If you have seen Animal Planet's show, "Confessions: Animal Hoarding," you know that hoarding animals is a serious issue that can quickly deteriorate into animal neglect, albeit unintentional. Many animal hoarders have the best intentions, but are oblivious to the harm they are inflicting on the animals in their possession. Often folks who take in more animals than can be properly managed believe that they are saving them and only they can care for them, despite the evidence to the contrary.
According to the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium (HARC), the criteria for animal hoarding includes having more than the typical number of companion animals; an inability to provide even the most minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter, and veterinary care; and denial of their inability to provide basic care, as well as the impact of that failure on the animals' health, their home, and even the other humans living in that home.
Animals who have fallen victim to hoarders often end up in deplorable living conditions that are far from humane or sanitary. An animal owner may start out with just a few pets, but they gradually take in more and more. With so many animals to care for, hoarders often fail to get any of them spayed or neutered. Combine this with their need to "save" more animals, and the owners end up with so many pets that they cannot provide the minimal care that each animal needs. Despite best efforts to succeed, the animals often suffer from starvation, illness, malnourishment, neglect and even death.
With so much time spent trying to care for all of the animals, an animal hoarder's home often becomes cluttered, dirty, and falls into disrepair. In some cases, the houses have holes in the floors and walls, and broken furniture. With so many pets running around, the floors are often covered in feces, urine and vomit. It should be no surprise that such unsanitary conditions attract roaches, rats and other vermin that quickly spread disease. For this reason, health department authorities often have to condemn homes that once contained a hoarding situation.
Although every pet-hoarding situation is different, there are some common warning signs family, friends and neighbors should be aware of if they suspect someone of animal hoarding.
• He or she has a lot of animals, but does not know the exact number.
• The home is cluttered, dirty, and in disrepair, and may contain broken furniture, as well as holes in the wall and floors.
• The home smells like ammonia, and the floors are covered with urine, feces, vomit, etc.
• The animals are sick, starving, in distress and poorly socialized.
• There are signs of the presence of rats, fleas, ticks, roaches and other vermin.
• He or she does not take adequate care of his or her own basic sanitary and nutritional needs, and is withdrawn from society.
• He or she is in denial about the animals' health and welfare, insisting they are happy and healthy.
Sadly, many hoarders are blind to the poor mental and physical health of their pets. If you ever suspect a friend, family member or neighbor of hoarding animals, the best course of action is to start by calling your local humane law enforcement department, police, animal shelter, animal welfare group or veterinarian. Many people hesitate because they are concerned that the animals will be taken away. However, in the case of animal hoarding, this may be the best course of action for both the humans and animals. Not taking action early on can result in a worsening situation, increasing the risk to the owner and pets, alike.
Every year, roughly 250,000 animals are reported as victims of animal hoarding. Sign up to share you are a responsible pet parent by ensuring your pets are loved, and have proper care and nutrition.
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