Some states, though (New Hampshire and California, for instance), consider failing to provide an animal with food, drink, and shelter to be a felony. You might not think that someone who is so invested in their dogs could be intentionally cruel to any living creature, but this often happens. With all this attention being afforded to hoarders of all stripes (reference a veritable media explosion on the discussion of animal and non-animal hoarding), I've noticed a trend towards a demonized depiction of the so-called, "crazy cat lady." After all, it is certainly possible for people to take care of many dogs at once, and an arbitrary number does nothing to forestall cruelty. Of course breeders do have more dogs than most of us, but that’s because dogs are the cornerstone of their business. At its most horrific, animal rescuers have entered homes to find it littered with corpses in various stages of decay, some even cannibalized by other starving dogs. Most likely, though, it’s OCD. When a person hoards animals of pets, there is going to be a significant amount of waste, hazardous materials that can cause harm to people who come into contact with it. Every year 3,500 animal hoarders come to the attention of authorities. Animal hoarders are subject to prosecution if they fail to provide a proper level of care for their animals. Hoarders, sadly, don’t, and that’s something that we should all be concerned about. In most states, this means that each animal must have access to enough food and water to ensure good health, and that medical care must be sought when necessary. Obviously, you don’t need me to tell you that dog hoarders are mentally ill. It’s obvious. I hope that one day, I will never have to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television and be confronted with a horrific story of dogs that have become so ill that they had to be put down, or even died, due to hoarding. The following criteria are used to define animal hoarding: An individual possesses more than the typical number of companion animals. Sometimes, a situation just gets out of control, and well-meaning seniors are hesitant to seek assistance out of fear that their beloved animals will be taken and put to sleep. The actual number of dogs is not all that relevant – it’s the behavior involved. Veterinary attention is also virtually non-existent when large numbers of dogs are crowded, and disease proliferates. Many animal rights activists think the real number is much higher than that. Then they just go back to hoarding. So, they go with the one charge they know they can prove, the system isn’t burdened, and the offender gets off relatively lightly. Due to the many biohazards such as feces, urine, vomit, and other bodily fluids, pathogens and allergens can spread mercilessly throughout the home. This means, unfortunately, that often law enforcement has to become involved. Dogs are considered geriatric when they reach about 8 years of age, and geriatric dogs need exams, blood work, and urinalysis at least twice yearly. As previously stated, prosecuting hoarders can be problematic. Recent research suggests that nearly 1 in 5 compulsive hoarders have non-hoarding OCD symptoms. Hoarding isn’t about a person who rescues animals and is unaware that they’re getting in over their head – hoarding is about a psychological condition. Childhood trauma may also be a factor in hoarding behavior. As you might expect, the overwhelming amount of animal waste also makes it virtually impossible to prepare and store food safely. Serious hoarders also frequently fail to pay their utility bills because every penny they have has to go to feeding their dogs (who are still not getting enough to eat), leading to a lack of electricity and running water. The problem with this, though, is that it does not take into consideration the level of care being provided to the animals. Many rescued dogs are malnourished and dehydrated,and may also be emotionally damaged because of the need to compete against other dogs for whatever food is available. What should matter when determining the likelihood that an animal hoarding situation has developed or not is if the animals in question are well-groomed, well-fed, provided sufficient space to grow and exercise, and if they are taught to use the bathroom in safe and sanitary ways. As of the time of writing, only Hawaii and Illinois have laws that specifically relate to animal hoarding. Many animal hoarders report that they were abused as children, so this is the basis for the theory that animal hoarding may go hand in hand with attachment disorder. Air quality suffers, often to the point where rescuers need to wear protective clothing and breathing apparatus in order to remove the animals from the home. Feces and urine accumulate because of the sheer impossibility of attending to the elimination needs of so many animals. Considering the fact that animals are legally considered property, animal hoarding it would appear that it would qualify as compulsive hoarding … Even when states do not have any specific laws on animal hoarding, there can be municipal ordinances. Fortunately, there are signs to look out for when it comes to potential animal hoarders. So, where is the cut-off between someone who is simply dog-obsessed, and a person who is a hoarder? Regardless, there are usually too many animals that are kept in a small space and not given the appropriate care. Hoarding is about not being able to give that quality of life to all pets in a person’s care. It is the internal and compulsive need to not only have animals in your home, but to also control them. So, how many dogs is too many? Even after the dogs