| Many people collect things: antiques, stamps or | | | | This is true even in cases where the home is so |
| coins. Not unusual. Animal hoarders, sometimes | | | | filthy and neglected that it must be torn down. A |
| known as "collectors", are people who accumulate | | | | reasonable argument has been made that, in |
| animals beyond their space, time, and financial | | | | some cases, hoarders of inanimate objects have |
| ability to cope. Animal hoarding transcends simply | | | | suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
| having more than the typical number of animals. | | | | (OCD), a recognized psychological disorder. Recent |
| The working definition of a hoarder is someone | | | | studies tie animal hoarding to OCD. Two major |
| who: | | | | features of OCD: people with this syndrome |
| - Accumulates a large number of animals. | | | | experience an overwhelming sense of |
| - Fails to provide minimal standards of nutrition, | | | | responsibility for imagined harm to animals, and |
| sanitation, and veterinary care. | | | | they engage in unrealistic steps to fulfill this |
| - Fails to act on the deteriorating condition of the | | | | responsibility. |
| animals (including disease, starvation, and even | | | | Often the mere sight of an animal in need of a |
| death), or the environment (severely | | | | home prompts an emotional attachment so |
| overcrowded and unsanitary conditions). | | | | powerful that the animal must be acquired. Once |
| - Fails to act on or recognize the negative. | | | | acquired, the animal receives very little attention |
| We've all seen news stories showing dozens of | | | | to its most basic needs, because attention has |
| sickly cats being removed from a "garbage | | | | already been turned to the next 'rescue' effort. |
| house". We wonder how it began and how things | | | | There is reluctance to relinquish any animals, even |
| got to that point. Dr. Gary Patronek of Tufts | | | | when responsible caring homes are available. |
| University has begun a study with professors at | | | | Our understanding of this problem is still very |
| other universities to better understand how and | | | | limited. While animal care specialists recognize |
| why people change from animal lovers to animal | | | | these people are in need of psychiatric help, |
| abusers. Nearly 2,000 cases are reported each | | | | almost no psychiatric literature exists on this topic. |
| year nationally. From numerous case studies Dr. | | | | Researchers are trying to convince public officials |
| Patronek found some very interesting statistics: | | | | that mental health treatment of offenders would |
| - The majority (76%) of hoarders were female | | | | be more helpful than criminal prosecution, since |
| and 54% were under 60 years of age. | | | | punishment has not been proven to prevent |
| - 70% were unmarried. | | | | recurrence. |
| - The most frequently involved animals were cats | | | | Not every person living with multiple animals is a |
| (65%), dogs (60%) and birds (11%). | | | | hoarder. Many people are capable of caring for |
| - There was a median number of 39 animals per | | | | several animals, and many people do legitimate |
| case, but many exceeded 100 animals. | | | | rescue work out of their homes. We simply need |
| - In 80% of cases, there were animals that were | | | | to be aware of the existence of this problem, and |
| dead or in poor condition, and in 58% of these, | | | | be careful not to enable those who may be |
| the hoarder would not acknowledge that a | | | | acquiring animals for the wrong reasons, or in the |
| problem existed. | | | | wrong situations. Remember that when it comes |
| - 60% of the hoarders studied were repeat | | | | to animals, "Love is NOT all you need." |
| offenders. | | | | Special thanks and acknowledgement to Dr. Gary |
| One common and peculiar characteristic of people | | | | Patronek, VMD, Ph.D., Director of Tufts |
| who hoard animals is a persistent and powerful | | | | University's Center for Animals, for his permission |
| belief that they are providing proper care for their | | | | to share the results of his studies. |
| animals, despite clear evidence to the contrary. | | | | |