Neglect, Hoarding, and Puppy Mills

Question 1

What is the Definition of Statutory Language?

Answer 1

Failure to provide an animal w/ appropriate sustenance for comfort and life

Question 2

In Neglect, Hoarding, and Puppy Mill cases what are they failing to provide the animals?

Answer 2

-Adequate food
-Water
-Shelter from weather
-Sanitary conditions
-Grooming
-Veterinary care

Question 3

KNOW FOR THE FINAL: WHAT IS THE REASONABLE PERSON STANDARD?

Answer 3

A reasonable person is a hypothetical individual who approaches any situation with the appropriate amount of caution and sensibly takes action

-What would a reasonably prudent person done with an animal in a situation of neglect?

Question 4

What are the reasons for neglect assuming a responsible individual?

Answer 4

-Does not care about the animal
-Ignorance: Does not know how to take care of the animal they have
-Lack of awareness of resources available (PETCO)
-Greed
-Cultural Beliefs

Question 5

What are two reasons for starvation and dehydration of an animal?

Answer 5

1. Don’t have access to appropriate nutritious food
   (spoiled, sealed in packaging, in a container they cannot reach)
2. Being fed a non-equivalent species diet (human food, cat food, etc.)

Question 6

Pica

Answer 6

-Evidence shows the animal was starving, wants to eat, is physically capable of eating, has the ability to chew and swallow (goes against an owner saying they were never hungry)

Question 7

Intermittent Feeding

Answer 7

-Leads to emaciated animals
-Starvation, feeding, starvation, feeding, etc.
-May lead to death from parasites or a bacterial infection due to weakened state

Question 8

Abandonment

Answer 8

-Abandoning an animal WITHOUT providing for nutrition and water violates the “reasonable person” standard

-Animals don’t have to be abandoned in closed spaces; can also die from dehydration WITH outdoor access

Question 9

Dry Squalor vs Wet Squalor

Answer 9

Dry Squalor
-Accumulation of junk including papers, food containers, clothes on floor, etc.
-NOT decaying but dirty!

Wet Squalor
-Rotting food, human and animal fecal waste, mice, cockroaches, rotting food, etc.
-DECAYING!

Question 10

What Serves as Evidence for Lack of Grooming?

Answer 10

-Overgrown hooves

-Overgrown teeth/beaks

-Embedded nails

-Heavy matted coats (can prevent normal movement, defecation, limb strangulation, etc.)

Question 11

KNOW FOR FINAL: WHAT ARE THE 3 MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS OF HOARDERS?

Answer 11

1. Overwhelmed Caregiver
2. Rescue Hoarders
3. Exploiter Hoarders

Question 12

Overwhelmed Caregiver

Answer 12

-May start as a hobby pet breeder
-Often suffer life change (loss of a spouse or job which triggers accumulation of animals)
-They genuinely care!
-Easiest one to deal with; cooperative!

Question 13

Rescue Hoarder

Answer 13

-Will NOT cooperate
-May have started off as a rescue before spiraling into a hoarding case
-Believe ONLY THEY ARE CAPABLE of saving animals
-WILL NOT give up on animals; they are better off without you!
-Reluctant to part with any animals
-Needs to be in control!

Question 14

Exploiter Hoarder

Answer 14

-Use the animals for personal gain, often financial
-Can be charming at first but will become NASTY and AGGRESSIVE
-Some may even booby trap properties
-Greedy and exhibit antisocial personality disorders

Question 15

What are common signs of hoarding?

Answer 15

-Will not letting visitors see their facilities
-Will not say how many animals they have
-Smells of ammonia
-Only acquiring animals at a remote location, NEVER on site!

Question 16

Scene Documentation

Answer 16

-# of live and dead animals
-Timeline evidence (digital evidence, written documents, receipts, etc)
-Any medications found (some animals are taken to the vet)

-Name of Veterinarian
(important b/c it could show that the person was deliberately going to different veterinarians)
-Date of prescription/date of expiration
-Name of animal
-Amount that has been used
-Who medication was prescribed to