A LITTLE dog who was rescued from a house where 271 animals were being kept in horrendous conditions is enjoying a second lease of life with new owners.

Four-year-old shitsu Cheng has recovered fully after RSPCA inspectors discovered him in an emaciated and dirty condition at a cottage in Lancashire.

He was among 271 animals removed from the over-crowded home of a woman who was obsessed with animals but could not cope with looking after them.

But now the friendly dog has a new home with retired couple Raymond and Doreen Langsley, of Ashfield, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and their other dog - a papillon named Peri.

Mr Langsley said: "When we heard about the number of animals removed from that house we knew we wanted to help and give one a new home.

"We didn't pick him when we went to the RSPCA animal centre at Great Ayton - he picked us. Straight away he was part of the family. He's so friendly and Peri has taught him everything from being housetrained to going for walks."

Mrs Langsley added: "He was in a bad way when he was removed from the house. He is blind in one eye, had bad teeth, was underweight, had a hernia and later suffered with an ulcer.

"But despite a bad start in life, he is very happy now, it feels good to know we've helped him and we love him to bits."

Last week, the dog's former owner, Rosalind Gregson, 55, of Silverdale, Lancashire, was jailed for three months after she pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to nine specimen counts of causing unreasonable suffering to animals.