They can prescribe some pain relief,
17:30make her more comfortable,
17:32and then we'll have another look at her
17:33in a week's time.
17:34And then kind of give her
17:36assessment after she's kind of
17:37calmed down.
17:37That's right.
17:39Our main job, first and foremost,
17:41is to make her comfortable
17:41and pain-free.
17:43Come on then, darling.
17:45Unfortunately for Paige,
17:46she can't go up for rehoming
17:47until she's had a vet check.
17:49When you lose your fear
17:52I'm to your knees
17:55But back in Basildon,
17:57the team are full steam ahead
17:59assessing the quarantine pups
18:00to help find the perfect home for them.
18:03I beg it.
18:04Jordan and Charlie
18:06are using our old friend Gary
18:08to see what Piglet would be like
18:09in a home with other dogs.
18:11How's this, Piglet?
18:13Oh, good boy.
18:14Well done.
18:16That's so brave.
18:17So in terms of body language
18:18and that, Jordan,
18:19how's he doing?
18:20He went straight up there.
18:21Yeah, I think he's done really well
18:22for a puppy that's probably
18:23not had much exposure to stuff.
18:25He's a really well-rounded
18:26little dog.
18:27In terms of assessing wires
18:29and rehoming,
18:30obviously you're fostering
18:31at the minute.
18:32So he is going to be up
18:33for rehoming soon.
18:34Yes, I'm going to be so sad
18:36to see him go.
18:37And Gemma and Cameron
18:38are seeing how Tigger
18:39copes being groomed.
18:41He's a pom.
18:42They require a fair bit of grooming,
18:43don't they?
18:43Yeah.
18:44So Cameron can give him
18:45some treats,
18:47brush him over his back,
18:49take a break,
18:50see what he does.
18:51He's absolutely loving it.
18:52He's done eating.
18:53I mean, in terms of
18:54kind of assessing him
18:56and that, Gemma,
18:56he's not really struggled
18:58with anything, has he?
18:59No, he doesn't seem
19:00to be lacking in too much
19:01confidence at all.
19:03So this is it then,
19:04we could be finding
19:05you a home puppy.
19:07It's just the last puppy
19:08to go now,
19:09Poodle Eeyore,
19:11who Leanne is making sure
19:12feels comfortable
19:13out and about
19:14around dogs
19:15he's never met before.
19:17The plan is to bring
19:19a dog in that I know
19:20is good around other dogs
19:21and just see what
19:22his response is
19:22at a bit of a distance.
19:23OK, let's see
19:24what happens then.
19:26Right on cue,
19:27here comes Teddy.
19:29I just want him
19:29to spot the dog.
19:30Spot the dog?
19:31Spot the dog.
19:32Really good books.
19:33Oh, there,
19:33a beautiful dog.
19:35You haven't noticed yet,
19:36have you?
19:38This is her.
19:38Oh, OK.
19:39Super vocal.
19:41So would you say
19:41this is pretty fixated?
19:43Very fixated on the other dog.
19:45Whilst he's doing this,
19:46you're not going to get
19:46any engagement from him.
19:48This is not ideal
19:49to be able to
19:49obviously put him up
19:50for rehoming
19:51because people are going to
19:52not be able to manage
19:53this out and about.
19:54Charlotte moves Teddy back
19:56to see if increasing
19:57the distance between them
19:58will help Eor calm down.
20:01Dogs that are reactive
20:03to other dogs,
20:03it generally can be
20:04like a frustration
20:05or like a fear.
20:06Does this look like
20:07aggression to you
20:08or just frustration?
20:09I think it is just
20:10frustration, yeah.
20:11We don't want him
20:12just to keep practicing
20:12this behavior
20:13because as he gets older
20:15obviously it could turn
20:16into possible aggression
20:17as well.
20:19Until the team
20:20can work out
20:21what's triggering
20:22his behavior,
20:23he can't be considered
20:24for rehoming.
20:28In Basildon,
20:30the team are working hard
20:31with dedicated mum Kira.
20:33Not only are they
20:34carefully feeding her up,
20:36they've weaned
20:38her puppies too.
20:40We're going to be feeding
20:41mum and pop separately.
20:42It just takes away
20:43that extra stress
20:43from mum.
20:44And the puppies
20:45get to eat in peace
20:45as well so then
20:46she's not nicking
20:47all their food.
