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Nearly 1500 animal hoarding cases are found annually with the same sad scene – urine and feces covering floors, malnourished dogs and cats that need to be put down and even dead bodies. Although hoarders are generally lumped into one category, there are different types of hoarders, each with their own behaviors.

It’s not about the number of animals one owns, it’s how the animals are cared for on a regular basis. An animal hoarder is someone who has an excessive number of animals and doesn’t provide proper nutrition, sanitation and veterinary care. Hoarders sometimes fail to accept the condition of their pets and their home, which can begin to interfere with their daily life, health and socialization. Typically, close friends or relatives should be able to tell when the act of owning and caring for an animal turns into hoarding. The key to preventing this is early detection.

According to a document recently released by a team of people from the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium (HARC), there are three types of hoarders: the overwhelmed caregiver, the rescuer and the exploiter. The overwhelmed caregiver initially cares for their pet and over time, realize that there is a problem. They may be socially isolated but accept getting help. The rescuer develops a compulsion to rescue animals with the belief that they are the only one who can. They find it hard to refuse new animals and steer clear of authorities. The exploiter wants animals to serve their own needs, deny the problem and reject help with the notion that they know best. They may make up excuses for their current circumstance but express no remorse. Some people will fit into a combination of these.

Another example that doesn’t fit into the other categories is the breeder-hoarder who initially breeds the animals and becomes overwhelmed with the number of animals and may not realize the severity of the situation. For instance, officials recently removed 237 dogs from the house of a 70-year-old woman in Corpus Christi, Texas who claimed she was breeding the dogs. A member of the city’s Animal Care Services department said the dogs had plenty of food and water but were covered in feces and urine. She said she thought the homeowner loved her dogs but the slow accumulation of dogs became too much for her to handle.

Some people become too embarrassed to admit having a problem and will isolate themselves – making it harder to seek help. If you know someone who may have a problem, the best thing for you to do is call your local authorities. They will have a better chance of intervening than you.

For a list of resources and more information about animal hoarding, visit animal hoarding.com.

Tell us what you think under this story. Post your favorite pet videos at the zootooTV tab. E-mail us your story ideas at news@zootoo.com or call us at 877-777-4204.



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Lisa
Lisa (Spaceylisa)
1 year ago
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Iwould say most of these people mental disorders and need some kind of intervention., For their sakes and the animals sakes.
 
Amanda V.
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I feel badly for the animals and the owners. Most of these people do not think they are hurting but are trying to help animals and it just gets to be to much.
 
Nancy  G.
Nancy G. (nsg46321)
1 year ago
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Sad for all involved.
 
LINDA421419 B.
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IF I KNEW SOMEONE THAT WAS DOING THIS- FRIEND OR NOT- I WOULD TURN THEM IN. ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND IS NOT GOING TO DO THIS.
 
Melissa
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I have had 2 reports of this w/ cats. I have hoped the people would come to their senses but it has yet to happen. There is a concerned neighbor but she doesn't want everyone mad at her. I told her to let the lady know that the animals would be destroyed if animal control was to get involved, & hopefully she will find them a home.

Hoarding is almost as big of a as not spaying/neutering an animal is.
 
Irina
Irina (irinkad83)
1 year ago
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I feel really bad for some of those people alot of them have really severe mental illnesses...there is no excuse for misstreating animals tho and this is a really hard issue
 
sarmaa
sarmaa
1 year ago
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This is a short informative article - I wish the public was more informed on this issue. I was not aware of this problem before working for a shelter. I assisted in a few cases of hoarding - where we went and pulled animals from the homes. Very sad for all involved. I remember having to pull cats out of a home where a man had died - there were 50+ cats - many which we probably didn't get because there was an opening to the outside and many fled on our arrival...there were dead kittens in the house...I wish the law required a mental evaluation and court-ordered counseling. Taking the animals away does not go to the root of the problem - as many hoarders simply get more animals after the authorities take the first set away.
 
