About this season
The dedicated team at the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a private charity, responds to a variety of distress calls involving an average of more than 100 animals per day. This series documents the work they do, from the initial investigation through, in some cases, the animals being adopted into loving homes.
Episodes (15)
1. A Soldier's Best Friend
Aired 14 June 2004 • 45 min
An American soldier rescues an injured puppy from the streets of war-torn Iraq. With help from the Houston SPCA, he flies the pup back to the United States.
2. Criminal Acts
Aired 15 June 2004 • 45 min
The team investigates and attempted poisoning of a family dog in a Houston neighbourhood. And, investigators rescue two neglected, lame horses.
3. Horse Quarantine
Aired 16 June 2004 • 45 min
A deadly disease strikes the shelter, threatening the life of every horse in the SPCA's stable block. Plus, the team rescues an abandoned dog and her pups.
4. Fighting Camp
Aired 17 June 2004 • 45 min
The team takes part in a dramatic dawn raid to shut down one of the city's biggest illegal dog fighting operations. What they find on the property shocks them all.
5. Center of Chaos
Aired 18 June 2004 • 45 min
Assistant chief investigator Charles Jantzen sets out to save 70 cats and dogs in a filthy, privately-owned animal rescue centre.
6. Trouble
Aired 2 August 2004 • 45 min
A rookie's attempt to save a dog with a rusty metal chain embedded in its neck touches everyone at the Houston SPCA shelter.
7. Animal Round-Up
Aired 3 August 2004 • 45 min
Fifty animals are removed from an elderly hoarder's Texas home; two Great Danes must be rescued from a locked junkyard; Dog hit by car has one eye and broken leg.
8. The Big Cases
Aired 4 August 2004 • 45 min
Emaciated horses; dead dog tied to fence and Rottweiler with dying puppies; farm with animals in terrible living conditions; dog with embedded metal chain around its neck;all these and more are revisited as we get updates on the animals.
9. Deer Rescue
Aired 5 August 2004 • 45 min
Chief Investigator Boller leads the rescue of a deer that was badly injured after running through an office glass window. And, an angry owner wants to keep his six dogs.
10. Trailer Park Tears
Aired 6 August 2004 • 45 min
A senior investigator is injured and rushed to the ER during a raid at the home of an elderly cat collector. But will his injuries be serious?
11. Mission to Save
Aired 4 October 2004 • 45 min
SPCA investigators seize a horse with a horrific leg injury. Emotions run high as they fight to save the animal and bring the owner to justice.
12. Justice Is Served
Aired 5 October 2004 • 45 min
Loose dogs; an abuser of a horse, cat, dog and bird receives justice; abandoned snake roams wild; pack of dogs terrorises a neighbourhood.
13. Blessed Puppies
Aired 6 October 2004 • 45 min
Investigator Barbra Christiansen has a threatening standoff with a neglectful dog-owner; a church drain traps puppies.
14. Armed Siege
Aired 7 October 2004 • 45 min
An angry man pulls a gun on Houston SPCA officer Max Mixson as he's investigating a complaint about the man confining more than 100 dogs in his property.
15. No Longer Abandoned
Aired 8 October 2004 • 45 min
An abandoned dog wins the heart of an SPCA investigator; cops seize more than 200 dogs from an overcrowded puppy mill; investigators try to keep emaciated horse alive.