TWO friends have been found guilty of neglecting cats and rabbits in an animal cruelty case brought by the RSPCA.

Gillian Hughes, of East Borough, Wimborne, and Shereen Evans, of Ashurst Road in West Moors, were found guilty of 13 charges of causing unnecessary suffering to their pets and failing to ensure that they were receiving adequate veterinary care.

Hughes, 62, and Evans, 18, kept around 100 cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs and horses on a smallholding at Forest View, Holt Heath, Mannington.

Seven cats were in a touring caravan that was sodden with urine and faeces, while others were suffering from bad skin conditions.

RSPCA Inspector Graham Hammond said: “We were appalled at how these animals were being kept.”

He appealed to people not to have excessive numbers of animals if they did not have enough space or money to look after them properly, and to ask for help at the earliest opportunity if ever they were struggling to care for their pets.

Following the guilty verdict at Bournemouth Magistrates Court, the case was adjourned until Wednesday May 9.