Expect drama, emotion and plenty of heart-warming moments as we follow the work of a close-knit pet hospital team who devote their lives to saving animals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
With privileged access, viewers will bear witness to the staff’s highly specialised work as they tackle whatever comes their way in this new 10-part series, which starts on Monday 6 February at 10am.
Viewers will get to know the team from the Wear Referrals hospital in County Durham which, by day, is a specialist care unit treating animals with complex needs and conditions and by night transforms into an A&E unit responding to emergency cases from across the area.
The job always throws up surprises and staff can deal with anything from performing hip replacement surgery on tiny Shih Tzus and extracting corn on the cobs from boxer dogs to treating suspected kidney tumours on much-loved Labradors, wild owls injured by cars – and everything in between.
The series also follows the emotional pet owners who travel from far and wide with their beloved animals to get them life-saving care.
Meet some of the pets:
Casper – Boxer
Casper is 1. Owner Lesley got him on Valentine’s Day 2022. He still thinks he’s a puppy and gets up to all sorts including eating everything which is exactly how Casper and Hugo found themselves at the Pet Hospital after eating a corn on the cob! He ate a sparkly Christmas decoration so is yet to learn his lesson.
Sherpa the guide dog – Labrador/Golden Retriever Cross
Sherpa is 10 years old and owner Denise has had him for eight years. Sherpa found himself at the Pet Hospital when a wound he had following a biopsy for cancer wouldn’t heal. Denise is pleased to say that it is now completely healed and no cancer was found. As you’d imagine being a guide dog, Sherpa is very relaxed but can be a little mischievous sometimes.
Nugget – Chocolate Labrador
Nugget is seven years old and has lived with Walter, 87 all his life. He originally belonged to Walter’s daughter, who lived with him but sadly passed away in May 2022. She got him as a puppy from a home in Lincolnshire and Nugget absolutely doted on her and her sons. He loves walks and Walter takes him out regularly. He is a docile dog who will go up to others and say hello, even if he doesn’t get a very nice response! He found himself at Wear after scans showed abnormalities on one of his kidneys.
Alfie – Shih Tzu
Alfie is six years old and owners Christine and Glen have him since he was eight weeks old. He’s laidback, inquisitive and gentle little boy and nothing phases him. Their local vet referred them to Wear when Alfie’s hip popped out of its socket whilst on a walk. Surgeon Maciej performed a hip replacement, which was the second major surgery he’d performed on Alfie.
