On October 13th, 2007, authorities seized 160 cats, 106 dogs and 31 birds in a rural town in Lee County, Illinois. Most of the animals were dehydrated and malnourished. Many of the dogs were blind. 200 more animal carcasses were found lying on the floor, around the property, in the refrigerator, and stuffed in barrels. The home was dilapidated, covered with feces, and infested with maggots, fleas and rats. Barbara Munroe, a 65-year-old woman who lived alone, was charged with eight misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and two counts of violating owner's duties. She pled not guilty.
The Humane Society in DeKalb, IL estimated it would cost $138,000 a month to care for the dogs, cats and birds seized. Munroe stated it cost her $1,500 a week to pay for the pets' food.
Officials said the case appears to be one of the state's largest cases of animal hoarding, a mental illness usually linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression or anxiety. There is a 100% recidivism rate for animal hoarders.
Animal Hoarding
Approximately 1,500 new animal hoarding cases are discovered in America annually. That means that thousands of animals suffer and/or die in squalid surroundings. Nearly 250,000 animals are victims of animal hoarding each year.
According to the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium, the following criteria are used to define animal hoarding:
- More than the typical number of companion animals
- Inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter, and veterinary care, with this neglect often resulting in starvation, illness, and death
- Denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and the impact of that failure on the animals, the household, and human occupants of the dwelling
Almost every conceivable type of animal can be a victim of hoarding. Companion pets such as dogs, cats, rodents, birds, and reptiles are the most common victims. Farm animals are also hoarded; horses, goats, and pigs. Exotic animals and wildlife are frequent victims as well. Unfortunately, hoarding consistently results in severe or fatal neglect to the animals the hoarder has in their custody.
Animal hoarding, sometimes referred to as "collecting," continues to struggle with public misconceptions. People may view a hoarder as the sweet cat lady down the street, someone who will save any pet. While their intentions may indeed have been good, the reality of hoarding is far from sweet, and is often quite horrific. Family members and friends are usually the first to recognize when an individual crosses over the line from loving animals to hoarding them.
The hoarder
The most prominent psychological feature of hoarders is that pets become central to the hoarder's core identity. Many hoarders believe that their lives' mission is to save animals. Hoarders frequently look at their animals as surrogate children. They believe that only they can appropriately care for them. They not only deny that there is a problem, they justify their actions. The thought of losing or euthanizing a pet is never acceptable, and can bring on intense grief reactions. Eventually, animal hoarding consumes all of the individual's money, time and emotions. Animal hoarders invariably withdraw from family, friends and society in general.
Several models have been suggested as why certain individuals hoard animals: addiction, obsession and compulsion, delusional, dementia, and attachment disorders. The addiction model suggests hoarders are very similar to alcoholics and drug addicts; they have a preoccupation with animals, deny a problem, make excuses for their behavior, isolate from society, claim persecution, and have a high recidivism rate. Hoarding is also a common characteristic in individuals who have an obsessive compulsive disorder; over 80% of animal hoarders also hoard inanimate objects. The delusional model suggests that the hoarder is not in touch with reality. Hoarders are frequently paranoid of officials who are actually trying to help. Their beliefs about their special talents related to empathizing and communicating with their pets are delusional. Their perception of this situation is further evidence that they are not in touch with reality. They insist that their animals are healthy and being well cared for, despite overwhelming evidence that they are starving, sick or dying. The attachment disorder model is used to explain why some animal hoarders prefer relationships with animals rather than other human beings. Hoarders simply see animals as less threatening than people. Individuals who grew up in chaotic or abusive homes may view their animals as a sign of personal stability and security. Hoarders frequently crave unconditional love, which may have been withheld by significant others, but is given freely by pets. Recent research indicates that animal hoarding may also be a warning sign for early stages of dementia.
Animal rescuers frequently are hoarders. They develop a compulsion to save animals from euthanasia, believing that only they can provide loving care to their charges. They simply cannot turn any animal away. When an average citizen doesn't want to place their pet in a shelter, they bring it to the sweet cat lady down the street. Hoarders frequently work within the network of organizations concerned about the welfare of animals. This aspect of hoarding behavior is common among no-kill shelters. The thought of euthanizing a pet, peacefully and painlessly, is terrifying. Instead, they maintain that animals are better off being warehoused for years, even under deplorable conditions.
Even worse is the exploitive hoarder who acquires animals for their own needs, most frequently financial. This type of hoarder is indifferent to the harm or death of any animal. Examples are those who acquire mass numbers of animals for breeding or for sales profit.
A fate worse than death
Overcrowded and filthy conditions facilitate the transmission of worms, fleas, mange, ear mites, upper respiratory infections, parvo, distemper, and even rabies from one hoarded animal to another. Most hoarded animals never receive veterinary care. They are rarely spayed or neutered, further escalating the problems. Wounds and fractures are seldom treated appropriately. Companion pets that are ignored may develop aggressive behaviors or produce feral offspring.
The legal system
Tragically, conditions have to become extreme before law enforcement officials can intervene. Animal hoarders do not willingly open their doors to officers. Officers must demonstrate probable cause to obtain a warrant to search the home or facility.
All states have animal cruelty laws that stipulate minimal care standards; food, shelter, veterinary care, and sanitary conditions. Legislation has been enacted in a few states specifically addressing animal hoarding. State laws vary as to what number of pets constitutes animal hoarding. Typically animal hoarding charges are misdemeanors.
Jail time is often part of the sentencing process of an animal hoarder. An extended probation period is ideal to allow a hoarder an opportunity to establish new patterns of behavior. A condition of probation must include an agreement by the hoarder to periodic unannounced visits from animal control and/or a probation officer to ensure compliance. Since the recidivism rate is about 100%, the Humane Society also recommends that these individuals be restricted to owning a small number of spayed or neutered animals (two is a reasonable number). Hoarders should be prohibited from having animals on any other property they own as well. Additionally, they should be barred from performing community service around animals, especially in an animal shelter. Probation should also include making sure that any pet has an identification chip implanted, and that veterinary care is being provided. The Humane Society recommends that convicted animal hoarders be sentenced to mandatory psychological evaluation and treatment.
Treatment options
Although what causes individuals to hoard animals is still poorly understood, evidence suggests that hoarders do exhibit symptoms of mental illness. A combination of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and medications used to treat anxiety disorders may be of some value. Unfortunately, the success rate for treating animal hoarding is low.
Law enforcement intervention
The earlier the intervention in an animal hoarding situation, the better; otherwise the problem will grow and grow for years. About 60% of animal hoarding cases are brought to the attention of authorities by neighbors who make complaints of odors, barking dogs, rodent or insect infestations, and unsanitary conditions. Law enforcement officers may be called to check on the welfare of a hoarder by a friend or family member. You should suspect animal hoarding if the subject in question refuses to allow you into their home or facility. Warning signs of hoarding in no-kill shelters include operators who refuse to discuss the number of animals in custody, who actively solicit for animals, or continue to accept animals regardless of their current population.