A shocking picture shows the conditions more than 20 dogs were kept in, resulting in a man being banned from keeping animals for five years.
Junade Ali, 27, from Gillingham, was found guilty of three animal welfare offences, including causing unnecessary suffering.
Some of the 23 dogs in Ali's possession didn't have access to water, while others went without bedding and were kept in cramped conditions, such as crates that were too small for them.
A probe was launched by Medway Council in October 2019 after an enquiry from a man asking about a licence to breed dogs, Kent Live reports.
Officers carrying out a pre-application inspection found three Belgian Malinois, two Neapolitan Mastiffs and 18 puppies in these appalling conditions.
Officers were also made aware that a further two dogs were being kept in the apartment above the property. Immediately three welfare concerns were raised against Ali and the RSPCA were contacted.
In January 2020, a joint investigation with the RSPCA resulted in officers seizing 19 dogs, 15 puppies and four adults from the property.
Since the last visit, the conditions the dogs were living in had grown even worse, some dogs had urine burns on their feet and one dog had an untreated and painful eye condition that required surgery.
Ali was banned from owning, keeping or dealing with animals for five years at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 24 March.
Alongside this, he was also sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to pay £600 in court costs.
Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Enforcement, said: “We take animal welfare extremely seriously and work with partners, such as the RSPCA, to ensure backyard breeders are brought to justice. In this case, the defendant clearly had no regard for the dogs in his care and saw them as a way to make money.
"As shown in this case, we will inspect premises to ensure that animals are being looked after properly. If you are thinking of buying a pet, we would encourage you to consider rehoming from a rescue centre or make sure you are purchasing an animal from a reputable, licensed, breeder."
An RSPCA spokesperson added: “We know there’s a spike in people searching for puppies and buying dogs at the beginning of the school holidays but we’d urge families to carefully consider whether getting a dog is right for them. Dogs are a huge commitment and need lots of time and attention, even once summer is over and the kids are back at school.
