Pet owner who kept 84 dogs in 'squalid' Doncaster home guilty of neglect

A pet owner has been convicted of neglect after 84 dogs were found living in ‘appalling’ conditions at his house in Doncaster.

Social worker David Parkes kept dozens of animals in rooms covered from floor to ceiling in faeces and dirt several inches thick.

When RSPCA officers forced their way into his home, they found more than 30 spaniels sat on the stairs and landing, after the dogs were ‘left unneutered and bred out of control’.

Workers who rescued the dogs from the house in Tickhill, near Doncaster, in April last year, said the conditions were among the worst they’d ever encountered.

The stairs at Parkes’ home were ‘covered in dirt, approximately 6-7 inches on every step from bottom to top’, while the ‘unbearable’ smell inside the property made one RSPCA worker sick.

Vets who inspected 46 of the dogs after they were rescued found 14 were emaciated and had been suffering for at least a month, five had infected cuts on their ears after the owners tried to cut off matted fur with scissors, several had ear infections, and one spaniel had an ‘excruciatingly painful’ broken leg.

Parkes, 61, had denied three counts of animal welfare offences, claiming he didn’t own or have responsibility for the animals, but was found guilty following a two-day trial at Barnsley Magistrates Court which ended on September 29.

His wife Daphne, 60, and son Sam Parkes, 28, who lived in the same house, both admitted three animal welfare offences at an earlier hearing.

The court heard veterinary records showed all the animals were registered in David Parkes’ name, that he knew the names and ages of most of the animals and their feeding plans, bought dog food and took them to the vets when needed.

The RSPCA said many of the dogs had never been walked on a lead before and had to be carried to waiting vehicles when rescued.

Mrs Parkers told inspectors their situation had got out of control since COVID and that they knew they had too many dogs.

Animal Rescue Officer Liz Braidley had told the court: ““On entry into the property at the rear the conditions were appalling. The first room was a small area to the rear of the garage. Every surface from the floor and up the walls was brown in colour, the smell of urine and faeces was overpowering it made my eyes sting.

“We then went through a door to the left which led into the kitchen. There were numerous Spaniel type dogs, all filthy with stained yellow coats. Every part of the floor, walls, and surfaces was caked in a brown residue.

“The dogs all ran to the other side of the room appearing very scared and timid. The smell in this room was unbearable, it was difficult to talk or breathe properly and I was unable to stay in there for extended periods of time.

“There was a further door across the kitchen area. Myself and Inspector Ludlam went through here which led to an area by the staircase to the upper floor. There again, were numerous Spaniel type dogs which were impossible to count as they retreated up the stairs where they then sat watching us.”

Two adult Springer Spaniels, two 12-week-old Springer Spaniel Puppies, two adult female Patterdale Terriers and two Patterdale Terrier pups were living in Mr and Mrs Parkes’ bedroom. The room was piled high with various items and was nearly impossible to access, the court heard. Two cats were also found in their son’s bedroom, which was also dirty and cluttered

Mr Parkes, who claimed he couldn’t take responsibility for the animals due to ‘his heavy workload’, agreed to sign over care of the dogs to the RSPCA. Workers had had to force entry into his home when they rescued the animals, despite Parkes, his wife and son being inside at the time.

The animals, including two cats called Jess and Flower, were vaccinated and received preventative treatment for fleas and worms.

In her written statement one of the vets said: “A very large number of animals were being kept in an inadequate space. They were living in filth and squalor. They were not provided with sufficient resources for their basic needs such as water, adequate food, beds or toys.

“Many of the dogs were underweight, probably due to their lack of ability to compete with the other dogs for the resources. Many of them had untreated injuries. Any reasonable and humane person would have recognised these problems and addressed them.”

Following the rescue most of the dogs were taken to private boarding facilities on behalf of the RSPCA.

Almost all were successfully re-homed, while one spaniel sadly had to be put to sleep due to ongoing health issues.

The three defendants will all be sentenced on December 9 at Doncaster Crown Court.