Animal hoarding doesnât just affect the animals involved. Of course breeders do have more dogs than most of us, but thatâs because dogs are the cornerstone of their business. Recent research suggests that nearly 1 in 5 compulsive hoarders have non-hoarding OCD symptoms. The infestations can also spread to adjacent homes and other buildings. The Real Face of Animal Hoarding. The offender may also be held liable for the costs of housing, feeding, and obtaining veterinary care for seized animals. They can investigate the situation, and might even be able to get the hoarder the help they need. You might offer to help find a home for some of the dogs if the elderly person is overwhelmed trying to care for all of them. Animal hoarders are subject to prosecution if they fail to provide a proper level of care for their animals. Failure to address infestations and their negative effects on the property can result in structural damage, causing serious bodily harm to the building’s occupants. How Many Animals are Too Many in Animal Hoarding Situations. In some municipalities, people are limited as to how many pets they can keep. Often, insects and rodents find this a very pleasing environment, and this just makes matters that much worse. Many hoarders collect items in response to anxiety or trauma as a coping mechanism. Then they just go back to hoarding. But I’ve also known a man with only four pets whose living situation was such that “hoarding” became a reasonable description. Even when states do not have any specific laws on animal hoarding, there can be municipal ordinances. The laws are woefully lacking, psychological help for hoarders virtually non-existent, and the results of hoarding horrific. The trouble with this is that hoarders donât usually change their ways, and in the absence of mandatory psychological counselling, they donât get the help they need to change, supposing they actually want to. Animal hoarding is a complex issue where someone is housing too many pets that they can adequately care for. Veterinary attention is also virtually non-existent when large numbers of dogs are crowded, and disease proliferates. Compulsive hoarding is also considered a feature of obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) Itâs not rational, and itâs not sensible, but for the hoarder, it is very deniable. Considering the fact that animals are legally considered property, animal hoarding it would appear that it would qualify as compulsive hoarding … Or is it the number of cats in proportion to the size of your house? The dogs donât get even the bare minimum of care that they need; they are filthy, parasite-infested, and living in their own waste. They continue to insist that nothing is wrong. They continue to live in horribly unsanitary conditions, and convince themselves that their dogs are not sick, not starving, and do not need veterinary care (which they likely cannot afford in any case). I have a small farm On 18 acres and horses, goats, chickens, bunnies, etc as well. Individuals suffering from this disorder will fill their homes to the brim with many different animals including dogs, cats, reptiles, rodents, birds, and in some cases even farm animals. Fortunately, there are signs to look out for when it comes to potential animal hoarders. Sometimes, this is in an effort to prevent hoarding. Often, addiction and hoarding also go hand in hand. Penalties for animal neglect can include fines, jail time, and/or the forfeiture of the animal. Again, call the ASPCA or Humane Society, or even the police. Hoarders are most likely mentally ill to one degree or another. Hoarding is, indisputably, animal cruelty, whether it is intentional or not. They are not deliberately cruel â in fact, they love their animals very much, and may even believe, despite their circumstances, that they are providing proper care. Hoarding alone is not a violation of the Act, though â harm must be proven. Although itâs not a specific, diagnosable mental illness in and of itself, most experts agree that hoarding is evidence of a psychological disorder, or more than one disorder. A basic rule of thumb when determining if a person is suffering with animal hoarding is to decide if the owners have control of the home or the pets have control of the home. Children who have been abused frequently have difficult forming relationships with humans, so they rely on animals for love and companionship. I am the first person to admit that, from time to time, I have probably had more dogs in my home than the typical person has, simply because I have a great deal of difficulty saying âNoâ when someone tells me about a dog that desperately needs a home. Besides, hoarders are not likely to be all that concerned about the law â theyâll just keep their dogs inside, in even worse conditions than if they were visible, rather than be parted from their pets. Animal hoarding is covered implicitly under every state’s animal cruelty statute, which typically requires caretakers to provide sufficient food, water and veterinary care. The ammonia level in hoarding homes can be horrific, even after the home is aired out. Regardless, there are usually too many animals that