It is one thing to be an animal lover and another to be an animal hoarder. Some of us who have pets at home understand that be it a dog or cat, they need tender loving care, feeding, daily walks and regular grooming. One might have one or two dogs, three cats perhaps a couple of birds, but what happens when someone starts hoarding animals?
Hoarding per say is not normal behavior, in fact it is deemed a mental health issue. Hoarding animals would involve someone taking in animals, most of the time stray ones and perhaps living with 50-100 plus animals. The animals tend to be living in terrible conditions where the home reeks of urine and feces. Sometimes it is so bad, the owner does not know that some of the animals are dead amongst the live ones.
Living in such conditions is simply unacceptable not just for any human beings but for the animals as well. It actually falls under animal cruelty and abuse, which could result in criminal charges. Putting aside criminal charges, this is a health hazard not just for the owner and the animals but the surrounding neighborhood. Imagine the spread of disease from one animal to neighboring pets. Infestation of flies that sit on feces and travel to exposed food on kitchen counters. Not to forget attracting pests like rats and mice with no intent to find important details on how to get rid of them!
This is no longer a livable situation and the hoarder is actually a danger to themselves and their surroundings. It becomes a community issue because it impacts the people around the hoarder. Understanding that hoarding is a mental disease, a psychological issue, don’t judge the hoarder but help them. Most of us would simply cringe at the thought of going near a home like this but the truth is, it is almost a duty you have to keep your environment safe without judging the person or the family.
Our recommendation is for you to first and foremost observe activity around a hoarders home without being invasive. With an animal hoarder, you are bound to see animals go in and out of the home and there will be a stench that possibly will reek to the front yard of the house. When the person comes out to get the mail or leaves the house, are they coming home with pets that you have not seen before? Are they constantly having issues with barking dogs at odd hours of the day, or is there a sudden influx of kittens around the house? If it is your next door, neighbor, are the animals seen trying to peek outside the window through drapes or blinds to catch some sunlight? Now imagine having 111 animals in the home! That would be a sight worth investigating!!
Without being discriminatory, perhaps after observing and concluding that there are way too many animals in a home, perhaps have a friendly chat with your local SPCA and see if they know anything about the pets in the hoarder’s home. The SPCA may just be a great resource to inspect and check in on the animals. Should there be an issue, the SPCA is able to take it from there and ensure the animals are cared for.
Or if you aren’t sure and want to know what you should be doing, you can always call us at hoarderhomes.com. Many a time we provide assistance to family members who are simply at a lost as to how to handle a home that is lived in by a hoarder. Hoarders require medical help and often don’t get the help they need. The hardest part is getting out of the home they live in. Our mission is to come in, provide fast immediate cash to buy the home as is!
It sounds unreal that anyone would buy a home that reeks of urine and feces but we do because we want the hoarder and their families to move on with their lives, to start afresh, to get medical help and to simply close a horrible chapter in their lives. And if the situation involves hoarding animals, the animals get a new lease on a better life, generally in a loving home with a new family, a clean home or at the SPCA where they are cared for. Find out more about our services are hoarderhomes.com
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