have been rescued, the effects of hoarding can have long-term effects. As previously mentioned, it is probably a variation on OCD, but it can also be an indication of an attachment disorder (an abnormal attachment to animals or an inability to bond with humans), and can also have its roots in dementia (we’ve all heard of the “crazy cat lady”), and even sometimes in addiction. Hoarders may also resort to very dangerous methods of heating their homes when their electricity is cut off, putting everyone in the home in danger. Every year in the United States, a quarter of a million animals are affected by animal hoarding. And it does not provide for a ban on future ownership of animals. It also threatens people living in the home where hoarding is taking place, and their neighbors. His tongue was also sticking out of his mouth because his jaw had so badly deteriorated. Hoarding alone is not a violation of the Act, though – harm must be proven. I’ve talked about breed bans in The Truth About Dog Bites and Should You Get a License for Your Dog, and I do worry that when governments at any level start telling citizens how many dogs they can have, breed bans may be the next step. Animals collected range from cats and dogs to reptiles, rodents, birds, exotics and even farm animals. THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. The hoarder may more easily form close bonds with animals rather than people. The courts are not burdened by multiple charges, and hoarders do not get away with having only one charge leveled against them when, in fact, several animals have been harmed. Repeated offenses can result in the offender being charged with a higher level of misdemeanor, which would carry a higher penalty. Animals are confined to … In most states, individual charges will not be laid because of the burden on the system. They can investigate the situation, and might even be able to get the hoarder the help they need. Occasionally, a hoarder will keep exotic or wild animals. Often, people do terrible things for what they think are very good reasons, and much of the time, we need to treat hoarders as compassionately as we treat our dogs. But I’ve also known a man with only four pets whose living situation was such that “hoarding” became a reasonable description. Hoarders are most likely mentally ill to one degree or another. By the time hoarded dogs are rescued, there is often no alternative other than euthanasia. Animal hoarding doesn’t just affect the animals involved. Often the floors, and even the countertops, of homes where hoarding has taken place, are covered in layers of trash and feces that are inches deep. Most commonly, the function of hoarding or caching is to store food in times of surplus for times when food is less plentiful. It’s not rational, and it’s not sensible, but for the hoarder, it is very deniable. While hoarder personality traits and demographics vary widely, Of course, hoarders are delusional. First of all, you can contact your local ASPCA or Humane Society. Animal hoarding affects a percentage of the sixteen million reported people in the US who suffer from compulsive hoarding. This issue is multifaceted and we have to take into account mental health, safety of the animals and the person involved, even public health safety. Hoarding is a form of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and may be accompanied by other symptoms of OCD. Hoarding level 5, the most severe type of hoarding disorder, involves severe structural damage to the residence. Finding the correct course of action to ensure a safe and effective recovery process can be achieved by asking for help from an animal hoarding professional. Although it’s not a specific, diagnosable mental illness in and of itself, most experts agree that hoarding is evidence of a psychological disorder, or more than one disorder. If you cannot afford to keep all of the cats in clean litter, with clean food, you have too many. Animal hoarding is “collecting” large numbers of animals – most commonly dogs and cats – in one place, under the pretense of saving or protecting them. Hawaii, however, specifically prohibits hoarding, and sets a specific number – any more than 15 animals (dogs and cats only are considered; there are no provisions for birds or reptiles) constitutes hoarding if the animals are not properly cared for, and can … But if you think you know of an instance of hoarding, you can help. The only way to stop hoarding is to prosecute, and this, as we shall see shortly, can be problematic. Very few states actually consider animal cruelty to be a felony, and the penalties may be no harsher for multiple cases of animal neglect than for a single case. Obviously, not everyone who has a lot of dogs is a hoarder. I have a small farm On 18 acres and horses, goats, chickens, bunnies, etc as well. form of animal abuse affecting thousands of animals each year There is no direct evidence that proves the link between hoarding and any other specific mental disorder, but enough anecdotal evidence that would seem to strongly suggest a link. Again, call the ASPCA or Humane Society, or even the police. Persistence, despite this failure, in accumulating and controlling animals; There are many similarities between animal hoarding and object hoarding, including the common side effects of the behavior: a cluttered, non-functional and sometimes dangerously unclean living space; social alienation; and denial/refusal to seek help. Animals “collected” by hoarders range in species from cats and dogs to reptiles, rodents, birds, exotics and even farm animals. The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium defines the problem this way: There is an accumulation of a large number of animals. Many studies of animal hoarding report recidivism rates from 60% to 100%. Animal hoarding is a complex issue where someone is housing too many pets that they can adequately care for. Animals must also be housed in a manner that does not result in harm – in other words, they must not be over-crowded, and must be protected from the elements. Those animals are not receiving minimal standards of care, including sanitation. The offender may also be held liable for the costs of housing, feeding, and obtaining veterinary care for seized animals. 