Two dogs and two cats left in filthy home covered in rubbish and faeces

Two dogs and two cats left in filthy home covered in rubbish and faeces Nicola Stirk ignored repeated warnings about the squalid state of her property in Hutton Henry, County Durham, where a Doberman, a Borzoi and cats were living among faeces, urine and piles of rubbish Shocking pictures show the appalling conditions endured by two dogs and two cats inside the rubbish-filled home of a former GP. Nicola Stirk, 63, ignored repeated warnings about the deteriorating state of her property in Hutton Henry, County Durham, where a Doberman, a Borzoi and two cats were living amid piles of rubbish, faeces and urine. RSPCA officers returned to the property after fresh concerns were raised and were met with scenes described by one inspector as “dreadful”. Stirk appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, where she admitted failing to meet the animals’ needs and provide them with a suitable environment. She was this week banned from keeping cats and dogs for two years and given a 15-month community order. RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor visited the property on February 3 after the charity received a report about the animals’ living conditions. In a statement to the court, she described how the passageway was littered with faeces and rubbish, while the sofa had been chewed by the dogs until it was unusable. Almost every floor in the house was covered in rubbish, faeces and urine, with the kitchen and its surfaces also heavily soiled. The spare bedroom was unusable, with rubbish piled several feet high, while the bathroom was filthy. A litter tray was surrounded by a build-up of faeces, and the bath was black and brown with dirt. Inspector Proctor said: “The toilet, I suspect, did not flush. The smell was dreadful.” The court heard Stirk had previously been warned by the RSPCA when conditions first began to deteriorate. A follow-up visit showed some improvement, and Stirk told officers she was arranging for cleaners to attend. However, further concerns were later raised that the situation had worsened. The four animals were subsequently removed and signed over to the RSPCA. Cats Maddy and Charlie were cared for at the charity’s Coventry and District Branch animal centre before being successfully rehomed. Meanwhile, Doberman Mabel and Borzoi Anya were taken to the RSPCA’s Felledge Animal Centre near Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Staff helped both dogs recover, although Anya required months of rehabilitation after struggling to cope with everyday life following her ordeal. Luka Atkinson, deputy centre manager at Felledge, said Mabel was an easygoing dog who quickly settled into her new home after receiving some basic training. Anya, however, was more challenging and needed extensive support. He said: “She was very shut down when she arrived with us and had clearly struggled with the environment she’d been living in." Staff are now delighted with Anya’s progress, and she has a new home lined up with a male Borzoi she has already met several times. The pair get along well, and the RSPCA hopes Anya will continue to thrive in her new surroundings. Stirk was also ordered to pay £900 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge. In mitigation, the court heard she had been experiencing mental health issues and was seeking help.