Original subtitles

♪ MTV

Man: COME, CAPTAIN, COME! [WHISTLES]

Narrator: AROUND THE WORLD, DOGS ARE SAVING LIVES.

[DOG BARKING]

PREVENTING POTENTIAL DISASTER...

RESCUING FAMILIES...

Boy: HIGH FIVE, XENA.

Narrator: AND PROTECTING ENTIRE SPECIES...

[HISSING]

...OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.

♪

Woman: GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: DOGS ARE SMART, LOYAL

AND EQUIPPED TO DO THINGS WE SIMPLY CAN'T.

THEIR POWERFUL SENSE OF SMELL,

THEIR STRENGTH AND STAMINA

AND THEIR UNLIMITED DESIRE TO PLAY...

Woman: GOOD BOY!

Narrator: ...HAS ENABLED US TO HARNESS THEIR NATURAL ABILITIES,

RESULTING IN AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF DOGS...

[GROWLING]

...WITH EXTRAORDINARY JOBS.

♪

♪

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA.

A POPULAR SEASIDE DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS,

WITH HUNDREDS OF TRAVELERS ARRIVING EVERY DAY.

AT KING SHAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,

WHEN IT COMES TO PASSENGER SAFETY,

THEY'RE TAKING SURPRISING PRECAUTIONS.

AIRPLANES ARE MOST AT RISK OF DANGEROUS ENGINE TROUBLE

DURING TAKEOFF AND LANDING...

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS IS A BIRD STRIKE.

SINCE 1990, MORE THAN 166,000 STRIKES

HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE U.S.A. ALONE.

IN 2009, A FLOCK OF CANADA GEESE

STRUCK A PLANE LEAVING LA GUARDIA AIRPORT IN NEW YORK,

FORCING THE PILOT TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING

ON THE HUDSON RIVER.

AT KING SHAKA, THERE AREN'T ANY GEESE TODAY,

BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF HERONS AND IBIS.

♪

A DEDICATED TEAM TACKLES THE RISK HEAD ON,

USING FOUR WHEELS AND FOUR LEGS

TO SCARE OFF THE BIRDS BEFORE THEY POSE A DANGER.

[DOG BARKING]

♪

TWO-YEAR-OLD TROY AND EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BUZZ...

[SIREN]

...ARE THE DRIVING FORCE

OF THE AIRPORT'S BIRD AND WILDLIFE CONTROL PROGRAM.

♪

Musa: THIS IS WHISKY CHARLIE ONE ZERO. GOOD DAY.

Man on radio: WHISKEY CHARLIE ONE ZERO, COPY. THANK YOU.

Narrator: MUSA GWALA IS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE.

Musa: BORDER COLLIES ARE HIGHLY ACTIVE DOGS,

AND THEY ARE GOOD FOR HERDING AND STUFF,

BUT HERE WE USE THEM AS WORKING DOGS

TO CHASE BIRDS OFF THE AIRFIELD

TO ENSURE THERE'S NO RUNWAY INCURSION

BETWEEN AN AIRCRAFT AND A BIRD.

♪

Narrator: BUZZ IS THE MOST EXPERIENCED DOG ON THE TEAM.

HE'S AN EXPERT AT TRACKING DOWN THE BIRDS,

STRATEGICALLY FORCING THEM TO TAKE FLIGHT,

AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY AND AWAY FROM DANGER.

[DOG BARKING]

WORKING ALONGSIDE BUZZ

IS THE LATEST RECRUIT, TROY.

Adrian: TROY IS THE YOUNGEST OF THE BORDER COLLIES.

HE'S COME TO THE AIRPORT FAIRLY RECENTLY.

HE WAS NOT ACCLIMATIZED TO THE LARGE AIRCRAFTS,

SO WHEN HE GOT HERE, HE WAS PETRIFIED,

BUT TROY HAS EMERGED TO BE

PROBABLY OUR LEADING DOG CURRENTLY.

Narrator: TROY IS TRAINED TO INSTANTLY RESPOND

TO ADRIAN'S INSTRUCTION.

Adrian: GOOD BOY, GOOD BOY. GO!

MANY DOGS CAN CHASE BIRDS, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS

ARE YOU ABLE TO RETRACT YOUR DOG

AT A POINT WHEN THE DOG HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO THE CHASE?

WHOA! WHOA!

THAT'S WHAT COUNTS, CAN YOU CONTROL HIM

WHEN HE WANTS TO GO AT A POINT WHEN HE CANNOT RESIST.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND HE CAN DO THAT.

WHOA!

COME, BOY, COME, BOY. HERE, UP.

THAT'S A GOOD BOY!

Narrator: WHIZZING AROUND IN GOLF CARTS AND CHASING BIRDS

MIGHT LOOK LIKE FUN,

BUT THE SERVICE TROY AND BUZZ PROVIDE SAVES LIVES AND MONEY.

[INTERCOM CHATTER]

IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, MORE THAN 260 AIRCRAFT

HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY BIRD STRIKES WORLDWIDE.

Musa: MOST RUNWAY INCURSION AND BIRD STRIKES

HAPPEN DURING TAKEOFF AND LANDING.

Narrator: WITH MORE THAN 120 FLIGHTS A DAY,

AT THE SECURITY WATCH TOWER,

MUSA MUST KEEP A CONSTANT LOOKOUT FOR DANGER.

Musa: THE RUNWAY ITSELF IS 3.7 KILOMETERS LONG,

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE FULL VIEW OF THE WHOLE AIRFIELD.

Narrator: TODAY, TO HELP MAINTAIN VISIBILITY,

AIRPORT STAFF ARE CUTTING THE GRASS.

