The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies

Inspector Lyndsey Taylor is called to a case of a desperate dog left home alone at Christmas and has to try to secure a warrant for police to enter the property in time. In the busy lead-up to Christmas, Alan joins vet Michael Lazarus at Putney Animal Hospital, where he meets a woman whose dog needs an ultrasound scan to get to the bottom of a stubborn tummy problem.

In this special episode we join the RSPCA volunteers, staff and vets at animal shelters across the country as they care for the 3000 dogs in their care over the Christmas period. For the first time on The Dog Rescuers we get an insight into the RSPCA national call centre at Christmas, responding to around 11,000 calls from the concerned public over between Christmas and New Year. One such call that comes in live to the National Call Centre is tasked out to Inspector Emily Collins, who races to rescue unloved Pomeranian Freddie, left abandoned in disgusting conditions.

Alan Davies presents another seasonal special edition of the animal welfare series. This time, staff at Harmsworth Animal Hospital treat a three-year-old English bull terrier with a worrying lump, and a Yorkshire terrier with a badly broken leg. At South Godstone Animal Centre, displaced puppy Obi needs a new home before Christmas. RSCPA Inspector Anthony Joynes rescues a spaniel that has been abandoned in a freezing house, but things do not look so good for Pudding, an elderly shih-tzu that needs some special attention in order to survive past Christmas.

Documentary following RSPCA officers responding to reports of ill-treatment of dogs. In Manchester, cameras follow a joint operation between police and trading standards to raid a farm where it is suspected that dogs are being bred illegally. In Birmingham, Scott's latest case is that of a bull terrier that has been left to fend for itself in a flat for several days, and Nicola pays a return visit to a woman in south Wales who has refused the RSPCA entry to her premises in the past.

In Essex, RSPCA inspector Matt Gough discovers a pedigree dog so badly injured he is surprised it is still alive, while Norwich officers Jason Finch and Nicola Thorne are called out to rescue a canine trapped on a small island in a large pond. In Wales, Keith Hogben gives a farmer a final warning about the conditions he is keeping his animals in.

Sara Hughes visits a home where a ridgeback appears to be malnourished, but makes a shocking discovery when she returns to speak to its owner the following day. Graeme Petty and Stuart Wainwright help an owner and her dog who are victims of the recession, and Hercy Boal hopes to give a puppy with an injured paw a more mobile future.

In Birmingham, Herchy Boal visits an English bull terrier that is in a terrible state after being left in its own filth in a room with no food or water, while Luton inspector Stephanie deals with a disobedient Japanese Akita that is running circles around its owner.

Birmingham RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal comes to the aid of an emaciated black labrador in desperate need of veterinary attention, while Graeme Petty finds two shih-tzus living in filthy conditions at a house in Scunthorpe. In Staffordshire, Jayne Bashford is called to attend to an apparently abandoned dog, but the true story is much more surprising. Plus, the programme catches up with two Newfoundlands that were rescued in a previous series.

The new owners of an elderly Yorkie-cross attend a dog first-aid training day where they learn some useful tips, including where to locate a pulse and how to perform canine CPR. In south London, Kate Fletcher rescues a dog from a house littered with drug paraphernalia, while Emma Stainthorpe takes part in a joint police and RSPCA raid on an illegal puppy farm in Durham. At West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton, kennel supervisor Sue Dicks asks a specialist trainer to put a Staffie through its paces to see if it has got what it takes to become a police dog.

The coastguard is called in to rescue a rottweiler stranded on mudflats on the River Dee, Merseyside. Justin encounters one of the most shocking cases of his career. Boisterous rescue dog Sian is given help to find some inner peace.

Inspector Steph Law takes a fox terrier to the vet, who discovers it has suffered years of neglect. The owner of a pregnant Staffie is unable to look after a litter of puppies while moving house, so inspector Herchy Boal sets up a makeshift maternity ward. Chef Lesley Waters prepares a meal for three dogs in Bath, while on Halloween, chief inspector Matt Gough is called out to rescue an abandoned puppy.

Inspector Anthony has to feed an abandoned dog through a letterbox after its owners left it with no food or water, while Kate catches up with a deaf American bulldog she has been trying to rehome. New recruit Callum has to deal with a litter of puppies living in a filthy flat, and rescue dog Tyson takes to the dance floor with Britain's Got Talent winners Ashley and Pudsey.

