A 61-year-old Stisted man shot his two dogs and then himself after receiving a letter from the bailiffs about unpaid debts, an inquest heard at Chelmsford.
The body of Robert Church, who lived by himself in a caravan at Greyhound Kennels, Lords Lane, was discovered in Moat Wood on May 20.
Mr Church died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds having killed his two pet dogs beside him, said coroner's officer, PC Derek Sewell.
PC Sewell said Mr Church had cut himself off from relatives for the past seven years and lived with his pet dogs in a caravan on land owned by Greyhound Kennels.
Mr Church had received a letter from bailiffs over unpaid debts and left a note saying he planned to take his own life.
Essex Coroner Dr Malcolm Weir said that in the light of the note he recorded a verdict that Mr Church took his own life.
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