20:48Good girl.
20:55You were done, mum.
20:59Today she's having
21:00a vet check
21:00with James and Charlotte.
21:03Hello.
21:05Oh, bless her, it was.
21:06Obviously she's ravenous,
21:08she's really eating quickly
21:09but she's not scavenging
21:10their food.
21:12We're just going
21:13to have a little health
21:13check, is that okay?
21:15First, they want to see
21:17if she's put on any weight
21:18since she arrived.
21:2012.3, okay, yeah,
21:21she is the same weight.
21:22Despite their feeding plan
21:24and very best efforts,
21:26Kira is still not gaining
21:27weight.
21:28Do we increase the food
21:29a little bit?
21:29Yeah, it might be worth
21:30just a bit of a taste.
21:31Oh, no, yes, you're good.
21:33So they have to decide
21:34on how to proceed
21:35with the lump
21:36at the base of her tail.
21:38Obviously she's too underweight
21:39to be putting her
21:40under a general
21:40aesthetic to be removed
21:41at the moment
21:42so we didn't know
21:42whether we should
21:43get a sample of it.
21:45Yeah, we can get
21:45that sent off
21:46and just make sure
21:47it's not anything sinister.
21:48Oh, damn girl.
21:50Oh, it's a brave girl.
21:52Oh, it's dead.
21:53Here we go.
21:55It could, unfortunately,
21:56be a malignant tumour
21:57in which case, yeah,
21:58we'd need to remove it
21:59for her.
22:00But the benefit
22:01of setting it off
22:02to the lab first
22:03is we can try
22:03and find out
22:04exactly what type
22:05and how aggressive
22:06we need to be.
22:08As she's not gaining
22:09any weight in kennels
22:10and her puppies
22:11are now fully weaned...
22:12Come on then, Kira.
22:13Good girl.
22:14..the team decides
22:16on a new plan for Kira,
22:17a temporary stay
22:18in a foster home.
22:20Good girl, that's it.
22:22Dedicated foster carers
22:23can give struggling dogs
22:24around-the-clock care.
22:26Good girl.
22:27And provide them
22:28with a low-stress home environment
22:30to help their physical
22:31and psychological recovery.
22:33So you're a good girl.
22:34You're on your belly, love.
22:37And up in Leeds,
22:38the team have decided
22:39this might also be
22:40the best option for Paige.
22:42Good lass.
22:44In we go.
22:46Who's no closer
22:47to being rehomed
22:48as she's still too stressed
22:49to have a complete health check.
22:51I'm joining Kevin
22:52to take her to foster.
22:54What a day.
22:56What a day indeed.
22:58Just another day
22:59at Dog Trust.
23:06How difficult is it
23:07to potentially rehome
23:08the more mature lady
23:10that's called her?
23:11Sometimes it can be a struggle.
23:13It's quite a big thing
23:14for people to take a dog on
23:16at that end
23:17of their lifespan.
23:18I mean, it's always
23:19the kind of older ones
23:20that get me.
23:21Yeah.
23:22Me too.
23:25Regardless of age
23:26and regardless of everything else,
23:27every dog deserves love
23:28and deserves a home.
23:31You've been very good.
23:34Didn't hear a peep
23:35from you all the way.
23:36Hello, darling.
23:38Good girl.
23:40Oh, I bet that's nice.
23:41Stretch those old legs.
23:43Right, off we go.
23:44This way.
23:45For older dogs like Paige,
23:47going to a foster home
23:48is invaluable
23:49as kennel life
23:50can be stressful.
23:50Hiya.
23:56Hi, Jane.
23:57We've got Paige here for you.
23:59There we go.
24:01That's where wonderful people
24:02like Jane step in.
24:04Hello, look.
24:05To give Paige
24:07a more comfortable place
24:08to decompress
24:09so that she's able
24:10to be checked by the vet.
24:12Bit of a sad one.
24:14Her previous family,
24:16she's got some health problems.
24:17Yeah.
24:18So she's handed her in
24:19but she's had her
24:20since she was eight weeks old.
24:22Oh, that would have been
24:23hard for her then.
24:24Yeah, really, really difficult.
24:25But she's a lovely little dog,
24:26isn't she?
24:27She's lovely.
24:28She's obviously been
24:28really well looked at her.
