Animal Hoarding News & Info

Report: The mind of an animal hoarder

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:58:00 +0000

By Jordan Burgess

The sickening snapshots of the conditions inside the homes of animal hoarders are pictures of a problem, but seeing them is only half the story.

"Five minutes in one of these houses and I guarantee you most folks will tell you I know what cruelty smells like," says Mark Kumpf with Montgomery County's Animal Resource Center.

For this story, you'll have to use your imagination when it comes to the stench of animal hoarding, but its impact can be realized by reading about the heartbreaking tale of animals like Ozzy, a dog thrown in with 80 others and given little chance to survive.

This story is a glimpse inside the world of animal hoarding as seen by four people whose lives have been impacted by it.

"Sometimes it's scary, sometimes it's dangerous, and sometimes for animals and people it can be fatal," Kumpf .." More

Behind the Scenes: The Victims of Animal Cruelty

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:49:00 +0000

by Colleen O'Brien

Going into animal cruelty or hoarding stories require a great amount of strength, patience and sometimes a few tears. I'm a bleeding-heart animal lover that would (figuratively speaking) stop a car to prevent an animal from being hurt or killed.

It's my job to report the facts though, so I try to set aside all judgment and emotions when I'm faced with an animal who has clearly never felt a loving human hand. Or a human being who doesn't quite understand why his or her animals are being taken away.

It was my intent to find a psychologist who could shed light on animal hoarding as a mental illness. Those who suffer believe that nobody else can love their animals like they can. They believe that they are helping these animals by keeping them off the streets – even if that means keeping them in crowded kennels.

I can't say if today's case is that of animal hoarding, that is up to psychologist and judges to decide. I do know that 50 animals were taken from the home on East Crown and that this isn't the first, second or third time Spokanimal has been there to seize animals.

Also, according to Spokanimal officers, the woman relinquished all but four of the 50 animals and admitted they needed better care. This is not typical animal hoarding behavior, but again... I'm not a psychologist..." More

The Blurry Line Between No-Kill and Hoarders

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:12:00 +0000

by Lindsay Pollard-Post

Feces littered the floor and black mold covered the walls of a house that held 34 cats—many of them hungry, thirsty, and sick. Some animals were hunched over in tiny cages, covered with their own excrement. Even the beds of the humans who lived there had feces on them. Dogs and chickens were found outdoors without any food.

Sounds like something you might see on Confessions: Animal Hoarding, right? Surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) this hellhole—raided a few days before Christmas by Harrison County, Indiana, animal control—billed itself as a no-kill animal shelter called "Frisky Felines Foundation."

Multiple similar cases have made headlines in just the past few months. In September, the SPCA of Upstate New York seized 68 animals from Peaceable Kingdom Animal Rescue, a no-kill facility. The animals were emaciated, dehydrated, and suffering from mange, eye infections, dental problems, diarrhea, and other health issues that appeared to have gone untreated.

PETA's investigation of Angel's Gate, Inc., a self-proclaimed animal "hospice and rehabilitation center" in Delhi, New York, revealed that paralyzed animals dragged themselves until they developed bleeding sores, animals were denied veterinary care (one dog suffered with an infected, rotten, broken jaw), crowded conditions were so stressful that fights erupted daily, and animals were kept in urine-soaked diapers for days at a time, resulting in urine scald. Angel's Gate promised unsuspecting people that "special needs animals" would "live out their days in peace, dignity and love." Although its founder and operator, Susan Marino, now faces charges of cruelty to animals and criminal possession of a controlled substance, hundreds of animals remain in her hands—a situation that you can help change..." More

Nebraskans Charged, Imprisoned for Animal Cruelty

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:46:00 +0000

By Meagan Morris

An Omaha, Neb., man and Fremont couple are facing prison for separate animal cruelty crimes. Daniel and Ellyn Newcomer are charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty after dogs and a pot-bellied pig were found in their Fremont home and storage unit, according to the Omaha World Herald. Metrelle Dailey was sentenced to prison for throwing his pet dog out the window.

