Michael Weston, 73, and Helen Weston, 61, pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offenses in Newport Magistrates' Court, where they received 12-week suspended prison sentences. The court heard that some guinea pigs were found in broken cages stacked in the couple's living room, while others roamed loose. Several cats exhibited flu-like symptoms and struggled to breathe.
RSPCA chief inspector Emma Smith described the conditions as the worst she had ever encountered, noting an "overwhelming" smell of feces and ammonia. According to the RSPCA, the situation escalated after the husband developed health issues, and his wife became his caregiver, leading to the guinea pigs breeding unchecked.
During a May 2025 visit to the couple's home in the Duffryn area of Newport, inspectors observed what Smith termed a "mud carpet" of feces so thick and hardened it covered the living room floor. The process of locating and containing all the animals, assisted by a veterinarian and a veterinary nurse, took several hours.
Smith also reported the room was swarming with moth-like creatures and that the pervasive odor of stale animal excrement was overpowering. The discovery led to the couple's lifetime ban from pet ownership.