Lisa
Lisa (Puparazzi)
1 year ago
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I think it IS important to intervene before the animals are in desperate shape. We own 5 dogs right now, all rescued, and all getting the regular vet care & licensing required. I can see how it can become overwhelming, but I'd rather ask for help than neglect animals.
 
rcfirerescue
rcfirerescue
1 year ago
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I used to live next to an older woman when I was growing up who was a rescuer. Every time you'd get close to her house, you'd smell the urine and feces, and hear the cats crying. One day I came home from school and there was a sheriff car and two Animal Control Vans outside of her house. I got closer and saw a line of officials carrying these sickly looking cats in cages out to the vans. I asked the sheriff what was going on and he said that she died the night before and she had 137 cats living in her home. Now that is a lot of cats.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Scott Z.
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I think hoarding is an issue that many of us are not affected by, but it's a serious issue not just for health and sanitary issues, but the welfare of the animals involved. I do believe that people start off with the best intentions, but it can get out of control quickly.
 
Patricia F.
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Bob C.
Bob C. (rjcronk)
1 year ago
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We kind of joke about this at the shelter. Nothing like the shelter going home to one of the volunteers. All joking aside it is a serious problem. I once read an article where a lawyer had over 40 labradors. I will stay with my 3 pit bulls that is plenty
 
Sandyrose
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Pet hoarding is indeed a problem when it becomes detrimental to the animals involved. There are clear cut cases when authorities need to step in and find ways to re-home them. But I somewhat find fault with the inclusion of rescuers - in the statement: 'The rescuer develops a compulsion to rescue animals with the belief that they are the only one who can. ' My feeling is that many of these people are truly dedicated folks with the means and the devotion to care for animals that are difficult to place due to illness or age or other 'fault' that renders them unsuitable for adoption. So I would not want to see a general ban on this type of situation, because often it is a safe haven for certain animals. Let's say that each case should be judged on it's own merits, or lack of.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Edie L.
Edie L. (lady2007)
1 year ago
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I think most hoarders start out with the best intentions and then somewhere along the line a screw gets loose.
 
Marci B.
Marci B. (CorgiLvr)
1 year ago
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We had a "rescuer" locally with between 4 - 500 dogs and cats. She thought she was helping them, but never seemed to be able to find the dogs and cats the right home. Her conditions were horrific. I volunteered at one of the shelters who took in some the animals who could be saved. It was an experience I never want to have again.

Don't kid yourself that caring people can start as rescuers and end up as hoarders. I have seen it happen more than once.
 
Sandyrose
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Corgi - I take your point, and I agree with you. Hundreds of animals in one home are not being rescued at all, they are of course being hoarded, and dangerously so. I just meant that there are some folks who have more than the 'normal' amount of animals (is there a definition for that?) who do in fact take care of them all. I have 4 small dogs and a cat, that is definitely my limit. However I know someone who has 10 dogs, most of them with health problems which are affordable to this person, and who do get excellent at home and vet care. I consider him a 'rescuer' but not a hoarder. It might come under the general catagory though , I don't know. I meant in my original comments that every situation is different, but I do understand the severity of true hoarding and it needs to be addressed.
 
jeanfu
jeanfu
1 year ago
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This is a really big problem all over the states. Our shelter manager has had to go into
houses where animals have been abandoned and the house is piled up with trash, feces
and who knows what. The poor animals have been neglected for who knows how long.
Why do people continue to amass these animals and then mistreat them?
 
Marisa E.
Marisa E. (gedoena)
1 year ago
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Thanks for providing this overview as a response to our conversation in an earlier news item.
 
Missy
Missy (MissyW)
1 year ago
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Its very sad to see these situations. Some of the people have the best of intentions to take care of these animals and then just get overwellmed with the care. The people who hoard animals need to realize when it is out of control and get help, most people understand and will not judge.
 
duckjob
duckjob
1 year ago
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Problem is is that animal hoarders like alcoholics don't belive there is a problem. And even if they do have an inkling that there is a problem, society does judge so they sit back and think that things will eventually get better but in reality never does.
 
Baileejean
Baileejean
1 year ago
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Animal hoarding is sad both for the animal and the hoarder. Whether they're just overwhelmed or for some reason can't see the problem, it must be heartbreaking to have your animals taken. I'm glad this is being addressed, and hope that more animals can be saved and the hoarders get the help they need.
 
Maggie
Maggie (lunathehun)
1 year ago
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Thanks for giving us all this overview. There are way too many hoarders out there and at least they are being brought out to the light. Everyone needs to be aware of how tragic this is for the families and MOSTLY the animals.

Everyone suffers.

