ASPCA on Animal Hoarding with Dr. Randall Lockwood

Dr. Randall Lockwood joined the ASPCA in 2005 and is currently Senior Vice President of the ASPCA’s Forensic Sciences and Anti-Cruelty Projects. For more than 25 years, Dr. Lockwood has worked with humane societies and law-enforcement agencies, serving as an expert on the interactions between people and animals. He has testified in numerous trials involving cruelty to animals or the treatment of animals in the context of other crimes, including dog fighting, child abuse, domestic violence and homicide

"...[Comment from Stryker]

I read that some of these hoarders operate under the guise of "rescuers" themselves. Isn't there a way to more closely monitor how many pets a person has "rescued"?

Randall Lockwood:

Yes. We are seeing a growing number of "rescue hoarders" who take in many animlas but who make no effort to find homes for them and often keep them in very poor conditions - unlike legitimate rescue groups. come may even have non-profit status and fancy websies - but the reality is that the situations for the animals is the same as other hoarding cases. I think about 1/4 of the cases we see are such "rescue hoarders".

Right now there are very few states that specifically set standards for rescue groups (Colorado is one) and the resources are often not there for a system of of inspection, also rescue hoarders often work through their own secretive network - rather than trying to help put healthy animals into loving homes..." More

Hundreds of cats seized from western Pa. shelter

Rescue workers have removed about 400 cats from a shelter in western Pennsylvania.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it has removed the animals from an animal sanctuary in St. Marys, about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

The cats are being taken to an undisclosed emergency shelter for treatment.

The ASPCA says rescue workers removed the animals from Animal Friends of Elk and Cameron Counties on Thursday.

Officials say the cats were living in overcrowded conditions on the first floor of a two-story building.

The telephone number at the sanctuary was not working Thursday and officials there could not be reached for comment..." More

85 Dogs Removed From Hoarder

The ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response Team was deployed to Waynesboro, Tenn., on June 17 to assist the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department with a critical hoarding intervention.

A total of 85 dogs—including German Shepherds, Labradors and Hound mixes—were discovered in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on a property owned by an elderly man. The dogs were contained in large pens, chained to posts throughout the yard and found roaming the property.

“The dumping of dogs is a serious problem throughout this area and local authorities are without the resources or infrastructure to handle the problem,” says Kyle Held, the ASPCA’s Midwest Regional Director of Field Investigations and Response. “In this case, an elderly man became overwhelmed by the number of dogs in his care—he obviously needed help and voluntarily gave us custody of the animals.”

Twelve of the rescued dogs have since been moved—via the ASPCA’s new, custom-built animal transport trailer—to the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City where they are undergoing medical treatment before being made available for adoption.

“Many of the dogs tested heartworm positive,” says Dr. Robert Reisman, Medical Coordinator of Abuse Cases at the ASPCA. “Heartworm is a treatable condition, but it will take at least six to eight weeks until the treatment is complete.”..." More

More info & pictures on the ASPCA site: here

Joelle Kott, Pitstop Puppy's Dog Rescue & Boarding Kennel - Buffalo, New York

Jun 14, 2010: Woman faces charges of animal torture

• 
  
• by: Eli George

After a lengthy and detailed joint investigation involving the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, the Niagara County District Attorney's Office and the Niagara County SPCA, which included Veterinary Medical/Forensic personnel, Joelle R. Kott, was arrested on June 10, 2010 for 6 counts of violating the Agricultural and Marketing Law (Section 353 -Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals / failure to provided proper sustenance).

These charges are in connection to a complaint filed on January 29, 2010 in which it was alleged that Ms. Kott was inappropriately housing numerous dogs, at two separate locations in the Town of Wheatfield . On that same date Ms. Kott was charged with two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Ms. Kott will appear at the Town of Wheatfield Court to answer all of the above charges at a future date..." More

Jun 14, 2010: Facebook Page with updates and petition information

Description of group: Bringing to light a current situation in the Buffalo/Niagara area in NY.

Joelle R. Kott, owner of PitStop Puppy's Dog Rescue was raided on 01/29/2010 and 60+ dogs were seized total. Dogs were take from both her home and her kennels on suspicion of cruelty and neglect. The Niagara SPCA had promised not to euthanize the dogs. This is no longer the case with new directorship.

Though she has been charged for endangering her children and they have been removed from the home as well, the County of Niagara has NOT yet brought animal abuse/neglect/cruelty charges against Ms. Kott. Until we can be assured these dogs will be given every chance possible and charges are filed, we will be a voice for those who can not speak for themselves.

