Animal hoarding happens far too much and is sometimes hard to detect until it is too late. With animal hoarding, the owners may have the best intentions but are harming defenseless animals. These animals suffer in very poor housing, poor ventilation and inadequate food and water supplies. The owners are in denial that they are in fact harming and killing these beautiful, defenseless animals.

Once the suffering and dying animals are reported to law enforcement and they are allowed to do something about it, many animals do not survive or are in need of expensive treatment to save their lives. The communities often pick up the cost of rescuing, treating, housing, feeding and sometimes euthanizing the animals. There is also the cost of legal ramifications.

Hoarders eventually isolate themselves because they become consumed and end up spending all available resources in their animals including time, money and emotion. They socially isolate family and friends. People just leave them alone because they have no time for anything. People seldom look into reasons why these hoarders are so pre-occupied.

Not everyone with several animals is considered a hoarder. A person may have several animals which are spayed or neutered and provide regular veterinary care and sanitary conditions. This person would not be considered a hoarder. Rescuers may have several animals at one time or another, but they try to rectify the situation and place the animals in adoptive homes. If anyone thinks they may have too many animals to care for, they need to contact their vet office or local shelter. They may also foster an animal until a more suitable home is found.

There are many ways to help prevent hoarding. If hoarding is suspected, it is important to call the local animal control, police department, animal shelter or veterinarian to initiate the rescue process. Individuals often do not want to get the animal hoarder in trouble but a simple phone call will save the animals and the hoarder. Hoarding is a sign of a deeper psychological issue. If it is reported early enough and help can be found, the person may not necessarily lose the animals as long as they are being cared for and are willing to accept help. With a severe situation, the animals will be taken away for their safety.

Helping with animal hoarding is educating others about the misery involved with the hoarding situation. Some people view hoarding as an eccentric old lady “cat person”. The general public does not know about the dangers of hoarding for the individual and the animals. Getting in contact with social service groups is very helpful. There is health issues involved. Most hoarders are older individuals claiming to be helping these animals and some are putting their own health at risk. The shelters and the animals need volunteers to help with caring for the animals and teaching the animals social skills. Sometimes the animals can be returned if the home is cleaned up and the animals have been sterilized.

Laws to prevent animal abuse are necessary, although hoarders do not always appear to be harming or abusing their animals. Many times the hoarders go unpunished because they fail to show intent to harm. If they are ever allowed to have animals again, they should be regularly monitored to ensure the animals have clean and sanitary living conditions and regular veterinary care.

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