POLICE raided a flat and found more than 30 animals in cages piled on top of each other, all with limited access to food and water.
SSPCA officers were then called to the flat in Kirk Street, Edinburgh, on June 15, and were shocked at the state of the animals.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Maqsood Asghar, 40, pled guilty to a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare Act of failing to provide suitable diet, nutrition and water. Sentence was deferred until next month for reports.
Fiscal Depute Tom Crosbie told Sheriff Neil Mackinnon that police and SSPCA officers found a cat, two terrapins, four rabbits and four guinea pigs in a cage which would normally house a single hamster, 10 rats in a cage, several quail; two doves, two Dumbo rats, two gerbils, two chinchillas and a mouse.
The decision was made to remove the animals from the flat, he said, and Asghar agreed to transfer ownership of them to the SSPCA.
Deferring sentence, Sheriff Mackinnon said he wanted to know the current health of the animals.
Defence solicitor Nigel Bruce said his client had "a compulsive disorder of collecting things".
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