24:29She's got an amazing temperament.
24:31Do you know what's wonderful to see?
24:33She's not panting anymore.
24:34No.
24:34She's really calmed down a lot.
24:36Yeah.
24:37I'm really sure
24:37how good it's getting to foster homes.
24:40So this isn't your first foster.
24:42How long have you been doing it?
24:42I've been doing it
24:43for about ten years now.
24:45About ten years?
24:45Oh, you've done loads of it.
24:46Yeah.
24:47This is about my 65th.
24:4965th?
24:50Yeah.
24:5065?
24:5165.
24:52Oh, wow.
24:52Oh, so you know.
24:53I mean, that's amazing.
24:55You're in the perfect place then.
24:56Hey, you're lovely.
24:58Right, Jane,
24:59we're going to leave you to it.
25:00Right.
25:00Thank you, Jane.
25:01Paige is going to see us out.
25:03Yeah, OK.
25:04Speak to you soon.
25:05Yes, see you soon.
25:06Bye, Angel.
25:07After seeing Paige with Jane,
25:10I feel so much better.
25:12It's ended with her safe and sound
25:13with the most experienced foster carer
25:15I've ever heard of.
25:17I love you when you're singing a song, yeah.
25:21I got a lock in my phone
25:22because you're going to sing the words of...
25:25Back in Basildon,
25:28Keira's puppies are doing brilliantly.
25:31Ryan, how are you, mate?
25:32I'm good, thank you.
25:33How are you?
25:33I'm all the better now
25:34that I've seen some puppies.
25:36And they've been named
25:37Nicholas, Nathaniel,
25:40Harley,
25:42Lottie,
25:43Julian
25:43and Eliza.
25:47Hello, puppies.
25:49One, two, three, four, five.
25:50There's six of you.
25:52How old are these guys now?
25:53About five, six weeks now.
25:55And how have they been getting on, mate?
25:56They've been doing fantastic.
25:57They eat well,
25:58they play nicely.
26:00As you can see,
26:00they're just a really cute litter of pups.
26:02It is incredible to see them out here
26:03kind of playing
26:04and with the way Keira was
26:06when she came in,
26:07and how well she did as a mum.
26:09These puppies might not have been there
26:11at all.
26:12It's such a beautiful thing.
26:13It is.
26:13And, you know,
26:15they may not have had the best start,
26:16but going on,
26:17they'll hopefully have great lives
26:18with families
26:19and just become great family dogs, really.
26:21So what are we doing in here
26:22with them today?
26:22With each of the litters of pups,
26:24we do a bit of a character assessment
26:25with them.
26:26So it just helps us
26:27pick the right family
26:28for the right dog.
26:29Even though the pups are young,
26:31early life experiences
26:32and interactions with each other
26:34can lead to the pups
26:35all having unique
26:36and very different personalities.
26:39We've got Lottie here.
26:40Compared to the others,
26:41she does like to kind of sit in a corner
26:42and we'll just
26:43watch what's going on, really.
26:45Whereas you take Nicholas, for example,
26:46and he's more confident.
26:47He's a bit of a geezer.
26:48It's really hard to tell them apart, though,
26:50isn't it?
26:50It really...
26:51If the collars fall off,
26:52you've got a long day.
26:53Have you got a favourite?
26:55The one you've got there,
26:56little Nicholas,
26:56he's a real people dog.
26:58You're a little bruiser.
26:59Yes, you are.
27:00Oh, no, he's my favourite.
27:01Every dog I hold is my favourite
27:03until I hold another dog
27:04and then that becomes my favourite.
27:05I need to stop telling everyone
27:07they're my favourite.
27:07Oh, no.
27:08You're about to start your new life.
27:10I don't think it's going to be a problem for you.
27:12No, it's not.
27:12Off you go.
27:13I could just play all day with the puppies.
27:16Oh, excuse me.
27:16Sorry.
27:17Did you...
27:17You're not getting any attention.
27:19I'm sorry.
27:20Oh, she's really cute.
27:23No, she is my favourite.
27:25Well, I don't have long
27:27to make my mind up on that one
27:28as these bundles of joy
27:30will be up for rehoming very soon.
27:33Just like my quarantine pups.
27:36After only three weeks,
27:38two have found their forever homes.
27:41Oh, this is such a good boy.