Police: Woman arrested for hoarding 2 dozen dogs

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:10:00 +0000

A Delaware woman is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly hoarding more than two dozen dogs on her property.

Neighbors contacted officials about a home in Milford last month.

Officers found 25 dogs being housed outside in cages covered by a blue tarp.They say all the animals were malnourished, cold and covered in their own filth.

They were taken to the Kent County SPCA for treatment.

"This type of hoarding issue is getting bigger and bigger, especially with the downturn in the economy. The right thing to do if you are overwhelmed with your animals is call a local shelter or the human society," Major Brian Whipple of the Kent County SPCA said..." More

Marsha Erskine- Spokane, Washington

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:27:00 +0000

Feb 9, 2012: Woman Wants Charges Pressed In Animal Hoarding Case

How was a Hillyard woman able to hoard hundreds of animals over nearly three decades without anybody stopping her?

That's the question on many minds after Spokanimal officers again seized dozens of animals Wednesday from Marsha Erskine's home on East Crown.

That small home she lived in was a private hell for 50 animals.

"He is wanting something to drink but he couldn't drink because the trough that was filled for him with water was frozen and you can see where he'd been licking it," Marilyn Mayer with Spokanimal said.

One of the cats that was rescued has its skin peeling off because Spokanimal says it was forced to live in a kennel lined with inches of feces and urine.

The nightmare for dozens of animals ended Wednesday because someone finally said something.

"When I got there the house reeked of urine you could smell it a house away," Erin Wakefield said.

Back in October, Wakefield's 15-year-old Chihuahua disappeared. She assumed he was dead until in mid-January, when a friend spotted the dog at a Hillyard gas station; a special marking on her tail gave her away.

That led Wakefield back to Marsha Erskine's home where, she says, the animals there were begging to be freed.

"They just wanted to go; I know that sounds funny but they just wanted out and I haven't been able to get it out of my head," Wakefield said.

Erskine's husband answered the door and Wakefield told him she wasn't leaving without her dog. The man handed it over.

"She was horribly dirty, she was covered in feces, her ears were all rotted out," Wakefield said.

Wakefield is now working on pressing charges against Erskine..." More & video

Feb 8, 2012: Animal Hoarding Discovered In Spokane

by Alex Rozie

Authorities recovered more than 40 animals on the 3600 hundred block of East Crown Wednesday in Hillyard. Spokanimal says the homeowner is not only a repeat offender, but a "constant offender." Spokanimal Representative Marilyn Meyer described the animals as "bone thin" and said that they had been "sleeping in their own feces."

KHQ Local News asked neighbors on Wednesday if they had any contact with the homeowner. They said she always seems pleasant, but they knew her to have a problem with animal hoarding and that is why they continually report her. They say that she also used to have sheep and goats, but only got rid of both of them when they began to eat her siding.

Spokanimal representatives on scene said that they do not plan to fine her for each malnourished animal as she is of low income, but it seems likely that she will not be able to own any animals for at least a year..." More

Horry County considers stiff new penalties to protect animals

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:08:00 +0000

By Sean Maginnis

HORRY COUNTY, SC - Horry County Officials may be looking to crack down on animal abuse and provide aid to stray animals.

The Horry County Public Safety Department is currently reviewing plans to create stiffer penalties for people convicted of animal abuse crimes, as well as better defining proper animal care.

County Spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said the goal of the proposed law change is to make sure people know what it means to provide adequate food, shelter and water for domesticated animals.

"The County is...just trying to better define our definitions," Bourcier explained. "And [also] trying to put in a little heavier penalties as well."

One of the penalties would include the possibility of prohibiting convicted animal abusers from owning a domesticated animal for up to two years.

Conway resident Bobby McDowell, a self proclaimed animal lover, says he believes the county's rules on animal care are vague and in dire need of an update.

"[The ordinance] has no meat, no backbone to it," he stressed. "Which means our [animal control] officers can't do their jobs."

