The Cost of Hoarding

Published by Linda Watkins

In the last year it seems that not a month has gone by without news of the seizure of a triple-digit number of dogs somewhere in the U.S. Numbers range from a mere 100 (most of which are pregnant females), to five or six hundred (most of which are pregnant females). Rarely are any of these critters spayed or neutered, most are disease-ridden, severely underweight, and poorly socialized — that is to say, they are used to other dogs, but not real comfortable with humans other than knowing they may sporadically get food from them.

What I’m also noticing is the increasing frequency with which these seizures are accompanied by child welfare complaints. We seem to keep ignoring that animal abuse and neglect are closely linked to child abuse and neglect — most family law judges and attorneys acknowledge this link; it’s been proven time and again in academic and clinical studies, and yet as a matter of practice our law makers persist in their passive denial of the link between the two behaviors.

Laws regarding animal neglect and abuse are the equivalent of a slap on the hand at best — even the sentence for Michael Vick whose dog fighting “business” was one of the more horrific examples of animal abuse that we’ve seen in this country but which has been treated by most people as a minor indiscretion; an instance of poor judgment — has been viewed by many as over-kill.

There are a couple of issues with animal hoarding that most of us don’t consider: First of course is the attitude the hoarders/abusers have towards any living things. If they can so willfully abuse a dog, (or a horse or a cat, etc.) what does that say about their ability to value any life? These are people who barely provide adequate shelter, food, and water to the living creatures under their control and power. These same people, if they have children often treat them the same way — they have no respect or consideration for those who are dependent on them for safety and sustenance. So, if their children grow to adulthood, what are they going to be like? As for their animals, if they survive long enough to go into other homes, what will they be like?..." More

Anderson, Anderson & Goyogana - Oregon

The Burns/Harney County Hoarding Case

From the Blog: Ridenbaugh Press / Dog Rescue by Linda Watkins

I've spent most of the last three days working on this project — ironic as I’d planned to do no more than help with a little networking and “let someone else take the dogs.” But such is the nature of rescue that instead I’ve been helping Harney County Save a Stray with networking contacts; spent most of one day drafting a press release and researching and gathering the names and contact addresses for the relevant newspapers and television stations; and even found some foster spaces for some of the dogs. What else could I do?

Melanie was single handedly trying to find placements for over 60 dogs — and the frustrating part was that most people thought everything was already taken care of so we were having a hard time finding the help. The problem stemmed from the great news coverage the Oregon Humane Society got when they pulled over 80 of the dogs when the case first broke. We’re all grateful that OHS took so many dogs, but unfortunately in the course of publicizing their work, the impression was left with the public that all of the dogs were taken care of. Instead there are scores of dogs still at the site and if we can’t get them moved soon, they will probably be shot...." More

Dec 9, 2009: Humane society rescues 100 dogs in eastern Oregon

By Lynne Terry

A suspected case of dog hoarding has turned into one of the largest cases of animal neglect in state history, the Oregon Humane Society said Tuesday.

The case involves about 100 dogs on a sprawling, desolate piece of property about 20 miles south of Burns.

David Lytle, spokesman for the Oregon Human Society, said the dogs were living without shelter in icy conditions, surrounded by cattle bones gnawed clean.

The dog owners, who live in trailers on the property, fed them carcasses from a local meat processing plant. "The whole property was scattered with the carcasses," Lytle said. "I've never seen anything like it."

A couple and another woman living on the property were arrested by Harney County Sheriff Dave Glerup on suspicion of animal neglect. Glerup said the couple -- 43-year-old Ronald Steven Anderson and Anita Darlene Anderson, 55 -- and 34-year-old Kathlean Fuchs-Goyogana, 34, agreed to give up the dogs and were released on their own recognizance.

Glerup said the couple has lived on the property on Frenchglen highway for more than a decade and are currently unemployed. The property is owned by a woman who used to live in the area but moved near Joseph after her husband died. Glerup said the Andersons sublet to Fuchs-Goyogana, who has a 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl.

A friend of the girl's sparked the investigation, telling her mother about conditions on the property. The mother called the Department of Human Services, which in turn called the Harney County Sheriff's Office.

Glerup said Fuchs-Goyogana agreed to take her kids off the property. She is currently under investigation for child neglect, he said.

As for the dogs, most of them are border collie, Shiba Inu and Australian shepherd mixes. Lytle did not see any obvious injuries, though he said some had nails so long they were curled over and growing into their paws. But he said the dogs did not appear to be malnourished..." More & video (graphic)

How to Talk to Someone with Hoarding:

By Cristina M. Sorrentino, PhD, LCSW
Boston University School of Social Work


DON’T

• Use judgmental language. Like anyone else, individuals with hoarding will not be receptive to negative comments about the state of their home or their character (e.g., "What a mess!" "What kind of person lives like this?"). Imagine your own response if someone came into your home and spoke in this manner, especially if you already felt ashamed.

