Channel 4 delivers pet pregnancy series

Wonderhood Studios is delivering a four-part series for Channel 4 that tracks the experiences of pet owners as they prepare for the pregnancy and birth of their animals.

Fur Babies (w/t) is a 4 x 60-minute series that will use a state-of-the-art rig embedded in several vet practices to capture all the milestone moments in pet pregnancy, from the initial ultrasounds and checks, through to the labours, complications and the final moments when the young pets are rehomed with their new families.

Vets James Greenwood and Bolu Eso will help guide nervous owners through the pregnancies of animals including dogs, cats, guinea pigs and rabbits, while cameras will follow the owners as they prepare their homes for the arrivals.

Fur Babies is a co-pro between Wonderhood and All3Media International. It was commissioned by Jo Street, head of daytime and features, and Clemency Green, senior commissioning editor. It is exec produced by Mandy Thomson and Samanatha Anstiss, with Joy Ash series producing and sharing series directing duties with Phil Broadhurst.

Green said that the arrival of a “furry family member” is a special time but is not always smooth sailing, promising that the state-of-art technology will capture the “nail-biting” experience for viewers.

Anstiss added: “The series will be the perfect mix of heart-warming stories as well as an informative look at how vets use all of their skills to ensure our pets give birth safely and responsibly.”

Vet James Greenwood said: “Pet pregnancy is not always an easy road. We want to highlight the ups and downs of pet pregnancies and show how important it is for families that are thinking of breeding their pets to do so under the guidance and support of their vets, as we’ve seen first-hand the upsetting consequences of unscrupulous pet breeding over the past few years.”

His co-presenter Eso promised that the documentary series will focus on the “nuances” of pet ownership and hopes that the series serves as a “teachable moment” for pet owners.