27:43Charlie, who was fostering Piglet,
27:45decided to keep him.
27:46Good boy.
27:47And I can't blame her.
27:48How can you not fall in love
27:49with him?
27:49He's such a cute ape.
27:51And bouncy Pomp Tigger
27:52found a new home
27:53with Faye, Tony and Rue.
27:58See you later.
28:00Bye.
28:02Who are clearly
28:03very big animal lovers.
28:06But third puppy, Eeyore,
28:08can't go up for rehoming
28:09until the team get a handle
28:11on his reactions to other dogs.
28:13And today,
28:14he's having a bit more training
28:15with help from his old friend, Teddy.
28:18What do you reckon?
28:19Hi.
28:19Hi.
28:21Good boy.
28:21So what are you noticing here,
28:22Leanne, then?
28:23So obviously stopped with the noise.
28:25Yeah.
28:25Teddy is super friendly,
28:26but sometimes he does also
28:28forget his manners as well.
28:29But he's coping reasonably okay with it.
28:32This is a bit scary.
28:34We can try and go for a bit of a walk
28:36if you're happy to...
28:37Yeah, should we give that a go?
28:38So I think, yeah,
28:40it's not necessarily aggression or anything.
28:43It's just, I think,
28:43him being vocal
28:45is just a bit of a frustration.
28:47So I don't quite know
28:48how to act about this,
28:50but also maybe a little bit
28:51of fear in there as well.
28:53So at this point, then,
28:54as kind of a first introduction,
28:55would you leave it here?
28:57I think so.
28:57I think we don't want to kind of
28:58scare him with lots of new dogs,
29:00but just doing it nice and slowly
29:02and just making sure
29:02that every experience around a dog
29:04is going to be a positive experience.
29:06So it's small steps forward for Eeyore
29:08as his training continues.
29:10Up in Leeds...
29:11Come on in.
29:12..having a dedicated foster carer
29:14is working wonders for Paige.
29:17Ready?
29:19..who is now much more relaxed
29:21and finally well enough
29:23to come back to the centre
29:25for her all-important vet check
29:27with John.
29:28Hi, John.
29:29This is Paige.
29:30We've got an old lady for you.
29:32So, here we go.
29:34Paige came in last week.
29:37She went to foster
29:37because she was a little bit stressed out.
29:39But she's settled down,
29:40calmed down a lot,
29:41really relaxed,
29:42just doing really well.
29:43Let's have a look, Sausage,
29:44how we're going to be.
29:45Can I have a look at these eyes
29:46before we start?
29:47Good girl.
29:48And she's got what we call
29:49nuclear sclerosis in the eyes.
29:52Nucleus...
29:53Sclerosis.
29:54Sclerosis.
29:54And that's the lens in the eye.
29:56But that's kind of down to the wearing tail,
29:57like I say.
29:58Yeah, it is.
29:58Like a dog that age,
29:59it's very common.
30:00Yeah, it is.
30:01And surprisingly,
30:02it won't affect her vision a lot.
30:03OK.
30:04And then in terms of her legs,
30:06I mean, they were very shaky last week.
30:07Yeah.
30:07And I think that was probably
30:08the biggest concern.
30:09Look, she's a good girl.
30:12Here you go.
30:13Yeah.
30:13There's a bit of arthritis
30:14in the back end.
30:15Again, wear and tear related.
30:17Kind of expect arthritis in a 15-year-old dog,
30:20I imagine.
30:21Absolutely.
30:21You think she's in fairly good working order?
30:24Yes.
30:25I mean, she's 15.
30:27Yeah.
30:27She's done remarkably well.
30:29Amazing.
30:30Beautiful.
30:31This is great news.
30:33Come on, then.
30:33Come on, Paige.
30:33Foster has done the trick
30:36and she's now been signed off
30:37and can go up for rehoming.
30:40Come on, Kira.
30:41In Essex,
30:42Sit.
30:43Kira has been with her foster carer
30:44for a week already.
30:45Paul?
30:46Paul?
30:46Oh, good Paul.
30:48Good girl.
30:49Where she's been eating well
30:51and getting around-the-clock care.
30:53Look at your tail go.
30:55And, of course,
30:56soaking up lots of love.
30:57Such a happy doggy.
