We’ve all read stories about people with anxiety and compulsive hoarding tendencies whose houses are filled with old newspapers and junk to the point where it’s almost impossible to move around. When the hoarding involves animals, however, the disorder reaches a whole new level.
When many people hear the words “animal hoarding,” they think of a lonely woman surrounded by cats. And in many cases they would be correct. Yet animal hoarding is more than collecting a lot of animals.
“It is not simply having a large number of animals that makes one a hoarder, but rather the condition in which they are maintained, as the compulsive acquiring of animals in turn eventually leads to a failure of the hoarder to maintain even the most minimal standards of care for them all,” says Simon A. Rego, PsyD, director of clinical training at the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy in New York.
This hoarding can involve any type of animal, from birds and reptiles to horses and cattle, but the most common kind is companion animals, with cats leading the list. The average number of animals collected is 30 to 40, though some people have amassed hundreds.
Many dangers exist for the animals that live under hoarding conditions. “In some cases animals have already died or are dying, along with animals that are sick or malnourished,” says Gail Steketee, PhD, MSW, dean and professor at Boston University’s School of Social Work and author of Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things and The Hoarding Handbook: A Guide for Human Service Professionals. “The lack of regular veterinary care is an important problem that contributes to these conditions. Some animals that have been restricted in small spaces or tied up may also have behavior problems like excessive fear or aggression.”
Animal Hoarding: Who Is At Risk?
Animal hoarding can strike both men and women, single and married people, old and young, but the most common profile is that of an older woman who lives alone, is socially isolated, and does not have a lot of money. Mental and emotional issues are also a big risk factor.
Not much research has been done on the subject of animal hoarding, but there are a number of theories. “Significant mental health problems may account for some hoarding, as this might explain the striking lack of awareness that so many animal hoarders exhibit about their poor treatment of the animals and the poor condition of their homes,” says Steketee.
Another possibility involves the idea that hoarding may come from problems with attachment to other people, perhaps stemming from early traumatic experiences or neglect. Instead of connecting with people, hoarders bond with animals to a compulsive degree.
Hoarders may also see themselves as saviors of the animals and feel a strong sense of responsibility. They attribute human characteristics to the animals and receive emotional comfort that they are not able to get from other people. Individuals in this category probably began by providing good care to their pets, but then gradually collected or were given more and more animals until they became overwhelmed.
Animal Hoarding: Warning Signs and Prognosis
There are a number of warning signs that a person may be a hoarder. First and foremost is the number of animals in the home. Clear red flags are having 10 or more animals or conditions that seem less than ideal.
“Many individuals who hoard animals will become increasingly isolative and develop less rational and more rigid and extreme views in order to justify their behavior,” says Dr. Rego. “They may demonstrate surprisingly poor insight into the problems that their hoarding is causing, such as unsanitary living conditions, financial losses to pay for food and/or shelter, deteriorating health of the animals, and complaints from neighbors.” There aren’t any research studies regarding patient care and prognosis. However, without a doubt, treatment needs to include removing the animals (or limiting them to a manageable number) and therapy to discuss the beliefs and behaviors that led to the hoarding. “We do know that if left untreated and animals are simply removed, the person is likely to begin to acquire new animals and the problem can very well start all over again,” says Steketee.
Last Updated: 1/18/2011