It's incredible to think anyone could live in such horrendous squalor - yet two men have been prosecuted for keeping their homes in such revolting conditions that it was no longer fit for their animals. The RSPCA has brought two separate cases to court against pet owners Michael Clifford Harness and Shaun Parkin, both from Hull, in what they are calling some of the worst conditions inspectors had ever witnessed. The flea infested homes were both found to be housing several animals, some who had infections from the revolting conditions including one dog that had chewed off its own tail. Inspectors at the animal charity were shocked to discover the properties teeming with fleas, covered in urine and faeces and filled with rubbish. Most of the animals were found to be starving.
A little caterpillar fearlessly scampers down a branch and confronts a praying mantis .
A striped marlin means business as it spots lunch and spears a small fish .
Splashing around in the water, a mother otter and her son are tangled in a family feud .
BOXING DAY has come early for this pair of feisty squirrels, as their Christmas party quickly turns sour .
An Italian photographer travelled to northern India where he visited poverty stricken suburbs and captured ordinary people in a series of intimate and expressive portraits .
THROWING himself off 1,100ft bridges in a wheelchair, this is the PARALYSED base jumper who knows no fear .
Soldiers standing guard outside the Woolwich barracks in London - Two terror suspects are under armed guard in separate hospitals in London after a serving soldier was hacked to death in the street .
LEAPING for joy five-feet above the waves this baby whale cutie is saying HELLO to its family after being lost .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
An elegant snowy owl spreads her wings and glides effortlessly above the snow covered field .
An Italian photographer travelled to Chile where he visited several star-gazing sites, home to some of the world's most advanced telescopes, located in the spectacular setting of the Atacama desert .