A BOURNEMOUTH pensioner who turned her small home into puppy factory has been found guilty of animal cruelty.

Johanna Price, 71, stored 59 dishevelled dogs in cramped crates stacked up in her lounge, bedroom, bathroom and garden shed.

After advertising them for sale, customers would turn up on her doorstep while Price brought out a selection of puppies for them to chose, Wareham Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday.

Price bred terriers, Jack Russells, whippets, and sausage dogs at the two bed semi-detached house in Boscombe and sold them for 300 pounds each.

The illicit business came to light when a customer became concerned at the cruel way Price picked up one dog by its paw and reported her.

Police and RSPCA staff entered her home in Shelley Road and were appalled by the horrid conditions.

Most of them were in filthy cages with no access to fresh water while one Jack Russell was found crumpled up in a cat basket.

Price had 66 animals at the time it was raided; 59 dogs, six birds and a cat.

She was found guilty of all 15 charges of animal cruelty and one count of breeding dogs without a license.

Sentencing was adjourned until December 4 and she was told she faces being banned from keeping animals for the rest of her life.

Jo Barr, spokeswoman for the RSPCA, said: "She was essentially running a puppy factory.

"The animals were kept in horrid conditions. She was very clever as she only sold them from the door and didn't let any customers in.

"If somebody wanted a Jack Russell for example, she would bring out four or five of them.

"But she was found out when one of the dogs escaped and when she retrieved it she dangled it by its paw in front of a customer."

Price had denied 15 charges of animal cruelty and one count of breeding dogs without a licence.