TANAYA JADE ROBINS BANNED FROM KEEPING ANIMALS AFTER HORRIFIC CONDITIONS IN TORQUAY FLAT

A woman from Torquay, identified as Tanaya Jade Robins, has been handed a decade-long ban from owning or caring for animals following a disturbing investigation into her neglectful treatment of her pets. Robins, aged 26 and residing on Warren Hill in Torquay, failed to appear in court to face charges related to her animal welfare offences, but her guilt was established in her absence during an earlier hearing.

The case came to light after the RSPCA received reports of severe neglect at her residence on Temperance Street, Torquay. On March 23 of the previous year, animal rescue officers responded to the address after a distressing incident involving a dog that had killed another within the property. Upon entering the premises, the rescuers encountered a scene of utter chaos and squalor that highlighted the extent of the neglect.

Rescue officers, including Animal Rescue Officer Stephen Findlow, described the conditions as appalling. He recounted that prior to entering the property, there was a strong, pungent smell of ammonia, urine, and faeces permeating the air. The sound of loud, distressed barking from multiple dogs was audible from outside. Robins was the first to enter the room, where she placed a Belgian Malinois into a cage. As the officers moved further inside, they were met with a scene of filth and suffering.

Inside, the floor was covered with piles of fresh faeces, some of which had been trodden into the carpet, alongside old, mouldy faecal matter. The litter trays were overflowing, with faeces spilling onto the floor, creating a hazardous and unhygienic environment. Cats were seen attempting to hide in various corners, with one distressed feline trying to find refuge on a scratch post, which appeared to be the only relatively clean spot in the entire property. The living space was cluttered with household rubbish, and a single bed was surrounded by debris, further emphasizing the neglect.

In a separate room, a large crate housed a distressed Belgian Malinois, visibly upset. The officers then proceeded upstairs, where they found two Huskies confined in a large room. Both dogs were barking loudly and appeared highly distressed, with faeces scattered across the floor. Another room contained an extra-large Bully breed dog, also locked in and suffering from the same neglectful conditions.

Following the rescue, the police seized a total of five dogs and eight cats from the property. The animals were taken into the care of the RSPCA, where they received necessary medical attention and were placed in suitable environments. The investigation confirmed that Robins had failed to meet the basic welfare needs of her animals, including providing a proper living environment, access to clean water, the ability to exhibit normal behaviour, protection from pain and suffering, and appropriate housing arrangements.

At Plymouth Magistrates Court, Robins was sentenced to a ten-year ban on owning animals, a disqualification she cannot appeal for seven years. Additionally, she was ordered to pay a fine of £600. The court's decision was based on her conviction for an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, specifically for neglecting her responsibilities between February 8 and March 23, 2024, in the vicinity of Temperance Street, Torquay, Devon. The offence involved her failure to ensure the animals' needs were adequately met, including their need for a suitable environment, access to clean water, the ability to exhibit natural behaviours, and protection from pain and suffering.

This case underscores the importance of animal welfare laws and the ongoing efforts of authorities like the RSPCA to protect vulnerable animals from neglect and abuse, especially in cases where owners fail to provide even the most basic standards of care.