A DOG owner who was arrested after his pet dogs killed one of their pack has been told he will face no criminal proceedings.

Robert Robery, 70, of Winchester Road, Worthing, has also had his nine surviving dogs returned to him following warnings and advice from the RSPCA.

He was arrested on suspicion of failing to prevent suffering to one of his animals after the fatal fight at his property on July 11.

One adult dog was killed and two puppies wounded in the fight between the ten dogs he kept at the property: English bull terrier Bruce, who was killed, Staffs, a French mastiff and Staff puppies.

Authorities confirmed it was not an organised dog fight and Mr Robery stressed the dogs were not normally violent.

Following his arrest Mr Robery told The Argus how he was desperate to get his beloved pets back and had received death threats on social media over the incident.

He said: “These dogs are my life. I don’t want them taken away. Everything I have got I give to them. I have to put them first – everything else takes second place. They come first.

“They are the first up in the morning – they wake me up."

An RSPCA spokesman said: “We can confirm that nine dogs removed from their owner at an address in Worthing have now been returned.

"The RSPCA has worked with the owner and offered advice on how to improve the environment they are kept in. As a result the conditions the dogs’ welfare has vastly improved.

“We continue to work with the owner to provide advice about the dogs’ care, and will regularly return to monitor and check on their welfare."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "A 70-year-old man from Worthing, who was arrested on suspicion of being a responsible person failing to prevent the causing of unnecessary suffering to an animal, has been stood down from bail and advised there will be no further action against him.

"This comes after the RSPCA advised Sussex Police that the matter had been resolved by way of warning notices."