• Use words that devalue or negatively judge possessions. People who hoard are often aware that others do not view their possessions and homes as they do. They often react strongly to words that reference their possessions negatively, like "trash," "garbage," and "junk."

• Let your non-verbal expression say what you’re thinking. Individuals with compulsive hoarding are likely to notice non-verbal messages that convey judgment, like frowns or grimaces.

• Make suggestions about the person’s belongings. Even well-intentioned suggestions about discarding items are usually not well-received by those with hoarding.

• Try to persuade or argue with the person. Efforts to persuade individuals to make a change in their home or behavior often have the opposite effect—the person actually talks themselves into keeping the items.

• Touch the person’s belongings without explicit permission. Those who hoard often have strong feelings and beliefs about their possessions and often find it upsetting when another person touches their things. Anyone visiting the home of someone with hoarding should only touch the person’s belongings if they have the person’s explicit permission.


DO

• Imagine yourself in the hoarding client’s shoes. How would you want others to talk to you to help you manage your anger, frustration, resentment, and embarrassment?

• Match the person’s language. Listen for the individual’s manner of referring to his/her possessions (e.g., "my things", "my collections") and use the same language (i.e., "your things", "your collections").

•Use encouraging language. In communicating with people who hoard about the consequences of hoarding, use language that reduces defensiveness and increases motivation to solve the problem (e.g., "I see that you have a pathway from your front door to your living room. That’s great that you’ve kept things out of the way so that you don’t slip or fall. I can see that you can walk through here pretty well by turning sideways. The thing is that somebody else that might need to come into your home, like a fire fighter or an emergency responder, would have a pretty difficult time getting through here. They have equipment they’re usually carrying and fire fighters have protective clothes that are bulky. It’s important to have a pathway that is wide enough so that they could get through to help you or anyone else who needed it. In fact, the safety law states that [insert wording about egresses], so this is one important change that has to be made in your home."

• Highlight strengths. All people have strengths, positive aspects of themselves, their behavior, or even their homes. A visitor’s ability to notice these strengths helps forge a good relationship and paves the way for resolving the hoarding problem (e.g., "I see that you can easily access your bathroom sink and shower," "What a beautiful painting!", "I can see how much you care about your cat.")

• Focus the intervention initially on safety and organization of possessions and later work on discarding. Discussion of the fate of the person’s possessions will be necessary at some point, but it is preferable for this discussion to follow work on safety and organization.


Go to the origianl text: here
Mass Housing information for landlords and property managers: here

Concentration Camp: Sharon McDonough

Dec 18, 2009: Sharon McDonough Held On $100,000 Bail For Suspected Pet Torture

A judge ordered a New York woman held on $100,000 bail Friday after prosecutors cited evidence that some of the 42 dead animals buried in her yard had been tortured, with duct tape around their mouths or signs that they had drowned.

Sharon McDonough, 43, had been free without bail after her November arrest on misdemeanor charges, but she was taken away in handcuffs after her appearance Friday in Suffolk County Court in Central Islip.

McDonough faces "the likelihood of a felony indictment," said John Cortes, assistant district attorney. Authorities initially found 20 dogs buried behind her Selden home in early November; a subsequent search Dec. 8 uncovered another 22 dead animals.

Necropsies found evidence the animals had been abused, Cortes said.

"There are indications this defendant did kill these animals," District Judge Paul Hensley said in setting bail. "I believe the impulse to flee will become irresistible."..." More

Nov 9, 2009: LI Mom Accused of 'Concentration Camp' For Dogs

Police Make Horrific Discovery in Selden Woman's Backyard After Tip to Rescue Group; Bags Taken Out 'By The Dozen'

On Long Island, a Suffolk County mother is facing charges for alleged cruelty to animals, and they could be upgraded to felony charges.

In an eerie scene Saturday night, investigators found a backyard burial ground, with the remains of at least 20 animals, behind the woman's house. The remains were brought out in black plastic bags.

Authorities first found several dogs that were alive, despite being crammed into small cages and found without food or water.

"Some of them in deplorable condition, skin and bones," Chief Roy Gross, of the Suffolk County SPCA, said.

In addition to the dogs, one cat, along with a hamster and a parakeet, were rescued. They were found in the home of 43-year-old Sharon McDonough of Selden, who faces misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

That kicked off an investigation that eventually led to the backyard. What authorities found behind the home may lead to felony charges.

"Going into this was like a house of horrors," Gross said. "This is one of the worst cases of animal abuse I have seen in the last 25 years I have been doing this."

Based on a tip, the back yard of McDonough's home was dug up. It's looked like a gravesite and smelled like death, according to neighbors. Officials discovered 20 animal carcasses buried behind the home, which were carried away in trash bags, dogs suspected of being tortured and killed.

