A springer spaniel found cooped up in a disgusting house "covered in dirt and faeces" has been given a new life in St Helens. Two-year-old Lily was found "cowering" with 83 other dogs in filthy conditions, with "every part of the floor, walls and surfaces caked in brown residue".
RSPCA officers said the smell was "unbearable" when they entered the property in Tickhill, near Doncaster, on April 18 last year. Inspector Kristy Ludlam said: "The door into the kitchen was opened and we were met with 20 to 25 springer spaniels, some huddled in the corners, others running around.
"The kitchen was covered in dirt and faeces from floor to ceiling. The floor had at least 20 piles of faeces on it, which the dogs had distributed around the floor and over themselves. The dogs were cowering and huddling in a corner, or jumping on the kitchen sides near the window at the back of the room. They were very dirty, their fur covered in faeces, and many of their ears had lumps of dirt stuck to them.
"I walked around the corner to the bottom of the stairs and was met by dogs on every step. There were approximately 33 springer spaniels crowding the stairs, barking and staring at me.
"The stairs were caked in dirt; approximately six to seven inches sat on top of each step from the bottom almost all the way to the top. By the top step, the dirt had almost reached 10 inches and the landing was an undulating mass of dirt, faeces and fur, which made it incredibly difficult and unsafe to walk on."
Rescue and rehabilitation
The charity seized 84 dogs and two cats from the property. Three of the rescued pups were sent to Southport RSPCA, which made an urgent appeal for doggy foster carers. Katie Flynn, 31, and her husband Aaron Jarvis were among many dedicated dog lovers who stepped up to the challenge. On May 26 2025, they welcomed Lily into their St Helens home.
Katie said: "She was really nervous, really withdrawn. She was naturally curious like most spaniels are, but very frightened.
"She was very yellow, her ears were shaved because they had been so matted with faeces. Her tail was the same. She was in a bad way. The RSPCA had done what they could, but it took a while to get her coat back to normal.
"She didn't understand how to go from room to room in the house. When we put her in the living room, she didn't understand that she could leave and go to other places in the house. We had to pick her up and move her. It took her a few days for her to learn she had the roam of the house."
Under the care of Katie and Aaron, Lily went from a bony 11.5kg to a healthy 18kg. At first she was fearful, barking and cowering whenever strangers approached her, but gained confidence as she became accustomed to her new home.
Katie, a business consultant, said: "With myself and my husband, she became comfortable with us quite quickly. I work from home so she bonded to us and to our other dog, our labrador Olive. But with strangers, it took a long time. If we were out and anyone approached her, she would bark and be frightened. But she's really well behaved now."
Court case and sentencing
An RSPCA investigation led to a two-day trial at Barnsley Magistrates' Court last month. Children’s social worker David Parkes, 61, of Galley Hill, Tickhill, was found guilty of three animal welfare offences. His wife Delphine Parkes, 60, and son Sam Parkes, 28, who lived in the same house, both pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences at an earlier hearing. All three defendants will be sentenced on December 9 at Doncaster Magistrates' Court.
Katie said: "The RSPCA told us very little because there was a criminal case ongoing. We knew there had been more than 80 dogs found in one residence and we knew the location.
"We assumed it was an abandoned house because of how badly the house was kept and how bad the dogs were. We didn't think for a moment there would be people living inside."
She added: "Lily's personality is pure sunshine. Her tail never stops wagging. She's just a rally joyful dog, really affectionate, she's like velcro to me and my husband.
"I would say to anyone, if you're not 100% on adopting, at least give fostering a go to see how the dog fits in with the family. We knew within 10 minutes of having Lily home."
Investigation details
The RSPCA successfully rehomed all but one of the animals, which sadly had to be put down. The majority of dogs found homes through the charity’s network of branch-run centres across the north of England. The charity said numbers had rapidly spiralled because none of the dogs in the house had been neutered. The family had tried unsuccessfully to give some of the dogs away and there was no evidence they were large-scale breeders, but pets were left unneutered and bred out of control, the court heard.
Barnsley Magistrates Court was told RSPCA officers had first visited on April 5 2025 after welfare concerns had been reported about a dog seen at the property with an injured leg. A notice was left offering assistance from the RSPCA and asking the owners to get in touch, but no-one responded. A further visit followed on April 15 with no response and another notice was left. Police officers then executed a warrant with the animal welfare charity on April 17. Although the family were inside at the time, entry had to be forced via a back door.
Animal Rescue Officer Liz Braidley said: "On entry into the property at the rear the conditions were appalling. The first room was a small area to the rear of the garage. Every surface from the floor and up the walls was brown in colour, the smell of urine and faeces was overpowering it made my eyes sting.
"We then went through a door to the left which led into the kitchen. There were numerous Spaniel type dogs, all filthy with stained yellow coats. Every part of the floor, walls, and surfaces was caked in a brown residue.
"The dogs all ran to the other side of the room appearing very scared and timid. The smell in this room was unbearable, it was difficult to talk or breathe properly and I was unable to stay in there for extended periods of time.
"There was a further door across the kitchen area. Myself and Inspector Ludlam went through here which led to an area by the staircase to the upper floor. There again, were numerous Spaniel type dogs which were impossible to count as they retreated up the stairs where they then sat watching us."
Two adult Springer Spaniels, two 12-week-old Springer Spaniel Puppies, two adult female Patterdale Terriers and two Patterdale Terrier pups were living in Mr and Mrs Parkes’ bedroom. The room was piled high with various items and was nearly impossible to access, the court heard. Two cats were also found in their son’s bedroom, which was also dirty and cluttered. Many of the dogs did not appear to have ever been walked on a lead and had to be carried to waiting vehicles.
Animal outcomes
The animals were assessed and those needing treatment were taken to four veterinary practices before being transported to private boarding facilities. A vet who examined 46 of the dogs said 14 of them were emaciated and had been suffering for at least a month. Five had infected cuts on their ears which are believed to have been caused by attempts to cut off matted fur with scissors. Several had bilateral ear infections and one Spaniel had been found with an "excruciatingly painful" broken front leg, which was later successfully treated.
The animals, including the cats called Jess and Flower, were vaccinated and received preventative treatment for fleas and worms. Some of the dogs needed antibiotics. The animals were rehabilitated and rehomed, mainly in the north of England at RSPCA branch-run animal centres in Sheffield, Southport, Chesterfield, Doncaster, Halifax, Hull, York, Preston and Accrington, as well as the charity’s national centre near Chester-le-Street. The spaniel with the broken leg was successfully treated at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital and then rehomed. Other dogs travelled to RSPCA branches and centres in Colwyn Bay, Coventry, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Woking, Lincoln, Birmingham, Taunton and Potters Bar. The cats were also rehomed by the team at the RSPCA’s branch-run animal centre in Chesterfield.