BUT FRESHLY MOWN GRASS REVEALS MICE AND INSECTS,

WHICH LARGE BIRDS LIKE TO PREY ON,

DRAMATICALLY INCREASING THE RISK

OF A BIRD FLYING INTO THE PATH OF A JET.

THIS TIME IT'S A LARGE HERON THAT SWOOPS IN FOR A FEAST.

[SQUAWKING]

AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE MUSA RAISES THE ALARM.

Musa: ATTENTION, ATTENTION,

CAN WE PLEASE GET A BIRD AND WILDLIFE OFFICER,

IMMEDIATELY RUN TO THE THRESHOLD OF 2-4 MIKE.

Narrator: THE HERONS HAVE LANDED AT THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY

JUST AS A PLANE IS COMING IN.

[DOG BARKING]

TROY CAN'T WAIT TO GET GOING.

[WHINING AND BARKING]

♪

Adrian: GO, TROY, GO!

♪

Narrator: THE AGILE BORDER COLLIE

CAN REACH SPEEDS OF UP TO 30 MILES PER HOUR.

♪

[HERON SQUAWKING]

THEY MAKE IT JUST IN TIME.

[SQUAWKING]

♪

Adrian: COME BOY. UP.

COME, BOY!

Narrator: THE DOGS' SCARING TACTICS PROTECT THE PLANES,

BUT THEY ALSO HELP TO SAVE THE BIRDS,

FORCING THEM AWAY FROM HARM.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE OCCASIONAL CASUALTIES.

THIS MARTIAL EAGLE FOUND DEAD ON THE AIRFIELD

COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A DISASTER.

Musa: THIS SIZE BIRD COULD REALLY PUT AN AIRCRAFT DOWN.

WE DO GET UNFORTUNATE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

WE FOUND THE MARTIAL EAGLE WHERE IT WAS STRUCK.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE DID FIND WAS JUST A SMEAR OF BLOOD.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN A JET BLAST

OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN HIT

AGAINST THE FUSELAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT,

AND THEN IT DIED.

THE BORDER COLLIE PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS

THAT ASSIST US TO NOT HAVE SUCH SITUATIONS

THAT PARTAKE ON THE AIRFIELD.

Man: YOU WANT THIS, BOY? YOU WANT THIS?

HUH? LET'S GO.

GO, BOY!

Narrator: THE BOND BETWEEN BOTH TROY AND BUZZ AND THEIR HANDLERS

IS CLEAR FOR ALL TO SEE.

♪

Adrian: I LOVE TROY.

THE DAYS THAT I'M OFF, WHEN I'M ON MY WEEKENDS,

I WORRY ABOUT HIM.

WHEN I GET BACK TO WORK AFTER A LONG WEEKEND

HE COMES OVER, HE JUMPS ON ME,

AND HE HOLDS ME WITH HIS FOUR LEGS,

AND YOU CAN JUST SEE THAT HE'S REALLY MISSED ME,

AND IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME, SO I LOVE THIS DOG.

I WISH THAT AT SOME STAGE WHEN HE'S RETIRED

I COULD TAKE HIM HOME

AND HE CAN SPEND HIS RETIREMENT WITH ME AND THE FAMILY.

♪

Narrator: WHEN YOU NEED SPEED AND STAMINA TO HELP SAVE LIVES,

THERE MAY BE NO BREED BETTER THAN A BORDER COLLIE.

BUT THIS ENTHUSIASTIC SPANIEL

IS PUTTING ALL HER ENERGY INTO HELPING SAVE A SPECIES.

♪

GREAT BRITAIN,

WHERE THE WINDING WATERWAYS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE

WERE ONCE TEEMING WITH A SEMI-AQUATIC MAMMAL--

THE WATERVOLE.

BUT IN THE LAST 60 YEARS,

THESE RODENTS HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM 94% OF THEIR FORMER RANGE

DUE TO HABITAT LOSS AND PREDATION,

MAKING THE WATERVOLE THE UK'S FASTEST DECLINING MAMMAL.

NOW A PROTECTED SPECIES, A NATIONAL REINTRODUCTION SCHEME

IS HOPING TO ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL...

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM LOLA.

Ali: GOOD GIRL, GOOD GIRL. SIT.

Narrator: TRAINED BY ECOLOGIST ALI CHARNICK,

LOLA IS A THREE-YEAR-OLD SPROCKER SPANIEL

WITH A NOSE FINELY TUNED

TO THE DISTINCTIVE SMELL OF WATERVOLES.

Ali: WAIT.

SIT.

Narrator: SHE'S ONE OF THE FIRST WATERVOLE DETECTION DOGS

IN THE WORLD.

Ali: I NOW DO MY DREAM JOB:

COMBINING MY TWO LOVES

OF WORKING AND TRAINING DOGS

AND MY PASSION FOR WILDLIFE

AND ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION.

I GET TO WORK WITH AMAZING LITTLE GUYS LIKE THIS EVERY DAY,

FINDING AN AMAZING CREATURE IN FANTASTIC SITES

AND FANTASTIC LOCATIONS ALL ACROSS THE UK.

Narrator: TODAY, ALI AND LOLA ARE ON THE HUNT FOR WATERVOLES

ON FARMLAND IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX,

ABOUT 50 MILES EAST OF LONDON.

SINCE 2007, ALMOST 800 WATERVOLES

HAVE BEEN REINTRODUCED ALONG TWO ESSEX RIVERS

IN THE HOPE OF BOOSTING THE LOCAL POPULATION.

ON SITES LIKE THIS, FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS ARE VITAL

TO FINDING OUT WHETHER THESE RARE ANIMALS ARE SURVIVING.

IF THEY'RE HERE, LOLA'S NOSE WILL SNIFF THEM OUT.