Please take the time to review the information under recent news. Please join us in being guardian angels for these dogs, keeping vigil over this situation to assure the promises made to them and us are kept. To each group member here, these are "our dogs", and we demand justice is served...." Facebook page link

Facebook photos

Video of conditions

Feb 16, 2010: Dog rescue may not have been able to care for so many animals

By Neale Gulley

Animal cruelty charges have not yet been filed against a Wheatfield animal rescuer who was arrested last month for child endangerment after 24 dogs in and around her home were found living in proximity to two children.

All but six of the dogs were seized for their own welfare and one was found dead. Another 22 animals were taken from Pitstop Puppys, the rented former kennel at 3049 Niagara Falls Blvd. run by Joelle Kott of Norman Road since 2004.

Niagara County Sheriff’s Captain Bruce Elliott said Monday that results of SPCA veterinarians’ examination of the animals are still pending. The report may or may not result in additional charges of neglect. SPCA personnel had documented freezing conditions at the facility along with a reported lack of food and water at both locations.

In the meantime, however, an initial report of the charges against Kott has piqued the interest of a psychologist with the ASPCA used to testify about the human/animal relationship in similar criminal cases and before animal rights organizations worldwide.

Dr. Randall Lockwood, senior vice president of the ASPCA’s forensic sciences and anti-cruelty projects said whether the distinction is one of animal cruelty, abuse or animal hoarding, the animals are the ones that suffer.

The “hoarding” concept is nothing new, he explained, but more importantly it helps explain a recent rise nationwide in cases involving shelters shut down for neglecting animals they can’t properly care for..." More

Feb 1, 2010: 47 dogs seized from alleged ‘hoarder’

By Denise Jewell Gee

Joelle R. Kott thought she was helping dozens of dogs she had taken in at Pitstop Puppy’s Dog Rescue and Boarding Kennel on Niagara Falls Boulevard, but Niagara County SPCA officials on Friday said the rescue operation grew beyond her ability to care for the animals.

Twenty-one dogs taken from the unheated kennel at 3049 Niagara Falls Blvd. on Friday were found in 30-degree temperatures with “bone dry” water bowls and living in their own waste, said Kari McAlee, an SPCA veterinary technician.

SPCA workers and deputies from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office also took 18 dogs and puppies from Kott’s Norman Road home after determining the conditions were “deplorable” for the dogs and two children in the house.

“I think she meant well, but now it just got out of hand,” McAlee said. “She has just too many. You can’t keep track, and you can’t take care of that many, even with the volunteers and help. It’s just too much for one person and one house.”

Officials also took eight puppies they believe belonged to Kott from a nearby farm, said SPCA President Brandy Scrufari.

McAlee described Kott as an animal “hoarder,” unable to say no when she ran out of room and resources to care for pit bulls and other dogs dropped off by other people..." More

Kathy and Tom Phillips, Clarksdale-Coahoma County Animal Shelter - Mississippi

Jan 27, 2009: Police: No charges against ex-animal shelter director

NICKLAUS LOVELADY

Clarksdale police will not charge a former animal shelter director accused of hoarding hundreds of dog and cats.

The Clarksdale-Coahoma County Animal Shelter remained closed Tuesday as officials strategized on where to place the animals and how to reopen the shelter.

Clarksdale City Attorney Curtis Boshert said the city owns the building and contracted with Cathy Phelps over the past 12 years to operate the no-kill shelter. He said the city's budget for the shelter was about $20,000 annually.

Although the shelter was supposed to be for the city and county, Boshert said the shelter did not turn away any animals.

"We know some were being brought in from outside the county. They didn't put any down, and that's how we got this overloaded," Boshert said.

Phelps was not available for comment Tuesday.

A complaint reported to In Defense of Animals led to the discovery of 340 dogs and 40 cats at the shelter. The shelter was designed to hold about 60 animals, said Doll Stanley, regional director of investigations for the animal rights group.

Stanley said the animals were living in deplorable conditions. Many were maimed and exposed to diseases. Some lived in those conditions for years, she said.

"You don't store animals. They're living beings," Stanley said.

Stanley presented her findings to city officials, and they confronted Phelps. On Friday, Phelps resigned, Stanley said.

City officials hired a new shelter director Monday. The city is working to frame new policies and procedures for the shelter. Included is whether the shelter will remain no-kill and establishing a maximum number of animals it will be allowed to take.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals already moved about 180 animals to animal shelters in Atlanta and Florida...." Link

Jan 25, 2010: ASPCA Takes Charge of Clarksdale Shelter

by: Dennis Turner

Clarksdale, MS - FAST FACTS:

• Shelter operators tried to run "no kill" shelter
• 400 animals found in shelter meant for 60
• ASPCA, other groups clean up, remove animals

The situation at a Mid-South animal shelter has become so bad, city leaders called in a national group to step in and take care of a growing problem.

The Clarksdale shelter was closed Monday, so volunteers could get a handle on a situation that left more than four hundred animals crowded into a space meant for just 60.