are kept in a small space and not given the appropriate care. THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. Hoarders may also resort to very dangerous methods of heating their homes when their electricity is cut off, putting everyone in the home in danger. Anyone convicted of hoarding in Alto is prohibited for owning animals for a period of one year, and can be punished by means of a $1,000 fine and/or six months of jail time. Basically, hoarders have two characteristics. Often the floors, and even the countertops, of homes where hoarding has taken place, are covered in layers of trash and feces that are inches deep. Compulsory psychological help should be mandatory in all states, not just Illinois. It also threatens people living in the home where hoarding is taking place, and their neighbors. Rather, it’s about a compulsive need to acquire animals that reaches an overwhelming state, resulting in unintentional animal neglect or abuse. Animal hoarding is a hoarding behavior characterized by an excessive need to keep as many animals as possible without providing the necessary minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, and shelter. Even when there are so many dogs that it becomes impossible to maintain a decent level of sanitation, properly nourish them all, and provide veterinary care, even when the hoarderâs own health has become compromised, and even when disease, starvation and death occur, hoarders will cling to the belief that they are providing a good standard of care for their dogs. Here are a few red flags if you suspect someone you know is hoarding cats or any type of animal:. Itâs simply one more than you can house, feed, and offer medical care to without causing unnecessary suffering. Unlike Illinois, though, Hawaii does not mandate psychological counselling. Although any animal could be hoarded, cats and dogs are more commonly the victims. Hoarders keep abnormally large numbers of animals for whom they do not provide even the most basic care. If you could spend 24 hours a day cleaning your house and still could not keep up, you have too many. This may not sound all that different from the laws in other states, but what it means is that prosecutors can charge hoarders in Hawaii with a single count that actually covers all the animals in the hoarderâs possession. They are out of touch with any kind of reality as we know it, and they have no insight into the harm that they are doing to their animals. Animals “collected” by hoarders range in species from cats and dogs to reptiles, rodents, birds, exotics and even farm animals. The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium defines the problem this way: There is an accumulation of a large number of animals. The actual number of dogs is not all that relevant â itâs the behavior involved. Because of repeated urination and defecation, his skin was scalded. Every year in the United States, a quarter of a million animals are affected by animal hoarding. The ASPCAâs position on hoarding is that there is no specific number, but that you slip over into hoarding when you have more animals than you can reasonably care for, and at the same time you deny that youâre in out of your depth. Many animal rights advocates believe that the state laws donât go nearly far enough. Iâve talked about breed bans in The Truth About Dog Bites and Should You Get a License for Your Dog, and I do worry that when governments at any level start telling citizens how many dogs they can have, breed bans may be the next step. Normally, this compulsion starts out as wanting to care for as many animals as possible. Hawaii, however, specifically prohibits hoarding, and sets a specific number â any more than 15 animals (dogs and cats only are considered; there are no provisions for birds or reptiles) constitutes hoarding if the animals are not properly cared for, and can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a criminal offense. They may also be very resistant to efforts by the ASPCA to help them achieve a manageable level when it comes to the number of dogs in the home. Animal hoarding has a negative impact on the occupants of the house. Often, though, it can be a simple matter of spaying and neutering the animals, and making sure that they have proper veterinary care. Repeated offenses can result in the offender being charged with a higher level of misdemeanor, which would carry a higher penalty. So, how many cats is too many? Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University, 5 Most Common Dog Training Mistakes (Video). Due to the many biohazards such as feces, urine, vomit, and other bodily fluids, pathogens and allergens can spread mercilessly throughout the home. And that no one will ever feel that they canât ask for help, and be treated kindly. With all this attention being afforded to hoarders of all stripes (reference a veritable media explosion on the discussion of animal and non-animal hoarding), I've noticed a trend towards a demonized depiction of the so-called, "crazy cat lady." Even after the dogs have been rescued, the effects of hoarding can have long-term effects. Many animal rights activists think the real number is much higher than that. In most states, failure of care is considered to be an act of omission, not commission, and, as such, is a misdemeanor. Animals must also be housed in a manner that does not result in harm â in other words, they must not be over-crowded, and must be protected from the elements. The only way to stop hoarding is to prosecute, and this, as we shall see shortly, can be problematic. Those animals are not receiving minimal standards of care, including sanitation. As you might expect, the overwhelming amount of animal waste also makes it virtually impossible to prepare and store food safely. And it does not provide for a ban on future ownership of animals. No specific number of pets defines a hoarder of animals over a regular pet owner. The courts are not burdened by multiple charges, and hoarders do not get away with having only one charge leveled against them when, in fact, several animals have been harmed. One, in fact, had been caged in the basement of the home, and was unable to stand. When a person hoards animals of pets, there is going to be a significant amount of waste, hazardous materials that can cause harm to people who come into contact with it. Often, the charge is a single count of animal cruelty â in other words, whether someone has neglected or starved just one dog, or 100 dogs, there may be only one count against them. The following criteria are used to define animal hoarding: An individual possesses more than the typical number of companion animals. His tongue was also sticking out of his mouth because his jaw had so badly deteriorated. Often, people do terrible things for what they think are very good reasons, and much of the time, we need to treat hoarders as compassionately as we treat our dogs. Animal hoarding is “collecting” large numbers of animals – most commonly dogs and cats – in one place, under the pretense of saving or protecting them. Very few states actually consider animal cruelty to be a felony, and the penalties may be no harsher for multiple cases of animal neglect than for a single case. So, they go with the one charge they know they can prove, the system isnât burdened, and the offender gets off relatively lightly. A breederâs dogs will also be in good condition, and there will not be more animals than is practical for the space available. In all cases of animal hoarding, the hoarder believes that the animals are better off … Occasionally, a hoarder will keep exotic or wild animals. However, when these situations spiral out of control, the quality of the animals’ lives are severely hindered and many of the hoarded pets become sick or injured. In some instances, the court may also order that the hoarder undergo psychological counselling. Basic hygiene is neglected. At least 250,000 animals are affected each year. The lack of sanitation in the home can lead to any number of human health problems, including respiratory issues, parasite infection, and general lack of hygiene. At its most horrific, animal rescuers have entered homes to find it littered with corpses in various stages of decay, some even cannibalized by other starving dogs. I hope that one day, I will never have to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television and be confronted with a horrific story of dogs that have become so ill that they had to be put down, or even died, due to hoarding. Hoarders, of course, fear losing their animals, so they donât ask for help. If you cannot afford to feed yourself decent food because you are buying cat food, you have too many. Hawaii, however, specifically prohibits hoarding, and sets a specific number – any more than 15 animals (dogs and cats only are considered; there are no provisions for birds or reptiles) constitutes hoarding if the animals are not properly cared for, and can … Hoarding level 5, the most severe type of hoarding disorder, involves severe structural damage to the residence. Toilets begin to overflow. This means, unfortunately, that often law enforcement has to become involved. Instead, deep cleaning case managers can only suggest how to sanitize the affected property and how to avoid biohazards from causing the spread of dangerous diseases. As of 2013, animal hoarding has been recognized as a mental illness and is listed in the DSM-5 under “Hoarding Disorder.” Animal hoarding has a negative impact on the animals. There is no direct evidence that proves the link between hoarding and any other specific mental disorder, but enough anecdotal evidence that would seem to strongly suggest a link. It is important, though, to understand the issues that lead to hoarding. For every single charge that is brought, prosecutors must offer proof of the harm done. Hoarding is one of the most egregious forms of animal cruelty, affecting tens of thousands of animals – mostly cats and dogs – in communities nationwide. The Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act includes a definition of animal hoarders, and mandates psychological counselling for offenders. Although it is considered animal cruelty, the prosecution process is lengthy, difficult, and usually not very effective, as hoarding is a psychological issue. Some states, though (New Hampshire and California, for instance), consider failing to provide an animal with food, drink, and shelter to be a felony. Hoarders are overwhelmingly attached to their dogs. And we all need to be alert to the problem of hoarding. Rehabilitation is hardly ever an option, so the animals that the hoarder actually loved end up being put to sleep. Air quality suffers, often to the point where rescuers need to wear protective clothing and breathing apparatus in order to remove the animals from the home. This issue is multifaceted and we have to take into account mental health, safety of the animals and the person involved, even public health safety. The ALDF (Animal Legal Defense Fund) requested and received a ban on the defendantsâ owning any animals for a period of 10 years. Animal Hoarding: The hoarding of pets and animals is believed to be a mental illness. The dogs were in horrible condition. If the situation has progressed to the point where dogs are in danger, donât hesitate. Its not about numbers its about if a person can physically and financially care for the animals and if they are willing to care for the animals they have. Hoarders are not often able to provide basic care for their dogs, and the result is disease at best, and death at worst. The animals are so ill that they will not respond to veterinary treatment, and they are so traumatized that they are highly unlikely to be adoptable. Every year 3,500 animal hoarders come to the attention of authorities. If you know the hoarder personally, there is nothing wrong with talking to him or her, and offering reassurance that help is available. A desire to protect animals spirals out of control, and the hoarder tries to take on responsibilities that are well beyond anyoneâs reasonable ability. If the hoarder is elderly, dementia could be at the root of the hoarding behavior, in which case Adult Protective Services may be able to provide help. Obviously, you donât need me to tell you that dog hoarders are mentally ill. Itâs obvious. Does anyone know if there is any set number of cats that is now considered illegal and will result in charges being brought against you? The person responsible fails to take action to correct the deteriorating condition of the animals and their housing. Hoarding is animal abuse. But if you think you know of an instance of hoarding, you can help. It is the internal and compulsive need to not only have animals in your home, but to also control them. Animal hoarding is actually a much deeper issue than just having lots of pets. Sometimes, hoarders are very resistant to getting help, and the only way to ensure the health and well-being of the dogs is to have them seized. These diseases can infect human beings, causing an epidemic that can been avoided by getting animal hoarding help and properly caring for these pets. For instance, in Alto, Georgia, hoarding is specifically prohibited. Insects and rodents are also attracted to a property that has succumb to animal hoarding. Some estimate that as many as 1 in 4 people with OCD also have compulsive hoarding. Whether a person has two animals or two dozen animals should be irrelevant. You can also offer to help walk the dogs, and maybe even bring over a bag of dog food from time to time. After all, it is certainly possible for people to take care of many dogs at once, and an arbitrary number does nothing to forestall cruelty. 12 Recidivism in this context refers to the frequency with which people reacquire multiple animals after having animals legally removed. Itâs not all bad news, though. As previously stated, prosecuting hoarders can be problematic. It is important for animal hoarders to remember that their unsanitary homes are hazardous not only to themselves but to their pets as well. Sometimes, the hoarder has to be prosecuted, if only as a deterrent to others who may engage in this harmful behavior. In as much as 80% of hoarding cases, animals are found dead or in severe condition. The hoarders continue to try to convince themselves that nothing is wrong. Animals collected range from cats and dogs to reptiles, rodents, birds, exotics and even farm animals. One of the many hoarding questions is, “How many animals are too many in hoarding situations?” In many cities, counties, and states in the US, there is no definitive legal answer. They feel compelled to acquire animals, and the compulsion does not go away even when it should be obvious to any reasonable person that it is going to be impossible to care for so many. In fact, according Jacey Burch of Local 10 News in Florida, many cities do not have pet or animal limit laws on the books at all. If you cannot afford to keep all of the cats in clean litter, with clean food, you have too many. So hoarding doesnât just harm the hoarder and his or her animals, it adversely affects everyone in the household. What should matter when determining the likelihood that an animal hoarding situation has developed or not is if the animals in question are well-groomed, well-fed, provided sufficient space to grow and exercise, and if they are taught to use the bathroom in safe and sanitary ways. Hoarders, sadly, donât, and thatâs something