DOG breeder Johanna Price has been banned from keeping animals for life after the RSPCA found a filthy puppy factory in her Bournemouth home.

Inspectors were horrified to discover 59 dogs, six birds and a cat in cramped, faeces-ridden cages with no proper access to water.

But she escaped a jail sentence and got a £100 fine because she was too ill to attend Wednesday's hearing at Bournemouth Magistrates.

Price, 71, from Shelley Road, Boscombe, was convicted of 15 counts of animal cruelty and one count of illegal dog breeding.

One Yorkshire terrier was found with a wounded anus and a missing tail, and other dogs in the garden shed developed conjunctivitis from the urine-soaked atmosphere.

The RSPCA is now appealing for people to take in the pets, many of which are now at Ashley Heath Animal Centre.

Insp Jo Story, the investigating officer, said: "I have never seen this number of animals in these sorts of conditions."

Price had faced a maximum six-month jail sentence or a £5,000 fine - if she had been in court.

Mark Proctor, defending, said she is in Christchurch Hospital, unable to speak or move anything but her hands, and there was no sign when she might recover.

She refused to sign over the dogs to the RSPCA.

Mr Proctor said: "I think to some degree this is the last thing she feels she has any control over."

District Judge Ashworth decided not to adjourn sentencing until she might recover and attend court, even though this meant she could not be jailed.

He said: "It seems unlikely sentence will be passed in anything other than her absence and there are a number of animals that can't be re-homed until the case is concluded."

Judge Ashworth said of the £100 fine: "It's not a sentence that can properly reflect the merits of this serious case."

Anyone who wants to adopt the dogs should telephone 0300 123 8484.