These disturbing images show the hideous conditions inside a putrid puppy farm where faeces coated the walls and floor.

Following a raid on site near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, RSPCA officials discovered 25 dogs being kept there.

They were being reared by a father and daughter involved in a shameless money making scheme.

Breeders Sansha and Peter Lamb, aged 39 and 70, pleaded guilty to 23 offences at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The emaciated creatures they kept were covered in waste and urine, riddled with lice, skin lesions, infections and parasites.

Authorities also found a whelping box containing a pug bitch and two puppies who had no access to food or water.

District Judge Jonathan Taffe said: ‘The fact is that what was revealed on January 9 when the council, a vet and others went into the premises of Unstone House was frankly a horror story.’

One pug-type bitch was also found decomposing in a dog basket by investigators.

Deborah Cartwright, prosecuting, said the puppy farm was raided by council and RSPCA officers on January 9 after complaints from members of the public.

David Gittins, defending Sansha, said his client had previously been a licensed dog breeder without having any problems.

But the court heard how she suffered from the breakdown of a difficult relationship and began using cocaine.

Martin Pizzey, defending Peter, said his client had no commercial interest and only became involved to help his daughter.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to nine counts of failing to ensure the welfare needs of dogs and a further two counts each of causing unnecessary suffering.

The judge told Sansha, who also admitted to breeding dogs without a licence, that she was only being spared jail because of concerns for her children.

She was banned from keeping animals for life and was handed a 16 week sentence, suspended for two years with a 16 week curfew.

Sansha was also told to pay £1,000 costs and a £115 victim’s surcharge.

Peter Lamb was banned from keeping dogs for five years and was given a 12 month community order with a 12 week curfew.

A thug caught on CCTV setting his dog on a neighbour’s cat then fleeing as it was mauled to death has been jailed for 18 weeks.

Amos Price, 30, was filmed approaching a house in Walsall with his lurcher-type dog on October 23 before spotting the cat perched on top of a wall.

He could be seen pulling his hood up before positioning his pet directly in front of the other animal and shining a powerful torch to startle it.

Footage of the horrifying attack that followed sparked outrage on social media when it was published by the RSPCA in an effort to identify him.

Price admitted animal cruelty and was warned by Magistrate Brian Benton that he’d have been locked up for longer if the law permitted him to impose a stiffer sentence.

He was also banned from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £122 as well as £250 in compensation.

Price was arrested by West Midlands Police on Tuesday following a six-day manhunt sparked by the release of footage by the charity.

Prosecutor Helen Shipley said the cat’s owner, Gary Truefitt, had viewed the footage after being unable to find his pet, named Cleo.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Truefitt said: ‘The attack has affected my sleep. My cat Cleo would always be there in the morning but now she is not.

‘I don’t want to go home because I know Cleo is not there. I feel as if a big part of my life is missing.’

He said in another statement last week: ‘Cleo will be very much missed, she was a daft cat in lots of ways and would lie along the driveway even when there were cars about, but she was a companion to me.

‘It’s just awful to think of her being attacked in this way.’

The court was told Price, who was jailed last year for criminal damage and assault, co-operated with police who arrested him, telling officers: ‘I was going to hand myself in on Friday. I am done with looking over my shoulder and my family are getting threats.’

Defending, Mandeep Sehmi said the father-of-two – whose partner and other family members attended court – would not have committed the offence if he had been sober.

He added that Price was extremely ashamed and sorry.

Mr Benton told Price: ‘This court is restricted to a maximum sentence of 26 weeks for the offence to which you have pleaded.

‘Due to your guilty plea, you are entitled to a reduction of one-third, to 18 weeks. However, due to the circumstances, we would if we were actually permitted to do so have imposed a far greater custodial sentence.’

A cruel pet owner stabbed his sick dog, chained her to a breeze block and left her to drown in a canal, a court heard.

Brendan Murphy, 52, claimed his Japanese Akita died of natural causes before he buried her body in the woods.

But the RSPCA launched an investigation after Tara’s weighted body was found floating on the waterway.

Forensic tests revealed algae present in the dog’s bone marrow indicating she drowned on August 20 last year.

A post mortem also showed Tara had been battling lung disease for a number of weeks and had been brutally stabbed twice in the abdomen before her body was submerged.

The scientific evidence, used by the RSPCA for the first time, nailed Murphy who eventually pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal

Chester Magistrates’ Court heard Tara’s body was discovered in the Shropshire Union Canal near Nantwich, Cheshire, on October 6 last year.

Her microchip identified Murphy as her owner and he claimed she had died of natural causes.

He said he visited the woodland where he buried her a few times, but added that around two weeks later the animal had been dug up.

The case was the first RSPCA prosecution involving forensic tests on an animal’s bone marrow.

Inspector Andy Harris said: ‘Poor Tara had a lung disease which was left untreated and therefore she was left suffering will this illness for a number of weeks.

‘She was then stabbed in the abdomen twice before being thrown alive into the canal, where she drowned.

‘It is upsetting to think about what she must have endured during her final moments.’

Murphy was further convicted of failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care.

He was handed a ten-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, banned from keeping animals for ten years and ordered to pay £300 costs as well as a £115 victim surcharge.

An unwanted cat is facing his second Christmas without a home – because he always hides away when people come to see him.

Eleven-year-old Toby has now spent 332 days under RSPCA care in Canterbury, Kent.

He was taken in on Christmas Eve last year after previously living in a house with 45 other cats, 15 of which ended up with the animal charity.

RSPCA centre manager Beth Hixson said: ‘Toby’s former housemates were rehomed quite quickly, but poor Toby didn’t cope well with being in the cattery so hid away and wouldn’t come out to see people when they came to choose.’

