RSPCA rescues 112 rats from woman's filthy 'rat room'
- 16 days ago
A Lancashire woman has been handed a suspended prison sentence after the RSPCA found over 100 pet rats in one room of her house - with an ammonia smell so powerful rescuers struggled to breathe.
Dozens of the rodents were found running loose at her Leyland property, while more than 70 others were in cages. Makeshift nests made from newspaper and cardboard were found in a set of drawers, while one thirsty young rat was seen drinking from a leaking radiator because the animals didn’t have any water. Multiple female rats were pregnant, and they gave birth to 80 babies in RSPCA care.
Their owner, 31-year-old Sarah Jordan, had let the rats breed in an uncontrolled way, the animal welfare charity said. After pleading guilty to four Animal Welfare Act offences at an earlier hearing, Jordan has now been sentenced at the Preston Magistrates Court.
She was been banned from keeping all animals, apart from cats, for 15 years, and was given a four week prison sentence - suspended for 18 months - on each count, which will run at the same time.
Video: RSPCA
Dozens of the rodents were found running loose at her Leyland property, while more than 70 others were in cages. Makeshift nests made from newspaper and cardboard were found in a set of drawers, while one thirsty young rat was seen drinking from a leaking radiator because the animals didn’t have any water. Multiple female rats were pregnant, and they gave birth to 80 babies in RSPCA care.
Their owner, 31-year-old Sarah Jordan, had let the rats breed in an uncontrolled way, the animal welfare charity said. After pleading guilty to four Animal Welfare Act offences at an earlier hearing, Jordan has now been sentenced at the Preston Magistrates Court.
She was been banned from keeping all animals, apart from cats, for 15 years, and was given a four week prison sentence - suspended for 18 months - on each count, which will run at the same time.
Video: RSPCA