"It looked like a real murder scene, as if they were gonna pull out dead bodies out there," neighbor Andrea Martinez said. "The smell was unbearable. They were taking bags out by the dozen. It was crazy."

The person who allegedly blew the whistle on McDonough was her eldest son, Douglas.

"It was a concentration camp for the animals," Douglas McDonough said. "And my sisters and me, we got the end of it, too."

The son says he was forced to torture the animals.

Now, investigators are looking into complaints about animals disappearing from the neighborhood, and allegations that McDonough tortured, killed, and buried them behind her house.

"Numerous people have called and said pets are missing – a couple dozen calls like that," Gross.

One family says their dog and two cats have been missing, and they fear that the pets may be part of the terrible discovery.

"I'm really concerned about that – that everyone lose animals and they're just buried in the backyard," said neighbor Nicholas Dinubila.

With a car in front of the house, that's now been pelted with eggs, and police tape still up, neighbors express concern.

"We had no idea, didn't hear a thing, and I've lived right next door," one neighbor said. "That's what scares me."

Once autopsies on the dead animals are completed, if aggravated animal abuse can be determined, McDonough could face felony charges..." More

Levels of Hoarding

Levels of hoarding

Although not commonly used by clinical psychologists, criteria for five levels of hoarding have been set forth by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) entitled the NGSCD Clutter Hoarding Scale.^[6] Using the perspective of a professional organizer, this scale distinguishes five levels of hoarding with Level I (Roman numeral one) being the least severe and Level V (Roman numeral 5) being the worst. Within each level there are four specific categories which define the severity of clutter and hoarding potential:

• Structure and zoning;
• Pets and rodents;
• Household functions; and
• Sanitation and cleanliness.

Level I Hoarder

Household is considered standard. No special knowledge in working with the Chronically Disorganized is necessary.

Level II Hoarder.

Household requires professional organizers or related professionals to have additional knowledge and understanding of Chronic Disorganization.

Level III Hoarder

Household may require services in addition to those a professional organizer and related professional can provide. Professional organizers and related professionals working with Level III households should have significant training in Chronic Disorganization and have developed a helpful community network of resources, especially mental health providers.

Level IV Hoarder

Household needs the help of a professional organizer and a coordinated team of service providers. Psychological, medical issues or financial hardships are generally involved. Resources will be necessary to bring a household to a functional level. These services may include pest control services, "crime scene cleaners," financial counseling and licensed contractors and handy persons.

Level V Hoarder

Household will require intervention from a wide range of agencies. Professional organizers should not venture directly into working solo with this type of household. The Level V household may be under the care of a conservator or be an inherited estate of a mentally ill individual. Assistance is needed from many sources. A team needs to be assembled. Members of the team should be identified before beginning additional work. These members may include social services and psychological/mental health representative (not applicable if inherited estate), conservator/trustee, building and zoning, fire and safety, landlord, legal aid and/or legal representatives. A written strategy needs to be outlined and contractual agreements made before proceeding.

An excerpt from Wikipedia, read the full article: here

In-depth information and referrals/assistance visit the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization: NSGCD

US Global Exotics: Jasen & Vanessa Shaw

Dec 21, 2009: Vets: Seized animals lacked proper food, environments

By Susan Schrock

ARLINGTON -- Another 1,000 animals seized from a north Arlington exotic pet dealer last week have died, in addition to the 600 found dead at the facility, according to testimony this morning in Arlington Municipal Court.

In the second day of an administrative hearing to determine custody of the animals, experts testified that the more than 26,000 animals housed there lacked food and water and appropriate environments. And the company’s three employees would not have been able to care for that number of animals, the two veterinarians said.

Such conditions amount to cruelty, they said.

But at attorney representing the pet dealer stressed that the facility was a temporary holding site, and he has said that the containers in which the animals were housed were appropriate for the short term.

Dr. Janet Martin, brought in by the city to oversee the mammals taken from U.S. Global Exotics, said five wallabies at the facility were loose in a room where bedding material had been thrown on top of a tile floor. The room was filled with feces and flies, Martin said. The only food in the room was moldy carrots.

Martin also said that all of the the animals tested so far had parasite infestations.

The company’s owners, Jasen and Vanessa Shaw, were not at Monday’s hearing. But Lance Evans, an attorney representing the Shaws, said that the animals were captured in the wild and could have arrived with the infestations. He also said that the company is a wholesaler and that the animals weren’t housed for public display..." More

12/15/2009: Thousands of Exotic Animals Seized From Warehouse

By SUSY SOLIS

Authorities spent hours removing more than 20,000 animals, dead and alive, from the U.S. Global Exotics warehouse on Tuesday in what may be the biggest animal seizures in the country.

Arlington Animal Services served a civil seizure warrant on U.S. Global Exotics, a company that imports then sells exotic pets including chinchillas, wallabys and various reptiles and insects.