The average length of time a cat stays is just 28 days and all the others who came with Toby have now found permanent homes.

Beth said: ‘We’d love to see him in a new home for Christmas. There must be someone out there looking for an older cat for some company.

‘He loves to snuggle up on the bed at night and spend sunny days exploring the garden. He just needs to find a home where he can enjoy doing this for the rest of his days.’

The black and white cat would suit a quiet home without children or other pets to make the most of his retirement.

He is currently living with a foster family where has has proven himself to be ‘sociable, friendly and interactive’. But he needs to find somewhere he can stay for good.

The RSPCA said they expected more than 10,000 vulnerable animals like Toby to be taken in over the winter months.

On Christmas Day last year, there were 934 calls to the charity’s cruelty line. This is the highest number for five years and a 28% increase compared to 2017.

To find out more about adopting Toby, click here.

A vegan activist slammed for keeping a pig she ‘saved’ from slaughter in her two-bed flat and taking him to Wagamama has been banned from visiting him.

Alicia Day, 31, had to hand the hog – which she named Jixy Pixy – to the RSPCA when her landlord kicked her out of her pad in Southall, west London, after finding out about the guest.

The animal charity said the pig has been ‘moved to a farm far away’, but Ms Day vowed to hire private detectives to help track him down if that’s what it takes to be reunited with her ‘baby’.

She has also threatened to sue the RSPCA for prohibiting visits.

But they insist Ms Day agreed all contact would cease when she signed the pig over.

Ms Day wrote on Facebook: ‘I’m currently working with a lawyer to find out where he is, if that doesn’t work I’ll hire a private detective.

‘This isn’t over until the day I die.’

But the RSPCA told her in an email: ‘Thank you for taking the time to contact me about the piglet which you transferred ownership of.

‘Unfortunately, we are unable to allow you to visit the piglet as he has been moved to a farm far away, and once you have transferred ownership of an animal, we make all the arrangements to find a new home for them.

‘However, I know this will be disappointing to hear as you clearly miss him. So I have asked the farm to provide me with some pictures of him.

‘Here are the pictures that were taken on Monday of him having a lovely time in his new home.’

Ms Day fed Jixy Pixy Tofu Pad Thai in Wagamama and described how she instantly loved him like a child.

After suddenly being left homeless, Ms Day contacted the RSPCA to help find him a new place to live.

Ms Day has now tried to retract the handover and has questioned the authenticity of the pictures, saying the pig should have put more weight on.

She also fears he’ll be slaughtered at the farm, something the RSPCA denies.

In a statement the charity added: ‘We are still in the process of finding him a suitable place at an RSPCA rehoming facility with appropriate pig accommodation, as this does take time.

‘Once the pig has been fully assessed he will be featured on the RSPCA’s Find a Pet rehoming site.’

Ms Day said she was desperate to be reunited with the pig after spending four days bathing with it and walking it on a lead in Ealing Broadway.

After buying him from a farm in Exeter she said: ‘I can’t save them all but I thought I would save one.

‘Anything for my baby.’

Ms Day is a masters graduate in international business and said she now wants to explore animal rights activism.

She stopped eating meat aged 12 before becoming a vegan this year.

Ian Woodhurst, farming campaigns manager at World Animal Protection, said earlier this month that pigs had complex needs and should never be kept in a home.

‘Pigs require a specific diet, need to be kept apart from other animals and be able to express natural behaviours such as rooting and foraging in earth,’ he said.

‘They need a large space, minimum area of 36 square meters, and access to an outdoor wallow and shelter from the sun.

‘In addition pigs require a license if being moved from the home to the vet for example and are illegal to transport in cars.’

Broken-down thoroughbreds are being sent by the RSPCA Australia to slaughterhouses where their carcasses are turned into pet food, it has been revealed.

It is the first time they have admitted to doing this, despite previously criticising the transportation of retired racehorses to knackeries or abattoirs.

The animal welfare organisation’s New South Wales branch says it has no other option but to send animals to be turned into meat if they are ‘very diseased, unwell or aged’.

One pet food factory it has used in Sydney was successfully prosecuted by the RSPCA over the way it treats sheep and cattle.

Burns Pet Foods in Sydney was also allegedly found to be slaughtering horses on a mass scale in a recent expose by ABC.

An invoice seen by Daily Mail Australia shows RSPCA NSW paying AU$300 (£158) to transport two horses, one of which was a thoroughbred mare going to ‘Burns PF’.

In September the pet food producer in Riverstone, New South Wales, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated animal cruelty and failing to provide veterinary treatment.

But there is no suggestion the horse sent by the RSPCA in 2012 was mistreated.

A spokesman for the animal rights group said it was possible that the horse was put to sleep before being transported so its suffering was cut short.

He pointed out that since 2017, there has been a obligation to re-home retired thoroughbreds under Racing NSW rules.

But despite this, an undercover investigation in October showed horses being mistreated in an abattoir in south-east Queensland.

It alleged animals were kicked and beaten as they lay dying and repeatedly stunned with electric prods.

In the space of 22 days, more than 300 racehorses were slaughtered, according to ABC’s 7.30 programme.

This flies in the face of Racing Australia data which says fewer than 1 per cent of ex-racehorses were sent to knackeries or abattoirs, which would only amount to 34 every year.

Veterinarian Paul McGreevy said ABC’s findings of ‘appalling treatment’ would ‘shake the industry to its core’.

Responding to the probe, RSPCA Australia’s action CEO Bidda Jones said she was ‘shocked and horrified’ and blamed an oversupply of horses which the industry refuses to acknowledge or control properly.

