Flea-ridden and filthy: Ban for men who kept pets in disgusting conditions at Hull homes

THESE are the squalid conditions two men left their pets in.

RSPCA inspectors described the flea-infested homes as among the worst they had seen.

Shaun Parkin, 53, has been banned from keeping animals for life after neglecting his six dogs, a cat, a parrot and a cockatoo.

Michael Clifford Harness, 43, has a five-year ban for neglecting his two dogs and a ferret.

Images released by the charity show the shocking extent of the conditions inside both properties in Hull.

Inside their homes, inspectors found:

Flea-infestations in almost every room.

A Staffordshire bull terrier called Roxy who had chewed through her own tail, leaving the bone exposed.

Carpets caked in blood and urine.

Floors covered in dirty, shredded newspapers.

Bottles of urine on a bedroom floor.

Parkin and Harness have both been given suspended prison sentences after they were prosecuted by the RSPCA.

Inspectors visited Parkin's house in Kerdane, Orchard Park, in September, when they found dogs locked in rooms with no access to food or water, an emaciated cat and two birds.

RSPCA inspector Hannah Bryer said: "Inside, the house was absolutely filthy. There was a stench of urine and there was clutter everywhere.

"The living environment was completely unsuitable for the animals. It was dirty, with little ventilation and it was absolutely infested with fleas.

"It smelt of urine, and there was excrement all over the floor."

Two of the dogs, Yorkshire terriers Toby and Trixie, had severe skin conditions with much of their fur missing.

Roxy, the Staffordshire bull terrier, had to have her tail amputated because she had chewed through it.

A black Labrador called Sheba and another Staffordshire bull terrier with no name were found locked in the kitchen with no food or water. The terrier had an eye infection caused by the stench of urine.

Two birds, an African grey parrot called Oscar and a lemon-crested cockatoo called Henry, were found in a dirty cage in the living room with no water.

Upstairs, a terrier called Tommy was found locked in a bedroom with no food or water.

Presiding magistrate John Dealtry described it as an "appalling account of prolonged neglect of a number of animals".

All of the animals have now recovered and have been rehomed.

Miss Bryer said: "All of the dogs needed extensive treatment, including Roxy having to have her tail amputated. The cat has now put on weight.

"This house was completely unsuitable for animals and there were more serious matters. Roxy had clearly chewed through her tail and she should have been taken to the vets."

Inspectors also visited Harness' home in White Street, west Hull, in October, where they found a cross-breed Bella, terrier cross-breed Chico and a ferret called Snoops.

The dogs had been allowed to chew through chairs in the living room, exposing the metal springs.

Carpets throughout the house were soaked in urine and excrement and live fleas were seen.

Miss Bryer said: "The living conditions were wholly unsuitable. There was no bedding material for the dogs. The floor was damp, there was a strong smell of ammonia and excrement littered the floor. The dogs had no food or water."

Parkin admitted three charges of failing to provide a suitable environment for the animals, three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to ensure their needs were met.

Harness pleaded guilty to failing to provide a suitable environment, failing to provide a suitable diet and failing to protect the animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Both men were given 12-week prison sentences, suspended for 12 months.