RSPCA officers visited the former owner's home in Huyton, near Liverpool, in October 2006 and discovered 12 cross-bred dogs and a rabbit, many of them on the brink of starvation.

Ten dogs had become extremely skinny and one, called Donna, had to have her pups aborted because she was too ill to carry them to full term. One of the dogs was also suffering from an abscess on his lip.

All had developed veterinary conditions and heavy flea infestations which were left untreated by the owner.

Donna, re-named Molly, now lives on Whitchurch Road, Great Boughton, with her new owner, Angela Hampson, and her family.

She has settled into her new home and is said to be a good natured dog.

Mrs Hampson said: "I wanted a dog that would be fine with cats and would sit with me for a cuddle.

"I told the man at Halewood Rescue Centre and he said he had the perfect little girl.

"He introduced us and we fell in love straight away. Molly and our Burmese cat, Bella, now sleep in the same bed.

"It's so funny to watch Molly try to get in without disturbing Bella.

"I find it incredible that she's settled in so well, despite everything and we feel very lucky that she's now part of our family.

"She's absolutely wonderful. We expected her to be a bit timid or nervous or maybe a bit disruptive but there's been nothing."

RSPCA Inspector Claire Cain, who found the dogs, said: "This was a really tragic case. Most of the dogs were extremely emaciated.

"The vet was amazed that Donna, the pregnant bitch, survived the anaesthetic to abort her pups at all. One of the dogs was so thin he put on 60 per cent of his body weight in RSPCA care."

The rabbit and two dogs was put to sleep on veterinary advice. The rest of the dogs were re-homed.

Statistics recently released by the RSPCA show there were 25 convictions in Cheshire in 2007 for animal cruelty.

One person was jailed and 12 people were issued with adult written cautions.