30:58Today, she's back with Vet James
31:05and Nurse Charlotte for a check-up
31:07to see if she's finally gaining weight.
31:10Hello.
31:12And I've heard the results are back
31:13from her lump.
31:16She looks great.
31:18Oh, she's looking better.
31:19She looks really good.
31:21How are you, darling?
31:21Are you OK?
31:22Yeah, she looks really good, doesn't she?
31:24And even, I don't know if you noticed,
31:25but even giving her the snacks now,
31:27she's not as snappy,
31:28like, give me the food.
31:29She's not as hungry.
31:30Yeah.
31:31She's a bit more settled now,
31:32so that's really good.
31:33So just amazing, isn't it?
31:34From the state that she came in
31:36over such a short period of time,
31:38she already looks this good.
31:40Yeah.
31:40It's like there's a little sparkle
31:41back in the way, you know?
31:42Yeah.
31:43Amazing.
31:44So what's been happening then?
31:45Give me the lowdown.
31:46So we've got the results back
31:48from the sample we took from the lump.
31:50So it's organ use.
31:51So it's come back as a benign lump.
31:53Oh.
31:54So, yeah,
31:55it's what we call the perianal adenoma.
31:57So it's just a tumour of some of the glands.
31:59What's it called?
32:00Perianal adenoma.
32:02Perianal adenoma.
32:03Yeah.
32:04So it's benign,
32:05but sometimes they can change.
32:07So they're recommending it's removed.
32:09Okay.
32:11Although it's good news,
32:12she still needs surgery.
32:15And that can't be done
32:16until she's a healthy weight.
32:18And have we weighed her yet?
32:19Have we weighed her today?
32:20She was 12.3 last time.
32:2212.3.
32:23And for a dog like Kira,
32:24what is kind of an ideal weight for her?
32:26Do you think we can get her up to like 14, 15 kilograms?
32:2914.
32:30Shall we see what weight you are?
32:32We're looking for 14.
32:33Come on then, puppy.
32:35I'm going to crawl.
32:39Yes, I know.
32:40Okay.
32:40Oh, such a weight.
32:4313.9?
32:44That's not bad, is it?
32:46Give me 10 more.
32:47Oh.
32:47This is all good.
32:49We can get her to 14, trust me.
32:51Give me more.
32:51Oh, I'm throwing up.
32:53Where are they going?
32:54It's such a relief
32:55that that has turned out not to be cancerous.
32:58You know, we were all really worried.
32:59She's been through enough already.
33:01So now we just need to build her up
33:03so that she's healthy enough for surgery.
33:06Yeah, I know.
33:07It's a very nice decision.
33:09She's definitely going in the right direction,
33:12but the surgery just isn't worth risking
33:14until she's completely ready.
33:22Back in Leeds,
33:23there's some good news for my golden girl, Paige,
33:26as today, potential new owner Jack has come to meet her.
33:33So this is your first time meeting Paige, is it?
33:35It is, yeah.
33:35I saw her waddle through the doors
33:37and, yeah, I fell in love instantly.
33:39Just me and my partner have a soft spot for older dogs
33:42because we feel like we want to give the dog
33:45the best life possible with the time it's got left.
33:48I mean, it's unusual
33:49because a lot of people,
33:50when they're looking at adopting dogs,
33:51always want the kind of puppies and whatever else.
33:54And sometimes older dogs,
33:55they get overlooked a little bit.
33:57It's heartbreaking, really,
33:59when you think about it
34:00because they need to have as much love
34:02as the younger dogs get.
34:04And it would be amazing for Paige
34:06to get her into a forever home
34:07so she can live out the rest of her life
34:08covered in love and a bit of happiness.
34:11My partner being a veterinary surgeon,
34:13she's seen a lot of...
34:14Your partner's a vet as well?
34:15She is, yeah.
34:16Oh, it's...
34:16Yeah.
34:18Ticking boxes here, aren't they?
34:19It's a good match.
34:21I mean, so what are you kind of thinking then?
34:22I mean, is your partner going to come and meet her as well?
34:24Yes.
34:25Yeah, so unfortunately,
34:26because she couldn't make it today,
34:27but she definitely wants to meet her, for sure.
34:30I mean, as first dates go,
34:32this is pretty impressive.
34:33It's ideal, isn't it?
34:34So now we've just got to convince your partner?
34:37Yes.
