Dogs' incredible transformation after 250 found crammed in squalid room with RSPCA forced to deny pics are AI

Some of the 250 dogs found living in a cramped house in squalid conditions are now loving life after undergoing an incredible transformation. Images released by the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust showed some of the poodle-crosses caked in their own filth with dozens suffering skin sores and matted coats. The photos of the dogs pressed up against each other in a small room were so shocking they were forced to refute claims they were AI generated. The RSPCA took in 87 of the dogs, with the rest going to the Dogs Trust . While some are still looking for their forever homes many have already gone on to enjoy a new life. Among those who have landed on their paws are Barney in Milton Keynes who has found his loving family with Donna and David Shultz their three sons - and their dog Betty. Donna said: “We chose Barney because he looked so vulnerable and nervous, we instantly fell in love with him, we also had Betty with us and she was relaxed around him so we felt she chose him too. “Our standout moments were when he first played ball in the garden and brought it back to us to play, and when he jumped up on the sofa next to me and laid his head on my lap.” She spoke of her shock after seeing the images of the dogs: “Although we knew where Barney had come from, until we actually saw it you can't imagine how bad it actually is. I kept looking at it thinking Barney is in there somewhere.” Another pooch with a new home is Boone, who now lives in London with owners Dermot and Breda Murphy, and their two children. Dermot, 56, who previously worked for 30 years with the RSPCA, said the family decided to adopt another dog after losing their previous Cocker Spaniel Carson, aged 14, in January and their other pet Bessie, aged eight, was missing him He said: “We then heard about this big rescue and that some of the dogs were looking for homes from RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre so we went to have a look and took Bessie with us. They got on so we adopted him and have had him for about a month now and he has settled so well. "When we first got him I had to carry him into the car and then into the house because he had never been on the lead and the whole world was a bit scary for him. I remember when first went into the garden he just planted his feet down and wouldn’t move - we think it must be the first time he had been on grass. He soon got the hang of things watching Bessie who helped him realise that he could go to the toilet on the garden.” "He really has brought light into our life and it is lovely having a puppy in the house again.. He is learning from Bessie and has just fitted into our lives perfectly. He now has confidence which he didn’t have before and even walks with a bit of a swagger," he added. Tiger, who is now living in Nottingham, did not know what a feeding bowl was and had to be hand fed by her new owners Charlotte Chubb, 47, and Justine Drury, 53. The couple decided to look at adopting another dog as they thought their pets including poodle Noodle, aged 13, and golden doodle Graham, six, needed some extra company Justine said: “We were looking at getting another dog as we lost Noodle’s brother Rolo seven months ago, and always had three dogs so we looked on the RSPCA website and saw a poodle also called Noodle in need of a home and we thought the stars had aligned and it was meant to be Charlotte added: “Graham has really helped her to learn and she now walks on the lead nicely - something she clearly had never experienced before She was very thin and we had to hand feed her at first - she has a real appetite but we have to feed her up slowly. "She had no idea about feeding from a bowl but now the three have their own bowls and own spaces where they eat at the same time happily. She also loves chasing after her ball - it is probably because she has never had the opportunity to run before and loves the new found freedom. She squeaks with excitement.” Lisa and Mark Bream adopted Winston from RSPCA Woodside in Leicestershire. He was so severely matted and it took the team over 48 hours to gently shave and groom him before the process of long-term rehabilitation could begin. Lisa said: “When we first saw Winston he was a trembling wreck, he’d buried his head in the collar of the animal care assistant’s jacket and you could immediately tell how nervous he was. He cautiously licked my husband’s hand as if he wanted to interact with us but he wasn’t sure he should. We visited the centre every day for the next two weeks to try and build up a rapport with Winston and gain his trust. I’d spend two and half hours with him in the exercise field throwing squeaky balls for him which he loved.” After introducing him to their eight-year-old Patterdale Daisy they took him home. Lisa said: “Initially we had to carry him everywhere, everything was so new to him, he was even scared of his own collar and lead Mark made a safe space for him in our utility room with his toys and a covered bed. "We also put a big basket in front of the fire in the lounge and after three days he plucked up the courage to pop his head around the door and come in. Every night now he’ll bring