A POODLE rescued from a house in Christchurch in an animal cruelty case last year returned to the RSPCA s Fenland shelter on Tuesday. Four-year-old Maggie went back to the shelter at Block Fen, near Wimblington, with owner Jon Lenton, of March, a year aft

A POODLE rescued from a house in Christchurch in an animal cruelty case last year returned to the RSPCA's Fenland shelter on Tuesday.

Four-year-old Maggie went back to the shelter at Block Fen, near Wimblington, with owner Jon Lenton, of March, a year after being rehomed.

She was one of seven poodles recovered from Elizabeth Rogers' home in March last year.

They were discovered in filthy conditions, with no access to food or water and with untreated infections.

Three of the seven dogs had to be put down because of the severity of their conditions, while the other four were rehomed.

Two puppies, Charlie and Sandy, who were born at the centre to one of the other rescued dogs, also returned to the shelter with their owners to be reunited with each other.

Mark Thompson, RSPCA chief inspector for Fenland, said: "This is the best part of the job, when you see them with new owners in a good condition - how they should have been looked after."

Rogers, a retired vet, was convicted of animal cruelty last August. She was banned from keeping dogs for 10 years and fined £3,750.