34:37I don't think it'll take much convincing.
34:38I don't think it's going to be difficult, no.
34:39I think you just give her Paige and go,
34:40what do you think?
34:42What do you think?
34:43Is that nice?
34:45Paige, we might have found you a home, darling.
34:48Hopefully, she's the one for them.
34:52Meanwhile, in Basildon,
34:53Kira's pups are now eight weeks old
34:57and have been flying out the door.
35:00Step into the open...
35:04Eliza is going home with a vertical family
35:06and now has a new and much bigger friend.
35:10Oh!
35:12Oh!
35:12This is her time!
35:15Julian is leaving to start his new life
35:17with Hayley and Nick.
35:18Hello, look.
35:19Cute, too.
35:20The Turner family are taking Nicholas home.
35:27Hi, Dad.
35:29Harley is the newest member of the Murphy family.
35:33And the past family are whisking Lottie off
35:35to her new home in Shropshire.
35:40Is she a good boy?
35:41Is she going to be a good boy?
35:43And finally, Nathaniel is covering up
35:47with Jill and her whole family.
35:50But today is the big day for supermum, Kira.
36:00Her foster carer, Sarah, has brought her in
36:03to see if she's gained that vital extra weight
36:05so she can finally have her lump removed.
36:08It's amazing the recovery she's had in just three weeks
36:13and her personality has always shone through
36:16even from the start,
36:18which is amazing, really,
36:19considering what she's been through before.
36:21She's brilliant.
36:23She's everything you could ask for in a dog.
36:28Hello, Kira.
36:29Good girl.
36:31Good girl, wait, wait.
36:3514.8 today.
36:37Excellent.
36:38She's coming up.
36:39Yeah, she's looking a lot better, body condition.
36:41I mean, I think she's there, isn't she?
36:43She's at ideal weight now.
36:46Not only does this mean she's completely transformed
36:49from the skin and bones she was when she arrived,
36:51but it also means she's able to have surgery.
36:55Can we do a thing?
36:57Good girl.
36:58Double pull.
36:59That was a high 10.
37:01However, there is yet another problem for Kira.
37:05Tail tip's quite sore and irritated.
37:08And the foster said she's hitting it on everything
37:10in the house, unfortunately.
37:13When dogs wag their tails and hit them on hard surfaces,
37:17it can cause trauma to the tip, known as happy tail.
37:20In contrast to the name, untreated,
37:23it can lead to serious infections.
37:25So what we're going to do is, unfortunately,
37:27remove some of the tail,
37:29just so that it's a little bit shorter
37:30and it's less likely to be injured and damaged for her.
37:33Yeah, hopefully that'll make you a bit more comfy, little one.
37:35We'll do that at the same time as removing the mass
37:37just to save anaesthetics for her.
37:39Come on in. Let's go.
37:40Kira has already been through so much,
37:43but this surgery is hopefully the last step.
37:47So the team wastes no time and get her to the off-site vets.
37:51Let's go.
37:52To have the lump removed
37:53and the end of her tail amputated.
37:59Once Kira is under general anaesthetic,
38:01vet Amy can begin by removing the tip of her tail.
38:04We're going to take it a little bit shorter
38:06to prevent her damaging it further.
38:09First, Amy identifies how much of Kira's tail to remove
38:13and amputates the end.
38:15So that's her tail amputation.
38:16So we're just going to change all the kit.
38:19We're also removing a little mass underneath her tail.
38:22It's attached by quite a stalk of skin.
38:24So we're just going to sort of dissect around the mass.
38:30Once the mass is removed, she can now sew up the wound.
38:34This basically just protects the tail.
38:41The wound should heal in about 10 to 14 days.
38:44So we just have to keep her really rested,
38:46make sure that she doesn't get to the tail,
38:49doesn't get infected.
38:51Hopefully after that, she'll just make a full recovery.
38:53As Kira comes round from the anaesthetic,
39:01we can only hope that this is the last step
39:04on her road to recovery.
39:11Up in Leeds, Jack has brought his partner to meet Paige.
39:15And it's clear there are no objections.
39:19I thank my lucky stars that I discovered you
39:23Like the first man on the moon
39:26But you came out blue
39:28Because they decide to take her home.
39:31I cannot tell you just how happy I am
39:34that we can finally turn the page
39:37and start a brand new chapter.