the toys from his safe space and put them in his basket before he goes to sleep. If he leaves any biscuits in his bowl he’ll also go to fetch a blanket and cover them up." Cookie was adopted by Carolyn and Mark Piggott and daughter Abbi from RSPCA Millbrook in Surrey. Carolyn said: “I was looking most days and spotted Cookie - we weren't able to accommodate some of the others but Cookie sounded like the sort of dog we were looking for. We filled out the form, went to see her and decided to go ahead with it. We weren’t specifically looking for a poodle cross - we were looking for one that would fit in with our life.” After being with her new family for just a few days, Cookie has started to feel at home. “She is inquisitive and a typical young dog. She did get overexcited to begin with, but I feel we understand her, she hasn't had a normal life. She isn’t house trained - she isn’t naughty or difficult - she just doesn’t know any better. She picks things up quickly and is quite intelligent.” Also in Surrey, Dexter has been re-homed by Liz Mummery who wanted a companion for their dog Teddy, after losing a dog recently. She said: “We saw Dexter on the site and thought it may be a good age for Teddy to accept a young dog in the house. When he first met Teddy, it truly was like they had been best friends forever, they just started running around, and the day we bought him home, he laid down in Teddy’s bed and you could see on his face where he suddenly thought, ‘That’s it, I’m home now’, and just fell asleep.” Liz said there are signs of his early experience: “Teddy has only ever known love, Dexter really laps up the cuddles and love and you realise how all of those dogs must have just longed for some love and a warm home.” She added: “It is like he has been here since day one, he is in a regular routine, he is so easy and has just slotted in. He still has lots to learn and get used to but he has truly brought so much happiness to us and to Teddy, they are inseparable. He bounces around like a sheep with just pure joy and happiness everyday.” Jayne Parratt, her sons Harry and Flynn and their goldendoodle Barney, have taken in Jenny at their home in Hertfordshire. They lost a dog last year and Barney was so distressed that they contacted RSPCA Southridge and gave their details in case a suitable dog came available for rehoming Jayne said: “I was contacted very quickly and after all the checks, they told us about Jenny, and they felt she would be a good match as she needed a resident dog. We went home and ordered her a lovely new bed and other bits. As we opened the box and unpacked it, she jumped straight into it and has just wanted to be in it ever since. It occurred to us that not only had she never had a bed, she’d never had anything of her own Jenny and Barney are inseparable now and play for hours in the garden together and they now often choose to snuggle up on the sofa together rather than their beds.” The RSPCA has revealed it has seen a 70% rise in multi-animal incidents across England and Wales since 2021, referring to calls involving 10 or more animals. Cases of large numbers of animals being kept at one address can be linked to mental health struggles, the cost of living crisis, or breeders operating with poor practices. Experts said that even initially well-meaning individuals often see situations spiral out of control Anna White, manager at Southridge who was at the rescue and helped care for some of the dogs including Boone, Dexter and Barney, said: “When we first went to the property and opened the door we were confronted by a sea of dogs - just like in the photograph - and you couldn’t work out which body part belonged to who. “The smell was horrendous. The dogs were living in a slurry pit and there was nowhere on the floor which wasn’t covered in faeces and the ammonia was burning our eyes. They weren’t living in those conditions - they were existing. It is the worst scene I have seen in my 38 years with the RSPCA. “When we were taking them out of the house they were very quiet but they have been amazingly resilient and soon became different dogs altogether - they have coped so well. I am so pleased to see how their lives are now transformed and it is fantastic. It is what makes my job so worthwhile.” Two of the dogs among 250 rescued are Stevie and Sandy who are looking to be re-homed together. Stevie is blind and deaf and needs Sandy who has become her guide. Anyone in a position to add a rescue pet can visit the RSPCA’s Find a Pet web pages. Last year the charity responded to 4,200 incidents which involved at least 10 animals at the same address across England and Wales. And rising cruelty and neglect has caused a six-year high of animals in RSPCA care, with almost half in emergency boarding because many of the charity’s centres are full to bursting point. Many of these animals have been rescued from heartbreaking cruelty and neglect and require extensive care and rehabilitation before they can be rehomed. Meanwhile, many are part of legal proceedings, which can delay rehoming further. The RSPCA is urging people thinking about adding a pet to their family to consider adopting to help free-up space in its overwhelmed centres, and to help ease the pressure caused by so many multi-animal cases.