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RSPCA officers rescued 22 matted, filthy dogs from a home earlier this year

When you look into Hobbit’s bright eyes and stroke her glossy, fluffy coat you’d think she’d always lived the life of Riley.

But last year the poor two-year-old was living in disgusting conditions, in her own filth with 21 other dogs.

Hobbit and her friends were rescued from a home on the border of Hampshire and Wiltshire by RSPCA officers in March after complaints* to the charity about the dogs and the conditions they were living in.

These two Labradors were used to eating their food from the same bowl, and Stitch taught Cookie to share the portion between them. (Aren't dogs amazing?) And now, even after Stitch's death, Cookie still leaves half the food in the bowl for her friend.

“Julie, I don’t know how to tell you this. It’s Luna.” Those were the words that issued from my mobile phone as I stood in the goat enclosure of a theme park in Cornwall. My Mom was at my house caring for the dogs, cats and the rest of the menagerie while we took a week’s break. Now she was ringing me with the news that every pet sitter – or indeed pet owner - dreads most; one of those in her care, despite her best attentions, had died.

Luna was one of our much loved, and looked after cats. She was an affectionate, agile, dainty, beautiful tortoiseshell cat. She was always the more active of the two kittens we brought home only nine months ago. She never caught up