Harmful Effects of Animal Hoarding

Animal hoarding is becoming more of a problem worldwide. In the United States, it occurs in every state including Hawaii, with puppy mills operating under terrible conditions and people who mistakenly believe this harmful behavior as acceptable. With 900 to 2,000 new cases reported each year and more than 250,000 animals affected, the Humane Society of the United States has long called for a crackdown on these law-breakers. The Humane Society, the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other groups routinely rescue animals from hoarders and puppy mills. With proposed new legislation and a nationwide media focus on this problem, it is finally being recognized as the major crisis that it is.

Health

• With animals living in overcrowded, filthy conditions, there is a health risk to everyone involved; however, animals suffer the most. For them, severe physical and mental health problems can include disease, weight loss, anxiety, fear, frustration, boredom and lack of exercise. Cage restriction can cause all of this as well as illness, blindness and death. "Compulsive hoarding is now recognized as a seriously debilitating condition," says Dr. Gary Patronek, founder of The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium. He adds that leading psychologists are now calling for compulsive hoarding to be recognized as a new psychological disorder.

Cruelty

• Many animals are confined in outdoor kennels or cages, or even chained, in hot summers and cold winters. Some suffer from lack of food and water and little or no veterinary care in unsanitary conditions. Lack of care or even a human touch causes sometimes irreparable harm. Even if rescued, the animal will never be the same. If not rescued, it eventually becomes emaciated and suffers from serious skin and eye infections and parasite infestation. In the case of an individual hoarder, filthy living conditions can occur, amplifying the spread of disease and germs.

Neglect

• Harm caused by neglect is akin to cruelty. This not only affects humans in the household but also neighbors. When there are too many animals and the living conditions become substandard because of filth, others must contend with unkempt yards, odor and health hazards. Financial constraints often occur and cause more stress with both animals and humans suffering from lack of food and care. Also, many of these animals are not spayed or neutered, creating an even greater problem of overpopulation. This is not a healthy situation, mentally or physically, for anyone.

Laws

• Harmful effects also include the breaking of laws. Laws in every state now forbid animal cruelty and neglect; more and tougher legislation is proposed each session. In many states, neglect and cruelty result in prosecution and felony charges with fines and prison or jail time. The days of over-lenient penalties are becoming a thing of the past, with more intervention by the HSUS, SPCA and community members. It has also been documented in numerous court cases that many animal abusers do not stop at animal cruelty and neglect but go on to conduct other illegal activities and abuse.

Considerations

• In cases of severe animal hoarding and neglect, mental illness and/or drug abuse may be part of the situation. Others may come to it through innocence, thinking that they are saving animals and then having too many to care for before they realize it. Some even attempt to operate as a shelter but these are often not legitimate. "Historically, a person who collected animals was viewed as an animal lover who got in over his or her head, but the truth is that people who hoard are experiencing a total loss of insight," says Dr. Randall Lockwood, ASPCA Senior Vice President, Forensic Sciences and Anti-cruelty Projects.

  If you suspect an animal hoarder lives near you or you are aware of one, you may report this anonymously to the ASPCA or HSUS, if there is no animal control agency or shelter in your area. A phone call can begin the work necessary to save the lives of animals and humans.