Animal hoarding often leads to heartbreak

By Leslie Kawamoto

Animal hoarding is horrible. A recent case on O'ahu is an example of how bad things can get.

In February, a landlord at the Waikalani Apartments in Mililani called the Hawaiian Humane Society for help. The tenants who were evicted left behind their 45 cats. The apartment was filthy and the cats were without food or water.

"When we arrived on scene we observed most of the cats to have upper respiratory infections, minor dehydration and were very hungry," said Keoni Vaughn, manager of Field Services at the Hawaiian Humane Society.

Since then, the veterinary team at the animal shelter has assessed the cats' medical conditions and treated their illnesses. The cats' ages range from 3 months old to 8 years old. Some of these cats are now available for adoption.

The tenants were not prosecuted in this case.

"Criminal prosecution of this type of cruelty can be very difficult and a lengthy process, which we felt for this instance as not being the most effective route," said HHS spokeswoman Jacque LeBlanc. "Negotiation is a huge part of what we do in working with pet owners to do the right thing. The owners were asked to give up the cats so they could be treated and given new homes. They were given 45 warning citations for animal cruelty."

According to the ASPCA, "What may begin as a refuge for a handful of homeless animals can over time become a highly unsanitary environment where animals live without food, water and veterinary care, including sterilization. These situations often come to light only when the situation has deteriorated to the point that the animals are suffering severe neglect or have died from untreated ailments or starvation."

Animal hoarding is a severe mental illness, which can include obsessive-compulsive disorder, dementia, delusional thinking and paranoia, according to the ASPCA. Hoarders feel the need to "collect" animals without thinking about their benefit or welfare..." More

45 Cats Removed From Mililani Apartment

Investigators from the Hawaiian Humane Society were called to what they say is a cat hoarding case in Mililani on Friday.

They found 45 cats in an apartment on Waikalani Drive in the gulch below Mililani Tech Park.

Neighbors complained the smell would "knock you off your feet."

A tenant was evicted from an apartment on Thursday, officials said.

The tenant left behind the cats, some in cages, some roaming free in the abandoned apartment.

The Hawaiian Humane Society's brand new rescue van pulled into its facility full of cats. It is the first time investigators have used the new van. It was designed to pick up animals in need of rescue..." More & video

Feb 17, 2010: more video

Year-End Study Names 2009's "Five Best States to be an Animal Abuser"

Animal Legal Defense Fund Releases Annual Report Ranking Animal Cruelty Laws Across the NationFor immediate release

Contact:Lisa Franzetta, Animal Legal Defense Fund

Stephan Otto, Animal Legal Defense Fund

SAN FRANCISCO – Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, and North Dakota are the five best states in the country to be an animal abuser, according to a new report released today by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). Based on a detailed comparative analysis of more than 3,800 pages of statutes, tracking fourteen distinct categories of provisions, the report recognizes the states where animal law has real teeth, and calls out those like Kentucky – the single worst in the nation again this year for animal protection laws – where animal abusers get off easy. The annual report, the only one of its kind in the nation, ranks all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories for the general comprehensiveness and relative strength of their respective animal protection laws.

Why are these five states in the dog house when it comes to getting tough on animal abuse? The legislative weaknesses seen in the states at the bottom of the animal protection barrel include severely restricted or absent felony animal cruelty provisions, inadequate animal fighting provisions, and lack of restrictions on the future ownership of animals for those convicted of cruelty to animals. Many state laws have improved since ALDF’s last state rankings report was released in 2008; Arkansas, for example, was one of the worst five states last year, but jumped up to 25th overall in the country in 2009 due to a host of statutory improvements. On the other end of the spectrum, this year’s “best five for animals” list remains unchanged from the 2008 list, with California, Illinois, Maine, Michigan and Oregon demonstrating through their laws the strongest commitment to combating animal cruelty; Illinois was the very best of the best for the strength of its laws protecting animals...." More

More than 400 animals rescued from Leeward man's property

Wai'anae Coast man calls SPCA to remove cats, dogs and birds

Several animal welfare groups are caring for more than 400 animals that were collected from a Wai'anae Coast property in what some are calling one of the largest animal rescue missions on the island.

The Humane Society of the United States estimated that more than 100 dogs, 100 cats and 200 fowl were removed from the property and are now housed at a facility in Kalaeloa. The emergency shelter was secured by the O'ahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which was one of the lead organizations in the rescue.

Some of the animals were emaciated and suffered serious skin and eye infections and parasite infestation, according to the Humane Society of the United States, which is not affiliated with the Hawaiian Humane Society.

The animals were on property owned by Norman and Bonnie Pang, said Kawehi Yim, Hawaiian Humane Society spokeswoman. After the death of his wife, Pang contacted the O'ahu SPCA and surrendered the animals to that organization, the O'ahu SPCA said.
On Sunday, volunteers from various animal welfare groups began to remove the animals from Pang's property.

The animals had been housed in outdoor kennels there or were roaming the property, according to the Humane Society of the United States..." More