A cruel woman was caught breeding 112 pet rats in a single room of her home.
Sarah Jordan kept 74 in cages with 38 found scurrying around the floor.
Some of the female rats found were pregnant, with 80 babies being born since the animals were rescued from the home.
During the horrifying discovery, rescuers of the rats struggled to breathe due to the overpowering smell of wee in the room.
READ MORE: Devastated cat owner reunited with beloved pet after 11 years…but he dies weeks later
Old drawers and bookshelves served as nests for the rats with the animals found drinking from an old leaky radiator as it was their only source of water.
Jordan, 32, of Haig Avenue, Leyland, Lancs, has been given a suspended prison sentence after letting the rats breed uncontrollably, live in poor conditions and have untreated health conditions.
The RSPCA who conducted the rescue, have since been finding suitable homes to relocate the rats to.
On May 28, a sentencing hearing held at Preston magistrates court heard about when Jess Pierce, an animal rescue officer had visited the property on April 18 last year.
Jess accompanied with a vet, visited the home after concerns were raised about a large number of rodents being kept in horrid conditions.
Due to the strong smell of ammonia seeping through the letterbox, police were called to help gain entry to the property due to concerns for the occupants and animals.
Rats of mixed ages and sexes were running loose across the room, which had electrical wiring and disinfectant solution scattered throughout.
The other 74 rats were stuck inside four cages that had soiled bedding, zero food and bone dry bottles.
Nests made from newspapers and cardboard tubing were discovered in chests of drawers, as reported by Need To Know.
Several rats were sneezing and displaying respiratory symptoms which were likely caused by the ammonia.
Three of the rescued rats suffered from fur loss and scabbing which is usually caused by stress.
One rat had a half a tail left with another having a large untreated wound on the back of his neck.
Unfortunately three rats were put to sleep due to their extremely poor condition, with remaining rodents being looked after at RSPCA centres across the country.
Jordan pleaded guilty to four Animal Welfare Act offences and was given a four week prison sentence which has been suspended for 18 months.
She also had a 60-day curfew imposed upon her starting at 8pm and finishing at 7am.
Ms Pierce said: “Myself and the vet entered the house.
“The rats were being kept in one room which was the first door on the right as you went in.
“As soon as we entered the smell of ammonia was overwhelming, it was stinging my eyes and it was very difficult to breathe.
“There were two large rat cages and three smaller cages. All the cages were filled with rats, they were also loose in the room.
“All the cages had beds and enrichment but there was no fresh food or water anywhere, the room was also very warm.
“There were a few rats with skin conditions and in poor bodily condition. I also witnessed one young rat drinking out of a leak in the radiator.
“I had to leave the room every now and then as the ammonia had given me a headache and it was very difficult to breathe.
“I contacted our control centre and requested assistance from colleagues due to the number of rats at the property.
“There were an astonishing number of rats being kept at the house and clearly their welfare had been compromised as a result of uncontrolled breeding and the unsuitable conditions they were being kept in.
“It took myself and a number of colleagues many hours to remove them all, and we are so grateful to the large number of RSPCA branches and centres up and down the country who took the rats in and also cared for the 80 babies that were born in our care.
“The RSPCA turns 200 this year, and this was a great example of our welfare teams working together to help animals.”
In written evidence to the court the vet who examined the animals at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, said: “The owner of the rats had failed to provide an appropriate, safe, hazard-free and clean environment.
“Given the evidence presented to myself I believe the rats were likely without food and water for a period of days.
“The environment – soiled, ammonia smelling bedding – is likely to have developed over weeks.
“There was severe overcrowding in three of the four cages. This environmental failure is likely to have developed over several months.
“Eighty nine of the 112 rats were of a socially mature age and several were found to be pregnant.
“I would expect a responsible owner to contact a veterinarian for advice if they noticed hair loss or scabbing present on their rats.
“Another symptom I would expect an owner to seek veterinary advice for is respiratory disease.
“Regardless of the cause of the owner’ failings, steps to improve the rats welfare should have been taken much sooner e.g. starting by reducing their numbers to a more manageable amount and splitting them into male and female groups to avoid further offspring.”
READ MORE: Breeder of posh pussycats who flogged them on Facebook caught for letting them live in squalor