Other ideas being considered by the Public Safety Committee are the prohibition of animal hoarding, creating a low cost spay and neuter program, creating a catch and release spay and neuter plan for stray animals, and requiring all pet owners to implant their pets with I.D. microchips.

Bob Bonsigner, President of the "Sav-R-Cats" animal advocacy group, said he is particularly pleased with the catch and release spay and neuter program, one he is helping county officials develop..." More

Hogs, Dogs Removed From Home In Osceola County

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:03:00 +0000

A group of animals has been removed from a home in Osceola County. Authorities were called to the home to investigate two stolen mini-horses.

When investigators got to the home they said they found a case of animal hoarding.

Officers believe more than 100 animals were at a property off of Ham Brown Road in Kissimmee

The family surrendered the animals Friday morning.

Officials said that 43 animals were removed from the home initially and the rest of the animals were removed Friday afternoon.
Among the animals removed were 25 dogs, 29 hogs, five horses, four geese, two llamas and more.

Animal Control said that the animals are in various states of malnutrition and illness.

"We are taking a look at these animals. Some appear to be malnourished. We are not sure of what the health conditions are of the animals, but what we saw was enough to determine we needed to take them back to animal control for a complete evaluation," said Osceola County Animal Control spokesman Larry Krause.

Officials said they believe that the family collected more animals than they were able to afford.

Authorities said that no charges will be filed because the family is leaving the state and was cooperative in surrendering the animals..." More

Inside the Mind of an Animal Hoarder

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:55:00 +0000

Nearly 100 dogs were found in a Pinal County home living in deplorable conditions Thursday.

We see cases of animal hoarding like this too often, and it's hard to imagine how someone crosses the line from pet owner to animal hoarder.

The doctor we met with says animal hoarders don't realize they're hurting their pets -- they think they’re helping them.

It’s a sight animal lovers can barely take -- dozens of dogs being removed from deplorable conditions.

But Dr. Brian Case says those responsible believe they're giving each animal a good life.

“A hoarder actually has a belief that they are taking care of these animals and protecting these animals and is not able to mentally to grasp the fact that they are indeed neglecting these animals severely,” says Dr. Case.

The owners typically can't afford food or medical attention for the animals, but in a hoarder’s mind he or she is keeping the animals safe..." More

Animal Control: Awareness increases animal hoarding busts

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:37:00 +0000

By Stoney Sharp

Are animal hoarding cases increasing in East Tennessee?

10News has reported on at least six animal hoarding investigations since 2010. The most recent case was this week, when dozens of cats, both dead and alive, were discovered at home on Murphy Road in Knox County.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office runs the Knox County Animal Control division. They believe awareness and extra resources have increased the number of hoarding busts East Tennessee has witnessed recently.

Their animal control officers serve up to two search warrants a month for cruelty or hoarding..." More

Knox County, Texas

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:04:00 +0000

Feb 7, 2012: Number of dead cats found in Knox County home rises to 38

By STEPHANIE BEECKEN

The number of cats found dead Monday at an East Knox County home rose from 20 to 38, according to the sheriff's office.

Officials say the dead cats at 4535 Murphy Road were in various stages of decomposition inside locked cages and carriers. Two dead chameleons were also discovered.

Animal control officers said one room had 15 dead cats and the inside window sills had layers of dead flies.

It appears the homeowner, a woman living by herself, was staying in a front room and keeping personal belongings in the garage. Her name has not been released.

Thirty-nine live cats and six dogs were rescued from the home. The animals were taken to Young-Williams Animal Center.

Decomposing cats and feces covered many areas of the home. Authorities were tipped off by a neighbor who complained about a foul smell..." More

Feb 6, 2012: Dozens of alive and dead animals found in home

The Knox County Sheriff's Office is investigating a possible animal hoarding case after receiving a complaint about a smell coming from a house on Murphy Road.

After they got the complaint, they looked around, were issued a search warrant, and the homeowner gave consent to enter the home.

