Animals in danger: emergency rescue | Enquête d'action | W9

Dogs, cats, birds: more than one in every two households in France has a pet, a record for Europe. At the least sign of their faithful companion suffering, the owners rush to the vet. Nearly 17,000 people have chosen this enthralling, but testing, profession. Whether emergency responders or specialists in farm or wild animals, these extraordinary doctors go out their way to save their unusual patients. It also happens that some in the profession, driven by the lure of gain, connive with animal smugglers. Illegal imports, fake documents of origin, ill treatment: we reveal the disgraceful practices of pet shops and breeders from whom people buy in complete confidence. We were able to follow some long-term investigations and some spectacular swoops by the authorities and associations for the protection of animals.