More than 50 workers from Arlington Animal Services, The Humane Society and the SPCA of Texas removed thousands of tubs and cages full of animals.

"Just the number of dead animals or dying animals -- I've never seen anything like this before," said James Bias, president of the SPCA of Texas.

Workers from the organizations will have to get an inventory of all the animals before they can get a real picture of how many animals were housed at the warehouse on the 1000 block of Oakmead Drive. Authorities brought veterinarians and animal experts from around the world to give insight on how the exotic animals must be cared for.

"Many of these exotic animals require (special) humidity and heat, proper ventilation, certain types of bedding and certain types of food. And the experts are in there saying they are certainly not getting what they need, and in their minds, there is severe cruelty going on," Bias said.

The seized animals were taken to an undisclosed location where they will be triaged..." More

Video

Chester County: Wanda Oughton

Dec 21, 2009: Phoenixville woman charged with neglect and hoarding

By DANIELLE LYNCH

PHOENIXVILLE — As part of the Chester County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' job, officials investigate complaints of pet abuse.

Some cases, such as the one of Diana Greiner, involve neglect and hoarding.

The Chester County SPCA filed 11 animal cruelty citations against Greiner, a Schuylkill resident. A hearing took place regarding Greiner's case on Nov. 4 before Magisterial District Judge Theodore Michaels of Phoenixville.

In August, Chester County SPCA Humane Society Police Officer Cheryl Shaw arrived at Greiner's home to investigate a complaint of animal cruelty. Shaw encountered Greiner in the backyard and they proceeded into the home together.

"There was an overwhelming amount of clutter and used newspapers," said Shaw. "The smell was atrocious."

Shaw described the odor as musty with fecal and urine smells. Amidst the clutter in the dark garage, there was a dirty crate with two dogs in it, said Shaw.

"There was a lot of shredded newspapers and filth," she said..." More

Dec 14, 2009: Woman found guilty of animal neglect

By Danielle Lynch

"...At the end of the hearing, which lasted more than four hours, Michaels found Greiner guilty on all 11 counts of animal cruelty, according to Assistant District Attorney Kate Wright, who prosecuted the case.

Greiner was sentenced to 90 days of probation for each 11 citations which equals about 990 days or just about three years. She also has to pay $750 in fines for each count, which is $8,250 total, according to Wright.

Greiner also had to permanently forfeit all of the cats and dogs to the SPCA. During the 990 days of probation, she cannot have any dogs or cats in her possession, ownership or control, Wright said.

In addition, Greiner is liable to pay $15,305 in restitution to the SPCA for the costs of boarding, grooming and veterinary care for the surrendered pets..." More

Aug 24, 2009: Chester Twp. tables cat-hoarding ordinance

BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE

CHESTER TWP. — A local ordinance that would have restricted the number of cats per single-family home to six has been tabled and the council will wait to see what happens with animal hoarding legislation that is before the state legislature.

"We did not want to create something to punish people," said Mayor William Cogger. "We want to create a method for intervention and are exploring other options.'

The township council had considered a preliminary ordinance, "Keeping of the Cats," that would have required residents obtain a waiver if they wished to own more than six cats over the age of six months. Pet owners in violation of the ordinance would have faced a $100 fine per animal, per offense.

The proposed ordinance came on the heels of a case in which 180 cats were found living in crowded, feces-covered conditions in a Farm Road home in March. The homeowner, Wanda Oughton, 62, has pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty charges for failing to provide adequate shelter to the cats recovered from her million-dollar mansion..." More

Jun 5, 2009: Morris County adoption events scheduled for 150 cats rescued from Chester home

'Cat lady' hearing delayed as North Jersey township seeks $42K in restitution for 150 cats removed from home

Municipal Court Judge Philip Maenza postponed Wanda Oughton’s court date to June 18 after her attorney, Lawrence Fox, received for the first time the expenses incurred for veterinary care, litter, food and other supplies related to getting a shelter up and running since the 150 cats were seized from her Farm Road home. The expenses total $42,650..." More

May 11, 2009: Morris County adoption events scheduled for 150 cats rescued from Chester House

CHESTER TOWNSHIP: When authorities began removing cats from Wanda Oughton's Chester Township home two months ago, the felines hid in the corners of pet carriers, their paws covered in their own feces.

Those cats -- about 150 of them -- had been living amid toxic piles of excrement in Oughton's $1 million house, and many of them never knew how it felt to be clean or even touched by a human, much less cuddled and coddled, said Ann DeSombre, animal control officer for Morristown..." More

April 23: Number of rescued Chester cats grows to 151

April 16: Outlook is bright for cats rescued from filthy Chester home

April 15: 71 more cats taken from Chester home of woman charged with animal cruelty

March 27: Chester Twp. woman accused of hoarding 93 cats faces animal cruelty complaints