RSPCA issues advice after 80 dogs found in home

RSPCA officers found 80 dogs at a house in Bedfordshire when they visited

An animal charity has issued advice after a "staggering" 80 dogs had to be rescued from one house.

In Bedfordshire, the RSPCA was called to a house after reports that there were potentially 20 dogs there.

On arrival officers were told by the owner there were about 40 dogs, but a final count resulted in the discovery of 80 dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and cross-breeds, and one cat. The menagerie was removed to RSPCA centres in Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

The charity said originally there were just two un-neutered dogs there and it urged people to contact them if they needed help with their pets or were feeling overwhelmed.

Eighty dogs were found in a one home in Bedfordshire

Animal rescue officer Ellie Barnes-Wilson said the dogs were moved over a five-day span and taken to different RSPCA rehoming centres and other charities.

The dogs were well-loved but the charity said it was impossible for the owner to look after that many at their home, which is not being identified by the charity.

All the dogs were crammed into three small rooms which smelt of ammonia.

Ms Barnes-Wilson said: "The conditions the dogs were in were extremely concerning - the rooms were dark and humid. I struggled to breathe in these rooms. Our eyes would burn so much we couldn't open them.

"Almost all the dogs were visibly suffering from ammonia burns to the front of their eyes which were cloudy - that's how powerful it was.

"There were just dogs everywhere - I found multiple week-old puppies in boxes and there were others in drawers.

"This person did appear to love their dogs but they didn't ask for help when it first started to get out of control. This is when welfare standards also then declined."

The dogs were removed in April, and the RSPCA is using the case to highlight its national Adoptober rehoming drive.

'Frightening'

Ms Barnes-Wilson added: "What is really frightening is that this situation came from only two dogs - and a failure to get dogs neutered - so they had an accidental litter and the over-breeding just continued and continued.

"When we finally removed the last dog, you could see the relief on the owner's face."

Many of the dogs went to RSPCA centres and branches across the country including:

• Block Fen at Wimblington in Cambridgeshire

• Southridge at South Mimms, Hertfordshire

• West Norfolk at Tilney All Saints

• Danher Animal Home in Wethersfield, Essex

• Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston & District Branch in west London

A lot of them needed treatment for the burns on their eyes.

Lots of them were not used to being handled, and they needed to learn to walk on leads.

Almost all had never experienced being outside and initially this was very daunting for them, the charity added.