RSPCA inspector Mark Miles endured abseiling, boat rescues and months of legal coaching in his training programme, but nothing could have prepared him for his first day on the job.

While the dramatic reconstruction of cliff-side rescues was an exercise Mark would probably never be faced with in reality, there was no training to prepare the young inspector for the bizarre series of events facing him on his first call-out.

"We were called to the house of a man who had died and whose dogs had started to eat him because they were so hungry," recalls Mark.

"He had obviously been dead a while. The milk had been left outside his house and his neighbours had reported it to police."

Thankfully, jobs like Mark's first day are rare but the nature of being an RSPCA inspector means that you never know what you will be met with.

Mark, a 31-year-old married father-of-one from Purley, has been an inspector for six years.

He said: "I was watching Animal Hospital one night which pulled on a few heart strings and thought it could be interesting.

"I enrolled on the RSPCA's six-month training programme, which mostly consists of the legal training, but you do get to learn how to abseil, just in case you ever take part in a cliff rescue.

"It was initially quite hard to cope with the things that you see, such as animal cruelty, but you soon switch into inspector mode.

"I love this job. Not only do you have contact with animals, but there is so much freedom and you never know what's going to happen from one day to the next."

Most of Mark's work consists of advising people on how they should be caring for animals but there have been occasions where he has become attached to some of his furry clients.

He adds: "Occasionally you are tempted to take an animal home. I cracked once and took home a six-month-old puppy. I came to my senses the next day though and took it to a shelter.

"I have to practice what I preach to other people and you shouldn't keep a pet if it is going to be left alone all day while you are at work."

The RSPCA also provides a neutering service for those on benefits who cannot afford it.

To find out more contact your local RSPCA branch on 0870 333 5999.