Heathrow's Animal Reception team deals with an illegal shipment of chameleons from Ghana in Africa. They're bound for Japan but with many dead on arrival, this consignment is going nowhere. It's a challenge to save the surviving chameleons from severe dehydration, but is it already too late? In one of the terminals Attendant Ross and Animal Welfare officer Sharon seize a pet dog from a mother and her young daughter who had innocently carried it in a holdall in the main cabin of the aircraft. Gucci the Bishon Frise has travelled illegally from the Middle East. To the consternation of its young owner it must be detained while checks are carried out on its documentation. Airside, a Giant Tortoise flies in from the Seychelles: but trying to move a mammoth box weighing a quarter of a tonne poses its own unique problems.
Four cheetahs are detained on their way from South Africa to Russia. Despite their ingenuity and best efforts the staff cannot find two of the cheetah's identifying microchips and they have to prepare for the big cats' extended stay. Animal Health Inspector Sharon is called to an illegal bulldog, which has been brought into the UK from Eastern Europe without the correct vaccinations. His owners cannot afford to pay his quarantine and he may have to be destroyed. Animal Health officers Stuart and Chris take on the resident grumpy African Dwarf Crocodile, in an attempt to clean out its cage.
Animal Health Officer Stuart confronts a man attempting to smuggle a tortoise into the UK. The man becomes violent when Stuart discovers he s hidden it in his underpants. At the Animal Reception Centre some escaped Tarantulas need repackaging which is bad news for Mel who s arachnophobic. Two Siberian Foxes make an overnight stay en route from Moscow to the United States. A Lion Cub - whose travel crate isn't strong enough to hold it - is detained by the manager of the ARC and a tiny Teacup Schnauzer prompts an investigation. Is it too young to have travelled?
An American woman’s hopes of a family reunion are dashed when her son is denied entry in to the UK and his dog is stranded in transit. Behind the scenes with the sniffer dogs a couple are caught carrying £15,000 in cash out of the country. Some geriatric monkeys fly in from a Danish primate sanctuary to spend their retirement in the UK; but they’re so well packaged that their padlocked crates must be broken in to give them something to eat. Manager Rob Quest is in for a treat when an unusual shipment of insects and reptiles arrives and it’s feeding time for the resident monitor lizards and rats are on the menu.
A rescued puppy that was abused by its former owners captures the hearts of the staff, while Stuart tries to contend with a feisty eagle.
A diabetic dog is in urgent need of an insulin injection following a 24-hour flight from Australia. Elsewhere, a foul smell emanates from a shipment of mealworms.
The staff at Heathrow Airport's Animal Reception Centre brace themselves for a huge influx of rescued animals. Plus, Grace loses her way when transporting a support dog.
The team at the rescue centre faces the challenge of dealing with animals in the fast-paced setting of an international airport.
Stuart looks after a lively and colourful set of king vultures, and a youngster arrives on work experience.
Anna's charms fail to persuade a shy dog to co-operate, Stuart finds a shipment of lizards that cannot be allowed to fly any further, and a 6ft python causes issues for the team.
Ann and animal transport specialist Matthew Ford take some rare birds to Germany. Meanwhile, Stuart examines two expensive parrots with a colour mutation.
Mel has bad news for a dog owner who arrives to collect his pet. Meanwhile, a shipment of alpacas arrives from the USA, but it may not be allowed to leave the airport.
The team picks up a sloth, a coati, an ibis and their old friend Mango the cockatoo after a zoo closes down. The handlers also deal with a Brazilian street dog.
An influx of new arrivals stretches resources at reception, and a vet examines a batch of cockatoos.
Staff come to the rescue of two young alpacas and Welfare Officers get a fright when they unload a shipment of tarantula spiders.
The handlers at Heathrow's Animal Reception Centre have their hands full with in-transit chameleons, racehorses and rare foxes. All are checked out but some may not survive.
Ross helps a pair of penguins who missed their flight. Vicky needs to track down some cats. Ten thousand bees make a buzz at feeding time. And Kayleigh ruffles some feathers when she meets a big bird.
The apprentices get their first experience of handling crocodiles
Seven hungry baboons arrive from Kuwait and a blind dog comes in with an alarming cough
The team have their hands full with 96 alpacas, and a stowaway hermit crab finds itself far from home. A shipment of 50 birds stay overnight and a little dog raises alarm bells
Deputy manager Ross spots a suspicious package; a cat requires a vet; an angry dog provokes desperate measures to be taken; and a pair of ferrets cause chaos.
