The remains of six neglected dogs, including one which chewed out of its cage, were found in a faeces-strewn Chilton home.
Nathan and Jade Race claimed pets needed “attention, food, water, love" when asked by RSPCA inspectors, but the married couple gave their animals anything but.
Six dogs and three rabbits were found dead at their home on Ford Terrace on September 16 last year, which inspectors said had a "strong smell of death".
Five of the six dogs had perished in filthy crates while a sixth had chewed her way out of a cage before dying in the living room and is believed to have been drinking from a toilet. A further 29 animals were rescued from a second address.
The Races, of West Cornforth, were sentenced at Durham Crown Court on Friday (July 31) when both were banned from keeping pets for life.
The court heard how RSPCA Inspector Clare Wilson went to Ford Terrace after the charity received a call about dead animals in cages at the address.
The officer described seeing thousands of flies covering an entire upstairs window and what looked like a deceased dog lying in the living room behind the kitchen door.
After liaising with the property's landlord and making enquiries with people nearby, the police were called. Nathan Race then arrived on the scene but declined to accompany officers inside the house.
Ms Wilson said: "The house was extremely messy and dirty. There was a strong smell of death and faeces and flies were buzzing around everywhere.
The bed in the front bedroom of the house.
(Image: RSPCA)
The floor of the house.
(Image: RSPCA)
"I also saw three dead rabbits in indoor plastic hutches in the same bedroom and the kitchen.
"There were faeces all over the floor in the living area and spilling out of the crates, and thick layers of faeces in the rabbit enclosures, especially the hutch at the end of the kitchen. The dead rabbit was lying on a thick mouldy layer of droppings."
Two Pomeranians called Coco and Rolo were found deceased together in a crate, but it was evident from their decomposed bodies that one had died first.
One of the cages where the dogs were found.
(Image: RSPCA)
There was evidence that an Akita-type dog called Mila, who was found in the living room, had chewed her way out of a cage and could have been drinking water from the toilet as she had access to upstairs. She is thought to have been the last dog to die.
Some of the other remains, including two Dachshunds named Pudding and Rusty, and a Shih-Tzu called Tyson, were mummified.
The rabbits were found in plastic hutches with no food, water, or bedding.
At a second property in West Cornforth, 29 living animals were discovered in poor conditions.
One of the cages where the dogs were found.
(Image: RSPCA)
They included six budgies, three cockatiels, two parakeets and a parrot living in dirty cages with filthy water. Some of the birds had broken tail feathers.
Midnight has made a full recovery.
(Image: RSPCA)
In a bedroom were five vivariums housing a royal python, a corn snake, a hognose snake, a bearded dragon and a leopard gecko. Some sort of heat had been provided, but none of the reptiles had any lighting. Another upstairs room contained nine ferrets - two of whom were running loose - in dirty, barren cages with no enrichment or water.
A further room had three rabbit enclosures, where Inspector Wilson found Midnight, an emaciated nine-month-old black and white female. She was alive but her spine, shoulder blades, ribs and pelvic bones were described as “spiky” to the touch and there was no food, water or remnants of any hay in her small enclosure.
Nathan Race claimed the other two rabbits had died after having seizures.
Two dogs, a ten-month-old black female Cockapoo called Nova, and Oreo, a grey female Cavapoo of the same age, were also seen by the inspector.
A vet who took the animals into her care said the deceased dogs and rabbits had suffered unnecessarily because of a lack of food and water, and this had been ongoing for at least three days before their death.
She said: “Nine animals died in a fairly short space of time. No action was taken to minimise their suffering and to prevent their death. It is clear that the cause of death was neglect, with no water or food being available.
In an interview with the RSPCA Nathan Race said he’d owned most of the animals, apart from the ferrets, for between three and six months.
He said he saw nothing visibly wrong with his pets, although a couple were “underweight” but he couldn't remember which ones.
He stated he couldn't say when the first animal had died, but claimed he was still giving them food and water which they were refusing.
Jade Race said her husband told her that all the animals at Ford Terrace were “fine” as she was unable to look after them herself.
When asked by the RSPCA Inspector what they thought animals needed to be given by their owners, the couple replied “attention, food, water, love.”
Jade Race, of Coronation Terrace, was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. She must complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Nathan Race, of Poplar Terrace, West Cornforth, received a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. He was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
In mitigation, the court heard that Jade Race suffered from mobility issues and was unable to attend the first property, while Nathan Race was depressed and overwhelmed.
Oreo has been rehomed.
(Image: RSPCA)
Nova in her new home.
(Image: RSPCA)
Inspector Wilson welcomed the ban and said: "This was an extremely shocking and sad case to investigate and I am so relieved that the owners of these animals can never legally own another one again.
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"I would urge anyone thinking of taking on large numbers of animals to think carefully about the care requirements and long-term financial commitments that are required."
Nova, Oreo and Midnight went on to make a full recovery and were cared for by the RSPCA’s Great Ayton Animal Centre before being adopted.
The exotic pets were placed in specialist care, while the birds were taken to Lincolnshire Wildlife Park and Jax’s Ark in Lincolnshire.