39:42But back in the Basildon Centre,
39:44there is one pup who has yet to find a home.
39:47Eeyore.
39:49The team has been working hard
39:50socialising him with other dogs.
39:53Oh, good boy!
39:54And it's clear all their hard work has paid off.
40:00We've been continuing his training
40:02and he's been improving on his socialisation skills.
40:05And as you can see today,
40:06like he's had a massive improvement.
40:09Now he can finally be rehomed
40:12and I'm going to get him ready for the big day.
40:14Short back inside, sir.
40:15Yeah?
40:16Yeah? Oh, it's lovely.
40:17You shouldn't do that.
40:17It's inappropriate with a hairdresser.
40:19To meet his new forever family,
40:22the Taylors.
40:29And as for super mum Keira,
40:31today she is back in the centre
40:33and I can't wait to see how she is.
40:37Charlotte, how are you, darling?
40:43Keira!
40:44Hello, baby!
40:45What is it?
40:46She's got the zoomies at the moment.
40:48She has.
40:49How are you, darling?
40:49Yeah, I'm good, you?
40:50Yeah, fabulous.
40:51She looks amazing.
40:52Yeah, she looks great, doesn't she?
40:55I'm very happy.
40:57Yeah.
40:57She loves being out here
40:58and she absolutely loves playing with her balls.
41:01Baby!
41:01She really does love that ball, doesn't she?
41:04Yeah.
41:05It's like doing this thing without a dog, this.
41:06It's just like shadow running around.
41:09So with the surgeries and stuff that she's had,
41:11did everything go well?
41:13So the tower amputation went well,
41:14wound healed really well.
41:16We removed the mass near the rectum.
41:19That also was successful.
41:21Go!
41:21She's been on a bit of a journey, hasn't she?
41:24She really has, yeah.
41:26But it is incredible to see her running about like this.
41:29What's kind of next for Keira?
41:31So now she's ready to go up for rehoming.
41:34Is it finally her time?
41:35Yeah.
41:36Keira!
41:38Given her character and how lovely she is,
41:40hopefully she's going to be snapped up pretty quickly.
41:43I mean, Keira is wild, which I love,
41:47but it's like she's turned into a puppy again.
41:49It's kind of like a second wind in life.
41:52And I love that for her
41:53because it's the first time I've seen her this kind of happy.
41:56It's like a weight's been lifted off her shoulders,
41:58which sounds mad because she's put weight on.
42:00It's like she's lost the kind of weight of the world.
42:03And it's just really lovely to see.
42:04And whoever ends up with Keira is just going to be so lucky.
42:07She's such a beautiful doll.
42:08She just makes you smile.
42:10Yes, darling.
42:11You know, I just always used to shake that up.
42:13Yes, babe.
42:13By the...
42:14That towel.
42:15Yeah, no, it just doesn't stop.
42:17No.
42:17And this is where, you know, that problem came from
42:19in the first place with her little injury.
42:21We call it the happy towel
42:22because they just keep wagging it and it keeps hitting everything.
42:25Should we do Keira happy?
42:26Come on.
42:27We're going to.
42:27Ready?
42:31Oh, we're so happy.
42:33I'm just so pleased that she is now up for rehoming
42:36and whoever ends up with that dog is going to be absolutely blessed
42:40because it's the start of the rest of her life.
42:44I love Keira.
42:45Me too.
42:46She makes me smile.
42:49Yes.
42:49Yeah, we go.
42:50Get it here.
42:50You ready, buddy?
43:00They've only lived one life so far.
43:02As an athlete, they don't really know how to be dogs.
43:06It's not really the way any dog should live.
43:08Hi, Sam.
43:09Oh, bless you.
43:11His previous owner wasn't really looking after him properly.
43:15He's got a special little something about it.
43:17Got a twinkle in his eye.
43:19You just want every dog to be happy.
43:21It is a huge thing just for him to do this.
43:23You're not that old, are you?
43:25Or maybe you are because you can't get back up again.
43:27This is my kingdom come.
43:30When you pull my keys, look into my eyes.
43:35It's where my demons hide.
43:38It's where my demons hide.
43:41When you pull my keys, look into my eyes.
43:45I said it's the darkest hour.
43:48It's where my demons hide.
43:51It's where my demons hide.
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