WATERVOLES LIKE TO BURROW ALONG THE RIVERBANKS.

THIS DRIES THE SOIL AND ENCOURAGES THE GROWTH

OF A MORE DIVERSE RANGE OF PLANTS.

SO THEY PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART

IN MAINTAINING A HEALTHY HABITAT.

BEFORE INVESTIGATING THIS MUDDY MARSH,

LOLA NEEDS TO GET DRESSED FOR WORK.

Ali: SHE LOVES WEARING HER HARNESS.

IT ACTS AS A BIT OF A PROMPT FOR HER.

SHE KNOWS THAT SHE'S ABOUT TO GO TO WORK IF SHE'S WEARING IT.

SO, SHE ALSO WEARS SOME BOOTS,

AND THESE BOOTS HAVE GOT SOME NICE GRIP ON THE BOTTOM,

AND IT JUST PROTECTS THEIR FEET.

DOG'S PAWS ARE VERY SENSITIVE

AND OBVIOUSLY SHE NEEDS HER FEET,

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HER FEET ARE NICE AND PROTECTED.

SHE LOVES HER JOB, SO AS SOON AS THE KIT BAG COMES OUT,

SHE'S READY AND RARING TO GO AND EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO WORK.

ARE YOU READY?

Narrator: LOLA IS A SPROCKER SPANIEL,

A CROSS BETWEEN THE SPRINGER AND COCKER SPANIELS.

BOTH WERE ORIGINALLY BRED BY GAMEKEEPERS AS GUN DOGS

AND TO FLUSH OUT GAME.

LOLA HAS INHERITED THEIR WORKING TRAITS

AND CAN'T WAIT TO BEGIN THE SURVEY.

Ali: FIND IT. FIND IT.

[KISSES]

Narrator: DARREN TANSLEY FROM THE ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST

IS EAGERLY AWAITING THE RESULTS.

HE RUNS THE WATERVOLE REINTRODUCTION PROGRAM.

WITHOUT ALI AND LOLA'S HELP, DARREN WON'T KNOW

WHETHER HIS BELOVED WATERVOLES ARE THRIVING OR DYING.

Darren: ANY SCHEME LIKE THIS

WHERE YOU'RE REINTRODUCING WATERVOLES,

YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE THEM,

SO YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOME KIND OF MONITORING

TO KNOW THAT THE SCHEME IS STILL SUCCESSFUL.

SO WITH THE INFORMATION THAT ALI IS GETTING WITH LOLA,

WE ARE ABLE TO BUILD UP A MUCH MORE ACCURATE PICTURE

OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

[DOG BARKING]

THEN WE CAN USE IT

TO DO OTHER REINTRODUCTIONS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE UK.

Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, LATEST FIGURES NATIONWIDE

REVEAL A 30% DECLINE IN WATERVOLE NUMBERS

OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS,

MAKING REINTRODUCTION EFFORTS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

THESE TINY RODENTS CONSUME

AN ASTONISHING 80% OF THEIR OWN BODY WEIGHT IN PLANTS EVERY DAY.

THAT PRODUCES A LOT OF DROPPINGS!

AND THIS IS WHAT LOLA IS TRAINED TO DETECT.

Ali: HER NOSE IS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL,

AND IT'S A REALLY VALUABLE TOOL TO US.

SO, IF YOU IMAGINE IT, AS WE SMELL A CURRY,

A DOG SMELLS EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT

THAT MAKES UP THAT CURRY.

Narrator: WHEN SEARCHING FOR A DISTINCT SMELL--

KNOWN AS AIR SCENTING--

DOGS CAN SEPARATE THE FLOW OF AIR BREATHED IN

FROM THE AIR BREATHED OUT.

THIS MINIMIZES THE RE-BREATHING OF EXHALED AIR

AND PROMOTES THE INHALATION OF FRESH AIR

AND, THEREFORE, FRESH SMELLS.

THE PART OF THE BRAIN DEVOTED TO ANALYZING THOSE SMELLS

IS 40 TIMES GREATER THAN THAT OF A HUMAN,

MAKING LOLA SUPER EFFICIENT AT FINDING THE DROPPINGS.

FOR ALI, SEARCHING IN THE MARSHES AND REED BEDS

WOULD BE LIKE TRYING TO FIND A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK,

SO TRUST IN LOLA'S INDICATION IS VITAL.

Ali: OUCH!

IN AN AREA LIKE THIS

WHERE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO HER,

I WATCH FOR THE REEDS TO STOP MOVING.

THE ONLY TIME SHE WILL STOP IS WHEN SHE'S ON INDICATION.

Narrator: NO SIGN OF ANY WATERVOLES SO FAR,

BUT LOLA'S NOT READY TO GIVE UP.

BEFORE WATERVOLES CAN BE INTRODUCED TO ANY NEW SITE,

DARREN MUST ENSURE IT'S AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

Darren: SO, THE PROBLEM, REALLY, FOR WATERVOLES

IS THERE'S A LOT OF PREDATORS OUT THERE THAT WANT TO EAT THEM.

Narrator: THE BIGGEST THREAT IS THE INVASIVE AMERICAN MINK,

WHICH ESCAPED AND WERE RELEASED FROM FUR FARMS IN THE 1960s

AND ARE NOW FLOURISHING IN THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE.

Darren: THE PROBLEM WITH MINK IS THAT IF THEY MOVE INTO THIS AREA

AND THERE'S A HEALTHY WATERVOLE POPULATION,

THEY WILL QUICKLY PREDATE THE WHOLE COLONY

AND JUST WIPE THEM OUT.

Narrator: DARREN WOULD HAVE TO GET RID OF ANY MINK

HE DISCOVERS IN THE AREA,

BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF ANY TODAY.

