Torquay woman banned from keeping animals for ten years
26 year old Tanaya Jade Robins had dogs and cats in squalid conditions
Last updated 9th Apr 2025
A Torquay woman has been found guilty of an animal welfare offences - and banned from keeping pets for ten years.
The RSPCA investigated and prosecuted 26 year old Tanaya Jade Robins of Warren Hill, who appeared before Plymouth Magistrates Court.
Inspectors from the animal welfare charity were called to an address in Temperance Street in March last year, following reports of a dog having killed another in the property.
They found eight cats and five dogs were being kept in cages and in rooms filled with faeces - with no food for the animals.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Stephen Findlow, described the scene in his investigation statement:
“Before entering the door, there was a strong smell of ammonia, urine and faeces. I could hear loud distressed barking by multiple dogs. Robins entered the room first and put the Belgian Malinois into a cage. I entered the room where I was hit with the strong ammonia smell. I saw cats running into hiding spaces.
“In the room I saw piles of fresh faeces littered across the whole floor with some trodden into the carpet. In addition, I saw old faeces piled on the floor which consisted of fluffy looking mould. To the right of the door consisted of litter trays overflowing with faeces onto the floor, with old and fresh fecal matter covering the carpet.
“I saw a distressed cat attempting to hide on the scratch post, which appeared to be the only clean area in the property. There was a single bed which was cluttered around it with additional faces and household rubbish on the floor. The Belgian Malinois was distressed next to the bed in a crate.
“I was then led up another set of stairs where there were two Huskies barricaded in a large room. Both dogs were very distressed and barking. In the large room, there was faeces scattered on the floor. There was also another room where an XL Bully was locked in.”
Devon and Cornwall Police seized the animals and placed them into the care of the RSPCA.
Robins told the court she'd been struggling with mental health issues and that the dogs have been her support.
Alongside the ten year disqualification from owning animals, which cannot be appealed for seven years, she was ordered to pay £600.
RSPCA Beccy Wadey, who investigated the animal welfare offence for the charity, said:
“Animals are reliant on their owners to provide a safe and suitable living environment for them. They deserve to be shown respect and kindness and have their needs met. Sadly these animals were neglected without the care they needed or deserved.”