Once inside, the officers found between 40 and 50 live cats, between 30 and 40 dead cats, six live dogs, and a dead lizard. They are currently searching for a missing bird and a missing hedgehog. The animals displayed several signs of distress..." More

Bonnie Sheehan / Pamela King McCracken, Hearts for Hounds

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:30:00 +0000

Feb 1, 2012: Dogs seized in Tenn. to be flown to South Florida
Two women were arrested Jan. 17 after 128 dogs were found in a U-Haul truck along Interstate 40, about 40 miles east of Memphis.

Forty of the animals will fly to Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday with American Humane Association staff aboard a FedEx plane..." More

Jan 29, 2012: Supporters Rally to Defend Arrested LB Dog Rescuer By: Nancy Wride

Jan 20, 2012: Don't Judge a Rescuer By Her Collar Opinion by: Ann Brenoff

Microchips Will Help Determine Who Owns The 144 Dogs & One Cat Found In U-Haul

by Alex Coleman

It was the traffic stop in Fayette County this week that led to the discovery of a U-Haul packed with more than 100 pooches and a cat living in what's been described as horrible conditions.

John Robinson is shelter manager with Collierville Animal Services.

Robinson said, "I've seen a lot of hoarding cases of animals crowded into a small space, but probably never anything like this where they're crowded and stacked."

Collierville Animal Services is where the animals were temporarily taken and cared for after being found in squalor. The question remains who owns these animals?

Nina Wingfield, the director of the Collierville Animal Services, hopes microchips will provide answers.

Wingfield said, "We really do feel like most of these animals, most of them are microchipped, and we think they came from shelters. They pulled them because they were in high kill shelters to save their lives."

Bonnie Sheehan and Pamela King McCracken were hauling the animals from California to Virginia. The women were associated with a dog rescue group called Hearts for Hounds, but they now face more than 128 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

Wingfield said, "I do know I got some calls yesterday from shelters in the California area that were concerned because they had released animals to Hearts for Hounds and they were concerned some of the animals they had released were part of the 140.".." More

Cops bust two women with 128 dogs crammed in back of U-Haul

BY PHILIP CAULFIELD

Two women who run an animal rescue operation are facing aggravated animal cruelty charges after cops caught them with more than 100 dogs and one cat stuffed in the back of a U-Haul truck without food, water, or adequate air, police said.

Bonnie Sheehan, 55, and Pamela A. King-McCracken, 59, were busted in Fayette County, Tennessee, on Tuesday when a cop making a traffic stop noticed a rank smell and discovered 128 dogs and a lone cat suffering in squalid conditions in the back of the truck and an attached van, the Commercial Appeal reported.

Dozens of cages were stacked on top of each other in the truck, some holding four or five dogs smeared with their own feces, while other pooches were caged inside dog houses secured with wired grates, the Appeal reported.

One of the dogs was dead, police said.

"I have seen animals like this when we raided a puppy mill a few years ago," Fayette County Animal Rescue agent Gina Thweatt told the Appeal, referring to the mass breeding operations that have plagued the pet industry.

"But as far as transporting them like this? No... not where they literally could not get any air or circulation."

The dogs had been locked in the truck and van since Saturday without food or water, police said.

Sheehan and McCracken ran a dog rescue operation in Long Beach, Calif., called Hearts for Hounds, according to local reports.

According to the organization's website, the two were moving their operation to Roanoke, Va..." More

Crook County SO Caring for 20 Seized Horses

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:18:00 +0000

POWELL BUTTE, Ore. -- The Crook County Sheriff's Office is in a familiar, costly situation, caring for seized, allegedly neglected horses while a caretaker was in court Thursday for arraignment on animal neglect charges.

The day after three months of investigation led to a raid on property along Highway 126 in Powell Butte, Timothy Coffia was arraigned on 20 counts of second-degree animal neglect.

Each count has a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

While deputies continue their investigation, possibly looking to ties to other people associated with the ranch which was the site of a previous neglect case, they also have their hands full caring for the horses.

Eight of the horses have been moved to the Crook County Fairgrounds in Prineville. They are the worst of the group, all scoring between 1.0 and 1.5 on a scale of 1 to 9 (9 being the healthiest).

