A PENSIONER is desperately fighting the council’s decision to remove her dogs despite decades of responsible pet ownership.

Sheila Herbert, 70, from Highams Park, has lived in council housing for more than 35 years and has never had a problem keeping pets in her home, until now.

Mrs Herbert moved into her home in Oak Hill Court 16 years ago with four dogs and has since kept multiple rescue animals.

In her home now, she has a Chihuahua called Freddy, two Bichons Florence and Pippa and a Miniature Poodle named Fred.

Council officers have visited Mrs Herbert’s home on various occasions commenting on how pleasant her dogs are.

Despite years of responsibly looking after pets, Mrs Herbert awoke to a letter on Wednesday (August 23) saying she had 49 days to get rid of three dogs.

Mrs Herbert said: “I just can’t believe it, my stomach is turning upside down.

“I’ve been sitting here crying all day.”

Mrs Herbert regularly takes her four dogs to visit her aunt in Peartree House care home, in Gordon Road, Chingford, where all the residents “delight in seeing them”.

She said: “They love them there, and they are writing to the council to support my cause.”

Since retiring from working in the NHS, Mrs Herbert spends her days caring for her beloved pets.

She added: ““They are my life, I rescued them myself.

“I am a 70-year-old woman, I don’t do anything but walk my dogs, why would they take them from me after all these years?

“They are the nicest dogs and have never hurt nobody.”

Mrs Herbert believes there is nothing in her contract which says she can’t have more than one dog in her home and has begun her fight against the decision.

She said: “I’ve started a petition and everyone has just said how ridiculous it is.

“Two of the dogs are 13-years-old, they have never caused a problem with the other residents here.”

Before moving to Highams Park, Mrs Herbert lived in the now demolished John Drinkwater Tower in Leytonstone for 20 years, where she kept numerous animals without complaint.

Cllr Sheree Rackham, of Highams Park ward, said it was a disgrace to try and take her animals away.

She added: “The council is here to protect lovely women like Sheila, not deprive them of what they hold dearest.

“Two of these dogs can’t bark because they have no teeth, who are they going to hurt?

“I appreciate the council has to follow procedure but this is more than that.

“It is someone’s life.”

A council spokesperson said: “The council’s policy for this type of accommodation is that tenants should only have one dog with permission, however we are sympathetic with Mrs Herbert’s individual case.

"We are currently investigating an incident that has been reported to us, which will have to be concluded before we make a final decision.

"However we can confirm that no further action will be taken regarding Mrs Herbert’s dogs until this investigation has been concluded.”