Animal Hoarding

Animal hoarding is a complex issue where the owner is owning more animals than they can care for due to mental health issues.

What it Is
Animal hoarding occurs when an individual is housing more animals than he or she can adequately care for. It is a complex issue that encompasses mental health, animal welfare and public safety concerns. Animal hoarding is defined by an inability to provide even minimal standards of care—often resulting in the animal suffering and dying. In the majority of cases, animal hoarders believe they are helping their animals and deny this inability to provide minimum care.

Recongnize Hoarding
If an individual has numerous animals and may not know the total number of animals in their care, their home is deteriorated, there is a strong smell of ammonia, and floors may be covered with dried feces, urine, vomit, etc, their animals are emaciated, lethargic and not well-socialized with fleas and vermin are present, the individual is isolated from the community and appears to neglect him- or herself, and insists that all of their animals are happy and healthy—even when there are clear signs of distress and illness, they are an animal hoarder.

Politics
Every year in the United States, a quarter of a million animals fall victim to hoarding. Animal hoarding is covered implicitly under every state’s animal cruelty statute, which typically requires caretakers to provide sufficient food, water and veterinary care. However, only two states, Illinois and Hawaii, currently have statutory language specifically addressing animal hoarding. In most cases, criminal prosecution of animal hoarding can be a difficult process and may not be the most effective route, since hoarders are often emotionally troubled rather than criminally inclined.

Take Action
If you see animal hoarding, call your local humane law enforcement department, police department, animal shelter, animal welfare group or veterinarian to initiate the process of getting them—and the animals—the help they need.

Resources

 * Animal Hoarding: Learn About This Complex Issue by the ASPCA