Owner of Alternative Animal Sanctuary near Boston given £65,000 fine and lifetime ban from keeping animals for serious neglect

A court hearing has resulted in an animal sanctuary owner being banned from keeping animals for life and fined thousands of pounds for neglect.

Tamara Lloyd who ran the Alternative Animal Sanctuary in New York, near Boston, has been handed a lifelong ban from having animals as well as a £65,000 fine after losing a court appeal.

The former rescue centre owner was first convicted in 2020 after it was found that more than 70 cats, 14 pigs, dogs, horses and terrapins were being kept by her in “appalling conditions” from February 2019.

At the time, an inspection, investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA found her guilty of 17 animal welfare offences and sentenced to a 10-year disqualification.

Lloyd later appealed some of the convictions - which were upheld. She was given a lifetime ban from owning animals and a suspended sentence of eight months in custody for two years at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, September 27.

The court then slapped her with the £65,000 fine when she returned for a costs hearing last week on Friday, October 11.

The level of neglect by Lloyd included failure to explore chronic dental diseases, letting wounds go untreated and become infected, not dealing with external parasites, not seeking advice on ear infections, and failing to keep good conditions for the animals by not giving them a suitable diet and access fresh drinking water.

After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Kate Burris, who investigated for the charity, said: “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.

“It’s been a long road to recovery for many animals who were rescued but thanks to the care and expertise shown to them they are now thriving.

A deprivation order has been put in place for all the animals that were in Lloyd’s care including, nine cats, seven horses, one dog, four bullocks and a cow which are all now in safe hands.

“Animals are completely reliant on their carers to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy,” Kate added.

“Ensuring appropriate veterinary care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards them. It’s sad that animals were deprived of the chance to live happy and healthy lives.”

During the appeal decision, it was noted that Lloyd may have started keeping animals with the “best of intentions” but became “overwhelmed” with requests and struggled to say no.

It was also said that each animal carried with it a specific duty of care and what she provided for those in the charges was not sufficient for their needs.

Through the appeal verdict, the court heard: ”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.

“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.”

PC Martin Green, part of the Rural Crime Action Team for Lincolnshire Police, said: “This was one of the worst cases of neglect involving animals I have seen in many years, mainly due to the number of animals that were present, with only one person responsible for their welfare.

He thanked those who attended after the first warrant as well as the RSPCA investigators who pursued the case.