WHEN MENTAL ILLNESS DISTORTS THE PERCEPTION OF LOVE
‘If it weren’t for your husband, you’d be the crazy cat lady’ – a comment I hear often.
The issue of Animal Hoarding is often made light of by the press, and jokes about the crazy cat lady do nothing to highlight these devastating situations. Animal Hoarding is no joke!
Photo – GillyFace Photography
I have always been blessed to have animals in my life, and although I want every animal to find their loving home, I realize, I cannot bring ALL of them into MY home. At some point, the attention and interaction I can provide to each (individually) would become less with each new addition. I’m not a wealthy person. Having more pets also means more mouths to feed, grooming expenses if required, and an increased number of veterinarian visits (bills). I know that, if my love of animals became detrimental to me, or my companions, my entire family would stage an intervention.Would you know the signs of animal hoarding? Would you know what to do about it? Would you be one of many who do nothing?
Most of us are members of a family and visit friends and neighbours. Some, might be reluctant to report family, friends or neighbours or may find it difficult even, to seek help addressing the concern. Landlords may learn of a growing number of pets within a dwelling, and evict tenants to protect their property, but most fail to report their findings to authorities. In this instance, the hoarder relocates, along with the problem. Sadly, unless the odor becomes offensive or the noise excessive, most people don’t bother to report these horrific situations.
In this article, I hope to raise awareness regarding the issue and provide valuable resources.
Please share this information.
Although the case of a dog being violently killed is shocking, in animal hoarding cases the suffering can be felt by hundreds of animals for months and months on end,
Randall Lockwood, Ph.D.
Published in the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium, Animal Hoarding: Structuring interdisciplinary responses to help people, animals, and communities at risk, Dr. Patronek, professor at Tufts University and his team list four key characteristics:
- Failure to provide minimal standards of sanitation, space, nutrition, and veterinary care for the animals
- Inability to recognize the effects of this failure on the welfare of the animals, human members of the household, and the environment
- Obsessive attempts to accumulate or maintain a collection of animals in the face of progressively deteriorating conditions
- Denial or minimization of problems and living conditions for people and animals
The mental and emotional state of an individual strongly contributes to animal hoarding. Although research continues, there is not currently an official diagnosis for this ‘condition’ listed in the diagnostic manual used by psychologists. Researchers suggest that Animal Hoarders are most-likely affected by Addiction, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Focal Delusional Disorder, Attachment Disorder, or a combination thereof.
In the (previously mentioned) publication, three types of animal hoarders are discussed.
They include:
The Overwhelmed Caregiver
These hoarders initially provide adequate care for the animals that they have a strong attachment to; understand that a problem has gradually developed though they may minimize it; may be socially isolated; believe it is caused by some change in their circumstances; have fewer issues with authority figures and accepting intervention.
The Rescuer Hoarder
These hoarders develop a compulsion based on a strong need to rescue animals from possible death or euthanasia; actively acquired animals and believes they are the only ones who can adequately care for them, find it hard to refuse any new animals, may work within a network of animal welfare people; avoids authorities.
Exploiter-Hoarders
These hoarders acquire animals to serve their needs. They are indifferent to the harm caused to them. They deny the problem and reject authority figures or outside help. They also believe they know best and have an extreme need to control a situation. They may come across as charming, articulate, manipulative and cunning. They are skilled at presenting excuses and explanations for their circumstances. They are self-concerned and express no remorse or guilt. They acquire animals actively and plan to evade the law, will lie cheat and steal with no remorse to achieve their goals.
Just as hoarders might not fit into a specific category of mental illness, neither might they fall, exactly, into one of the categories. Instead, hoarders might exhibit characteristics from each.
In addition to those outlined above, there is another category of hoarder that crosses the line into another dark area – disreputable breeder-hoarder. Initially, these individuals breed animals to sell and quickly become overwhelmed with the requirements necessary to care for the ever growing volume of animals. They are oblivious to how circumstances affect the animals.
The ASPCA estimates 900 – 200 new cases of animal hoarding arises each year, resulting in 250,000 animal victims.
Animal hoarders are not able to rationalize the situation, and it escalates to the extreme. Unfortunately, it isn’t until conditions reach this extreme point that law enforcement officers can gather enough evidence to obtain a search warrant. Sadly, these officers are unable to access the premises until a tragedy occurs.