BUT ARE THERE ANY SIGNS OF WATERVOLES?

♪

LOLA'S BACK ON THE HUNT FOR DROPPINGS.

Ali: READY? [KISSES] FIND IT.

Narrator: SPANIELS ARE EXTREMELY ENERGETIC,

AND MANY NEED AT LEAST TWO HOURS OF EXERCISE PER DAY

OR THEIR BOREDOM CAN LEAD TO DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR.

THEIR LOVE OF WATER AND GETTING DIRTY

MAKES LOLA THE PERFECT DOG FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY JOB.

THIS TIME IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE SHE STOPS IN HER TRACKS.

Ali: SO LOLA'S FOUND WATERVOLE DROPPINGS

ON THE RIVERBANK.

THIS TIME OF YEAR THEY'RE VERY GREEN.

THE VEGETATION THAT THEY'RE FEEDING ON

IS REALLY GREEN, REALLY RICH,

SO YOU GET A LOT OF CHLOROPHYLL COMING OUT IN THE DROPPINGS.

♪

READY?

Narrator: LOLA SOON LOCATES MORE DROPPINGS ON THE RIVERBANK.

SHE'S FOUND THE WATERVOLE'S LATRINE.

Ali: GOOD.

GOOD GIRL!

IT'S A TYPICAL LATRINE.

IT'S RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE RIVERBANK.

IT'S IN A NICE CLEAR AREA,

SO A WATERVOLE WILL HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THERE

PROBABLY NOT THAT LONG AGO.

AND THEN IF WE PICK THESE UP, THESE ARE ACTUALLY NETTLES,

STINGING NETTLE STEMS,

AND THERE'S A TYPICAL - 45- - DEGREE ANGLE,

AND THAT'S A REAL GOOD, STRONG FIELD SIGN OF A WATERVOLE.

TO TEAM THAT WITH THE DROPPINGS AS WELL,

WE CAN 100% SAY WE HAVE WATERVOLES PRESENT AND ACTIVE,

WHICH IS KEY, ON THIS SITE.

Narrator: IT'S THE BEST NEWS ALI COULD HOPE FOR.

SHE'LL PASS THE GPS DATA OF THE WATERVOLES' LOCATIONS

TO DARREN, WHO STILL MARVELS AT LOLA'S REMARKABLE TALENT.

Darren: SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS JUST STAGGERING,

AND WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER IT WOULD WORK OR NOT,

IS CAN A DOG JUST SNIFF OUT A DROPPING OF A WATERVOLE?

AND I JUST WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED THAT THAT WAS POSSIBLE,

AND YET ALI'S PROVED US WRONG.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT HUMAN BEINGS CANNOT DO.

Narrator: LOLA'S WORK MAY BE DONE FOR THE DAY,

BUT SHE'S STILL AS ENERGETIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC AS EVER.

Ali: SHE DOES HAVE A GREAT OFF SWITCH.

AS SOON AS WE GET HOME, SHE CHILLS OUT.

SHE DOES GET ON THE SOFA AND SNUGGLE UP,

BUT SHE HAS WORKED ALL DAY.

Narrator: WATERVOLES REMAIN ON THE ENDANGERED LIST IN BRITAIN,

BUT WITH LOLA HELPING DARREN IDENTIFY SUCCESSFUL SITES,

THEY MAY HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

Ali: THEY'RE A GREAT CREATURE TO STUDY AND GET TO KNOW,

AND THROUGH USING THE DOG

WE MANAGE TO GET MUCH MORE DATA ON OUR SURVEYS,

IN THE HOPE THAT WE CAN STOP THE DECLINE

AND ACTUALLY HELP WATERVOLES TO FLOURISH IN THE UK AGAIN.

Narrator: WHILE LOLA'S SCENTING SKILLS

ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE SURVIVAL OF ONE SPECIES...

THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY

A SHEPHERD DOG'S NATURAL INSTINCT TO PROTECT

IS HELPING TO SAVE ANOTHER.

♪

NAMIBIA.

ONE OF THE LAST STRONGHOLDS

OF AFRICA'S MOST ENDANGERED BIG CAT, THE CHEETAH.

A CENTURY AGO THERE WERE ROUGHLY 100,000 CHEETAHS IN THE WORLD.

TODAY THERE ARE JUST 7,000 LEFT.

HABITAT LOSS AND HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT...

[HISSING]

...MEANS THE CHEETAH COULD BE EXTINCT IN THE WILD

IN JUST 30 YEARS.

[GOATS BLEATING]

HERE IN NAMIBIA,

FARMERS KILLING CHEETAHS TO PROTECT THEIR LIVESTOCK

IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF DECLINE.

BUT A PIONEERING SCHEME IS OFFERING HOPE

OF A PEACEFUL SOLUTION.

Mbeu: COME, CAPTAIN, COME.

[KISSING, WHISTLING] COME.

COME, COME, COME. COME.

Narrator: CAPTAIN IS A TWO-YEAR-OLD ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD.

UNDER HIS CHARGE ARE A HUNDRED GOATS

BELONGING TO FARMER MBEU HARAKUTA.

[GOATS BLEATING, CATTLE LOWING]

FOR YEARS, CHEETAHS HAVE WREAKED HAVOC ON MBEU'S LIVESTOCK.

Mbeu: SOME YEARS BACK WE HAD SOME CHEETAHS

COMING AS CLOSE AS 10 METERS TO THE HOMESTEAD...

[HISSING]

...AND KILLING SOME OF MY GOATS.

[WHISTLES] COME. COME, COME, COME ON.

WE ALWAYS HAD AT LEAST A LOSS OF 10 LAMBS A YEAR

WITHIN OUR GOATS.

