A woman has been banned from keeping dogs for five years after cramming 90 into her home and restricting their access to food and water. Julie Elizabeth Newcombe, of Trefil Road, Tredegar, pleaded not guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act and was found guilty at a trial at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday, September 15.

RSPCA inspectors found her house covered in faeces and urine – and have since rehomed 137 dogs including litters of puppies born in their care. The dogs involved were various breeds including dachshunds, labradors and French bulldogs, poodles and bichon frise.

Police had found a vast number of dogs there and had already called out a vet who had given treatment where needed.

The vet on the day estimated 60 adult dogs and approximately eight litters were inside the property.

In his statement Inspector Oakley said: “The dogs had no food or water, the only few that did have water were the ones with outside access due to the rain.

“When food and water was placed down, for the loose dogs, they ate/drank ravenously.

“The conditions inside the house were horrendous; the floors were covered in faeces with dogs in cages living in their own filth.

“Every room contained more dogs and pups, the whole house had become one large disgusting kennel. The smell and sights were clearly having an affect on the police who were in attendance.

“The outbuildings were worse than the house. On entry the stench coming from them was overpowering. It was hard to see into any of the outbuildings due to no lighting. The noises from inside them were horrific.”

Police secured the property and RSPCA officers attended the following day again as part of a police warrant. On this day (September 2) 95 dogs were seized by police – along with a dead dog which was shown to RSPCA officers by police.

That evening the first of the dogs were transported to vets/kennels. This operation continued the following day. Sadly one of the dogs – a Dachshund – died at the vets that day.

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