ANIMAL HOUSE

Police ordered a couple to get rid of dozens of birds, fish, dogs and cats that were crammed into their Montreal apartment as part of a makeshift animal shelter.

The couple in the Montreal suburb of Longueuil got rid of 36 reptiles including four birds, after police warnings.

Citizens filed complaints after QMI Agency reported that 147 dogs, cats, fish, birds and other reptiles were crammed into the unit.

Melanie Desfosses and Ian Paquette were allowed to keep three cats, two dogs and a fish.

Longueuil bylaws set a maximum of five pets per house.

The couple are pet-store employees who say they were trying to save sick and abandoned animals.