RSPCA rescue more than 40 terrier dogs from dead hoarder's bungalow

More than 40 terrier dogs are rescued from dead hoarder’s bungalow with home so full of junk that it took RSPCA officers a week to find all the animals

• Over 40 dogs found in clutter-filled home after police found the owner dead
• RSPCA rescued dogs as young as four-weeks-old at Rainham, Kent bungalow

More than 40 terrier dogs including tiny puppies were rescued from a hoarder’s bungalow so full of junk it took the RSPCA a week to find all the pets after the owner was found dead.

The RSPCA carried out a large-scale operation to recover all of the dogs after a police welfare check found the homeowner had passed away.

The bungalow in Rainham, Kent was at first thought to be home to six Yorkshire terriers but they ended up finding 41 of the animals there.

Access to the rooms was difficult due to the mountains of clutter in the property which made the pets extremely difficult to find.

The terrier dogs ranging from four-week-old puppies to 10-years-old are thought to have been left to fend for themselves for some time before the discovery of their owner’s body on January 15.

A terrier puppy which was one of the more than 40 dogs rescued from a bungalow in Rainham, Kent after the owner was found dead

Most of the dogs (one of the dogs pictured) being cared for at several RSPCA animal centres, with a small number being taken on by a local charity which works with the RSPCA

The RSPCA had to clear the entire house and even set traps and set up cameras to catch and recover some of the more fearful dogs.

READ MORE: ‘Rescue me!’ Starving dog just days from death is pictured peering out of window from house where it was locked in filthy room with no water

 

Animal rescue officer Brian Milligan said: ‘The last two puppies we found were caught using a cat trap, which proved a tricky process as the dogs were too light to set the traps off.

‘All in all this was a difficult exercise, which saw the RSPCA deploy significant resources to clear the property and ensure we found all the dogs.

‘We went to the house every day over a week to conduct extensive searches to rescue every dog – in the end we had to clear every room.’

RSPCA officers returned to the bungalow this week to ensure there were no more dogs present.

Some of the dogs have received medical treatment and all of them have been given thorough vet examinations to make sure they are fit to be rehomed.

During the investigation the RSPCA liaised with the relatives of the deceased owner, who had been unaware of the extent of the problems at the property.

Sadly seven of the rescued dogs died but the rest are now being cared for at several RSPCA animal centres, with a small number being taken on by a local charity which works with the RSPCA.

An RSPCA trap which was used to catch one of the dogs that was found at the bungalow in Rainham, Kent

A spokesperson at one animal centre, which is looking after 14 of the dogs, including four puppies, said: ‘Many of these dogs are very fearful, which is understandable as they have endured such a bad experience.

‘It is going to be a slow process to help them feel safe again and find them new homes, so we will be taking things at their pace.

‘But as far as their health is concerned there was nothing major, although there were some with dental issues.’

Kent Police say they are not treating the death of the homeowner as suspicious.

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