A North East couple have been banned from keeping animals for 36 months after allowing five dogs and four cats to live in filthy and hazardous conditions.

Lesley Surtees and Lisa Odgers ignored warnings to clean up the animals' living environment, which was littered with rubbish and poo.

South Tyneside Magistrates' Court handed them their ban on September 24, following an RSPCA investigation.

The couple admitted to failing to meet the animals' needs and causing unnecessary suffering by not seeking veterinary treatment for their skin conditions.

RSPCA inspector Helen Nedley visited their Sunderland home on February 14 after concerns were raised about a dog living at the property.

In her written evidence, inspector Nedley said: "Upon approaching the property I could see that both of the front windows were boarded up.

"I could see rubbish and faeces on the floor behind the front door and there was a strong smell coming from inside the property."

She said Surtees was reluctant to let her in, explaining that his living room was "a nightmare."

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He said he owned five dogs, two cats, and a bearded dragon.

When the officer returned in March, she described an "overwhelming" smell of faeces and ammonia and a hallway covered in rubbish and animal waste.

The living room was described as containing a "hazardous amount" of white goods, furniture, and bike parts, with the floor covered in a "thick, compacted layer of animal faeces."

Five dogs, including Jack Russell terriers and a Staffordshire bull terrier, were seized by police because of their poor body condition and living environment and placed in the care of the RSPCA.

A vet who examined the animals signed a certificate stating they were all in a suffering state, with the exception of one cat.

Sadly one dog was put to sleep on the advice of vets because of her advanced age, poor mental cognition, dental disease and mammary cancer.

Both defendants were handed a 12-month community order, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, an £80 fine, and were ordered to pay costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £114.

The court also imposed a deprivation order on the animals, meaning the RSPCA can now legally rehome them.