More than 250 dogs were discovered crammed into a single living room at a property in an undisclosed location in the UK, prompting the RSPCA to deny allegations that images of the scene were generated by artificial intelligence.
The animal charity said it took in 87 of the dogs, while the remainder went to the Dogs Trust. After posting photos online, members of the public accused the RSPCA of using AI tools to create the shocking images.
Jo Hirst, an RSPCA superintendent, said: 'This shocking image is the reality of many multi-animal cases ... we understand that people are so aghast they don't believe what they are seeing. But this photo is not AI, it's real.'
The property owners told inspectors they had lost control of breeding poodle-cross dogs, and the situation 'got out of hand'. The RSPCA decided not to prosecute them, describing them as 'extremely vulnerable'.
The charity noted a 70% rise in multi-animal incidents across England and Wales since 2021, with last year seeing 4,200 cases involving at least 10 animals. Two of the rescued dogs, Stevie and Sandy, are now seeking homes at the RSPCA’s Southridge Animal Centre.
