CONVICTED (2024) | animal hoarders Linda Robinson, born 13 March 1958, her niece Joanna-Beth Robinson, born 1 October 1996, and nephew Dean Robinson, born 22 December 1993, all of 50 Adlington Road, Parsons Cross, Sheffield S5 8BS – kept 22 neglected pets inside their squalid home.
All three members of the extended Robinson family pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of 18 animals as well as causing unnecessary suffering to five dogs and one cat.
The family were already known to the RSPCA. They had been given advice on caring for their animals the previous year and issued with a warning notice. Matters did not improve, however, and in September 2023, 22 animals were removed by police including 13 dogs, five cats, two rats, a snake and a hamster.
Their neglected pets included a Labrador called Prince who was discovered chained to a broken sofa. He was suffering from dermatitis and significant fur loss around the neck from the choke chain he was wearing, as well as a shock collar.
A chihuahua called Jem had dental disease, an eye ulceration, osteoarthritis and a severe heart murmur. Very sadly, he had to be put to sleep to end his suffering.
A small terrier dog named Gizmo was seen coughing when the officers visited the property and later had to be put to sleep due to his severe breathing issues.
A white hamster called Timmy was also euthanised due to his poor health.
Other animals found to have suffered in the family’s care were a black and white cat called Spot with severe skin disease, a Yorkshire terrier called Teddy with dental disease, a shih tzu called Finn with ear and dental disease, and a male shih tzu-type dog called Groot with chronic dermatitis. According to a vet report Groot had been left to suffer for at least eight weeks without veterinary treatment.
The surviving animals were signed over and rehomed by the RSPCA.
RSPCA Inspector Jack Taylor, who investigated for the animal charity, said: “This was a very sad case involving a large number of animals who were being kept in wholly unsuitable, filthy conditions.
“I saw a Labrador called Prince who was chained to a broken sofa, cats kept in cages full of faeces, and many of the animals had overgrown claws, were caked in dirt and faeces from walking around the squalid house and many had dental issues.
“All the animals I saw had a large flea infestation and many had fur loss from scratching at their fur.”
Speaking of conditions inside the property, Inspector Taylor said: “There was a strong smell of faeces and urine coming from inside the house.
“The living room was in a worse condition than before and the air was difficult to breathe in from the smell of ammonia.
“There were dogs running, barking, yapping and jumping around, and fighting with one another.
“My colleague Inspector Booth looked underneath a dirty sheet over the sofa and saw two crates full of faeces with heavily soiled towels and a dirty plastic dish.
“The cages were not big enough to house a cat in for any length of time.
“The cats were not in there currently but Linda Robinson said the cats were put in the cages overnight to protect them from the dogs.
“The whole of the downstairs property was squalid and horrendous. Every surface was covered in urine and faeces.
“The floor was so thickly covered it had created what looked like some kind of brown floor covering but it was in fact trodden down faeces.
“There was an overpowering smell of ammonia that stung my eyes and made it difficult to be inside the property for any length of time as it was very unpleasant to breathe inside the house.”
In mitigation, the court heard that the Robinsons had entered an early guilty plea.
The court also heard that the family had been affected by financial difficulties at the time of offending. Dean and Joanna’s mother had passed away leaving the family with thousands to pay in funeral bills and Linda Robinson had a deteriorating health condition but there were no benefits paid to reflect this condition.
Only Joanna was working and had an income which wasn’t enough to support the family and the pets so hard choices were made in relation to veterinary care. The court heard that the animals were part of the family unit so they were reluctant to explore other options.
The court also heard that Joanna now struggles to sleep because of her sense of guilt and Dean is a full time carer for Linda who has a serious health issue which includes loss of sight.
In sentencing remarks, the Lay Justices said: “These were horrendous conditions where animals really did suffer in our view.”
Sentencing |
Linda Robinson: 20 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years; 10 days of rehabilitation.
Dean and Joanna Robinson: 20 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years; 10 days of rehabilitation; 100 hours of unpaid work.
All are disqualified from keeping animals indefinitely but can appeal after five years.
Hard choices ? Yeah, not keeping them suffering because you love them would have shown you cared about them. What a horrible bunch.