Narrator: MBEU WAS FORCED TO CARRY A GUN TO DEFEND HIS HERD.

[GOATS BLEATING]

BUT NOW CAPTAIN IS ALL THE AMMUNITION HE NEEDS.

Mbeu: HE'S QUITE A LOUD-BARKING DOG,

AND WITH THE PREDATORS THAT WE HAVE OUT HERE,

WE WOULDN'T WANT TO KILL THEM, OF COURSE,

BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SCARE THEM AWAY FROM THE LIVESTOCK.

[GOATS BLEATING]

Narrator: EVERY DAY, CAPTAIN HEADS OUT WITH HIS GOAT HERD

AS THEY GRAZE.

THE ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD

IS A LARGE, LOYAL AND EXTREMELY PROTECTIVE BREED.

ITS HERITAGE CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE BRONZE AGE.

ORIGINATING FROM TURKEY,

ITS ABILITY TO ENDURE EXTREME CONDITIONS

MAKES IT IDEALLY SUITED TO NAMIBIA'S ARID TERRAIN.

CAPTAIN WAS BRED FOR THE JOB HERE,

AT THE CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND, OR CCF.

THE FACILITY HAS A FEW RESIDENT ORPHANED OR INJURED CHEETAHS.

BUT MANY ANIMALS IN ITS CARE ARE DOGS.

[BARKING]

THE AIM OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE LIVESTOCK GUARDING DOGS

THAT CAN HELP SAVE A WHOLE POPULATION OF CHEETAHS

FROM BEING KILLED BY FARMERS.

[BARKING]

CCF'S FOUNDER IS DR. LAURIE MARKER.

Dr. Laurie: GO OVER THERE.

I ACTUALLY SET UP THE CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND IN 1990,

AND I MOVED TO NAMIBIA TO TRY TO HELP WORK WITH THE PEOPLE

ON WHOSE LAND THE CHEETAH WAS LIVING

AND TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO HELP REDUCE THEIR LIVESTOCK LOSSES

SO THEY WOULD STOP KILLING CHEETAHS.

I THOUGHT THE ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD WOULD BE THE BEST

BECAUSE THEY'RE AN INDEPENDENT-THINKING DOG

THAT DOESN'T REALLY NEED A HERDER OR A PERSON

TO BE RIGHT WITH THEM TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO.

Narrator: FARMERS WERE ONCE SKEPTICAL THAT DOGS LIKE CAPTAIN

COULD SUCCESSFULLY PROTECT THEIR HERDS.

♪

BUT NOW THERE'S A LONG WAITING LIST FOR A GUARDIAN DOG.

♪

[GATE SQUEAKING]

PAIGE SEITZ IS CCF'S LIVESTOCK GUARDING DOG PROGRAM MANAGER.

HER DAILY ROUTINE BEGINS BY CHECKING UP

ON THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY.

Paige: HI, MOMMY. HI, MOMMY.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR FEMALES, REBIT.

SHE JUST GAVE BIRTH THREE DAYS AGO TO FOUR PUPPIES,

TWO MALES AND TWO FEMALES.

SO THIS KIND OF WHERE OUR WHOLE PROGRAM BEGINS.

WE HAVE OUR LITTLE PUPPIES HERE, AND THEY LOOK REALLY SMALL,

BUT THEY END UP GROWING UP

INTO THE LARGE LIVESTOCK GUARDING DOGS

THAT PROTECT THE WILD CHEETAHS.

Narrator: CLOSE CONTACT WITH GOATS AT AN EARLY AGE

IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE THE PUPPIES

INSTINCTIVELY GUARD THEM WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS AROUND.

Paige: ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD

THESE GUYS START TO OPEN THEIR EYES AND EARS,

AND THEN AT FOUR WEEKS WE PUT IN GOATS WITH THEM

SO THEY START TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR JOB IS.

♪

[CLAPPING] COME.

[KISSING] AH, GOOD GIRL, GOOD GIRL.

OH, LOOK AT THIS MESS.

Narrator: PUPPIES REARED AT CCF AREN'T GIVEN NAMES;

THEY'RE SIMPLY KNOWN AS "PUPPY."

Paige: THESE GUYS, WE DON'T REALLY NAME THEM;

WE LET THE FARMERS NAME THEM.

THE FARMERS FIND THAT QUITE EXCITING

TO GET TO NAME THEIR NEW LITTLE EMPLOYEE.

THESE ARE NOT PET DOGS. THESE ARE WORKING DOGS.

[GOAT BLEATS]

Narrator: REGULAR SESSIONS WITH CCF'S RESIDENT GOAT HERD

HELPS DEVELOP THE BOND BETWEEN THE TWO...

Paige: COME ON, LET'S GO OUT.

Narrator: ...AND ENABLES PAIGE TO IRON OUT

ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES.

Paige: COME, COME, COME.

♪

SO THEY'RE OUT HERE IN THE CORRAL 100% OF THEIR TIME.

WE DO NOT TAKE THE DOGS HOME.

WE INTERACT WITH THEM A BIT,

JUST SO THAT THEY'RE USED TO GETTING VACCINATED

AND HANDLED IF THEY DO HAVE AN INJURY,

BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM TO CARE ABOUT US,

WE WANT THEM TO CARE ABOUT THEIR LIVESTOCK,

AND IF THERE'S ANY BAD BEHAVIOR STARTING,

SUCH AS MAYBE NIBBLING ON THEIR EARS OR NIBBLING ON THE HOOVES,

WE CAN USE SOME VERBAL REPRIMAND AND TELL THEM NO.

SO ACTUALLY HOW SHE'S APPROACHING THE GOAT RIGHT NOW

IS REALLY GOOD.

GOOD GIRL. YEAH, YOU'RE A VERY GOOD GIRL.

