Cruel owner, 52, who crammed 95 animals in ‘stinking’ shed in ‘worst ever’ conditions slapped with 10-year ban

A WOMAN has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after leaving cats, guinea pigs and chinchillas in horror conditions at her home. Michelle Ashford, 52, crammed the animals into a “stinking” shed in Stowmarket, Suffolk, filled with flies and a “strong smell of ammonia”. Michelle Ashford, 52, crammed the animals into a ‘stinking’ shed in Stowmarket, Suffolk, filled with flies Credit: RSPCA Many were ill with heavy discharge around their eyes Credit: RSPCA The cats had suffered wounds from fighting, with many ill and gruesome pictures showing one with heavy discharge around its eyes. Officers from the RSPCA were appalled to discover over 95 animals – including 73 guinea pigs, 17 cats and five chinchillas – living in squalor in October. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! A vet described the disgusting shed as “one of the worst environments, if not possibly the worst, that I have seen”. They added: “The cats were desperate for attention, vying for affection at the front of the pen wanting to be stroked. “It was so sad to see them being kept in such an unsuitable fashion.” Ghastly pictures show dozens of guinea pigs trapped in filthy garden tubs inside a shed. Guinea pigs were trapped in filthy cages Credit: RSPCA The poor pets were crammed into crates Credit: RSPCA Another 30 were found free roaming in a different shed by the rescuers with the rest of the poor pets crammed into crates stacked on top of each other. RSPCA Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad said that one baby “likely not more than a few days old, appeared to be getting trampled on by the bigger guinea pigs” in one of the dreadful cages. Most read in The Sun Three of the most sickly guinea pigs had to sadly be euthanised, while two of the survivors each had an eye removed by vets. Ashford even squished pet chinchillas into tiny cages inside a derelict cupboard in her house. The exotic animals were found “hunched over, lethargic and depressed while in their cages” by the horrified Ahmad. She lamented that “the bottom cage was not secure, and the two males escaped into the room after the cupboard door was open. “I expressed to Ashford that the chinchillas would have no natural light while shut in the cupboard but she did not respond to this”, said Ahmad. The vet believes that these animals suffered for years under the care of Ashford and that all their misery was avoidable. The chinchillas were squished into a cupboard Credit: RSPCA Many of the cats were found with eye infections Credit: RSPCA They said: “In my opinion all of the suffering experienced by all of the animals is avoidable with correct housing, nutrition and stimulation. “It is my opinion that the owner has failed to meet the basic needs of every animal removed from her care. “She has also neglected to seek veterinary treatment for the animals that required treatment, causing animals to be in pain unnecessarily, leading to their suffering. “All of this was avoidable. The owner is also doing nothing to prevent the situation continuing to escalate by housing entire male and female animals of the same species together allowing further breeding.” Ashford, now of the Dengie peninsula in Essex, pleaded guilty to failing to meet her animals’ welfare needs on July 8. This included not providing them with a suitable living environment and failing to prevent their pain and suffering. She received 18 weeks in custody and a further 12 months suspension as well as 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. Appearing at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, Ashford was ordered to pay over £1,200 in fines, including costs and a victim surcharge. Ashford claimed that she is not a bad person and regrets her actions. She said that she now no longer has any animals other than three dogs.