These cases need to be reported when you even SUSPECT it...just like child abuse....that way this behavior can be nipped in the bud.

In times past, many people were on good or at least somewhat familiar terms with their neighbors. These days, its more and more rare, so extreme cases of this type of abuse can go unnoticed for long periods of time.

The best thing you can do is to try to be a good neighbor...or at least not keep your head stuck in the sand and BE AWARE of your neighborhood.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Beaglepawz
Beaglepawz
1 year ago
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It is so sad when this happens - for the animals and for the person trying to help them, but is overwhelmed.
 
kittypassion
kittypassion
1 year ago
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Happens way too often. I must read a couple times a week about hoarders just in my area alone.
 
Cornbread
Cornbread
1 year ago
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WE deal with a lot of hoarders every year and it is always a sad story for the animals involved and sadly in some cases for the people. We have elderly that can't take care of themselves much less animals. They are overlooked by their family and society until we go in to take animals or to help out in a time of need. That situation is heartbreaking. One elderly lady was being robbed by her family and eating dried black eyed peas, giving her cats all of her edible food. Most of the hoarders we deal with have true mental problems.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Ann
Ann (gajets)
1 year ago
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Hoarders may start out with good intentions but ultimately they are no better than abusers.

If we had a better solution to over population and a better national rescue system we would not have hoarders.
 
kmonson67
kmonson67
1 year ago
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I totally agree. Pet overpopulation is a serious issue in this country. Pet owners do not spay/neuter their pets. When a female cat gets pregnant, she is discarded with the trash. When the kittens are born, then what? Who takes them in? This is a viscous cycle that must end. I wish I knew how to stop it.
 
Debbie
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Reminds me of little old ladies with 100 cats.
 
Lori M.
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This is so sad. These people really need family and friends to help them. If anyone knows of a hoarding situation, they should contact proper authorities so the problem can be resolved for the hoarder and especially for the animals.
 
Stephanie
Stephanie (usf1719)
1 year ago
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There definitely is a problem with people who are hoarding animals everywhere. It is upsetting to see say 100cats and only 50 of them are healthy. Leaving 50 other cats sick, malnourished and leads to expensive vet bills. Knowing that Hoarding is a psychological disorder, maybe something can be pass to help the people can get animals that they can afford to take care of.
 
samsamjr2
samsamjr2
1 year ago
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Its a sad situtation. At my shelter we got 2 dogs and 8 puppies from a hoarder situtation. The guy had 6 dogs, 28 cats and one of the dogs had a litter of puppies. We got 2 of the dogs and they puppies. Ginger the momma dog is such a great dog she got adopted and so did her puppies. The other dog is still up for adoption but he still needs a lot of help for him to become a family dog. He isnt used to being around people. He is scared of many things.
 
michele t.
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I'm reminded of that old saying "The pathway to hll is paved with good intentions". The innocent victims are the ones that can't stand up and speak for themselves. This problem needs to be addressed more aggressively for all parties involved.
 
maxinerauh
maxinerauh
1 year ago
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i hope these people get help both for them and the animals
 
Fuzz
Fuzz
1 year ago
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There should be legislation passed in each state for requiring psychiatric care for these people. It should include restrictions preventing them from owning other animals, finding adoptive homes for the victims, and followup inspections to prove compliance.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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groovygirl
groovygirl
1 year ago
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I agree. Too many hoarders are repeat offenders.
 
JeepersKitty
JeepersKitty
1 year ago
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This is such a sad problem, and it seems people who are really hoarders never 'recover'. They create the same situation again and again
 
duckjob
duckjob
1 year ago
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This is why these people just like other criminals need to be looked at closely over a long period of time. Unfortuately, there is not enough humane agents to do this just like there is not enough social workers to look over domestic issues.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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duckjob
duckjob
1 year ago
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Great point. There is the mental health issue that needs to be addressed. Everybody is quick to judge the person and leave it at that. These people need mental health counceling and a degree of compassion.
Sorry but not everyone may like this but generally, these peope dont set off looking to neglect these animals but life throws a curve ball at them and they somehow fall of the track and get lost.
The more the public is educated about this, hopefully the less we will hear about it.
 
groovygirl
groovygirl
1 year ago
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Well said. Hoarders definitely are different from the people who run puppy mills. Maybe if the public was more aware of the problem of hoarding, more people would seek help.
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