THE GOATS CAN ACTUALLY TELL HER WHEN SHE'S BEING A BIT TOO MUCH.

[KISSING] PUPPY, COME!

Narrator: "PUPPY" WILL EVENTUALLY GROW

TO A HUGE 29 INCHES TALL AT THE SHOULDER

AND WEIGH AROUND 150 POUNDS.

[GOAT BLEATS]

BUT FOR NOW, SHE'S OUTSIZED!

[DOGS BARKING]

Paige: GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: THE ANATOLIAN'S CALM BEHAVIOR

MAY SEEM AT ODDS

WITH ITS ABILITY TO INTIMIDATE AND SCARE OFF PREDATORS.

WHILE CHEETAHS ARE THE FASTEST LAND ANIMALS ON EARTH,

THEY ARE SURPRISINGLY SHY

AND GENERALLY PREFER TO AVOID CONFRONTATION.

[HISSING]

Dr. Laurie: CHEETAHS ARE NOT AN AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL,

SO THEY BELIEVE IN FLIGHT VERSUS FIGHT.

THEY'RE A SLENDER ANIMAL,

AND EVERY PART OF ITS BODY IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ITS HUNTING,

HEARING THE BIG DOG BARK...

[BARKING]

...WOULD BASICALLY SAY TO A CHEETAH, "I'M OUT OF HERE."

Narrator: CCF'S ULTIMATE GOAL

IS TO SAVE THE CHEETAH FROM EXTINCTION.

AND DR. MARKER'S OWN DOG, HERCULES,

IS PUTTING HIS GUARD DOG SKILLS TO GOOD USE.

[BARKING]

BUT HE'S NOT GUARDING GOATS.

[WHISTLES]

Narrator: IN A SURPRISING ROLE REVERSAL,

HERCULES IS THE GUARDIAN OF AN ORPHANED CHEETAH CUB

BROUGHT TO CCF AFTER BEING RESCUED.

Dr. Laurie: THIS IS DOMINIC, AND HE'S AN ORPHAN,

HE CAME IN WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 10 DAYS OLD,

AND HE'S ACTUALLY BEING RAISED

BY AN ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD AND A BORDER COLLIE.

COME. GOOD BOY, FINN. YOU'RE SO GOOD.

HERC IS A THREE-YEAR-OLD,

AND HE'S HUGE, AS YOU CAN SEE, BUT HE IS AS GENTLE AS A LAMB,

AND AS SOON AS THIS LITTLE CUB CAME IN AT ABOUT 10 DAYS OLD,

THE CUB WAS IN QUARANTINE,

AND HE JUST LAID OUTSIDE OF THE NURSERY,

AND AS SOON AS HE CAME OUT OF QUARANTINE

WHEN HE WAS A COUPLE WEEKS OLD,

THE TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS EVER SINCE.

ANYTHING THAT THIS BREED GROWS UP WITH

OR THINKS IT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF,

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO,

AND HERCULES IS A GREAT PARTNER FOR LITTLE DOM TO HAVE.

♪

Narrator: HAVING BEEN ORPHANED AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE,

DOM WON'T HAVE THE SKILLS HE NEEDS TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD.

INSTEAD, HE'LL BECOME AN AMBASSADOR

FOR CCF'S CHEETAH EDUCATION PROGRAM

AND BE NO THREAT TO GOATS.

BACK ON FARMER MBEU'S LAND, WHILE THE GOATS ROAM FREE,

CAPTAIN DOES HIS BEST TO KEEP THEM OUT OF TROUBLE,

STICKING WITH THEM WHEREVER THEY GO.

Mbeu: NORMALLY, HE WILL TRY AND GO ON ALL EDGES.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE CAN'T GUARD ALL FOUR EDGES AT THE SAME TIME,

BUT SOMETIMES YOU OBSERVE

THAT HE'S MORE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE GROUP,

HE BLENDS IN WITHIN THE GOATS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME LISTENING,

TAKING SOME SMELLS AND WATCHING OUT.

BECAUSE HE'S A BIT TALLER, DUE TO HIS BODY SIZE,

HE SEES EVERYTHING A BIT MORE FROM UP,

BUT FROM THE PREDATOR'S EYE HE BLENDS IN WITHIN THE GOATS

DUE TO HIS COAT COLOR,

WHICH MAKES IT A BIT DIFFICULT FOR THE PREDATOR TO SEE HIM,

BUT THEN HE SEES THE PREDATOR

WAY BEFORE THE PREDATOR SEES HIM.

Narrator: IF A CHEETAH APPROACHES THE HERD,

IT CAN DETECT DANGER THROUGH SCENT,

SO CAPTAIN MARKS HIS TERRITORY.

Mbeu: THE DOGS PEE ONTO LITTLE SMALL BUSHES IN A CIRCLE

TO MARK OFF THE TERRITORY WHERE HE'S GRAZING

TO SAY "THIS IS OCCUPIED BY ME,

WHOEVER CROSSES THE LINE, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE."

Narrator: URINE CONTAINS PHEROMONES,

OR CHEMICAL MESSAGES,

THAT WARN ANIMALS OF ANOTHER'S PRESENCE.

Mbeu: IT ACTUALLY STOPS THE PREDATOR

FROM EVEN ENTERING THE WHOLE TERRITORY.

ONCE HE MOVES DUE TO THE GRAZING INTO ANOTHER TERRITORY,

HE DOES EXACTLY THE SAME.

[GOATS BLEATING]

Narrator: FARMERS WITH AN ANATOLIAN GUARD DOG

REPORT A REDUCTION IN LIVESTOCK LOSSES OF BETWEEN 80 AND 100%.

