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Animal
Hoarding:
Education and Assistance to Humane
Organizations
Animal hoarding is now a
well understood psychiatric disorder, thanks to research
at Tufts University, but animal hoarding remains
misunderstood by the public at large. Animal
hoarding is caused when mental illness goes untreated.
It becomes a catastrophe not only for the animals that
may suffer horrific abuse, but also for the hoarder for him
or herself, and the hoarder's immediate family members,
who may be enablers and victims themselves. It is
also a burden for the neighbors, the
community, and local law enforcement, because of the magnitude of the case, with the
large
number of animals and the stress of caring for these
animals properly while they are in custody awaiting
legal prosecution of the animal cruelty violations.
Successful resolution of
animal hoarding cases depends therefore on a
collaboration of many parties, combining and integrating
efforts of local law enforcement and of a collection of
non-profit organizations and local volunteers.
This consortium of agencies is often difficult to
coordinate and keep on track for the welfare of the
animals and other victims, but the collective effort is
essential to resolving cases involving so many animals.
Cathy and Tracey have
learned much from direct experience in assisting law
enforcement in such cases primarily in the realm of
coordinating the care of large numbers of animals,
dealing with the special problems that dogs coming from
hoarding situations have, fundraising and other kinds of
assistance needed by law
enforcement officials and their staff when faced with
cases of this magnitude.
To find out more about our
services, email
animalhoarding@theroadhome-dogs.org |
