Jail for suburban zoo keeper

A man who kept more than 1,000 exotic creatures in a semi-detached house has been jailed. John Ord Clark's home was described as a 'zoo' after animal welfare officers found tanks stacked from floor to ceiling in the upstairs of the three-bedroom property.

Each bedroom housed hundreds of exotic species - from lizards to frogs - while parrots were kept in the living room. A dog and her three puppies were living in the back yard, while a large outhouse was home to a variety of animals including four boa constrictors.



The house on Dowry Street, Fitton Hill, Oldham, was searched on July 21 last year and Clark, 42, was charged with three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and six counts of failing to meet the needs of an animal to the extent of good practice.

RSPCA inspector Catherine Burns told Oldham magistrates: "It was impossible to count all the animals but I would estimate there were more than 1,000. "The dogs were living in appalling conditions."



On July 30, inspectors carried out a follow-up visit and Clark was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to seven geckos and three counts that he failed to meet the needs of a water dragon, three bearded dragons and eight cross-breed dogs.

Clark denied the charges. Magistrates found him guilty of all 14 charges. Clark was sentenced to three months in prison and banned from keeping any animals for five years.

There are more photos here.