Animals in a sanctuary were tragically “failed” by their owner, Tamara Lloyd, who kept them in appalling conditions, according to the RSPCA. Lloyd, the former owner of the Alternative Animal Sanctuary in New York, Lincolnshire, received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Lincoln Crown Court. She has also been banned from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay £65,000 in costs after an unsuccessful appeal against her original conviction.
The RSPCA stated that Lloyd “struggled time and time again to accept the pain and suffering” of the animals in her care. More than 70 cats, 14 pigs, as well as dogs, horses, and terrapins were among the creatures living in dire conditions under her ownership.
The neglect came to light after the RSPCA executed two separate warrants in May 2019 and January 2020 due to concerns about animal welfare at the sanctuary. In 2020, Lloyd was convicted of 17 animal welfare offenses following an investigation and prosecution by the charity. Although she was initially sentenced to a ten-year disqualification from owning animals, she chose to appeal the ruling.
The appeal verdict acknowledged that while Lloyd may have started with good intentions, she became overwhelmed by the influx of requests to take in animals and felt unable to refuse them.
RSPCA inspector Kate Burris stated, “Lloyd failed in her duty towards these animals. Instead of providing the safe and caring environment she promised by setting up a sanctuary, animals were kept in awful conditions, with some left to suffer as a result.”
PC Martin Green from Lincolnshire Police’s rural crime team added, “This was one of the worst cases of neglect involving animals I have seen in many years, primarily due to the sheer number of animals present with only one person responsible for their welfare.”