She branded Australian race authorities as ‘experts in ignoring the obvious, because it doesn’t fit with their desired image’.

The RSPCA has called for an urgent investigation by the Australia’s Department of Agriculture into the claims.

But when questioned a spokeswoman for the New South Wales branch said it occasionally sends horses ‘of all descriptions, including thoroughbreds’ to abattoirs and knackeries but did not say how often.

Commenting on the ‘many thousands of stock animals’ taken into their care every year, she added: ‘The decision as to how to maintain the animals, in what circumstances, for how long, and whether they should be euthanised is determined by the purpose for which they come into our custody, and a variety of other factors.

‘That includes determining whether the animal is in a condition which requires immediate euthanasia, in which case the stock will be humanely euthanised, and then either buried or transported to appropriate facilities for disposal.’

The RSPCA makes these decisions based on guidance from experienced vets and in some cases by a stock welfare panel.

Sometimes, if the option of agistment isn’t available, animals are deemed so malnourished or weak that there is no other option but to send them to an abattoir.

The spokeswoman added: ‘RSPCA NSW believes that the implementation of legal welfare standards for racehorses, to eliminate practices that cause injury, pain, suffering or distress, is an urgent government priority.

‘We believe provisions should be made to ensure thoroughbreds are not sent to abattoirs or knackeries.’

Initially responding to the ABC programme, Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said he knew nothing about thoroughbreds being sent to slaughterhouses in the state.

He warned the ‘full, force of the law’ would be used against anyone found breaking the rules.

Pets at Home has come under fire over plans to launch interactive ‘pet villages’ in its stores, with animal charities warning they could frighten smaller animals.

They have so far been unveiled at two stores and feature tunnels that children can crawl through to get a closer look at the rabbits and guinea pigs in their pens above.

However, the RSPCA warned that youngsters in close proximity banging on the glass or being noisy risked terrifying the pets.

‘The pet village has the potential to encourage very close contact between people and rabbits which, if not closely monitored, risks fear and distress,’ a spokesman said.

‘As prey species, rabbits and guinea pigs need to have both plenty of space and plenty of areas in which they can escape and hide away from what they find frightening if they feel scared.’

The charity told The Independent that since voicing its concerns they have been reassured by Pets at Home that animal welfare comes first and each animal’s individual needs will be provided for.

Isobel Hutchinson, director of Animal Aid, speaking to The Times similarly called the move a ‘cynical marketing ploy will result in vulnerable animals being subjected to yet more stress’.

More than 2,500 people have signed a petition titled ‘Stop Pets at Home turning their animal enclosures into a playground’.

It criticised the design of the areas, saying it took away the animals’ floor space and provided the rabbits and guinea pigs ‘no ability to escape and have somewhere they feel safe’.

A spokesman for Pets at Home said they care ‘deeply’ about their animals.

He added: ‘All our enclosures exceed minimum pet shop licensing standards, and our new designs provide nearly twice as much space for each pet than the minimum regulations stipulate.

‘This also means that each pet has the correct provision for its requirements and includes space for them to relax and hide.’

Are you looking to share your home with a new furry friend this Christmas?

Well, the RSPCA have lots of animals who are in need of their loving forever home, and there are twelve who have Christmas names (yes, some are a bit of a stretch, but stay with us), making them the perfect addition to your family this festive season.

The 12 pets of Christmas include cats, dogs, rats, rabbits and ponies – and they’re all as cute as each other.

Could you open up your arms and give these gorgeous animals the love and care they deserve?

Stocking is a two-year-old black and white cat

Stocking came into the RSPCA after being rescued as a stray. She was found living in a garden shed with her kittens.

She was a great mum to her kittens in difficult circumstances, but now it’s time for her to find her purrfect forever home.

Stocking is a sweet loving girl who enjoys being around people and having some well deserved attention lavished on her. She is looking for a family to cuddle up with.

She can live with children and possibly another cat but no dogs.

To find out more about Stocking, call 0161 624 4725.

Meet Sparkle, the three-year-old Shih Tzu

Sparkle – like the star on top of your tree – is described as being a ‘very sweet little dog’ with a lovely temperament. She is very friendly and has an easy-going nature. She’s also very playful and loves going on walks, while also being good in the car and generally very clean, so housetraining wouldn’t be a problem in her new home.

Sparkle does have sensitive skin and her coat is not in the best condition. She is likely to have some allergies which could be investigated further.

While being at the RSPCA, she has been having medicated baths and is also on medication to help with this.

Sparkle is fine with most dogs and could potentially be rehomed with another neutered dog, but would also be happy being the only pup.

She absolutely loves attention and is looking for a home where she’ll get lots of it.

To contact the branch about Sparkle, call 01612 862503.

Seven-year-old Belle is looking for her forever home

Belle – like jingle bells or sleigh bells – is a ‘spritely girl’ looking for an active home. She’s found life in the kennel very stressful and so can initially only be left for one to two hours until she has built her confidence.

She’s a super playful girl who loves toys and people, but can be quite energetic so should live with children aged over 14.

Although Belle has made many doggy friends, she is still learning how to behave around them, and so she’d benefit from training classes and lots of socialisation.

However, she does know lots of obedience commands, so needs an experienced owner that can bring out the best in her, through lots of love and training.

If you think you have the time and love to give Belle call the branch for more information on 0300 123 0751.

Two-year-old Star is a lovely black and white cat

Star is a lovely and friendly girl with lots of character. She’s also very playful and loves a cuddle.

In a new home, she is looking for somewhere where she can roam around outside, as she is full of energy and loves to play.