THIS SUCCESS HAS RESULTED IN A CHANGE

IN FARMERS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE CHEETAHS.

Dr. Laurie: HAVING THE DOG HAS PLAYED A HUGE ROLE

IN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE FARMERS TOWARDS THE PREDATORS.

THE FARMERS DON'T SEE THE PREDATORS

KILLING THEIR LIVESTOCK,

AND THEY DON'T ACTIVELY GO OUT AND JUST KILL THE PREDATORS.

Narrator: AS A RESULT, CHEETAH DEATHS ARE DECLINING,

GIVING HOPE THAT THE BIG CAT'S DWINDLING POPULATION

MAY SOON BE ON THE UP.

♪

Mbeu: COME, CAPTAIN, COME! [KISSING]

[GOATS BLEATING]

Narrator: FOR FARMER MBEU, CAPTAIN HAS TRANSFORMED

THE FUTURE OF HIS GOATS AND THE CHEETAH.

Mbeu: CAPTAIN HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO OUR FARMING.

HE CAME AS A LITTLE PUPPY OF THREE MONTHS OLD,

AND FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY LOSS.

BEFORE WE HAD HIM WE HAD LOSSES

OVER TEN LITTLE LAMBS BORN PER YEAR,

BUT SINCE I HAD CAPTAIN, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY FOOTSTEPS

AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY CHEETAH OR PREDATOR.

♪

CAPTAIN BECAME PART OF THE FARMING FAMILY

AND WE CONSIDER HIM AS FAMILY.

HE HAS BEEN QUITE, QUITE FANTASTIC,

AND I REGARD HIM AS A FRIEND AND AS A FAMILY, OF COURSE.

♪

Narrator: THE CALM, CARING ANATOLIANS ARE SAVING LIVES

EVERY DAY THEY'RE ON THE JOB.

BUT EVEN AS PETS RATHER THAN WORKING ANIMALS,

DOGS' LOYALTY AND AFFECTION CAN BE LIFE-CHANGING.

♪

ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

Jonny: THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Grant: RIGHT.

Narrator: - 13- - YEAR-OLD JONNY HICKEY

WAS BORN WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES,

AND HE STRUGGLES TO COMMUNICATE.

Grant: BE NICE, OK?

Narrator: BUT THIS DOG HAS CHANGED HIS LIFE.

[DOGS BARKING]

Narrator: XENA IS ONE OF FIVE DOGS IN THE HICKEY FAMILY.

[BARKING]

FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, SHE AND JONNY HAVE BEEN INSEPARABLE.

AND THEIR CLOSE BOND

HAS HELPED JONNY OVERCOME MANY OF HIS ISSUES.

Linda: GOOD GIRL.

WHEN JONNY WAS LESS THAN TWO,

WE REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WASN'T QUITE RIGHT.

HE WASN'T REACHING MILESTONES.

WE WOULD TAKE HIM TO THE DOCTOR,

AND HE WASN'T EATING THE WAY HE SHOULD,

HE WASN'T SLEEPING THE WAY HE SHOULD,

SO IT WAS ACTUALLY LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD

WHEN WE REALIZED SOMETHING WASN'T QUITE RIGHT.

Narrator: AFTER MONTHS OF EVALUATION,

JONNY WAS EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM.

Jonny: HEY.

Linda: DOES THAT FEEL GOOD? Jonny: HEY.

Narrator: LINDA AND HER HUSBAND GRANT

WERE DESPERATE TO HELP THEIR SON

AND SPENT THOUSANDS ON VARIOUS THERAPY SESSIONS.

Jonny: FINE. AGAIN!

Grant: WE HAD SOMEBODY TEACH HIM HOW TO WALK UPSTAIRS.

WE HAD SOMEBODY TEACHING HIM HOW TO TOUCH FOOD.

I MEAN, WE PROBABLY WENT A YEAR

BEFORE HE TOUCHED A PIECE OF FOOD.

HE WAS, UM, HE DIDN'T LIKE FOOD.

Narrator: UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO HELP JONNY

WERE PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE WHOLE FAMILY.

BUT THEN THEY GOT XENA.

LIKE JONNY, XENA HAD A DIFFICULT START IN LIFE.

Jonny: XENA WAS HURT REALLY BAD BY SOME NOT-SO-NICE PEOPLE.

Narrator: XENA WAS ABANDONED AS A PUPPY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

ANIMAL SERVICES CAME TO HER RESCUE...

AND WERE HORRIFIED BY WHAT THEY SAW.

Xan: SHE LITERALLY WAS SKIN OVER BONES.

HER BODY HAD ALREADY STARTED SHUTTING DOWN.

HER EXTREMITIES WERE VERY COLD.

WHEN WE CHECKED THE COLOR UNDERNEATH HER GUM,

IT WAS VERY PALE AND GRAY.

XENA WAS NOT GIVEN MUCH CHANCE.

Narrator: THERE WAS LITTLE HOPE FOR THE STRAY PUPPY,

BUT THEY REFUSED TO GIVE UP ON HER.

Xan: ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS FELT SO STRONGLY

THAT SHE WANTED TO GIVE THIS LITTLE PUPPY A CHANCE.

SHE LITERALLY SHOVED HER UP UNDERNEATH HER SHIRT

SO THAT THE PUPPY COULD FEEL THE BEAT OF HER HEART

AND THE WARMTH OF HER SKIN.

Narrator: SOMEHOW THE EMACIATED STRAY

WITH AN INCREDIBLE WILL TO LIVE

STARTED TO SHOW SIGNS OF RECOVERY.

SHE WAS APTLY NAMED XENA: THE WARRIOR PUPPY.

LINDA WATCHED XENA'S HEARTBREAKING STORY

UNFOLD ON THE NEWS.

