ANIMAL health officers found a badly underfed dog tied to a bed and covered in his own filth in a York couple's home, the city magistrates heard.

Mike Hessay, of City of York Council, said the dog was one of four suffering from fleas, wet or covered in dog dirt under the care of David Mason, 46, and his wife Dorothy, 53.

All four were so malnourished they put on up to 20 per cent extra weight each within days of being rescued by animal health officers.

Both Masons, of Foston Grove, off Malton Road, York, pleaded guilty to four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to Spaniel and Collie-type dogs.

The couple's solicitor, Gary Atkinson, said they have numerous other pets including puppies, a gun dog in excellent condition, birds and fish.

But they had been unable to give the four dogs the amount of food they needed because they live on benefits.

Magistrates ordered them to pay the full prosecution costs of £624.36 and conditionally discharged each of them for two years. But they decided against banning them from owning animals.

Mr Hessay said Dorothy Mason refused to let animal health officers into the couple's flat until they returned with a police officer.

None of the dogs had any food available, although there were feeding bowls.

Mr Atkinson said the couple could not work because she suffers from arthritis, angina and depression and he needs tranquillisers for a nervous condition.

They had both kept pets all their adult lives and had married three years ago.

They had not been deliberately cruel, but, he said, had had limited means with which to look after the dogs.

However, they now accepted they could not maintain such a large number of animals.