Nigel Taylor is a locum vet and consultant vet for the University of Exeter I’d never seen an RSPCA inspector cry – until that moment. At 05:00 we’d had a detailed briefing. Police helicopter surveillance pictures showed a kennel full of large, muscular dogs. These, unmistakably pit bull types, were hurriedly being moved indoors. Briefing over, we’d headed for a large Victorian house and, once the police had forced entry, the RSPCA inspector and I were tasked with checking any dogs remaining inside. There were two, a mother and pup. Both healthy. We moved on to search the house and it was then we found the operating theatre – as well equipped as any you’ll find in most small animal practices. Hydraulic table, oxygen cylinders, vaporiser, autoclave – all there. Rows of surgical …