Animal Hoarding

Let's begin by mentioning a few things about Animal Hoarding.
 * Keep in mind that Hoarding *and* Animal Hoarding are mental disorders. Persons who hoard animals truly believe that they are helping these animals.
 * Although this may be upsetting - we should be supportive of those who may have this disorder.

The term "animal hoarding" refers to the compulsive need to collect and own animals for the sake of caring for them that results in accidental or unintentional neglect or abuse. Most animal hoarders fall victim to their good intentions and end up emotionally overwhelmed, socially isolated, and alienated from family and friends. The problem causes immense suffering for both animals and people. It also can create great expense for local animal shelters and may require regional and national efforts to find homes for large numbers of animals.

You are encouraged to recognize that there are limits on the number of pets that can be cared for and maintained successfully. (See Suggested Limits section below)

What is Animal Hoarding?
From: https://hoarding.iocdf.org/about-hoarding/subtypes-of-hoarding-disorder/

Animal hoarding occurs when an individual has a large number of animals but fails to meet the animals’ basic care needs (for example, failing to providing food and water, clean environment, and/or veterinary care). Animals in hoarding situations often live in poor environments, and suffer from malnutrition, severe overcrowding, and/or extremely unsanitary conditions. People who hoard animals often do not recognize the harm they are causing the animals. They may continue to acquire additional animals and/or strive to maintain their current number of animals despite the animals’ deteriorating health.

Animal hoarding may have similar symptoms to HD with regard to difficulty discarding and clutter in the home, and squalor conditions may be present in homes where animals are allowed to roam freely. However, it seems likely that animal hoarding results from different processes and responds to different kinds of treatment. Because different disorders require different treatments, it is important to make sure you receive the right diagnosis.

from: https://vet.tufts.edu/hoarding/about/

Animal Hoarding previously known as "collecting", is a poorly understood phenomenon which trancends simply owning or caring for more than the typical number of pets, and affects every community in the US. It has serious consequences for people, animals, and communities. New cases are reported in the media each day, with dozens of others unreported, and still more undetected.

Animal hoarding is not about animal sheltering, rescue, or sanctuary, and should not be confused with these legitimate efforts to help animals. It IS about satisfying a human need to accumulate animals and control them, and this need supercedes the needs of the animals involved.

Suggested Limits
Below, are listed the limitations designated by the City of Dallas Code, Section 7-4.6 (which I think are very good guidelines for limiting our own pet ownership).

From Dallas Ordinances:
 * (b) A person commits an offense if he harbors more than four dogs, cats, or any combination of dogs and cats on the premises of a dwelling unit that shares a common wall with another dwelling unit.
 * (c) A person commits an offense if he harbors more than:
 * (1) six dogs, cats, or any combination of dogs and cats on the premises of a dwelling unit that shares no common wall with another dwelling unit and that is located on not more than one-half acre of land; or
 * (2) eight dogs, cats, or any combination of dogs and cats on the premises of a dwelling unit that shares no common wall with another dwelling unit and that is located on more than one-half acre of land.
 * (d) In determining the number of dogs or cats harbored on the premises of a dwelling unit under Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the director shall not count any dog or cat under six months of age or any feral cat participating in a trap, neuter, and return program approved by the director.

(legalese - but you get the picture)

Find Help and Information
If you currently have more than the number of pets listed below, please consider getting help for yourself (and for your animals).

If you suspect that you or someone in your life may be hoarding animals, check out the resource page for Animal Hoarding here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/animalhoarding/comments/1kiplr/animal_hoarding_resource_list_beta_version/ (great resouce!)

Or check out the websites for Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) or the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) to find a listing of therapists in your area who are trained to treat hoarding issues.

Click on "Find Help" to find a listing of therapists and support through IOCDF: https://hoarding.iocdf.org/about-hoarding/

Click on "Find Help" to find treatment and support through the ADAA: https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/hoarding-basics/animal-hoarding

Links
return to category:Hoarding and Decluttering
 * https://hoarding.iocdf.org/about-hoarding/subtypes-of-hoarding-disorder/
 * https://vet.tufts.edu/hoarding/about/
 * https://hoarding.iocdf.org/about-hoarding/
 * https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/hoarding-basics/animal-hoarding
 * https://www.reddit.com/r/animalhoarding/comments/1kiplr/animal_hoarding_resource_list_beta_version/