She’s also okay being homed with another cat or dog and is fine around children.

For more information on Star, call 07712459857.

Four-year-old Clause is a Domestic Shorthair crossbreed

The ginger and white cat is a beautiful boy who needs a constant supply of cuddles. He loves his best friend Evie, and so they must be adopted together, so if you do like the look of Clause, make sure you ask about his little friend before visiting!

Clause – like Santa Claus – would like to live with someone who spends most of their time at home, and who will allow him to go out and roam around. He could live with kids, and he could also live with a dog!

For more information on Clause, call 07712459857.

Twinkle is the most adorable baby rabbit

We have fallen in love with little Twinkle, who the RSPCA estimates is aged between zero and three months.

The black and white bunny can be a bit shy at first but he quickly comes out of his shell. He is good to stroke but he is still not sure about being picked up. He likes his food and will take vegetables from you. He loves to snuggle up with his friend Lady, and they will need to be re-homed together.

Snowberry is a Netherland Dwarf rabbit

Two-year-old Snowberry, is a very cute Netherland dwarf female who arrived in RSPCA care as a stray, after she was found wondering around on her own.

Sadly all searches for her owner have failed and the centre is now looking to find her a new home.

Snowberry is a typical nethie, she can be quite fiesty and tempremantal at times, but equally she loves to come over for a nose rub.

The rabbit can be quite fussy with her food so she will need an owner that is happy to offer her a selection of hays and veggies.

She does love carrots, however she is now only allowed a little.

Snowberry would suit a home with someone with a neutered Netherland dwarf male rabbit. Snowberry has been health checked by a vet, neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped.

To adopt Snowberry, call 0845 2723570.

Ivy the baby rabbit is beautiful

Meet Ivy, a little fawn-coloured baby rabbit.

She is a super sociable rabbit so could live with first time rabbit owners and could happily live with sensible children.

Upon successful introductions and continued pairing in the home she could live with a neutered male rabbit.

Ivy would also be able to live as an indoor rabbit – as long as you give her lots to do!

Like the look of Ivy? Call 0300 123 0744.

13-year-old Holly is an older cat

This black cat is a little older than the rest, and is looking for her forever home.

She is a ‘lap cat lady’ who came to the RSPCA after her owner sadly passed away.

She loves nothing more than sitting on your knee while you give her attention, but she is very independent and cheeky as she will give you a little nibble when she has had enough.

Due to her occasional cheekiness, she can live with children 10+, possibly another cat and possibly a cat friendly doggy too.

To meet Holly, call 0161 624 4725.

Are you looking for a pony? Meet two-year-old Flake

Flake (like snowflake… we told you the festive link was a bit tenuous) is a grey gelding currently standing at approximately 11.2hh.

Flake was brought into RSPCA care in January 2017. He is a very nervous pony who needs encouragement and a calm handler to help gain his trust.

Flake requires an experienced loving home where he is given the time and reassurance he needs to progress further. He is a very friendly boy who wants to please you.

Flake’s trust and confidence grows each session he is worked with, he is a very quick learner who tries his best. He is good to catch, his leading needs some work along with grooming/leg handling.

Flake is passported, microchipped and vaccinated against tetanus.

If you would like to come and meet Flake and feel you can give him the home he deserves please contact the RSPCA on 07720948636

His adoption fee is £200.

Meet six-year-old Tink

Tink is a cute mini shetland mare, and is looking for an experienced home to carry on her education.

She loves adults but would need more introduction to children.

Her adoption fee is £150.

Do you think you could offer her a forever home? Call 0300 123 0720.

Brussel and Sprout are two rats in need of a home

These one-year-old rats are called Brussel and Sprout.

They were handed over to the RSPCA when their owner couldn’t give them what they needed.

They have had a few issues with their fur, but it’s growing back nicely now.

Brussle is more laid back, while Sprout is a bit more jumpy and protective over Brussle and food.

But slowly both are starting to learn what it’s like to have a large accommodation with a good variation of toys and food.

Rats are incredibly intelligent creatures and these boys would be excellent companions for an experienced owner. Call 07484 905707 if you think that’s you.

MORE: Litter of nine sausage dog puppies named after Santa’s reindeer need your help this Christmas

MORE: Three adorable puppies found living inside dead sheep on top of snowy mountain

A man caught beating his dog in the face while in a public park has successfully appealed to have his sentence cut.

Robert Black, 51, was seen by a witness who called police in Victoria Park, Newbury, Berkshire, on December 21 last year.

He was given 23 weeks in prison after he was caught on CCTV punching the animal in a ‘deliberate and gratuitous attempt to cause suffering’.

Black was also banned from owning animals for ten years after the attack on the mixed-breed dog.

But he has now been told he only has to spend 17 weeks in jail, arguing that the offence was a ‘one off’.

He said he had been trying to separate two dogs during the incident.

Defence lawyer Steve Molloy said: ‘There’s no suggestion the dogs were undernourished or routinely ill-treated.

‘This was, in my submission, a one-off incident. It’s not in the league of dog fighting or dog baiting.’

He suggested the district judge who sentenced Black had erred in law by categorising the offence as ‘higher culpability’.

Mr Molloy conceded that his client had been subject to a suspended prison sentence at the time, but said this was for a totally unrelated offence.

He concluded: ‘Mr Black has now served a custodial sentence of some weeks and, in my respectful submission, the proper sentence would be one of time served.’

That would have allowed Black to walk free and spend Christmas with his partner, who accompanied him to court.

However, Judge Richard Wheeler pointed to Black’s 288 previous convictions for offences including battery, burglary, theft and being drunk and disorderly.

