Man found guilty after more than 80 dogs rescued from:- 'appalling' conditions at Doncaster home

A man has been found guilty of the neglect of:- 84 dogs and 2 cats who were found living in:- 'appalling' conditions at a house in South Yorkshire.

9 RSPCA Officers, accompanied by the Police and local authority, were involved in removing the animals, mainly:- Springer Spanie -type dogs, from the property in:- Galley Hill, Tickhill, near Doncaster, on:- 18 April 2025.

Many of the rooms were covered from floor to ceiling in faeces and dirt several inches thick. 1 image taken by the charity shows over 30 spaniels sitting on the stairs and landing as rescuers entered the home.

Children's social worker David Parkes, (DoB 11/05/1965), had denied owning or having responsibility for the animals but was found guilty of 3 animal welfare offences following a 2 day trial at:- Barnsley Magistrates Court which concluded yesterday:- 29 September 2026.

His wife Delphine Parkes (DoB 07/06/1966) and son Sam Parkes (DoB 17/03/1998), who lived in the same house, had both pleaded guilty to 3 Animal Welfare Offences at an earlier hearing on:- 7 January 2026 following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

All 3 defendants will be sentenced on:- 9 December 2026 at Doncaster Magistrates Court.

The RSPCA successfully re-homed all, but 1 of the animals - the majority 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 1st visited on:- 5 April 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:- 15 April 2025 with no response and another notice was left.

Police Officers then executed a warrant with the animal welfare charity on:- 17 April 2025. Although the family were inside at the time, entry had to be forced via a back door.

Philip Brown, prosecuting, said conditions were so bad 1 Police Officer had to leave the house to be sick due to the overwhelming stench.

In her written evidence, 1 of the RSPCA Officers, 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, almost like dreadlocks."

She continued:- "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:- 6 to 7 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."

Delphine Parkes and son Sam were found in their own bedrooms then after about 20 minutes Mr Parkes appeared and said he wanted to help get the dogs to safety and believed there were over 80 inside.

The Court also heard evidence from Animal Rescue Officer Liz Braidley, who said:- "On entry into the property at the rear the conditions were appalling. The 1st 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."

Liz continued:- "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."

2 adult Springer Spaniels, 2 12 week old Springer Spaniel Puppies, 2 adult female Patterdale Terriers and 2 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. 2 cats were also found in their son's bedroom, which was also dirty and cluttered.

Mrs Parkes told the inspector the situation had got out of control since Covid and she knew they now had too many dogs.

The couple were told neither themselves or the animals could carry on living in these conditions and Mr Parkes agreed for all of them to be removed and he signed them over into the care of the RSPCA; although he disputed ownership during the 2 day hearing and claimed they were owned by his wife and son. 

He said due to his heavy workload meant he was unable to take responsibility for the animals. But the Court was told veterinary records showed all the animals were registered in his name, he knew the names and ages of most of the animals and their feeding plans, he purchased the dog food and transported pets to the vets when needed. 

Many of the dogs did not appear to have ever been walked on a lead and had to be carried to waiting vehicles. The animals were assessed and those needing treatment were taken to 4 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. 5 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 1 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.

In her written statement 1 of the vets said:- "A very large number of animals were being kept in an inadequate space. They were living in filth and squalor. They were not provided with sufficient resources for their basic needs such as water, adequate food, beds or toys. Many of the dogs were underweight, probably due to their lack of ability to compete with the other dogs for the resources. Many of them had untreated injuries. Any reasonable and humane person would have recognised these problems and addressed them."

Following the rescue most of the dogs were taken to private boarding facilities on behalf of the RSPCA.

They were then 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 re-homed by the team at the RSPCA's Branch Run Animal Centre, located in:- Chesterfield.

Despite ongoing care, 1 Spaniel was sadly put to sleep to prevent further suffering due to health issues.

Lynne Fairbridge, chairman of magistrates, who concluded it was clear Mr Parkes:- 'had responsibility for the animals,' praised the RSPCA for their work on the case at the end of the hearing.