Pet hoarding is a serious issue in the U.S. and as a result of this it has become a common occurrence to open up the morning paper in any given city to find a pet hoarder has been arrested. Forget about that little old lady down the street with the five cats, when we’re discussing pet hoarders we are talking about those who keep twenty to even a hundred pets at one time. A classic example of pet hoarding can be found in the case of one Springfield, Oh. home. According to authorities “A home where county officials found 71 dead cats has been declared unfit for living. The Clark County Combined Health District condemned the home Friday, Sept. 12 -- a day after the discovery that included 53 live cats at 2425 Beatrice St.”
Though they claim their intentions are to help keep the pets safe, pet hoarders often provide a miserable existence for the animals they are trying to protect. They often live in *** ridden homes and are known to have difficulty letting their pets go even after they are deceased. Being there is not distinct profile in terms of the age and sex of pet hoarders, Pet-Abuse.com does give a few tips for those who fear they may have a pet hoarder living in their area:
- More than the typical number of companion animals
- Inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter, and veterinary care, with this neglect often resulting in starvation, illness, and death
- Denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and the impact of that failure on the animals, the household, and human occupants of the dwelling
The important thing to remember about pet hoarders is that more times than not, they are the victims of some type of psychological trauma themselves. Many grew up in chaotic homes in which they lacked security and therefore turned to pets for comfort. If you feel there is a pet hoarder living in your area please contact your local authorities and express your concerns.