He said: ‘I’m perfectly satisfied it was correct in law to activate the five-week suspended sentence and to add a consecutive sentence for the current offence.’

He told Black: ‘You committed this offence less than a month after the suspended sentence and you have a lengthy and extremely depressing record.

‘But I’m persuaded to allow the appeal to this extent: while the five blows can be characterised as a deliberate and gratuitous attempt to cause harm to the dog, it was lesser harm, not greater harm.

‘There was no prolonged suffering.’

The judge ruled that 12 weeks imprisonment, rather than 18, should have been added consecutively to the five-week suspended sentence, reducing the total to 17 weeks rather than 23.

He said the ten-year ban on keeping animals would remain in force.

Four kittens were saved from the brink of death after firefighters rushed them from a smoke filled kitchen last night.

They were pictured recovering with oxygen masks specially designed for pets after an over-heated incense burner caused a blaze at their Birmingham home.

After having some time to rest they were petted by their rescuers who then handed them over to the care of the RSPCA.

Just two days earlier firefighters in Leith, Edinburgh spent 30 minutes resuscitating a woman’s beloved cat as a fire gutted her flat.

An electrical blaze initially thought to have started from Christmas tree lights ravaged the home at around 7.45am.

Supporter worker Shannon Johnston urged her neighbours to tell the firefighters her two-year-old cat Nala was still inside.

The kitchen an living room were completely destroyed, while the rest of the flat, owned by Port of Leith Housing Association, was badly smoke-damaged.

Nala was discovered unconscious and was not breathing – but dedicated firefighters successfully battled to save her life.

Watch commander Robbie Higgins said the cat got back on its feet, ‘albeit groggy and confused’, after oxygen was administered.

Shannon, 20, called it a ‘miracle’ and said she believes her late father Kevin was watching over the family since passing away three years ago.

She said: ‘The work that he did, you just wouldn’t think you’d be able to resuscitate a cat.

‘The vet said she’s fine, we are keeping an eye on her but she’s not showing any signs. She’s just totally fine.’

Shannon had left for work about an hour before getting a call from a neighbour at 7.45am.

In a strange twist of fate, Shannon’s mum Ruth Geraghty, 40, had closed the living room door which would normally be left open to allow Nala free reign of the flat.

Firefighters told the family it had saved the rest of their home of seven years from destroyed.

Shannon added: ‘Everyone says Dad was looking out for us.

‘He died three years ago in January. I think he’s looking out for us and making sure we’re safe.’

Luckily Shannon’s best pal has given her a place to stay along with her mum and 18-year-old sister Jasmine.

The fire may have ravaged a large chunk of their home, but right now the family are counting their blessings.

Shannon added: ‘It’s just bricks and mortar and things that can be replaced over time – the main thing is that we weren’t in, and they managed to save Nala.

‘One of our neighbours was in tears when he saw Nala clinging on to me, wrapped in a little blanket.

‘My neighbour who was watching Nala being resuscitated said you could see how much the firefighter wanted to save her, the relief in his eyes was so genuine.’

The family have now been offered temporary accommodation by Leith Housing Association while repairs are being carried out over the Christmas period.

A fundraising page set up to help the trio get back on their feet has raised more than £1,000 so far.

Shannon added: ‘Obviously it has been really stressful and manic but we are trying to stay positive.

‘I’m going to go down to the fire station and take them some chocolates.

‘The living room and kitchen are a complete goner and all the Christmas stuff was destroyed.’

Since investigating the blaze firefighters now think the fire was caused by a faulty electrical plug.

A pony has been rescued after falling down a muddy bank and getting stuck.

Concerned members of the public contacted the RSPCA and London Fire Brigade on Wednesday 18 December after spotting a collapsed horse at the bottom of a bank off Norman Road, Belvedere, in London.

RSPCA animal collection officer Lisa Miller rushed to the scene expecting the worst.

She said: ‘Sadly we are often called out to collapsed horses and find it’s too late and that they’ve died. It’s so dangerous when horses go down and can’t get back up as they’re internal organs can fail under the weight of their own bodies.

‘When I arrived at the scene in Belvedere London Fire Brigade had just arrived and we were quickly able to tell that the pony was in a perilous situation.

‘He’d slipped down a muddy bank and was stuck, laying on his side, with his back legs caught around a tree and his front legs in the river. He’d been trying to get back to his feet and was exhausted; he was on the brink of death.’

The team couldn’t launch a rescue mission without sedating the exhausted but terrified pony so called an equine vet to the scene. Four fire brigade support vehicles were there along with two fire engine crews so the team soon set to work.

‘Once he was sedated and calmer we were able to get the straps under him and start to winch him back up,’ Lisa added.

‘By this point it was dark and raining so the poor pony was cold and we had to work quickly but carefully so as not to hurt him. We eventually got him back to the top and got his sopping wet rug off of him.

‘The fire brigade left and the vet and I stayed with him as he slowly came around. He was absolutely exhausted and we were worried that he wouldn’t recover from the ordeal but slowly he started to perk up and we eventually managed to heave him back up onto his feet.’

The RSPCA left an abandonment notice at the site and removed the pony – named Frosty – for further veterinary treatment.

Rachel Atherton, from Lingfield Equine Vets, who assisted with the rescue, said: ‘It was touch and go for Frosty overnight but he’s really perked up today and is doing really well.

‘He hasn’t stopped eating and is now clean and happy. He is a real trooper.

‘There were a few points where I wasn’t sure whether he was going to make it but he’s proved he’s a little fighter. He’s a Christmas miracle!’