The cost and time required to rescue, provide veterinary care (often resulting in euthanasia), rehabilitate and socialize, feed and rehome these animals adds to the already limited budget of rescue organizations. Tax payer’s money goes towards assisted shelters and legal fees (court proceedings and hopefully incarceration).
Hope for the future:
A growing number of municipalities have bylaws limiting the number of pets within one household. Also, some local laws grant animal control officers and law enforcement officers the ability to intervene on behalf of the animals when appropriate.
Research has proven that animal hoarding will continue at a rate of 100% without thoughtful and respectful intervention. Effective treatment of the behavior of an individual is only one necessary aspect.
Please be vigilant. If you recognize the characteristics of a hoarder or learn of a situation, report it. Early intervention is the key to preventing further suffering of animals.
Resources:
Inside Animal hoarding: The story of Barbara Erickson and her 552 dogs
A Comprehensive Guide to Animal Hoarding
The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium
The Human Side of Animal Hoarding
The humane society here periodically has dogs from hoarder rescue cases. I think the most recent one was a large group of Italian Greyhounds. It’s a terrible situation all around.
It is. There was recently another case in Vancouver.
Thanks for sharing this information. Hoarding really is a terrible problem that I hear about way too often.
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Thanks Maureen.
Thank you for this informative article. Animal hoarding is such a sad thing for the animals as well as the people involved in it. I hope that more people will be encouraged to report animal hoarding situations after reading your article.
Thank you. I hope so too.
Such an important post. I have been directly involved in a few rescues in hoarding situations and they have been horrible. Sometimes, I have heard comments from others in the rescue community excusing hoarding – as good intentions gone bad and well, it’s better than the animals being euthanized. I find this appalling as animals suffer terribly in these situations. Thanks for spreading the word.
You’re right. It’s no way for these animals to live.
Sadly, animal hoarding is a huge problem. There are too many, so called “sanctuaries” and other rescues and individuals whose hearts may be in the right place but who do not recognize or acknowledge their own limitations. Saying “no” is actually a critical part of responsible rescue work.
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GREAT point – Saying “no” is actually a critical part of responsible rescue work.
Thank you.
I think you are not meant to have more than 3 dogs in Toronto and govt is working on stricter animal cruelty laws (supported by projects like Ruby’s Legacy). There have been a few rural cases of hoarding dogs and cats over the last 2 years. I went and donated supplies for one group as the sudden large influx can really strain a shelter as you point out.
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I hope we do see strict laws and harsh punishment(s) for those guilty of hoarding and cruelty!
It is always sad to see the results of animal hoarding. I’d love to have more than two dogs but the cost of proper care is a reality check for me. This is a great post.
Thank you. Yes, we have to be realistic and aware of what works (and what won’t).
We hear of hoarders a lot with cats. Unfortunately, there are so many cats that are allowed to roam free and aren’t fixed that there are so many out there. I think a lot of people start out thinking they are helping the cats.
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Very true. It is definitely more difficult to manage with feral cats adding to overpopulation.
It is a terrible situation. Thanks for raising awareness
Thank you for visiting and reading the post.
Super important topic and luckily we’ve had a lot of hoarders give up their animals to our local rescue orgs and to the Oregon Humane Society so those animals can be re-homed!
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I hope more will do the same.
I always read about the animal hoarders and it breaks my heart to see the state the poor babies are in, this is a great article, thank you for remembering them
Puppy Mills and hoarders – many similarities. It is heartbreaking indeed.
We need to continue to shine light on this subject! There was a recent case here in MN where the authorities chased a couple around to 3 different moves before they were able to rescue over 95 dogs.
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I only recently learned that these people pack up the animals and move them around to avoid being caught. Unreal!
In a few weeks I am getting a rescue puppy that came from a hoarding situation. A guy had over 60 dogs on his property. He had good intentions to care for the dogs, but he was unable to provide them with everything they need. None of the dogs were spayed or neutered so LOTS of puppies were being born.
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I’m so glad to hear the dogs are finding new homes. Congratulations on your new puppy!
Animal hoarding is such a tough subject. I have a few family members who struggle with hoarding (though not animal hoarding) and there is not a quick and easy fix. It can be hard to show compassion towards animal hoarders because of the damage they do, but unless they find help and work towards overcoming their illness, more animals will get hurt.
I think we must first recognize the problem and then work on fixing it. I’m sorry you have had this experience personally and appreciate your heartfelt comment. Thank you Robin.