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Dog rescued from squalid conditions finds new home

Beth Parsons & Tim Dale
BBC News, Yorkshire
BBC A white and black spaniel with a yellow ball in her mouthBBC
Marnie, who is thought to be about 10 months old, is one of several of the dogs now living in a new home

A dog rescued from squalid conditions in a derelict house has happily settled into her new home in West Yorkshire.

Marnie was one of 78 springer spaniels removed from the property in Doncaster by the RSPCA and police in April, along with four other dogs, two cats and a chicken.

When rescuers entered the rural house in Tickhill they were met with "faeces, filth and, round every corner and room, more dogs".

Marnie's new owners said they offered to adopt one of the dogs as soon as they heard some of them were ready for new owners.

"We just applied straight away," said Becky Carr, from Halifax.

"They said they had Marnie available and sent us some photos, she was absolutely beautiful.

"We just went to meet her as soon as we could."

The 82 dogs were sent to shelters across Yorkshire due to the large number, with several now moved to new homes.

The RSPCA said it was currently investigating how and why they had been kept in such poor conditions.

"I just found it absolutely heartbreaking," said Ms Carr.

"I am a massive dog lover and I just can't imagine dogs being in that situation."

South Yorkshire Police Fourteen Springer Spaniel dogs stood on a staircase and landing in a house. The property is dilapitated with no carpets on the stairs and dirt and marks on the walls. South Yorkshire Police
An investigation is ongoing to find those responsible for the neglect, the RSPCA says

Marnie arrived two weeks ago and is "getting on really well" with springer spaniel Bailey, Ms Carr said.

"They are always playing together," she added.

According to Jake, her partner, the adoption was a "bit of a risk".

"Is she going to get on with Bailey, is she going to chew the house up, is she going to like where she's staying?" he said.

A woman and man kneeling on grass in a park with two spaniel dogs
The couple say Marnie has "fit right in" since she arrived with them a fortnight ago

However, he said they knew they could provide her with a good home.

"She just fit right into the family," he said.

"We've only had her two weeks but it has just been amazing so far."

The couple, who thanked the RSPCA and those who fostered Marnie ahead of her joining them, were told their new pet could be about 10 months old.

"She was in care with a foster [family] who was a vet, she thought she could be a bit younger and I thought the same," said Ms Carr.

"She's got a lot of puppy energy."

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