Frosty will stay with the vets until he is strong enough to move to an RSPCA centre. If no one comes forward to claim him then he’ll be rehomed by the charity.

Here’s hoping he continues getting stronger and finds his forever home in time for the New Year.

MORE: Smart headphones could soon stop people walking into traffic while distracted by their phone

MORE: 12 animals longing for their forever homes this Christmas after years in shelters

With the New Year less than two days away, the RSPCA have released images of some of the most unusual rescue missions of 2019 including a fox trapped in a car wheel and a seal on a cliff.

Inspectors often have to deal with shocking incidents of cruelty and neglect – but they also come across animals who need rescuing from more light-hearted situations.

Storage centre workers in Bristol called in the charity after they found a fox with his head stuck in a wheel in October. They rubbed lubricant over his head to smooth his rescue before they took Michelin back to the area he was found and set him free.

In September, rescuers came to the aid of a young seal who was stuck on a 50m-high sea cliff in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

RSPCA animal collection officer Cara Gibbon came to the aid of another fox in Solihull in October who got tangled up in ivy.

She said: ‘I was able to cut him down and, thankfully, he wasn’t injured. His nails were a little worn down from scratching at the fence but I was able to release him back into the gardens straight away.’

Back in February, Scarborough Sea Life Centre called for help in rescuing an injured grey seal from the top of a 10ft high World War Two pillbox on Fraisthorpe Beach, Yorkshire.

The centre was tipped off by a member of the public who said the seal had been stuck for more than 24 hours.

RSPCA animal collection officer Leanne Honess-Heather and deputy chief inspector Claire Mitchell manoeuvred him into a net and, supporting his weight between them, carefully lowered him.

He was returned to the wild the following day.

Pictures also show a deer stuck in park railings, a squirrel trapped in a bird feeder and a horse stuck in a cattle grid.

A ‘heartbroken’ dog owner abandoned his beloved pet after life ‘took a really bad turn’ and he could no longer afford to care for him.

The brindle and white Staffie cross was found tied next to the altar of the Sacred Heart Church in Blackpool on the morning of December 18.

Worshippers and staff at the church, which is open 24 hours a day, discovered the dog with a handwritten note saying: ‘Please believe me when I say I haven’t done this easily.

‘My dog means the world to me and I don’t know what else to do. I’ve no home or money now for him.

‘Life has taken a really bad turn for me and I couldn’t imagine him being outside with me cold and hungry.’

The note went on to describe him as ‘a placid, friendly, loving dog’ who turns seven in March.

It also warned that the animal had been suffering with ‘quite tender front paws’ which ‘are still sore’.

The owner signed off by saying: ‘My heart is broken and I will truly miss him more than words can say.

‘I hope he can be found a new home he deserves. I love you and I am so so so sorry xxxx’

RSPCA inspector Will Lamping was sent to collect the dog, which has been nicknamed Cracker.

He was taken to a local vet for a check-up and is now being looked after at a private boarding kennels.

Mr Lamping told The Mirror it was sad reading how much Cracker’s previous owner loved him.

He said: ‘Unfortunately sometimes life can throw some pretty tough things at people and circumstances can drastically change but it’s heartbreaking to think that someone out there is missing Cracker and wondering how he is doing.

‘I’d really like to reassure them that he’s doing well and is getting lots of TLC. If no-one comes forward to claim him, then he’ll go to one of our rehoming centres and we’ll find him a wonderful new home.’

The inspector added that anyone who does come forward ‘won’t be in trouble’.

He said the charity would seek to help ‘anyone who is struggling to look after a pet or facing difficulties in life’.

This winter, the RSPCA expects to take in more than 10,000 animals in need across England & Wales.

A dog breeder who let three greyhounds starve to death while he binged on drink and drugs is facing jail.

Clive Elliott, 40, kept eight in kennels at his sick mum’s house for racing but failed to properly care for any of them.

Officers from the police and RSPCA attended the property in Swindon on April 14 last year but found ‘no dog food whatsoever’ inside.

The city’s magistrates’ court heard the greyhounds were living in appalling conditions and suffering various health problems.

When interviewed Elliott blamed it all on the breakdown of a relationship and said he was ‘too proud’ to ask for help, it was claimed.

The registered greyhound breeder and trainer, from Swindon, was convicted of four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal following a trial in his absence.

The greyhounds were kept at the home of his mother, who has dementia, and Elliott would visit to feed them.

But matters deteriorated in the period leading up to the officers’ visit.

Of the eight dogs found inside the house, three were dead and one of those had been wrapped in a bin liner and stuffed in the freezer, the court heard.

The five surviving animals had overgrown nails while some also had scurvy and abscesses.

Autopsies carried out on the dead dogs showed one whose bone marrow resembled a glutinous liquid, the result of poor nutrition.

The vet who examined them said it would have taken weeks – possibly months – to reach that stage.

Prosecutor Matthew Knight told the court an example of how undernourished they were was the fact that one of them gained 30 per cent more weight in the space of just a month.

He said: ‘The vet puts this purely down to providing the proper food.’

The court heard Elliott, who did not attend his trial after complaining of sciatica, said he was driven to drink and drugs following the end of a relationship.

He was said to have told officers his mother would have fed the dogs had there been any food.

Chairman of the bench Amanda Lee said: ‘We’ve read the facts, heard what you said and got the pictures.

‘We have also got the fact Mr Elliott himself recognised he had not visited for several days.’

Ms Lee issued a warrant for Elliott’s arrest.

He faces a possible prison sentence or a ban from keeping animals in the future.

