40 dead animals found in stable horror

RSPCA inspectors were today investigating the discovery of nearly 40 dead animals in a stable.

RSPCA inspectors were today investigating the discovery of nearly 40 dead animals in a stable.

They found the remains of at least 19 horses, 11 chickens, three dogs and a rabbit in the stables in Trimdon, County Durham. The figure is expected to rise.

Three dogs - a rottweiler and two border collies - were found alive. It is believed they survived by feeding off other animals or tearing open bags of dog food left there.

The RSPCA said the death toll was likely to rise as investigators continued their work to piece together exactly what happened at Bank Top Stables.

The animal welfare charity was alerted on Bank Holiday Sunday after a member of the public saw a dog wandering and became concerned for its welfare - but had not seen inside the stable.

Inspector Mark Gent, who found the harrowing scene, told BBC Radio Newcastle: "When I got there, I smelt a terrible smell and knew there was something wrong and phoned the local police who attended and we broke in and found quite a shocking sight.

"I have smelt it before, sadly, but you know that smell and I knew instinctively there was something wrong.

"I have never seen anything on this scale before."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said the society was still trying to locate the owner of the stables, who has not been seen for some time.

She told the Press Association: "We found between 36 to 38 dead animals but that is a conservative estimate.

"We cannot really say exactly how many animals will be there until we have finished our investigations."

She said that RSPCA inspectors had acted with great professionalism despite the harrowing discovery at the stables.

"It is very upsetting and incredibly distressing for all the officers involved. It is one of those incidents that you have to get your head down and get on with it."

Tests are being carried out on the animals' remains to establish how long they had been there and the cause of death.