More than 50 Cats Removed from One Home

A case of animal hoarding has volunteers trying to find good homes for dozens of cats. It happened in Van Buren County earlier this month, and volunteers say the woman who had them, had good intentions.

Many of these cats were rescues in the first place, but she couldn't afford to spay and neuter them, and things got out of hand..." More

Dozens of dogs taken from single-family house

By Tom Mooney

Animal-control officers, called to a house on Phebe Street Wednesday afternoon for a report of pet hoarding, witnessed a waterfall of dachshunds and Chihuahuas come spilling down the stairs from the second floor.

About 50 dogs, all but 3 of them of small breeds, were living in the single-family house at 77 Phebe St., said Jennifer Siakotos, a veterinary technician with the Providence Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Siakotos said all the dogs seemed to be in good shape and the house was relatively clean. But an ordinance does limit to three the number of adult dogs someone can have in the city.

Animal control officials from Pawtucket, East Providence and Providence took temporary custody of the animals until their care was further investigated, said Joseph Warzychi, an investigator for the SPCA..." More

The Issue Of Animal Hoarding In Central Ohio

By TOM BROCKMAN

Over the last several days, dozens of dogs have been seized by humane society agents in central Ohio after they were found to be living in inhumane conditions.

Kathy Montgomery says she was never mean to her dogs; the two dozen of them allegedly found caged and covered in feces in her Fayette County trailer; not to mention more than a dozen dogs found dead in a home on the same property. “Things got a little out of hand,” she said. Those dogs were seized by agents on Friday.

Then Tuesday, 89 dogs were seized from a home in Delaware County. Those conditions weren't much better. Those dogs were taken to the Delaware County Humane Society where they are currently being adopted out.

So why do people collect so many animals only to leave them in inhumane living conditions? Jodi Buckman,Executive Director at the Capital Area Humane Society says there could be two reasons. First, they could be a hoarder. “A hoarder might hoard animals, cats or dogs. A hoarder might hoard newspapers, plastic containers, junk mail. It's a mental illness. It's a compulsion,” says Buckman.

Or she says, “There's also folks who just have a huge heart. They have been taking in animals trying to provide shelter and care. The numbers get overwhelming and they don't know where to go for help."..." More

'Hoarding is a compulsive, anxiety disorder

Dr Randy Frost said the disorder involved "compulsive shopping'''' as well as the "collecting of free objects''''.

"A new understanding of hoarding is desperately needed,'''' News.com.au quoted Frost, one of the world''s leading authorities on hoarding, as saying.

"While the disorder is often associated with collecting rubbish, up to 80 per cent of compulsive hoarders also suffer shopping disorders where they constantly acquire new items," he added..." More

PSPCA: hoarding case worst it has seen

Katherine Scott

The PSPCA seized a collection of animals in one of the worst cases of hoarding officials have ever seen.

The place was full of feces, urine, parasites, and a whole lot of animals, dead and alive, according to authorities.

As Licenses and Inspections condemned the Olney home as unfit for human habitation the Pennsylvania SPCA spent over six hours removing animals.

This is one of the worst houses I've been in when you take into account the dead cats. It's ridiculous," said George Bengal of the PSPCA.

Fifty dead animals, investigators say including cats, dogs, a pelican and even a fox retrieved from the basement freezer. As for live animals authorities carted out approximately 56 cats, 20 chinchillas, seven dogs, and 18 pigeons inside and around the backyard.

"The dogs apparently didn't like the pigeons in the yard they would chew them, capture them, and she would put them in a cage."

Homeowner Olga Fedorov invited only Action News inside, explaining that the home is under construction, arguing that her pets are her top priority..." More & video

Hoarding: 'Like an alcoholic, it's hard to stop'

By MARY CALLAHAN

There have been times when Clif Williams has gone out in his truck vowing to resist the lure of Sebastopol's thrift stores.

But “like a magnet” the shops draw him in.

“You go in hoping you won't find anything” but succumb to the urge to buy, he said.

After decades of accumulating stuff, Williams has filled his house, yard and several rented storage lockers to overflowing with dishes, tools, clothes and so much else he's not even sure what he has. The 80-year-old said he remains utterly baffled about what drives his compulsive collecting.

But Williams said he hopes he has found the germ of reform in a fire that destroyed a three-story water tower behind his house June 28 and kept about 30 firefighters busy trying to save his overstuffed home..." More

Animal Planets: Confessions - Animal Hoarding airs July 21

CONFESSIONS: ANIMAL HOARDING is a new docu-reality series that takes an unflinching, honest look at animal hoarding, the people and pets affected, and the challenges of confronting this psychological condition. Animal hoarding is defined as the compulsive need to possess and control animals and often involves the acquisition of a high and unmanageable number of animals.

Not yet formally recognized as a distinct psychological disorder, Animal hoarding in most cases goes unaddressed until it becomes a crime...until now. Each episode delves into the hearts and minds of individuals who hoard a variety of species (cats, dogs, birds, farm animals, fish, etc.); the series also provides an opportunity for family members and friends to help their loved ones and prevent them from spinning further out of control. Having no previous established protocol, the series coordinates task-force interventions by psychologists, animal welfare experts, veterinarians, friends and families to help individuals recognize the root of their issues and take healthy steps to address their animal hoarding.

More info including pictures and episode descriptions: here