Horrific body-cam footage captured the moment police discovered 167 animals "piled high" on top on one another at a squalid home.
Officers visited the property after a 999 call was made over concerns about a bad smell and flies buzzing at the windows in February.
When police entered the address in Rushden, Northamptonshire, they were horrified to discover over 167 rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, mice, guinea pigs and birds inside.
The poor animals were living in cramped, dirty and unsuitable conditions - including some forced to share cages with dead animals.
Body-cam footage captured police arriving at the address and one female officer saying: "I've never seen anything like it."
Dozens of cages containing animals can be seen piled on top of each other inside every room as the officer makes her way around the small property.
The officer adds: "Oh my God. There are birds, ferrets, rats, all sorts in every single room. They clearly cannot remain here.
"There's no proper food, look at the state of that, it's gross. This is disgusting. I just want to take them all home. These poor animals. Oh my gosh.
"Some of them have got no water, nothing. It's minging. Everything is just minging. It's horrible."
Kim Starks, 61, of Wellingborough, Northants., was identified as their owner and was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
He was also charged with breaching a disqualification order banning him from owning or keeping animals for life which was imposed in February 2000.
Starks pleaded guilty to both counts at Northampton Magistrates Court on February 28 this year.
While awaiting sentence, he was arrested again after being found responsible for several horses, a donkey, and numerous rabbits and guinea pigs in a field in Hannington, Northants.
Starks was charged with a further breach of the banning order, and a second count of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse.
He admitted all charges and was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison, suspended for two years last Friday (19/5).
A forfeiture order was made for all the animals involved and Starks was also ordered to pay £5,489.59 compensation.
His disqualification order was continued, preventing him from owning or keeping any animals for life.
PC Chloe Gillies, of Northamptonshire Police's Rural Crime Team, said afterwards: “When officers first attended the house in Rushden they were faced with a house filled with animals, all in terrible living conditions – there were a total of 167 living creatures packed into cages stacked on top of each other, all over the property.
“While I’m disappointed this wasn’t an immediate custodial sentence, I’m very glad that the poor animals Starks was utterly failing to care for have been removed from him and will now have the chance to live healthy, happy lives.
“I would also like to thank the RSPCA for all their assistance in this case, all the vets involved, and all those involved in the transport and boarding facilities for all the animals.
“It was a team effort to rescue all these animals. The number of animals involved in this case was truly shocking and I am pleased that they have now been given the opportunity to find loving, caring homes.
“I hope this case shows our commitment to protecting animal welfare – if we receive information that someone who is banned from keeping animals is breaching that, or committing other offences under the Animal Welfare Act, we will investigate.”