Warning graphic content

A shocking video showed the moment an RSPCA inspector found a dog lying in a bath after she had been abused by her owner.

In the footage inspector Sarah Bagley shouts ‘flippin ‘eck’ after stumbling across American Bulldog Smiler during a search of her owner David Bell’s home in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on August 8.

The animal was found with a bloodied tea towel over her head after corrosive Flash household cleaner had been doused into her eyes, which forced them shut.

She also had a wound on her head after being repeatedly beaten over the head.

Insp Bagley said: ‘I went to Bell’s home with police after having a couple of dealings with him about his dog Smiler, who had a condition called cherry eye, and becoming increasingly concerned about her.

‘Initially there was no reply, then myself and one of the police officers heard heavy breathing through the ground floor bathroom window.

‘I was horrified to see Smiler in the bath with a bloodied tea towel on her head.’

A friend of Bell’s let Insp Bagley and the police into the property and she found the animal conscious in the bath alongside a bottle of human shampoo and Flash household cleaner.

They then managed to get her out of the flat and rushed her straight to a local vet practice.

She was found to have multiple injuries including two large wounds to the top of her head which needed to be stitched, bruising to the head and a loose tooth that needed to be removed.

Her eyes were flushed to get rid of any cleaning product.

The vet’s examination ruled the injuries were not accidental and attempts to clean Smiler afterwards would have caused pain and suffering.

Smiler spent a week under treatment and supervision at the vets during which time she slowly started to physically recover.

The dog survived and is currently being cared for by staff at RSPCA Sheffield.

Insp Bagley added she was recovering well and seemed to be a ‘much brighter, happier dog’.

She will be put up for adoption soon.

Bell denied causing the injuries but he was found guilty at a trial on December 3.

He was due to attend court on January 7 to be sentenced but failed to appear and was arrested on a warrant.

He found himself in the dock two days later at Bradford Magistrates’ Court where he was handed the 16-week prison sentence.

The dog was also removed from his care and he was ordered to pay a £121 victim surcharge.

Bell was banned from keeping animals for life for hurting Smiler.

He had previously been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog by inflicting trauma on her, failing to provide veterinary attention for her injuries and applying cleaning products to her head and eyes.

Insp Bagley added: ‘Bell didn’t offer any plausible explanation for Smiler’s predicament – in interview he said that she had probably cut her head on barbed wire during a walk in the woods.’

A caged tiger that turned out to be a stuffed toy was among the oddest calls the RSPCA revealed in an annual list of unusual cases.

The animal welfare charity responds to 1.1 million calls and rescues more than 110,000 animals each year, and has revealed some of the baffling things its officers attended to in 2019.

RSPCA inspector Marije Zwager said a concerned caller insisted they’d seen a tiger being kept in a cramped cage in a garden in Exeter.

She said: ‘They were persistent this is what they’d seen and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but soon realised that it wasn’t a tiger at all, it was just a soft toy.

‘He’s called Tiddles the Tiger and shares his home with two male neutered rabbits called Horace and Boris, who have a fantastic home filled with all kinds of enrichment and entertainment to keep them happy and healthy.’

Another caller said they’d managed to snare a brown snake spotted on a wheelie bin in County Durham and trap it in a plastic tub.

But when the RSPCA inspector arrived, it was soon revealed to be a plastic toy.

A second Exeter resident phoned the charity about a ‘lethargic and collapsed’ fox hiding in the undergrowth of a bush.

An officer attended the scene only to realise the ‘fox’ was a taxidermy mount.

Ellie Burt said: ‘He’d clearly been placed under a bush outside of the houses as a prank.

‘After speaking to some of the neighbours, I soon discovered that someone had been moving it around the neighbourhood.’

Another inspector had to hide her exasperation after driving 55 miles to a report of a baby owl trapped on a roof in Shrewsbury, which turned out to be a statue.

Cara Gibbon said: ‘I was really pleased that the little chap didn’t need rescuing but we’d always encourage people to chat to their neighbours and double-check they need our help before calling in.’

Over in Bilston, West Midlands, Paul Seddon was called out to a flat where the owner had spotted a salamander on the balcony of their second-floor apartment and was too afraid to approach.

Mr Seddon said: ‘It was a soft toy complete with labels … I borrowed a brush to knock it off on to the ground so I could pick it up.’

At least one of the call-outs actually involved a real animal.

Jude Law's ex Cat Cavelli impressed The Voice judge Meghan Trainor with audition

Ellie West said she was called to a report of a snake in a garden which turned out to be an elephant hawk-moth caterpillar.

‘They’re really interesting animals that can inflate their front end and have circular dots along their body, so they’re easily mistaken for snakes.’

‘We’re very grateful to the caller, who thought they were helping a non-native loose snake.

‘Instead, however, this caterpillar was returned to the wild, and can look forward to transforming into a beautiful moth.’

A sheep had to be hauled up a 100ft cliff by RSPCA rescue workers after it became trapped on a ledge while running away from a dog.

The animal had become stuck around 30ft down the cliff edge in Llandudno, north Wales, after apparently becoming ‘panicked’.

RSPCA officers had to abseil down and put the sheep in a bag before pulling it to safety, with fears it could have leapt to ‘certain death’ at any moment.

Animal inspectors Michael Pugh, Mark Roberts, Vicky Taylor and Nayman Dunderdale worked with animal collection officer Will Galvin to carry out the dramatic rescue in difficult weather conditions.

The rescue took place on January 14 at the limestone headland of the Great Orme.

It was feared the sheep could have jumped the further 70ft down the cliff in terror.

Michael said: ‘Often when sheep find themselves in situations like this, there is a risk they can become very scared and jump from the cliff. Sadly, that would have meant certain death.

