LIFE was not always so sweet for this little cutie. Last year Madge, a Welsh Terrier, was found living in squalid conditions in a Bamber Bridge out-building.

She was one of 28 dogs kept in three out-houses, owned by a breeder and dog show judge. The place was littered with faeces when discovered by RSPCA inspectors. Now Madge is being used by the animal charity to highlight the problem of animal abuse.

And the RSPCA is calling on the Government to review animal welfare legislation which they believe is out-dated and does not go far enough to protect animals.

It comes as statistics reveal Lancashire had the highest number of prosecutions in the North West last year 2001.

Madge was eventually rehomed by animal lover Sue McNamara, 38, from Preston.

Her previous owner, Jennifer Williams, of Bank Head Lane, Bamber Bridge, had already received a verbal warning from RSPCA inspectors prior to the discovery. In October last year, she pleaded guilty to seven offences of causing unnecessary suffering by neglect. She was fined £250 plus £500 court costs at South Ribble Magistrates' Court, Leyland. Magistrates allowed her to keep 13 of the animals in addition to a further six dogs living in her home and not part of the investigation.

The court banned her from keeping any more dogs for two years -- a ruling which did not go far enough, according to RSPCA inspectors. "It was demoralising for me to have to return animals to Williams after she had been convicted of causing unneccessary suffering to seven dogs," said inspector Sarah Hill. "When we went to the location the smell of excrement was overpowering and the dogs were in a filthy state with no water, she hadn't paid any attention to our warnings."

Insp Hill said: "Legislation needs to be introduced so that it is presumed any person convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal will receive a disqualification order unless there is good reason."