Animal Hoarding: Part 2: How to Identify a Hoarder

Part 1 of this series provided an overview of the problem of animal hoarding. Part 2 addresses how to identify animal hoarding.

Just because someone has a large number of animals does not mean that he or she is an animal hoarder. If the animals are well fed, live in a well-maintained environment, and get adequate exercise and veterinary care, this cannot be considered hoarding. Signs of a true hoarding situation include some combination of the following:

• Numerous animals, and the owner may not know exactly how many animals there are
• A home that is deteriorated, extremely cluttered, and unclean
• A strong smell of ammonia, with animal excretions on the floor
• Animals that give clear signs of distress, malnutrition, illness, and lack of socialization
• The individual is isolated from the community and is in a state of personal neglect.

Animal hoarders cover the spectrum of age, ethnicity, and gender; although the majority are women and over 60 years old. Most of them are in denial about the severity of the situation. Even with evidence of filth and animals in poor health or even dying, the hoarder is unable to comprehend the situation for what it is and will believe the animals are loved and cared for.

As mentioned in Part 1, an animal hoarder can also be extremely manipulative in deceiving others and persuasive in obtaining more animals. A case in point is that some hoarders pose as rescue groups and sanctuaries, even legally setting themselves up as 501(c)(3) not-for-profit rescue shelters. Some will claim breeder status. It behooves anyone facilitating animal rescue and adoption to carefully examine the credentials and home or facilities of any individual or group before giving over an animal.

According to the ASPCA, signs that a rescue group or shelter may involve hoarding:

• The group is unwilling to let visitors see the location where animals are kept. 
• The group will not disclose the number of animals in its care. 
• Little effort is made to adopt animals out.
• More animals are continually taken in, despite the poor condition of existing animals. 
• Legitimate shelters and rescue organizations are viewed as the enemy. 
• Animals may be received at a remote location (parking lot, street corner, etc.) rather than at the group's facilities.

Part 3 of this series examines animal hoarding and the law, and Part 4 offers suggestions on how you can help deter hoarding activities at an individual level and in your community.