The rescue operation took place in January. The RSPCA took in 87 of the rescued dogs, while the Dogs Trust took in the remainder. Some dogs were so traumatized they had to be carried from their kennels to the grass.
The dogs were being kept by an extremely vulnerable, elderly owner who became overwhelmed. The RSPCA decided not to prosecute the owner due to their vulnerable nature. Many of the rescued dogs have since found new homes.
Two poodles, Eva and Teddy, are still waiting for adoption at the RSPCA's Radcliffe Animal Centre. Other rescued pets include Stevie, a deaf and blind cocker spaniel, and Sandy, a poodle, who must be rehomed together. The RSPCA is facing a capacity crisis due to large-scale rescues.
The charity responded to 75 incidents involving 100 animals or more last year. The RSPCA has seen a 70% rise in multi-animal incidents (involving 10 or more animals) across England and Wales since 2021. RSPCA Superintendent Jo Hirst said over-breeding and overwhelmed owners can create staggering situations, with officers seeing more cases involving 10, 20, even 100 animals.
Hirst believes the charity has seen an increase in pets being abandoned due to the financial crisis. She added that mental health is a factor in people becoming overwhelmed, as cases of large numbers of animals can be linked to mental health struggles, the cost of living crisis, or poor breeding practices. The RSPCA had to confirm that a photo of the rescued dogs was not AI-generated.
The exact location of the property where the 250 dogs were rescued has not been disclosed, and the timeline for when all remaining dogs will be adopted is unclear. The specific reasons why the owner became overwhelmed beyond being elderly and vulnerable remain unknown.