Linda: I WAS HOME CLEANING UP THE FAMILY ROOM, THE TV WAS ON,

IT WAS OUR NIGHTLY NEWS HERE IN ATLANTA,

AND A PICTURE OF XENA, THIS HORRIFYING PHOTO OF XENA,

ACTUALLY, JUST STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS

AND TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.

I REMEMBER MENTIONING HER TO THE FAMILY.

WE HAD REALLY ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LABRADOR RETRIEVER,

AND I HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH A LAB.

Narrator: LINDA WANTED TO SAVE XENA, BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

JONNY DISLIKED ANYTHING NEW INVADING HIS PERSONAL SPACE,

AND THAT INCLUDED DOGS.

BUT AS THEY COLLECTED XENA, SOMETHING REMARKABLE HAPPENED--

[JONNY TALKING]

Narrator: XENA CRAWLED ONTO JONNY'S LAP...

Linda: ARE YOU READY TO GO?

Narrator: ...AND STAYED THERE.

Jonny: YES, SHE READY.

Linda: WHICH WAS A MIRACLE IN ITSELF, RIGHT?

BECAUSE OF ALL THE SPACE ISSUES THAT HE HAS.

Jonny: SHE HAS LOTS OF TEETH.

Linda: SHE DOES HAVE LOTS OF TEETH.

I JUST WAS, I WAS IN TEARS.

Jonny: YOU GOT A NEW PUPPY FROM THE NEW PLACE.

YOU GOT HER FROM THE NEWS?

♪

Narrator: FROM THAT MOMENT ON LIFE CHANGED

FOR XENA, JONNY AND THE REST OF THE HICKEY FAMILY.

♪

AFTER XENA'S ARRIVAL, JONNY WAS SUDDENLY HAPPY

TO TOUCH FOOD WITHOUT IT BEING A PROBLEM.

♪

Jonny: SHEEP.

Narrator: AND THERE WERE EVEN MORE CHANGES IN STORE.

Jonny: "QUACK," SAID HIM.

Linda: OUR HOME WAS A SILENT HOME. SILENT.

YOU KNOW, HE WOULD PLAY INDEPENDENTLY.

NO TALKING, NO SINGING, NO GIGGLING, NO NOTHING.

IT WAS A COMPLETELY QUIET HOME.

Jonny: HIGH FIVE, XENA.

[LAUGHS] COME ON, XENA, COME ON.

Linda: AND, UM, WE'RE IN THE FAMILY ROOM

WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN...

[SLURP] [LAUGHTER]

IT WAS GIGGLING AND LAUGHTER,

AND I'M LIKE, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

Jonny: GOOD GIRL!

Narrator: IT'S THOUGHT AUTISTIC CHILDREN RESPOND WELL TO DOGS

BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL PRESSURED BY THEM.

DOGS DON'T JUDGE.

THEY SIMPLY CALM AND COMFORT.

Jonny: MY NAME IS JONNY, AND THIS IS MY PUPPY, XENA.

I THINK WE MAKE A PRETTY PERFECT TEAM.

Narrator: BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.

BEFORE ADOPTING HER, THE FAMILY DISCOVERED

THAT XENA WAS NOT A LABRADOR AFTER ALL,

BUT PART PIT BULL.

Grant: I SAID NO AT FIRST.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING THAT DOG INTO MY FAMILY

AND EXPOSE MY SON WITH AUTISM TO A PIT BULL.

AND I WAS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD--

I THOUGHT THAT PIT BULLS WERE EVIL, VICIOUS DOGS.

Narrator: STUDIES SHOW THAT PIT BULLS

ARE ACTUALLY AMONG THE MOST TOLERANT OF DOGS,

JUST SECOND BEHIND LABRADORS.

BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE OFTEN USED FOR FIGHTING

AND TO PROTECT PROPERTY,

THEY'VE GAINED AN UNDESERVED REPUTATION FOR BEING VICIOUS.

Linda: I WAS UNDER THAT, YOU KNOW,

MISCONCEPTION ABOUT PIT BULLS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WRONG END OF THE LEASH.

I BELIEVE THAT A PIT BULL OR ANY DOG, ANY DOG,

IS A PRODUCT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

YOU TREAT THEM WITH KINDNESS AND LOVE,

AND THEY'RE JUST GONNA GIVE IT RIGHT BACK TO YOU,

AND THAT'S WHAT SHE'S DONE.

Narrator: XENA HAS BECOME JONNY'S OWN PERSONAL THERAPY DOG

AND HAS CHANGED HIS LIFE FOREVER.

Grant: IF IT WEREN'T FOR XENA,

NONE OF THIS WOULD BE TAKING PLACE.

♪

Linda: THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT,

SHE HAS GONE FROM SURVIVOR TO SAVIOR, REALLY, YOU KNOW?

Narrator: RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY

NOT ONLY HELPS IN THE TREATMENT OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN,

BUT REDUCES THE STRESS AND ANXIETY OF EVERYONE AROUND THEM.

Linda: THIS IS HIS FRIEND,

AND THEY'RE LIKE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY,

THEY DO REALLY EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

SHE NOT ONLY SAVED THE BOY WITH AUTISM,

SHE ACTUALLY SAVED THE WHOLE FAMILY.

♪

♪

Narrator: DOGS ARE NOT ONLY MAN'S BEST FRIEND,

BUT LIFESAVERS TO A WHOLE RANGE OF SPECIES.

THEIR REMARKABLE ABILITY TO TRACK, CHASE AND PROTECT...

Jonny: HIGH FIVE, XENA.

Narrator: ...HAS SEEN THEM DEVELOP

INTO A VITAL WORK FORCE OF DOGS WITH EXTRAORDINARY JOBS.

♪