12 Recidivism in this context refers to the frequency with which people reacquire multiple animals after having animals legally removed. One of the many hoarding questions is, “How many animals are too many in hoarding situations?” In many cities, counties, and states in the US, there is no definitive legal answer. In most states, failure of care is considered to be an act of omission, not commission, and, as such, is a misdemeanor. In addition, when a person does have too many animals or pets, the assistance of a trained, experienced professional pet hoarding cleanup specialist will be needed. Of course, it’s not all good news, either, because that means that hoarders can claim to be breeders, and get a multiple pet exemption. In as much as 80% of hoarding cases, animals are found dead or in severe condition. Often, addiction and hoarding also go hand in hand. Sometimes, the hoarder has to be prosecuted, if only as a deterrent to others who may engage in this harmful behavior. The infestations can also spread to adjacent homes and other buildings. The ammonia level in hoarding homes can be horrific, even after the home is aired out. The animals are so ill that they will not respond to veterinary treatment, and they are so traumatized that they are highly unlikely to be adoptable. To make matters worse, it’s not always just animals that are being hoarded. The dogs don’t get even the bare minimum of care that they need; they are filthy, parasite-infested, and living in their own waste. Sometimes, the stress of trying to look after so many dogs, coupled with the effort that it takes to maintain the delusion that nothing is wrong, spills over into actual abuse. Hawaii, however, specifically prohibits hoarding, and sets a specific number – any more than 15 animals (dogs and cats only are considered; there are no provisions for birds or reptiles) constitutes hoarding if the animals are not properly cared for, and can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a criminal offense. Individuals suffering from this disorder will fill their homes to the brim with many different animals including dogs, cats, reptiles, rodents, birds, and in some cases even farm animals. Much of the time, rather than prosecute, officials will offer a plea bargain in exchange for the animals being turned over. Rather, it’s about a compulsive need to acquire animals that reaches an overwhelming state, resulting in unintentional animal neglect or abuse. Often, insects and rodents find this a very pleasing environment, and this just makes matters that much worse. They keep an unusual number of dogs, and may try to justify their behavior by claiming that they are breeders. The dogs were in horrible condition. ... Quality of life is imperative at all stages of life for animals! This makes an overcrowded home even worse, exacerbates the level of squalor, impedes ordinary movement, and again, makes it virtually impossible to prepare food safely and cleanly. The ASPCA’s position on hoarding is that there is no specific number, but that you slip over into hoarding when you have more animals than you can reasonably care for, and at the same time you deny that you’re in out of your depth. I am the first person to admit that, from time to time, I have probably had more dogs in my home than the typical person has, simply because I have a great deal of difficulty saying “No” when someone tells me about a dog that desperately needs a home. How do you know how many pets are “too many”? The ALDF (Animal Legal Defense Fund) requested and received a ban on the defendants’ owning any animals for a period of 10 years. The lack of sanitation in the home can lead to any number of human health problems, including respiratory issues, parasite infection, and general lack of hygiene. It’s simply one more than you can house, feed, and offer medical care to without causing unnecessary suffering. Animal hoarding is actually a much deeper issue than just having lots of pets. They continue to insist that nothing is wrong. Hoarders often have difficulty organizing. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. If the hoarder is elderly, dementia could be at the root of the hoarding behavior, in which case Adult Protective Services may be able to provide help. And that no one will ever feel that they can’t ask for help, and be treated kindly. In some instances, the court may also order that the hoarder undergo psychological counselling. They don’t just neglect themselves – they neglect their children, and elderly people in the home. They are out of touch with any kind of reality as we know it, and they have no insight into the harm that they are doing to their animals. A basic rule of thumb when determining if a person is suffering with animal hoarding is to decide if the owners have control of the home or the pets have control of the home. One such example is ALDF v. Conyers, a case in which more than 100 dogs were seized. I agree with him. Hoarding is one of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty, affecting tens