that we should all be concerned about. Many animal hoarders report that they were abused as children, so this is the basis for the theory that animal hoarding may go hand in hand with attachment disorder. Even in municipalities where there are limits on how many pets one can own, it is often possible to obtain a permit to keep multiple animals. Finding the correct course of action to ensure a safe and effective recovery process can be achieved by asking for help from an animal hoarding professional. I know my limit. Letâs talk more about those results. Hoarding seems to be strongly connected to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and is sometimes considered a type of OCD. In fact, according Jacey Burch of Local 10 News in Florida, many cities do not have pet or animal limit laws on the books at all. In most states, this means that each animal must have access to enough food and water to ensure good health, and that medical care must be sought when necessary. However, five is the most dogs Iâve ever had at one time, so I donât think that exactly qualifies me as a âcrazy dog person.â If Iâd had 25 dogs instead of five, of course, you might reasonably question my mental stability. They keep an unusual number of dogs, and may try to justify their behavior by claiming that they are breeders. In addition, when a person does have too many animals or pets, the assistance of a trained, experienced professional pet hoarding cleanup specialist will be needed. The hoarder may more easily form close bonds with animals rather than people. The offender may face criminal charges at the State Attorneyâs discretion. However, the situation and the way the pets are cared for are the determining factors. I’ve always been worried that I might cross the line and be considered a hoarder. Some of the best dogs Iâve ever had have been âfreebies,â in fact. Dogs are considered geriatric when they reach about 8 years of age, and geriatric dogs need exams, blood work, and urinalysis at least twice yearly. Whether a person has two animals or two dozen animals should be irrelevant. Animals are confined to … ... Quality of life is imperative at all stages of life for animals! Hoarding cleaning is the first step in the process of ensuring the safety of pets and owners that may be trapped in their own homes. Persistence, despite this failure, in accumulating and controlling animals; There are many similarities between animal hoarding and object hoarding, including the common side effects of the behavior: a cluttered, non-functional and sometimes dangerously unclean living space; social alienation; and denial/refusal to seek help. In a majority of documented animal hoarding cases, most pet owners believe that they are helping their animals by keeping them away from animal shelters and kill shelters. Eighty percent of animal hoarders have diseased, dying, or … Pet ownership vs. According to Dr. Gary Patronek of the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University, hoarders have a compulsive need to acquire animals, along with an inability to perceive that their animals are suffering. Hoarders often have difficulty organizing. Compulsive hoarding was commonly considered to be a type of OCD. Of course, itâs not all good news, either, because that means that hoarders can claim to be breeders, and get a multiple pet exemption. Serious hoarders also frequently fail to pay their utility bills because every penny they have has to go to feeding their dogs (who are still not getting enough to eat), leading to a lack of electricity and running water. Itâs also a slippery slope. Hoarding or caching in animal behavior is the storage of food in locations hidden from the sight of both conspecifics (animals of the same or closely related species) and members of other species. They donât just neglect themselves â they neglect their children, and elderly people in the home. I want that for dogs, hoarders, and all of us who desire nothing more than a better world for the animals we love. A first offense is a misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses can be prosecuted as a Class 4 felony. Sometimes, the stress of trying to look after so many dogs, coupled with the effort that it takes to maintain the delusion that nothing is wrong, spills over into actual abuse. Hoarders are not just too unable to care for their dogs; they are also incapable of taking care of themselves, or any humans who may live with them. The individual in question cannot tell you exactly how many cats/animals they have in their home. How do you know how many pets are “too many”? Animal hoarding affects a percentage of the sixteen million reported people in the US who suffer from compulsive hoarding. form of animal abuse affecting thousands of animals each year So, how many dogs is too many? First of all, you can contact your local ASPCA or Humane Society. Much of the time, rather than prosecute, officials will offer a plea bargain in exchange for the animals being turned over. Gary Patronek maintains that limiting the number of animals one may own is bound to be opposed by breeders, rescue groups, and other organizations concerned with animal welfare.