What Is Animal Hoarding
Normally people who are called “hoarders” are known to collect trash, junk, and other useless or valueless items. Animal hoarding, however, is very different for the normal set of obsessive hoarding behaviors. Whereas the garden variety hoarder collects items that they believe may one day be useful or valuable in great volume, animal hoarders often collect pets that that consider an extension of their own family.
While animal hoarding can apply to several different kinds of animals, like rodents, insects, dogs, sheep, or deer, the most common kind of animal hoarded is the house cat. Cats have a way about them that makes people feel comfortable and secure, which can potentially open the door for hoarding.
A large amount of any live animal kept in an isolated environment can present very serious health risks to both to the hoarder and to neighbors.
The Dangers Of Animal Hoarding
A number of health and public safety concerns exist in the company of animal hoarding, including:
- Sanitation – Animal urine and feces can contain extremely dangerous parasites, as well as dangerous levels of ammonia. Animal hoarders generally are unwilling or unable to keep up with the full-time job of cleaning up after the huge number of pets, which can also lead to unsanitary conditions for eating or bathing.
- Infestation – Aside from the animals themselves, which might be considered an infestation in and of themselves, a large number of animals creates the perfect environment for fleas, ticks, mites, and other disease-spreading vermin to breed. These pests can easily overwhelm an enclosed home and move out to infest neighboring residences as well.
- Disease – Rabies, ringworm, hookworm, salmonella, influenza, and cat scratch fever are primary examples of zoonotic diseases, or diseases that can spread from animals to humans. Toxoplasmosis, a parasite that inhabits the feces of cats and rodents is capable of causing a myriad of mental illnesses, as well as severe birth defects if exposed to a pregnant woman.
This doesn’t include the fact that smells and unsanitary conditions in the home can lead to damage to the structure, fire hazards, and possible eviction as well.
What To Do About Animal Hoarding
Animal hoarding is a compulsive condition, and even if the animals are removed the hoarder may quickly begin acquiring more leading to the same problem. Because animal hoarders are normally very defensive about their pets, it is not recommended that friends and family intervene without the assistance of a licensed mental health therapist.
While animal hoarding is a condition that is still not fully understood there have been many radiating success stories under the guidance of professional psychiatric doctors and the moral support of friends and family.
For general health and safety concerns, any residents in an animal hoarder’s home should be removed from the dwelling as quickly as possible and not be allowed to return until it can be properly cleaned and sanitized. Because of the significant hazards to health and safety involved, this should be done by a professional sanitation service.
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