Woman let 95 neglected animals live in squalor

A woman who mistreated cats, guinea pigs and chinchillas that were found living in squalor has been banned from owning all animals, except dogs, for 10 years.

Michelle Ashford, 52, was visited by RSPCA investigators at her Thurlow Court home, in Stowmarket, Suffolk, in October after neighbours raised concerns.

They found injured cats with flies around their enclosure, caged chinchillas inside a cupboard and guinea pigs in crates.

Ashford, now of the Dengie peninsula in Essex, admitted three offences of failing to meet her animals' welfare needs. She was also sentenced to 18 weeks in jail, suspended for a year, was fined £769, and must complete 15 days of rehabilitation activity.

Appearing at Ipswich Magistrates' Court earlier this month, Ashford, who lives in The Marshes in Southminster and still owns three dogs, was also ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

The RSPCA said Ashford had failed to meet the basic needs of the animals removed from her care and failed to seek veterinary treatment, leaving them in unnecessary pain.

Ashford had 73 guinea pigs, 17 cats — including 16 Maine coons and one sphynx — and five chinchillas at her home.

RSPCA inspector Shahnaz Ahmad described the cats' small accommodation as having "multiple flies around" it and "a strong smell of ammonia".

Many of the cats were unneutered, desperate for attention and had signs of cat flu, while others had small wounds from fighting or discharge in their eyes.

The animal protection organisation said the vet who attended the scene had called it one of the worst environments, if not possibly the worst, that they had seen cats being housed in.

The guinea pigs were either living in tiny garden tubs inside a metal shed with insufficient water, in stacked crates, or free-roaming in a different shed.

"There was one very small juvenile guinea pig, likely not more than a few days old, that appeared to be getting trampled on by the bigger guinea pigs," said Ahmad.

The chinchillas, who appeared hunched over, lethargic and depressed, were kept in unsecured cages inside a cupboard in the house.

As a result of Ashford's neglect, three guinea pigs had to be euthanised, while those who survived were treated for lice. Another two had to have an eye removed.

Many of the cats had untreated eye conditions, low body condition scores and the vet estimated they had possibly been suffering for years.

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