Hundreds of dogs and dozens of cats shared space in what volunteers called a dilapidated metal building just hours before animal lovers from around the country descended on the Clarksdale-Coahoma animal shelter to take charge and clean up what they called a horrible mess.

It left animal lovers here almost in tears. "I didn't really know all this was going on. I just found out this morning and it's upset me," said Linda Taylor of Clarksdale.

She says Kathy and Tom Phillips had done their best to run a no-kill shelter and ended up with more than they could handle.

"The smell was overwhelming. The room we are in now, was crowded with animals, there were feces, it was a horrible environment for these animals to live in," Said Tim Rickey of the ASPCA.

Over the weekend, town leaders finally stepped in.

Clarksdale Police Chief Greg Hoskins called in the ASPCA to help address the many problems. They in turn, put out the word, and groups responded from around the country.

Some of the volunteers weren't quite ready for what they found. "This is one of the most dire, horrendous situations I've ever seen," said Linda Ware of the Atlanta Humane Society..." More & video

Puppy mill operator facing misdemeanors

Allison Cardona, ASPCA director of disaster response,

holds a basset hound rescued at a Jasper County

puppy mill last week. More than 40 dogs, who

suffered from various diseases and malnourishment,

have been sent to the Oxford-Lafayette

Humane Society in Oxford, Miss.

By David Owens

Local agencies are still reeling from the weekend discovery of a Jasper County puppy mill, that housed more than 40 malnourished dogs.

The seizure brought in the New York City-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and other state-based animal welfare groups.

Allison Cardona, ASPCA director of disaster response, said puppy mills are ongoing problem not just in Mississippi, but throughout the nation.

“Every time you buy a puppy from a pet store, it comes from a puppy mill operation,” she said. “There are places all across the country where profit is put over the actual care of the animal.”..." More

Vegreville-area farmer earns fine for starved, dead animals

A Vegreville-area farmer whose animals were seized after 17 cattle were found starved to death on his property was fined $2,000 in an Edmonton court today.

Kelly Burkart, 37, pleaded guilty in provincial court to one count under the Animal Protection Act of causing an animal to be in distress. In exchange for the guilty plea, other similar charges were withdrawn..." More

Burkart, who still has some livestock on his farm, was not banned from owning animals, however he was slapped with a 10-year prohibition order allowing Alberta SPCA inspectors to enter his property without notice to do inspections. He must also abide by any recommendations.

Crown prosecutor Moira Vane told court ASPCA inspectors had gone to Burkart's farm north of Vegreville on May 6 and May 7, 2008, and observed "emaciated" animals from the road and saw two dead cattle, a "very skinny" mule and about 40 more cattle in very poor condition.

Memphis Animal Shelter Raided

County Deputies Raid Memphis Animal Shelter

Memphis, TN - The Memphis Animal Shelter was searched by Shelby County Sheriff's deputies early Tuesday morning as part of an investigation into reports of animal abuse and cruelty.

Shelby County sheriff's deputies served a search warrant just before sunrise Tuesday after receiving a tip about conditions in the facility.

Officers "found conditions consistent with what had been reported," said sheriff's office spokesman Steve Shular.

"They found dogs that needed food and water, and it was evident that some of the dogs were diseased," Shular said..." More & video

Deputies execute search warrant at Memphis Animal Shelter & video

ASPCA Leads Intervention To Save 25 Dogs In NYC Hoarding Case

Last month, the ASPCA, NYC Animal Care & Control and the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals worked with local police to rescue 25 dogs from an animal hoarder in Queens, NY. For years, neighbors complained about the stench and noise, but it wasn’t until a neighbor had enough and contacted a city official about the “increasing number of animals.

According to the ASPCA, after the three animal groups worked out an official intervention, the hoarder, a man in his 50’s, voluntarily gave up the dogs.

The dogs breeds were Beagles, Miniature Pinschers and the mix of both breeds. They were suffering from an array of medical conditions and four of the dogs were pregnant.

Allison Cardona, ASPCA Director of Disaster Response stated, “Hoarding situations are complex and depending upon a number of factors, including the mental health status of the hoarder, they may or may not be referred to the criminal justice system. It is vital that authorities be notified of hoarding situations so that steps can be taken to ensure the protection of the animals. This kind of problem will not go away by itself. It will only get worse. That is why people need to speak up!”

She continued by saying, “Like many psychological conditions, there are probably multiple underlying causes for animal-hoarding behavior. These are not situations that can or should be handled by animal welfare agencies alone.”

The dogs are being cared for by shelters and the ASPCA. They have never been socialized, walked on a leash or exercised.

Image courtesy of ASPCA

ASPCA new Twitter link Animal Hoarding 101

Learn the facts on Animal Hoarding via ASPCA's new Twitter page: here

The article: here