THE HUMAN ISSUES BEHIND

ANIMAL HOARDING

VICKY HALLS RVN Dip Couns MBACP

Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors

INTRODUCTION

Hoarding of Animal

Research Consortium

Lack of data

Increase awareness in the

welfare sector, veterinary

profession and general

public

Early intervention

CONTENTS

Defining ‘Animal Hoarding’

Characteristics of ‘hoarders’

Explanatory models

HARC sub-categories

Specifics

Consequences

Interventions

Recognising hoarders

ANIMAL HOARDING

Definition:

“Someone who accumulates a large number of animals; fails to provide minimal standards of nutrition,

sanitation and veterinary care; and fails to act on the deteriorating condition of the animals (including

disease, starvation and even death) or the environment (severely overcrowded and unsanitary

conditions), or the negative impact of the collection on their own health and well-being.” [Patronek (1999)]

FACTS ABOUT ANIMAL HOARDING

Almost every type of animal can

be a victim of hoarding -

domestic, farm animals, exotics,

dangerous wildlife

Cats are very common - easily

available, easier to conceal than

dogs

In most situations, hoarders tend

to concentrate on one species

ANIMAL HOARDING

To be distinguished from:

Compulsive hoarders

(inanimate objects)

People who live in squalor

(Diogenes Syndrome)

People who live with large

numbers of animals for whom

they provide adequate care

CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL

HOARDERS

Hoarders of inanimate objects also

Non-functional utilities (plumbing)

Perceive themselves as rescuers

CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL

HOARDERS

Anthropomorphic

Intense love of animals

“No-one else cares better”

CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL

HOARDERS Childhood: chaotic, inconsistent parenting

Belief that they possess special abilities to communicate with animals

Recidivists

EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR

ANIMAL HOARDING

Delusional model

Hoarders insist that

their animals are well

cared for, despite clear

and immediate

information to the

contrary

EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR

ANIMAL HOARDING

Impulse control model

Addiction akin to substance

abuse: preoccupation with

animals, denial of a

problem, excuses for the

behaviour, isolation from

society, claims of

persecution and neglect of

personal and environmental

conditions

EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR

ANIMAL HOARDING

Compulsive Disorder

The Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual of

Mental Disorders (DSM-

V) classifies the hoarding

of inanimate objects as

‘hoarding disorder’ under

obsessive-compulsive

and related disorders

(animal hoarding special

manifestation)

EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR

ANIMAL HOARDING

Attachment model

The individual may suffer

from early developmental

deprivation associated with

childhood experiences of

absent, neglectful or

abusive parents and is

unable to establish close

human relationships in

adulthood

SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD

Overwhelmed caregiver

Rescue hoarder

Exploiter hoarder

SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD

Overwhelmed caregiver

Some awareness

Passive acquisition

Triggered by change in

circumstances

Inability to problem-solve

SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD

Overwhelmed caregiver

Socially isolated

Caregiver = self-esteem

Fewer issues with authority

Animals “family members”

SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD

Rescue hoarder

Mission -> unavoidable

compulsion

Fear of death

More active vs. passive

acquisition

Only one who can provide

care

SUB-CATEGORY OF HOARDERS Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD

Rescue hoarder

Extensive network of

enablers

Doesn’t necessarily live

with the animals

Rescue -> adoption

becomes rescue only

SUB-CATEGORY OF HOARDERS Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD

Exploiter hoarder

Tends to have

sociopathic tendencies

Lacks empathy for

people or animals

Indifferent to harm

caused

Rejects outsiders’

concern

SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD

Exploiter hoarder

Superficial charm and

charisma

Lacks guilt/remorse

Manipulative and cunning

Adopts controlling role of

expert

DEMOGRAPHICS OF ANIMAL

HOARDING

US Studies:

Patronek 1999

76% female (>60yrs = 46%)

Most were single, half lived alone

65% hoarded cats

57% cases brought to authorities’ attention by neighbours

DEMOGRAPHICS OF ANIMAL

HOARDING

% of women owners in complaint calls with >10 cats

2006: 62% 2007: 66% *

*More recent data unavailable

Source: UK (RSPCA Inspectorate Information Analyst)

DEALING WITH HOARDERS

Owner (hoarder)

Family, friends, ‘enablers’

Neighbours

Other agencies/charities

DEALING WITH HOARDERS

Justification

Excuses

Normalise behaviour

DEALING WITH HOARDERS

Empathic (accept working with

owner’s ‘reality’)

Genuine

Non-judgemental

Practical

Respectful

DEALING WITH HOARDERS

Keep records of all

conversations,

interventions etc.

IMPACT OF ANIMAL HOARDING

Huge impact on

resources

Large number of

animals

Possible prosecution

Recidivism

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Early intervention

Offering support and

guidance when the need

for intervention is

acknowledged

Overwhelmed caregivers

Breeders

‘Rescue’

Pet owners

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Increased knowledge

and awareness

Veterinary

Profession

Welfare Sector

General public

SIGNS OF ANIMAL HOARDING

Evidence of hoarding

objects

Property in disrepair

Strong smells, flies

SIGNS OF ANIMAL HOARDING

Owner of property ‘reclusive’

Owner reluctant to let

anyone in

Feeding strays or feral

colony

Large number of cats in the

vicinity

SIGNS OF ‘OVERWHELMED

CAREGIVER’ IN RESCUE

CENTRES

Poor conditions

High numbers for available

facilities

Reluctance to provide

details of:

Routine & veterinary care

Re-homing

numbers/statistics

POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR ANIMAL

HOARDING?

Vigilance

Earlier intervention

RSPCA continuing to work

alongside Social Services

and Environmental Health

ASPCA – Cruelty

Intervention Advocacy

Programme

POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR ANIMAL

HOARDING?

Psychiatric care and/or

Cognitive Behavioural

Therapy (CBT) for the

hoarder?

Further research

“Inside Animal Hoarding”

The Case of Barbara Erickson and

her 552 dogs

www.vet.tufts.edu/hoarding

www.aspcapro.org

THE END Thank you for listening