Nine dogs from Rosalind Gregson's home had to be put down

The pets, mostly dogs, were emaciated and suffering from infections and injuries, Preston magistrates heard.

Nine of the animals had to be put down after RSPCA inspectors took them from the house in Silverdale, Lancashire.

Rosalind Gregson, 55, denies 49 charges of failing to provide the animals with necessary care and attention.

The animals were kept in dark, dusty, dirty conditions in Ms Gregson's home off Lindeth Road, with little water and food and hardly any ventilation, the court heard on Wednesday.

Tim Bergin, prosecuting, said: "It is not the prosecution's case that this defendant maliciously caused cruelty to the animals in her home, simply that she allowed her obsession to collect animals, as it were, to overwhelm her.

The animals were kept in cages at Ms Gregson's house in Silverdale

"This resulted in her losing complete control and the ability to care for the animals in her charge."

The court heard that when the RSPCA visited Gregson's home in September 2003 they were confronted by more animals than they had ever seen in one house before.

The dogs, cats and birds were mostly caged, often in pairs and sometimes in threes. Some of the dogs were unable to stand up to their full height, the court heard.

Mr Bergin said: "The condition of the animals was on the whole poor. Some were emaciated or thin with matted coats often covered with faeces and urine.

Rats and fleas

"Most of the dogs had eye infections and some had injuries which caused nine of the animals to be euthanased soon after."

"There was little water and food and the house was generally in darkness, with little if no ventilation."

There was also evidence of rat infestation, fleas, dust and dirt, and the house was subject to extreme temperatures, the court heard.