A COUPLE have been banned from keeping animals for life after a “feral pack” of 16 dogs were found at their house.

Peter Rushworth Higgins, aged 53, and Ann Warren, aged 38, of Chester Road, Tyldesley, were also given suspended prison sentences at Wigan Magistrates Court after admitting four offences relating to the dogs.

The RSPCA was called to their home on June 26 last year by a concerned neighbour.

While waiting for police, RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald heard a dog being attacked by other dogs in the house. When police arrived and let her in she realised the dog had been fatally injured.

She said: “The dog that was attacked was a female who was in season and should never have been in the vicinity of the unneutered males. The animals inside were essentially living as a feral pack, and many had severe behavioural issues as a result.”

The pair admitted a range of offences and were each sentenced to 12 weeks’ jail suspended for 12 months, a 12-week curfew order between 7pm and 7am, a lifetime ban on keeping any animals and ordered to pay £500 costs each.

The dogs have been in RSPCA care since June, all but one are now expected to be able to be rehomed.