Graham Stephens admitted failing to care for owls, dogs, rabbits, donkeys, a guinea pig and a squirrel at the Little Meadow Animal Rescue Centre in Tenbury Wells, Worcs.
Following a string of complaints, the RSPCA raided the sanctuary in March last year where they discovered animals being kept in appalling conditions.
In one faeces-filled room of a static caravan inspectors found 35 animals, including 24 dogs, two rabbits, a guinea pig, five owls, a pheasant, a budgie and a squirrel.
Rescuers described the smell as “horrendous” with shocking pictures showing many of the animals and birds being kept in tiny cages and in cramped pet carriers.
RSPCA inspectors also seized seven donkeys and a two alpacas which were living in a paddock outside.
Stephens, of Bromyard, Hereford, admitted six charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals at a previous hearing.
He also pleaded guilty to two charges of failing the duty of a person responsible for an animal to ensure welfare.
Stephens, 63, was jailed for eight months at Worcester Magistrates’ Court last December but was granted bail after he lodged an appeal against the sentence.
he withdrew his appeal at a hearing at Hereford Crown Court and was sent to prison. He was also banned from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay £750 in court costs.
The court heard Stephens kept four grey donkeys, an alpaca, a Chinese Crested dog, two rabbits, a guinea pig, a grey squirrel and four tawny owls at the sanctuary.
Many of the animals had bad teeth, lice and were riddled with infections. The animals were also kept in filthy, faeces-covered cages with some kept close to predators when they should have been kept apart.
The court heard the RSPCA raided the premises on March 17, 2022. RSPCA inspector Suzi Smith said: “As soon as the door opened you could smell the stench, ammonia and faeces.
“Whilst Mr Stephens went into the mobile home to secure the dogs we were able to see into the hallway which was stacked with junk and old faeces was caked on the floor.
“The smell was horrendous already, there was a budgie in a cage stacked on a load of junk at the end of the hallway, there appeared to be a room behind the junk but it was impossible to get into it due to all the junk stacked up.
“As we went into the main room of the mobile home, the stench was overwhelming, the ammonia stung my eyes and my breathing got worse.
“The curtains were drawn, so light was limited but I could see lots of dogs, both loose and in cages, some cages were stacked on each other, all cages and the floor appeared to have faeces on them.
“There was also a cage with rabbits and another cage with owls next to it.“Through the double wooden gates was a straw base which was wet but offered a base out of the mud, the seven donkeys were on this and were eating the wet dirty straw, there was no hay or dry forage available, there was little to no grazing available.
“The ground was wet and muddy in areas, the barn offered a small area for undercover shelter, the base had no clean bedding down.”
Inspector Smith also found “broken barbed wire fencing, broken junk, scrap metal, old vehicles and many hazards” littering the ground.
She said they found faeces on the floor, dogs both loose and in cages, some stacked on top of each other, caged rabbits, a budgie, a squirrel, and owls with feathers “caked in faeces”.
Two owls and a squirrel were put down after they were examined by a vet. An earlier hearing heard police had received “multiple complaints” from concerned members of the public about the sanctuary.
Prosecutor Lynda Myer said: “The conditions were appalling. “There were signs significant stress was caused to the animals living in a small area.
“There was a potential breach of trust – he was entrusted with money from the public to look after these animals.”
Sarah Brady, defending, said Stephens, of Bromyard, Herefordshire, had been suffering from depression and stress while trying to run the charity.
The surviving animals have since been rehomed or housed in sanctuary care. Two of the donkeys, which were found to be pregnant, have since given birth to healthy foals, while two male donkeys were castrated.
