AN RSPCA investigator felt sick when she explored a house packed with 98 dogs and 22 cats which were being kept in "appalling conditions", a court heard.

Bridlington Magistrates Court was told yesterday how would-be pet rescuer Rachel Ashworth kept dogs soaked in urine and surrounded by excrement at her North Yorkshire home.

Ashworth, 31, was banned from keeping pets for ten years and given 200 hours' community punishment.

She had previously pleaded guilty to 17 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

After yesterday's hearing she said she would appeal against the sentence, which was welcomed by the RSPCA.

The court heard that RSPCA investigator Gill Corder found dogs packed into rooms and outbuildings - as many as 44 in a living room - at Rose Cottage in Low Marishes between Malton and Pickering, where Ashworth lived with her mother, Edwina.

She described how she peered into the room, which was without electricity, to see "a sea of dog eyes shining in the torchlight on all levels".

Further investigation found a "puppy room", full of 12 dogs, and an "oldie room" with seven to eight older dogs who "didn't realise what was happening". There was also a "cat room", from which numerous cats were trying to escape.

"My eyes were watering and I felt quite sick at the stench of it," said Ms Corder. She called Malton vet Torben Orskov to the scene.

He said he was "utterly appalled". Many of the dogs were suffering from conjunctivitis and dermatitis.

Defending Ashworth, Nasra Butt said she had "literally dedicated most of her life to animals". She said that since she was 13 she had helped to rehome abandoned animals.

"She provided short-term care for dogs from dogs homes and kennels," said Miss Butt. "It became more difficult to take the dogs, but she felt if she didn't no one else would and they would be euthanised, and the conditions she provided would be better than that."

She produced vets bills worth £11,000 paid over a two-year period, saying: "Given the amount of money spent on care for the animals, these are not the actions of someone who would deliberately go out and cause suffering."

She said an RSPCA officer had visited Rose Cottage in 2003 when there were many animals living there and had not had any concerns. But the situation had deteriorated.

Miss Butts said the health of Edwina Ashworth, who has pleaded guilty to 34 counts of causing unnecessary cruelty to animals, had caused the problem.

Sentencing Ashworth, magistrate Anne Farrer said: "We've seen indisputable evidence of the appalling conditions in which a large number of animals were kept. We accept your long association with animal welfare.

"You failed to act and involve outside agencies and did not provide nutritional diet, veterinary care or suitable living accommodation to the detriment of the animals' wellbeing."

Afterwards Ms Corder said: "Rachel Ashworth had a responsibility for the animals in her care. She quite clearly failed them."

The case of Edwina Ashworth, which was also originally scheduled for sentencing yesterday, was adjourned to Scarborough Magistrates Court on January 18 pending medical reports.

An RSPCA spokesperson said new homes had been found for all the animals that had been in the house. They were taken initially to the charity's centre at Landing Lane in York.

Updated: 09:37 Thursday, December 01, 2005