Former owner of Lincolnshire sanctuary gets life ban, fined £65k after animals left in 'deplorable' conditions
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Tamara Lloyd, the former owner of the Alternative Animal Sanctuary in Lincolnshire, received the ban after losing her appeal against animal welfare convictions. Lloyd, who was convicted in 2020 of 17 animal welfare offences, had her appeal rejected at Lincoln Crown Court, where her sentence was increased.
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Hide AdShe was sentenced to eight months in custody, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £65,000 in costs. The court's decision followed an investigation by the RSPCA that uncovered more than 70 cats, 14 pigs, dogs, horses, and terrapins living in deplorable conditions under Lloyd's care.
In the appeal verdict outcome from the court, it said: “We found that Ms Lloyd prioritised her beliefs about animals’ psychological difficulties above their concrete and obvious physical ailments. It was striking that she struggled time and time again to accept the pain and suffering of animals in her care.
Adding: “In contrast to what would be expected of a reasonable animal shelter, she kept next to no records of the animals and any medical treatment they received, so much of what she says is a matter of assertion. We note that she says that she carried the information in her head, but also asserts that she is no good on dates and times, which would make it even less appropriate to keep no paper records. Her evidence was wholly unreliable and lacked credibility.”
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Hide AdOne shocking example from the case involves the failure to seek veterinary care for a large white castrated boar suffering from an ingrown tusk between February and May 2019. This condition would have caused significant pain and suffering, yet no professional treatment was sought, despite the fact that it was a clear and obvious welfare issue.
The appeal judge concluded that while Lloyd may have started with good intentions, she became overwhelmed by the number of animals she took in, leading to prolonged neglect.
RSPCA Inspector Kate Burris commented after the hearing, saying, "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."
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Hide AdThe court's decision also resulted in a deprivation order for animals still in Lloyd’s care, allowing the RSPCA to rehome nine cats, a horse, and other animals. World Horse Welfare Field Officer Sarah Tucker, who assisted in the rescue efforts, described the relief of seeing the last animals removed from the sanctuary’s dire conditions.
Lincolnshire Police’s PC Martin Green called it "one of the worst cases of neglect involving animals" he had seen in many years, acknowledging the significant effort by the RSPCA to bring justice in this case.