Module 9.3

Question 1

Animal hoarding

Answer 1

Failure to provide basic care for large # animals
Inability to see effect
Denial of conditions and suffering
Obsession with acquiring more animals
One of more severe forms of abuse-duration
Usually not intended to cause harm
Animals are victims & symptoms of the problem

Question 2

Patronek study 1999

Answer 2

1/2 hoarded 60yrs +
3/4 female
Cats and dogs
1/2 in single-person households
Dead or in poor condition in 80% of cases
Median # 39 animals/case

Question 3

Animal hoarding-environment

Answer 3

Lack of safe food/water
Lack of adequate, accessible shelter
Lack of medical care
Cannibalism/scavenging can be encountered
Finding deceased animals is not uncommon
-found where they died, where hoarded placed them
-search warrants must include live and dead, born and unborn, above and below ground

Question 4

Animal hoarder types

Answer 4

Overwhelmed caregiver 40%
Rescuer 20%
Exploiter 40%

Question 5

Overwhelmed caregiver

Answer 5

Acquires passively
Cooperative-allow checks without warrant
Doesn’t deny problem, minimizes

Question 6

Exploiter

Answer 6

Indifferent
Lacks empathy, sociopath?
Charming/cunning
Some breeders (puppy mills) and launderers
Prosecution likely necessary

Question 7

Rescue

Answer 7

Start with good intentions, do not maintain care
No one else can care for animals
Fears death/euth
Actively acquired
Enabled
Prosecution maybe necessary

Question 8

Hoarders

Answer 8

Maybe in extreme denial
Ask for welfare check or free 1/2 hr housecall to assess situation and advise O-call if bad/refused
Not unusual to need LE
100% relapse rate