A couple have been sentenced for leaving dogs in a house “littered with faeces” and hazardous rubbish.

Anthony Collingwood, 26 and Chantelle Lyly Fitzpatrick, 29, both previously of Coal Clough Lane, Burnley, and now of Egerton Court, Barrow appeared at Barrow-in-Furness Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty at a previous hearing.

The pair faced charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, called Patch, by failing to address his ear infection and poor bodily condition, as well as failing to meet the needs of three other dogs.

In August 2022, the RSPCA officers visited their property in Burnley on multiple occasions following reports of dogs living in poor conditions and being left unattended.

Animal Rescue Officer Kelly Nix said in her witness statement: “The conditions inside looked dirty, and the small tan dog appeared very distressed.

"I fed the dogs through the letterbox, and the small terrier was biting through the letterbox.

“I could see all his ribs, spine and hips, his skull looked sunken, he was covered in scars around his face, some of which appeared fresh, and I saw live fleas.”

A female lurcher - Luna - was in normal condition but had lost fur around her back end and had fleas, while a small terrier was ‘very nervous’ and was also crawling with fleas. 

Neighbours told the rescuers the terrier, Star, had never been seen outside of the house or even in the garden.

Officers had to use food on Luna to entice her out of the house as she was very frightened. 

Kelly added: “She became so stressed in the environment that she tried to bite at Inspector Taylor numerous times, and also bit [Patch].

"It was difficult to get hold of the dogs because of the amount of rubbish underfoot.

“On entering the property I was hit with the smell of urine and faeces. I could not see the floor as it was covered in rubbish.

 “As I walked through the kitchen I could hear what sounded like lightbulbs shattering under my foot, when I looked there was broken glass.

"There were empty chewed cans of food and chewed cartons throughout the house.

 “The house was littered with faeces. There were no signs of any food and water bowls anywhere, and I could not see any food inside the property.

“There were tablets on the floors and tables, there was an open electricity box by the front door that had wiring hanging out, these could easily have been reached by the dogs.”

Seals which had been placed on the doors to test whether they had been abandoned remained intact, meaning no one had been to check on the dog's welfare.

On August 22, RSPCA inspector Lyndsey Taylor went back to the property and was concerned to see one of the dogs appeared “very weak, lethargic and reluctant to get up but his tail was wagging”.

All three dogs were taken to RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital to be checked by vets and Patch was put on a drip and treated for fleas, wounds and an ear infection.  

The owner contacted the RSPCA asking for the dogs back. Fitzpatrick said she’d moved to a new property two or three weeks earlier and was preparing to move the dogs there. 

 In court, the couple said they had been forced out of their house by drug dealers.

Fitzpatrick said she regretted her behaviour and cared for her animals, and the court heard how she’d had some health problems. 

They were both given a 12-month community order with 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days to complete, as well as being fined £120 each and ordered to pay victim surcharges of £134 each.

All three dogs have been rehabilitated and rehomed and are doing well.