‘The timing was absolutely critical so we could bring this sheep to safety and we had to closely monitor what grazing she had available.

‘It seems very possible that the sheep ventured down the cliff on to this ledge to escape a dog.

‘Livestock worrying is a real problem and can have devastating effects, so we continue to remind dog owners to never let their pets off leads with sheep or other livestock nearby.’

The sheep survived its dramatic rescue operation and has been safely reunited with its farmer, the RSPCA said.

More than a dozen snakes were found dumped inside a pair of children’s pillowcases around the back of a fire station.

Three large royal pythons and 10 smaller ones were abandoned by the Farringdon Community Fire Station in Sunderland shortly before 6.30pm Thursday evening.

A member of the public called the RSPCA after spotting the pile of discarded bed linen appeared to be wriggling.

Station manager Kev Burns said: ‘We were all very relieved when the RSPCA turned up to collect the snakes, who took them into their care. It is probably one of the strangest incidents we’ve ever had to deal with.’

Animal collection officer David Dawson came to the reptiles’ rescue.

He said: ‘It must have been a very strange discovery for the people who found them. They were abandoned next to a bin around the back of the fire station and left in extremely cold conditions.

‘Reptiles like snakes are completely dependent on their owners who need to provide them with the correct environment, including heating and lighting, so abandoning them like this leaves them very vulnerable.’

He added: ‘It’s quite unusual for someone to have this many pythons and to abandon them in what appears to be a child’s pillowcase.’

One of the snakes has since died. The others are being cared for at a vets in Darlington before being transferred to a specialist reptile facility.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: ‘Snakes aren’t able to produce their own body heat so they rely on their environment to maintain their body temperature.

‘As royal pythons originate from West Africa and are not native to this country they would require a heated environment with the correct temperature range for the species in order to stay healthy and carry out normal behaviour.

‘If snakes become too cold they may not be unable to feed or move normally, and their immune system will not work properly to fight disease, meaning the animal can become very ill.

‘Reptiles often end up in RSPCA care after people realise they’re not easy to look after, or once the novelty wears off.

‘Unfortunately many people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on, as their needs are just the same as they would be in the wild and are fundamentally linked to certain behaviours, diets or environmental conditions that can be difficult to replicate in a home.

‘Many people do not realise what they are taking on when they buy these pets so we are urging prospective buyers to do their research before getting one.

‘Potential owners of reptiles must thoroughly research the needs of the particular species and what is required in the care of the animal, using expert sources, and only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for these needs.’

A manhunt is underway for a cruel animal owner who left a starving pony to die in a village car park.

The RSPCA found the creature ‘dumped like fly-tipped rubbish’ in Snarestone, Leicestershire after receiving a tip-off from a passer-by.

It is though the callous owner transported the emaciated horse in a truck before tying a rope from her legs to the lamppost and riving away from the scene.

Now an appeal has been launched for anyone with information to get in touch following the grim discovery on Wednesday.

RSPCA Inspector Alison North said: ‘The small chestnut horse looked to be in poor body condition with her ribs, hips and spine protruding, and she had overgrown hooves.

‘The pony was not microchipped and locals say they haven’t seen her in the area before.

‘It’s unclear what caused her death, but we suspect her body was driven to the location on a trailer or truck by those responsible who then tied rope from her legs to the lampost, before driving away, dragging her body out of the vehicle onto the floor.

‘It’s incredibly sad to think someone not only let her get into a poor state of health, but then dumped her body for somebody else to deal with in such a public place, it’s hugely irresponsible.

‘Anyone with information can contact me in complete confidence on our inspector appeal line by calling 0300 123 8018.’

The RSPCA says it is not uncommon to be called out to gravely ill or dead horses who have been left to rot.

A spokesperson for the charity said: ‘The country has been in the grip of an ongoing horses crisis for several years, thought to be caused by the recession, over breeding, the high costs of vet bills, the rising cost of hay and falling prices for horses.

‘Last year, the RSPCA took in more than 820 horses in addition to those already in its care and received more than 20,000 calls to the emergency line about horses alone.’

Animal rescue officers received more than 200 call-outs over the last 72 hours as Storm Dennis wreaked havoc, the RSPCA has said.

The animal welfare charity’s specialist water team, made up of 65 officers and a fleet of 35 inflatable boats, have had to make a number of ‘dramatic rescues’ – saving animals including horses, sheep and chickens from perilous rising waters.

They form part of Defra’s National Flood Response Team which has been on call throughout the storm.

Forecasters predict that more bad weather is yet to come, with a month’s worth of rain set to fall in the next 24 hours. Flood warnings remain across 120 places, with a further 150 lower category alerts also present.

The RSPCA says that its water rescue team, which had been stood down on Wednesday morning, would be put back on standby at 7am on Thursday.

Jason Finch, the team co-ordinator who has worked for the charity for 20 years, said he’d never known conditions to be so bad.

He added: ‘We’ve been incredibly busy and our amazing staff have been working round the clock to help as many animals as possible…and have had a number of dramatic rescues.

‘Working during floods and storms is extremely challenging because we have to ensure the safety of our staff, members of the public and the animals themselves.’

Mr Finch said that in some cases they had been forced to launch boats to remove animals that were ‘in serious danger’.

The charity has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to help with its rescues, which have included numerous horses, more than 60 sheep, a swan, and six chickens which were saved from flooded coups in Surrey.

RSPCA animal welfare officer Marie Stevens said: ‘We would never recommend owners put themselves in danger to rescue their animals but we can understand how emotional it is seeing your beloved pets at risk.’