Woman kept 271 animals in cottage, court hears

A WOMAN who was obsessed with collecting animals kept 271 creatures crammed in her cottage in "dismal and depressing" conditions, a court heard yesterday.

The animals were emaciated, often covered in faeces and urine and suffering from infections and injuries, Preston Magistrates' Court was told.

Nine of the animals had to be put down shortly after RSPCA inspectors removed them from the property.

Rosalind Gregson kept the animals in dark, dusty, dirty conditions in her home off Lindeth Road in Silverdale, Lancashire, with little water and food and hardly any ventilation, the court heard. The 55-year-old denies 49 charges of failing to provide the animals with necessary care and attention.

Tim Bergin, prosecuting, told the court: "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. This resulted is her losing complete control and the ability to care for the animals in her charge."

Mr Bergin told the court that when the RSPCA visited Gregson's home in September 2003 they were confronted with 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.