More than 250 mixed-breed poodle dogs were found in a single home in the United Kingdom, the RSPCA animal welfare charity said. According to British media reports, the severe living conditions and the number of animals “quickly got out of control” due to complex family circumstances.
An image released by the organization — showing dozens of dogs crammed into a living room — sparked widespread reactions on social media, with some users claiming it was fake. The RSPCA stressed that the image is authentic.
"As much as we wish this image wasn't real, sadly it very much is - and we are being called to more and more multi-animal reports like this," the RSPCA told Sky News. "We don't need to use AI as we have countless stories to share about the animals our frontline teams are helping."
The RSPCA took in 87 of the dogs, while the rest were transferred to the charity Dogs Trust. Inspector Jo Hirst told Sky News on Wednesday that she was not surprised some people questioned the authenticity of the “shocking” image.
"We understand that people are so aghast they don't believe what they are seeing," she said. "But this photo is not AI – it's real. This is the staggering reality of what can happen when even well-meaning owners become overwhelmed – overbreeding can take over, and conditions can spiral out of control."