Inspector Lyndsey Taylor attempts to rescue Lilly, an abandoned Staffie who is very underweight and heavily pregnant. Cameras also follow Chief Inspector Mark Gent who provides flood assistance to a Dogue de Bordeaux and many of the people whose livelihoods were devastated by December 2015's Storm Desmond.

Inspector Herchy Boal comes across a litter of German shepherd puppies covered in their own mess and eating raw meat off a filthy floor. Cameras also follow a man who is about to be made homeless but puts his dog's needs before his own, and Inspector Lauren Bailey finds a Jack Russell called Poppy who has lost so much of her coat that it hurts her to sit down.

Inspector Lyndsey Taylor comes to the rescue of Baxter, a malnourished shih-tzu in Manchester. Inspector Anthony Pulfer responds to a call in Bromley, south London, regarding two Staffordshire bull terrier crosses named Shaz and Tigger, whose owner suffers from a health condition that makes it difficult to look after them.

RSPCA'S officer Anthony helps Timmy, a neglected elderly collie cross who is found in a house surrounded by his own mess with a huge tumour on his face. Meanwhile, Inspector Helen meets Archie, a stroppy shih-tzu whose fur is so matted he can barely see or hear.

Inspector Helen saves Turner and Hooch, two Dogues de Bordeaux found abandoned in a garden, while colleague Becky sets off to track down a hound who was spotted stranded in a flood relief channel. Cameras also follow Pepper, a dalmatian who is stealing hearts across Merseyside, and Shih-tzu Olive, who was found in pain on a building site.

The RSPCA are called to the aid of elderly crossbreed Ben and although Anthony has been told that the dog is riddled with fleas, the sight that awaits him is enough to shock even an experienced inspector. Meanwhile, in Lancashire, a struggling couple must improve their living conditions or face losing their beloved Bichon Frise for good.

Inspector Anthony is quick to act when a man is caught beating one of his dogs on CCTV, before coming to the aid of a homeless man and his injured Labrador Josie, who needs immediate treatment on a nasty wound. Six puppies found at the roadside are given a second chance at life thanks to a dedicated network of volunteer foster carers, and co-host Angellica Bell meets Rolo, a spaniel-poodle cross that was rescued from a puppy farm and now works as a therapy dog.

Inspector Anthony gives deaf Staffie cross Isla a second chance at happiness, and there is the remarkable story of Teddy, a rescue dog who brought its owner out of a coma. Meanwhile, inspector Herchy has her work cut out when she removes 82 dogs from a single house.

A disturbing sight greets members of the Special Operations Unit when they raid the property of a suspected puppy trafficker, while Angellica Bell finds out first-hand why the demand for designer dogs is so dangerous when she meets a bulldog that needs a serious operation just to help it breathe normally.

The comedian assists vet Gwen as she takes on the case of Staffordshire bull terrier Annie, who has a suspected broken leg and a mystery lump. In Carlisle, Inspector Sam tries to save the life of a severely beaten dog called Bruce.

At the Putney Animal Hospital, a Yorkshire terrier undergoes major surgery to resolve a limp, while an inspector helps a woman in the West Midlands who has taken on a lively puppy.

Herchy rescues a staffie dog from a tower block, with police warrant in hand. Nicky cannot find a kennel for an unhomed hound signed over by an owner to ill to care for him. Claire has a stray bulldog mystery to solve in Essex.

Inspector Anthony Joynes investigates reports of a dog being beaten, but the owner is not going to let his pet go without a fight. Jacqui is called to a complex rehoming case.

A saluki is found with a fractured leg so badly damaged it has to be amputated, and Alan meets a Staffie cross suffering from a skin condition that needs attention.

Inspector Sara Jordan meets a chocolate Labrador that has been losing weight and may have eaten something toxic.

Two Staffordshire Bull Terriers have had a major falling out, while another dog appears to have been left for dead.

The comedian joins two students and vet Cat Wood to give health checks to a Jack Russell and its puppies. inspector Anthony Pulfer collects an English bull terrier from its owner.

A look at the RSPCA's work in Hong Kong as part of an exchange programme, as inspector Herchy Boal helps to combat the ever-growing stray dog population.

Inspectors Becky Goulding and Sarah Bagley attempt to rescue a staffy called Rocky; Inspector Graham Hammond recounts the time he rescued Springer Spaniel Aero.

A woman who has too many pets decides to sign one of her dogs over to an inspector; the police are called in to seize an animal; an animal is tied to a fence.

Herchy Boal takes charge of an investigation into the illegal ear cropping of dogs; Inspector Laura Brewerton meets an active bulldog puppy.