Dog found in cramped room thriving in new home

A poodle-cross dog rescued along with more than 250 other dogs from a cramped living room now "loves going out in the garden" at his new home in Leicester.

The RSPCA discovered the crossbreeds at an undisclosed location in January and said their numbers and living conditions "had rapidly grown out of control amid extenuating family circumstances".

Leicester's RSPCA Woodside centre cared for 10-month-old Winston and 11 others, and said the dogs were severely matted, covered in faeces and "scared of humans" on arrival.

Winston's new owners, Lisa and Mark Bream, said it had been "heartwarming" to watch his progress, adding he had "brought so much love" to the family.

Of the 250 dogs rescued, 87 were taken in by the RSPCA, which said the "vast majority" had been rehomed, while some were reserved and two dogs remained up for adoption.

The rest of the animals were taken in by the Dogs Trust, which said more than 115 had been rehomed, including 10 puppies born in its care.

Jade Burton, head of animal services at RSPCA Woodside, said: "When Winston and the other dogs came into our care, they were scared of humans, wary of their surroundings and completely overwhelmed."

She said they were severely matted and it took the team more than two days to gently shave and groom them before rehabilitation could begin.

Winston was adopted by the Bream family, who already had an eight-year-old dog, Daisy.

Discussing the first time she met Winston, Lisa recalled: "He was a trembling wreck - you could immediately tell how nervous he was.

"He cautiously licked my husband's hand as if he wanted to interact with us but he wasn't sure he should."

She said after weeks of bonding they were able to take him home, adding: "Initially we had to carry him everywhere, everything was so new to him, he was even scared of his own collar and lead."

Lisa said Winston now greeted their friends with a wagging tail and waited excitedly at the door for a walk.

Tiger, who was cared for by the RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Centre in Nottinghamshire, was another crossbreed from the operation that was rehomed last month.

Couple Charlotte Chubb, 47, and Justine Drury, 53, from West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire, decided to adopt the dog to give their two other pets some extra company.

Chubb said Tiger had to be carried on walks initially as she had never been on grass.

But she now "walks on a lead nicely - something she clearly had never experienced before".

"She was very thin and we had to hand-feed her at first - she has a real appetite but we have to feed her up slowly," Charlotte said.

"She had no idea about feeding from a bowl, but now the three eat at the same time happily.

"Tiger also loves chasing after her ball and loves the new found freedom."

During the discovery of the 250 poodle-cross dogs, a rescuer took a "shocking" image - showing dozens of the dogs crammed into a living room.

The RSPCA said it was not AI-generated, in response to comments on social media suggesting it was fake.

The charity said it would not pursue prosecution due to the "extremely vulnerable nature" of the owners.

Anna White, manager at RSPCA Southridge, who was at the rescue, said the smell in the property was "horrendous", adding the animals were living in a "slurry pit".

She added: "It is the worst scene I have seen in my 38 years with the RSPCA.

"When we were taking them out of the house they were very quiet but they have been amazingly resilient and soon became different dogs altogether - they have coped so well.

"I am so pleased to see how their lives are now transformed and it is fantastic."

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