Inside the feces-filled house of horrors that left dog rescuers struggling to breathe
The animals were rescued from a grim house of horrors, which was filled with faeces and sharp-sided objects that Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) investigators and vets experts claimed could harm cats and dogs.
A faecal-filled horror house where one resident keeps nine animals has left inspectors struggling to breathe in a space filled with dog biscuits.
Louise Tucker, 32, was given a 10-week suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping animals after an RSPCA raid on her Blackpool home. Five Chihuahuas, two cats, two mixed-breed dogs and two Staffordshire bull terriers were found among the mess. These horrific conditions left many of the animals in poor health, with a few water bowls and animal biscuits found inside the property, leaving investigators reeling and struggling to breathe.
Their investigation into the Butler Street Blackpool property found officers unable to act due to the disgusting state of the place. Reports from LancashireLive suggest there was so much faeces on the floor at the time of the raid that officers were unable to move. When they managed their way around the property, they found white and rotting waste left for several weeks.
Blackpool Court has since heard that the puppies were for sale for £450 each, with Tucker listing an advertisement for the animals. But the pets remained in poor condition, sharing plastic bowls of food and water that were left alongside their droppings. Two boxes were also found in the room, one containing a dirty blanket, and the other containing nothing at all. Tin cans with sharp edges were also found, as well as an abundance of other potentially dangerous items.
Tucker initially denied causing unnecessary suffering to the animals, but changed her plea to guilty in July. At the sentencing hearing on 7 September, magistrates heard about the RSPCA’s visit to the property on 30 June. They were accompanied by a police officer, a veterinarian and officers from the local authority.
In a witness statement, RSPCA inspector Will Lamping said: “I could not see anywhere clean for the dogs to lie down as the floor and boxes were dirty with faeces, as was the sofa and chairs. The room was very dark with the curtains drawn and newspapers stuck through the window. There was a smell of ammonia inside the room “So pungent that it was difficult to breathe at times, and I had to take regular breaks outside the room.”
All 11 animals were seized from Tucker and transferred into the care of the RSPCA, with a certificate confirming they were likely to suffer if their conditions did not change. The dogs were found to be suffering from mild conjunctivitis, with ammonia in the living room considered the likely cause. One of the two Staffordshire bull terriers, named Bentley, tore the cranial cruciate ligament in his right leg and required further investigation to confirm an untreated anal mass.
Tucker was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months and banned from keeping animals for five years. Magistrates also ordered Tucker to serve 15 days of RAR and pay costs of £400. Speaking after the case concluded, Inspector Lambing said: “The conditions inside the house were appalling, with the smell of ammonia making it difficult to stay inside for more than a few minutes at a time. The animals were forced to live in such squalid conditions that this was completely unacceptable. .
“We would like to thank those who reported their concerns to the RSPCA, and to Lancashire Police officers for their help and support on the day of the warrant. Fortunately, all of the animals have made a full recovery and all but two – who are still waiting to be adopted – have already found loving new homes.”
