FLORENCE, AZ – Pinal County Animal Care & Control, as a member of the Central Arizona Animal Cruelty Task Force, is partnering to provide a workshop on animal hoarding. The workshop will be October 30 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Holiday Inn at 777 North Pinal Avenue in Casa Grande.
“Animal hoarding is a national problem and we’ve certainly seen cases here in Pinal County,” said Ruth Stalter, Director of Pinal County Animal Care & Control. “One of the worst cases ever was the Apache Junction couple who were attempting to care for 185 animals. We assisted Apache Junction Animal Control in that rescue effort and eventually found homes for all but the sickest animals.”
Hoarding often begins with good intentions, Stalter explained. “Then at some point, this 'I-have-to-save-them-all' mentality kicks in. That’s where the trouble begins.”
Stalter also said that many hoarding situations have a mental health component to them, one reason the October event will feature a presentation by Dr. Philinda Hutchings. Hutchings is Program Director and professor of Clinical Psychology at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.
Other speakers include Kimberley Intino, Director of the Human Society of the United States Shelter Services Program. She will give a national perspective and overview of animal hoarding during the morning sessions.
Marsh Myers, Director of Community Outreach for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona in Tucson. He has served on the Animal Cruelty Task Force of Southern Arizona and will discuss the difficulties of investigating hoarding situations.
“The goal of this event is to inform shelter operators, animal control officers, private agencies and other interested parties about the problem of animal hoarding,” Stalter said. “We also want our attendees to learn ways to effectively prevent the problem or deal with situations as they become known.”
Other workshop partners include Against Abuse, Inc of Casa Grande, the Pinal County Attorney’s Office and Petsmart Charities. There is a registration fee of $65, payable to Against Abuse, Inc. The registration form is posted at http://www.against-abuse.org/id19.html and at www.pinalcountyaz.gov(you’ll need to select Animal Care & Control from the All County Departments menu)..." Link
