Dog rescued with 83 others 'is just perfect'

2 hours ago

Nathan Hemmingham,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshireand

Simon Spark,in Hull

News image — Morgan and Luke have given rescued springer Cloud a new home in Hull

Simon Spark/BBC A woman with swept back dark hair and wearing hooped earrings and wearing a red fleece and black trousers is kneeling on grass alongside a man wearing a black and yellow tracksuit top. He has a bald head and brown beard and the pair are stroking a springer spaniel. — Morgan and Luke have given rescued springer Cloud a new home in Hull

A springer spaniel rescued along with 83 others has been rehomed in Hull.

The dogs were found at a home in Doncaster in April 2025 living in "squalid conditions", which RSPCA officers described as "the worst they had encountered during their careers".

Cloud is now living with Morgan Bulman, 22, and Luke Shepherd, 29, in Hull, who said she had taken time to settle but was "just perfect".

Luke said: "She's been brilliant. The first night, she just would not rest. I think that's because she's never experienced anything like sleeping in a bed with other people and had that calmness before."

Eighty-four dogs were rescued along with two cats and a chicken after police officers and the RSPCA entered a family home in Tickhill, South Yorkshire, where they were found surrounded by "faeces and filth".

Morgan believes Cloud was pictured on the bottom step of the staircase in the police photo of the scene.

She said: "Because she's that dog on the bottom step, I think people have fallen in love with her so much."

The couple also said they would be keen to meet up with other owners of the rescued dogs.

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. — The dogs were rescued from a house in Doncaster in 2025

Cloud arrived at the RSPCA's Hull and East Yorkshire branch along with four other spaniels - Spring, Autumn, Summer and Polly.

Polly was one of the youngest animals and was three months old at the time of the rescue.

Lisa Marchant, who adopted Polly, said: "I had a big spaniel-shaped hole in my heart after losing my previous dog.

"She's brilliant with my children, our cat, Joy, and everyone who meets her.

"The yellow urine staining on her white tail and paws took a little while to go - it was the last reminder to me of what she'd been through. She's come such a long way and is definitely making up for lost time now."

RSPCA A woman holding a springer spaniel dog in her left hand is looking into the camera. She has shoulder-length brown hair with curls and is wearing a silver necklace. — Lisa Marchant has adopted Polly, who is settling in well to her new surroundings

On 29 September, children's social worker David Parkes was found guilty of failing to ensure the welfare of the animals, which were kept at the home he shared with his family.

He had denied animal welfare offences, claiming his wife Delphine and son Sam were primarily responsible for the dogs' care due to his heavy workload.

However, the 61-year-old was found guilty following a two-day trial at Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

Delphine Parkes, 60, and Sam Parkes, 28, pleaded guilty to the same offences at a hearing earlier this year. All three will be sentenced on 9 December.

An RSPCA spokesperson said one of the dogs later had to be put to sleep due to ongoing health issues, but all of the others had been rehomed.

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