of thousands of animals – mostly cats and dogs – in communities nationwide. A desire to protect animals spirals out of control, and the hoarder tries to take on responsibilities that are well beyond anyone’s reasonable ability. They are not deliberately cruel – in fact, they love their animals very much, and may even believe, despite their circumstances, that they are providing proper care. Sometimes, hoarders are very resistant to getting help, and the only way to ensure the health and well-being of the dogs is to have them seized. Hoarding or caching in animal behavior is the storage of food in locations hidden from the sight of both conspecifics (animals of the same or closely related species) and members of other species. The Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act includes a definition of animal hoarders, and mandates psychological counselling for offenders. As of 2013, animal hoarding has been recognized as a mental illness and is listed in the DSM-5 under “Hoarding Disorder.” Animal hoarding has a negative impact on the animals. Insects and rodents are also attracted to a property that has succumb to animal hoarding. However, five is the most dogs I’ve ever had at one time, so I don’t think that exactly qualifies me as a “crazy dog person.” If I’d had 25 dogs instead of five, of course, you might reasonably question my mental stability. Pet ownership vs. You might offer to help find a home for some of the dogs if the elderly person is overwhelmed trying to care for all of them. A breeder’s dogs will also be in good condition, and there will not be more animals than is practical for the space available. They may also be very resistant to efforts by the ASPCA to help them achieve a manageable level when it comes to the number of dogs in the home. Even in municipalities where there are limits on how many pets one can own, it is often possible to obtain a permit to keep multiple animals. Hoarding is, indisputably, animal cruelty, whether it is intentional or not. It’s not all bad news, though. Although it is considered animal cruelty, the prosecution process is lengthy, difficult, and usually not very effective, as hoarding is a psychological issue. If the situation has progressed to the point where dogs are in danger, don’t hesitate. Even when there are so many dogs that it becomes impossible to maintain a decent level of sanitation, properly nourish them all, and provide veterinary care, even when the hoarder’s own health has become compromised, and even when disease, starvation and death occur, hoarders will cling to the belief that they are providing a good standard of care for their dogs. However, the situation and the way the pets are cared for are the determining factors. Animal hoarding has a negative impact on the occupants of the house. The trouble with this is that hoarders don’t usually change their ways, and in the absence of mandatory psychological counselling, they don’t get the help they need to change, supposing they actually want to. Does anyone know if there is any set number of cats that is now considered illegal and will result in charges being brought against you? These insects and vermin not only carry their own diseases, but they can also compromise the structural integrity of a property by using building materials such as wood, carpet, padding, wood, and metal to build nests and consume as food. However, when these situations spiral out of control, the quality of the animals’ lives are severely hindered and many of the hoarded pets become sick or injured. Let’s talk more about those results. Behavioral issues are also rampant. Many animal rights advocates believe that the state laws don’t go nearly far enough. Animal hoarding can be a very difficult subject to address. Judges are reluctant to see multiple charges, because several counts end up “clogging” the system, and also because it is difficult to prove each individual charge.So, cases involving a single count are processed faster, and often result in a conviction, but they do nothing to highlight the seriousness of multiple instances of cruelty. The hoarder lashes out at children and aging parents in addition to being unable to provide a suitable standard of care for them. Unlike Illinois, though, Hawaii does not mandate psychological counselling. What is at issue is the inability of the owner to take proper care of the dogs, and the refusal to admit that the animals are in poor health and the home is toxic. It’s also a slippery slope. Often, though, it can be a simple matter of spaying and neutering the animals, and making sure that they have proper veterinary care. If you know the hoarder personally, there is nothing wrong with talking to him or her, and offering reassurance that help is available. The offender may face criminal charges at the State Attorney’s discretion. The animals live in unhealthy and stressful conditions. Dog hoarding is a serious problem. If you cannot afford to feed yourself decent food because you are buying cat food, you have too many. Hoarders keep abnormally large numbers of animals for whom they do not provide even the most basic care. Some of the best dogs I’ve ever had have been “freebies,” in fact. Hoarding seems to be strongly connected to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and is sometimes considered a type of OCD. Eighty percent of animal hoarders have diseased, dying, or … Here are a few red flags if you suspect someone you know is hoarding cats or any type of animal:. The person responsible fails to take action to correct the deteriorating condition of the animals and their housing. 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