A MOTHER and son who turned their house into a zoo have been banned from keeping animals for life.
Pauline Fearon, 45, and son Gareth Henderson, 22, admitted causing suffering or neglect to some of the 62 animals found in their home in Little Hulton.
Two dogs, called Woody and Tufty, were starved and had such chronic skin conditions they were later put down.
A dead lizard was also discovered at their three-bed terraced home on Spa Crescent although disabled Fearon and Henderson, who has learning difficulties, weren't aware of the death until told by RSPCA officers.
Exotic pets including snakes were kept in cramped conditions with no food or water and without the correct light for the animals to thrive.
RSPCA officials first visited the home on September 21 last year and discovered three emaciated dogs - two of them had to be put down. Vets concluded the dogs had been on a `starvation diet for months'.
Officials carried out a follow-up visit 10 days later and found Fearon, who lived at home with her son and three others, had obtained a huge array of reptiles. Among the pets they discovered were two rabbits in a dirty hutch, canaries with no water and 12 finches in a crowded cage.
Suffering
All the animals were seized and the pair were charged with one count of causing unnecessary suffering to three dogs and six further counts of failing to look after their pets properly.
On a third visit after being charged, officials found 13 cats.
The pair were convicted on all charges in their absence in September.
The couple turned up at Salford magistrates yesterday and were told they would be banned from keeping animals for life.
Henderson was also handed a 12-month community order, placed on a curfew for three months and told to carry out 80 hours of pay back work in the community. Fearon was handed a 12-month community order.
Both defendants, who claim benefits, were ordered to pay a £400 `contribution' towards the £15,728 prosecution costs .
Afterwards, RSPCA inspector Melissa Furey said: "What they did was inexcusable."
Duo's neglect of animals 'inexcusable'
November 13, 2009
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Pauline Fearon, 45, and son Gareth Henderson, 22, admitted causing suffering or neglect to some of the 62 animals.
Showing comments 1 to 4 and replies | View All
alison clarke (13/11/2009 at 16:23)
garfield (13/11/2009 at 18:09)
Moschops of Manchester (14/11/2009 at 01:41)
And a £400 contribution? OUR contribution.
And if he is on carer's allowance, then it should be withdrawn, because it's obvious he isn't capable of caring for anything
someone somewhere, lancashire (30/11/2009 at 22:07)
I am glad that they have been banned for life but on the other hand i wish that they had locked both of them up and thrown away the key as they dont really deserve to do things like community service etc...Not after what they did to those poor animals.I mean the quote "i am glad i have been banned from animals" makes me sick.She shouldnt even say things like that does she not realise what she has done or is it a complete joke to her......I really do hope that walk around hanging thier heads in shame for the rest of thier lives........Would they show any remorse for what they have both done to these loving animals................I think Not!