A woman who could not afford to buy pet food for more than a month has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to animals and neglect.
Lucy Spires had 13 cats and two dogs that were being kept in "unhygienic and hazardous condition", reports thisiscroydontoday.co.uk.
Andrew Wiles, prosecutor for the RSPCA, is quoted as saying: "On entry, they sawy the Rottweiler at close quarters and she was very thin, very nervous.
"The Staffie's hips were seen protruding and there was muscle wastage - the dog appeared very nervous."
He added that four cats were visible and all looked underweight.
Defending Ms Spires, Bawita Dhanda said that she could not afford to feed the animals as she was on Jobseekers Allowance, has a 14-year-old son and had fallen into debt.
The case was adjourned until December 6th. A pre-sentence report is now being prepared.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home recently announced that it has seen a surge in the number of people having to give up their pets because they can no longer afford to keep them.
