A children's social worker who kept 84 dogs in "squalid conditions" at the home he shared with his family has been found guilty of failing to ensure their welfare.

David Parkes had denied animal welfare offences, claiming his wife, Delphine, and son, Sam, were primarily responsible for the dogs' care due to his heavy workload.

However, the 61-year-old was found guilty following a two-day trial at Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

Delphine Parkes, 60, and Sam Parkes, 28, pleaded guilty to the same offences at a hearing earlier this year. All three will be sentenced on 9 December.

Magistrates were told that 80 Springer Spaniel-type dogs, two adult Patterdale Terriers, two Patterdale Terrier pups and two cats were found at the family home at Galley Hill Farm Cottage, in Tickhill, in April last year.

The court heard the RSPCA had been alerted to the conditions the animals were living in after a member of the public submitted a welfare report when they saw a dog injure itself after jumping over a garden wall.

Asked why there were so many animals at the house, Parkes replied: "Ultimately, the dogs were left to breed by themselves."

Delphine Parkes, who is registered disabled, admitted to an inspector that "things had got out of control since Covid".

Sam Parkes, who has autism, "primarily used dogs in his care as a therapy animal", his father told the court.

Asked why he deemed his son capable of looking after the animals, Parkes said: "He had dogs very early on when he was young and he had got the skills available to do that. The additional support from Delphine would have been sufficient."

Parkes, who has no previous convictions, blamed his heavy workload on his failure to do more to protect the animals, which he admitted were family pets.

He claimed to work up to 80 hours per week, supporting children trying to escape county lines gangs, or who had suffered sexual abuse or neglect.

Around the time of the incident he told the court he had been dealing with an "extremely traumatising" case of a baby's death involving a dog.

"It was just exhausting," he said of his role.

"Typically speaking, I worked all the way through the night."

Parkes's father had also died in March 2025, the court heard.

The defendant said he had "no capacity" to help out with day-to-day care of the dogs.

"My commitment was to work. It should have been home that I prioritised," he added.

He admitted the family would have benefitted from more help, adding: "Home conditions could have been better".

Prosecutor Philip Brown said the home was "heavily contaminated" with urine and faeces, while garlic was being used to try and control fleas and parasites.

Vets said five of the dogs were found to be "critically underweight" with some also injured when they tried to "demat" them.

The family was "completely out of its depth", Brown added.

He accused the defendant of "burying his head in the sand" over the problem and seeking to distance himself from accountability through fear of losing his job.

Parkes disputed having responsibility for the animals, telling magistrates they were "primarily" the responsibility of his son "assisted by Delphine".

"There was no way I could offer anything [by way of] looking after the dogs other than making the trip in the car to buy bags of food".

But magistrates said there was enough evidence to show Parkes was responsible for the animals, including veterinary records which listed him as the owner of all the pets registered to the family address.

Lynne Fairbridge, who chaired the hearing, told Parkes "all options", including custody, would be on the table when he is sentenced.

The RSPCA said it had rehomed all but one of the animals.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North