For the Love of Dogs

Dog lover Paul O'Grady returns with a brand new series of the award-winning show in which he visits the staff and canine residents of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. The entertainer is in his element as he follows the progress of some of the dogs from their arrival through to their adoption by a new family. In the first episode of the series, Paul meets and falls in love with Frankie, a British bulldog whose wobbly back legs could be a sign of bigger problems. English mastiff King is a big dog with even bigger odour problems, so Paul and the team do what they can to improve his aroma in the hope of finding him a permanent home.

In this episode, Paul meets mother and daughter Staffies Bella and Missy, who have been inseparable since Missy was born, the bond between them is so strong that vet Phil says that they must be rehomed together. Paul also meets three-month old, Mastiff puppies Una, Dots and Tresa, who have have had an unusual introduction to life, after being raised in a garage by a homeless man, until he was unable to care for them anymore.

In episode three, Paul meets four-month-old stray puppy Patrick, found wondering alone on a London street on St Patrick's Day. Just two days after arriving at Battersea, Patrick is rushed into the clinic with a horrific injury needing urgent surgery - a wooden kebab skewer sticking out of his tummy. Paul also meets Tyler, a Yorkshire Terrier who is brought into Battersea by his owner, a nurse working long shifts who has struggled to give him the love and attention he needs and a 12-week-old Shih Tzu puppy called Mimi, who arrives at Battersea because her family's other dog didn't get along with her.

In episode four Paul meets Twinkle, a young Lurcher abandoned and left tied to the gates at Battersea's Kent branch. Twinkle can't be rehomed until she has reached a healthy weight, but with a potential new owner waiting in France, the pressure is on to put on the pounds and ever the optimist, Paul decides to teach Twinkle a few words of French in preparation. Paul also meets Buddy, a four-month old Terrier Cross. He has a severe case of ADD and bundles of energy, which Battersea dog behaviour expert Brian hopes to put to good use by finding him a place with a dog agility display team.

In episode five, Paul meets eight-year-old Visu, a Shih Tzu who was brought to Battersea by his owner who is too ill to look after him. In the last series, Paul fell in love with a puppy called Eddie at Battersea and ended up adopting him as a new member of the O'Grady family. But one year later, Paul has some concerns about the health of Eddie's nether regions and takes him to visit Battersea's head vet Shaun, explaining that Eddie's testicles haven't dropped. Paul also meets Minnie, a tiny, defenceless three-month-old puppy, found dumped on a doorstep in freezing cold weather.

In this episode, Paul catches up with the Jack Russell and Staffie cross puppies he met earlier in the series. Now nearly four weeks old, the adorable puppies are all thriving and ready to be weaned. Also this week, a young stray Staffie-Bullmastiff cross called Amber is brought in by a warden, in a terrible state. Bruised, battered and with nasty open wounds, she's a shocking sight and the staff suspect she's had a particularly horrible history, perhaps used as bait for dog fights. Amber is afraid of other dogs and Battersea's behaviourist Helen has her work cut out trying to rebuild her confidence and social skills, before a new home can be considered.

In episode 7, Paul meets a seriously neglected six-month-old Boxer, who was found chained to a tree in a London park. The Battersea staff name him Egg as he was found on the Easter weekend. Egg is seriously underweight and is being checked out by vet Phil. Paul also meets a tiny puppy called Flipper who was found inside a cardboard box. Flipper had been so badly mistreated and abused that she couldn't even walk.

In the final episode of the series, Paul meets Maggie, a nine-year-old Doberman who has been brought to Battersea after her owner had died. She's lost an eye and has a problem with her hips. It is already hard to find a home for older dogs but Maggie's health problems will make it especially difficult. Also starring in this episode is Nancy, a two year old Labrador cross, who was brought into Battersea heavily pregnant and extremely nervous. Paul then meets Mr Pickles, a one year old Beagle who loves to wind people up.