Last updated at 4:52 AM on 20th November 2010
These horrifying pictures show an animal house of horror in which five pets were left to die by their owner in appalling squalor.
Former pub landlady Lorraine Peake, 48, left the animals to fend for themselves at home whilst she went into rehab for three months to get counselling for her heavy drinking.
Within weeks her cross-breed Doberman and four short-haired black and white cats starved to death in her filthy terraced house in Bolton,Greater Manchester.
Appalling squalor: A woman left five pets to fend for themselves for three months in a filthy home while she attended rehab
The dog was found draped across a chair in the kitchen, and the cats found at various rooms around the house.
Examinations revealed the distressed pets had desperately gnawed at tins of food and then began to eat each other as they battled for survival.
Today Peake admitted a charge of failing to exercise responsible care of animals and was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 250 hours work and will have to pay £250 costs. She was also banned from owning animals for life, but will be able to reapply for the right in ten years time.
Bolton magistrates were told Peake's brother contacted police on June 6 after visiting the house and finding the dead doberman and four black and white cats inside.
Mr Tony Stock, prosecuting, said: 'Oiffcers were met with a smell that was overwhelming throughout the property. The dog was found in the kitchen, lying across a chair, with its ribs showing through the fur.
'The cats were found in varying states of decomposition. There was an animal carcass the living room and two more carcasses in the back of the bedroom.
'The RSPCA inspector later formed the opinion that the animals were left to their own devices for a long time. There was no food or water in the house and all the windows were shut.'
Careless: Former landlady Lorraine Peake had a drinking problem. She pleaded guilty to Failing to excessive responsible care of animals
Mr Stock added: 'The defendant was the owner of the animals and was responsible for their deaths. She left the property without making any satisfactory arrangements for her pets.
'Based on these facts it was clear that the animals had been left for a considerable length of time. The inspector found chewing damage to cans of food.
'The dog had been dead for at least ten days and some of the cats had been dead for some weeks. It was clear that the first to die had been eaten by the others. All five were caused unnecessary suffering.
'The period of suffering was at the very least two weeks, possibly longer. A later post-mortem examination that was carried out estimated the period of suffering to be between 16 and 19 days.'
Peake said she had paid a man called Andy £50 to look after the animals, but did not have a phone number or address for him.
In mitigation defence lawyer Stephen Teasdale said: 'She tried to make arrangements, but they were inadequate. The matter came to light because her brother was concerned for the pets as she was away in rehab and he was not sure who was looking after them.
'Ms Peake said she had paid a man £50 for food but she should have checked up. She didn't check up because of all the particular problems she was experiencing at the time.
'She is a hard-working person who was married. She was doing reasonably well until she split with her husband. She is a very motivated person and she has already sought a great deal of assistance. She has made mistakes but she has done as much as she can.'
Passing sentence chairman of the bench Caroline Jebbs told Peake: 'We know you will have to live with the enormous consequences of what you have done.'
But after the case, RSPCA Inspector Jason Bowles said, 'Her animals paid the ultimate price due to her problems with alcohol. The alcohol came first.
'This is the most extreme case of this type that I have been involved with. It does not get any worse than when animals have to eat each other in desperation to try and survive, and then die of dehydration and starvation.
'I will never forget that scene because it was so distressing. No excuse is good enough. Evidence of these animals' suffering over a prolonged period was littered inside the house.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1331337/Landlady-avoids-jail-despite-leaving-pets-die-appalling-squalor.html#ixzz15nw1k9Mi