They are getting care and, most importantly, eating hay to start adding on weight. Many have their ribs showing and scars on their skin.

Before deputies intervened, there were 60 horses on the property, 20 deemed as "neglected."

The sheriff's office now has authority to go onto the property to care for the remaining horses. It's a costly proposition, with the last case of animal neglect at the same ranch in 2009, adding up to $100,000 in costs since. Community donations and national interest from animal protection groups have helped defray the cost.

It took three months of complaints and investigation to get a search warrant before seizing the animals. In part, that was because the people at the ranch would not cooperate.

"Unfortunately, in this situation, as with the last case, we were not granted access to the property. The residents were uncooperative, so we basically had to stand on the roadside and gather our information from there," said sheriff's Sgt. James Savage..." More & video

Woman, Schenectady landlord face animal cruelty charges

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:11:00 +0000

By Dayelin Roman

A well-known Schenectady property owner has been charged after underweight dogs were seized from a breeding kennel he owns in Otsego County last week.

State Police charged Frank M. Popolizio Sr., 65, with 49 counts of cruelty to animals. Corrinne Kindt, 26, of Esperance, the manager of South Side Stables, was charged with seven counts of cruelty to animals.

Police and the SPCA made separate visits to the kennel after receiving a complaint in December and found thin dogs. On Jan. 13, both groups visited together and found the same conditions.

Over the next few days, 26 dogs were seized, including German Shorthaired Pointers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Weimaraners and Vizslas.

Popolizio told the Times Union last week that a former employee made the complaint to police, and he believed that "jealous breeders" were spreading the story over the Internet..." More

Nearly 150 animals seized in northern Minn.

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:07:00 +0000

A northern Minnesota couple has a court hearing next week after nearly 150 animals were seized from their property.

Itasca County sheriff's deputies executed a search warrant in late November at the Bigfork home of Joshua and Laura Anderson.

In court documents, a deputy says animals on the property did not have adequate shelter or water, and some were tied to short leashes. The deputy also reported the Andersons were feeding the dogs dead deer carcasses.

With help from Star of the North Humane Society, 146 animals were seized, including dogs, horses, chickens, a goat and rabbits..." More

Lumberton residents want animal hoarding problem dealt with

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:00:00 +0000

By Jeff Daley

LUMBERTON, MS -

Many residents in the City of Lumberton say they have been complaining to the city for more than two years about an animal hoarding problem with-in city limits.

The house where at least 40 dogs is located in the 700 block of 10th Avenue.

Neighbors say the animals are allowed to roam the fenced in property and gain access to inside the home through open windows. They say the noise from the barking dogs disturbs them at all hours of the day and the smell from the property is overwhelming.

Many folks feel the Lumberton Police Department has been reluctant to do anything about the situation. Chief Dennis Hobson says they have had the humane society out and they are waiting for them to step in.

Those in the neighborhood are asking that something be done about it sooner or rather than later.

"It's no secret that Lumberton has had its struggles here in the past, said Cody Cameron, neighbor of hoarder. "We need to get together and make a plan of action and we need to fully support each other and rectify the situation."..." More

How to Prevent Animal Hoarding

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:21:00 +0000

Deb Duxbury

Hoarding and caring for a large number of animals are two different sets of conditions. Many who work or volunteer to care for large groups of animals often stay quiet on the topic of hoarding for fear of being viewed in the same light. Their concern bears merit, as many who do not work or live in this type of environment may perceive only a fine line differentiating the two. However, when we breakdown each of these mindsets it becomes clear that in place of the fine line there is a chasm.

There are several theories about the psychology of animal hoarding. The one constant trait throughout is that a person puts the wants of the self over the needs of the animals. Regardless of the reason, hoarders are people who collect animals as items for their own sense of security, irrespective of the consequences.

There are several easy ways to signify if animals are involved in a hoarding environment.

There are more animals than actual living space. These dwellings are literally overrun with animals and would be construed as having an "infestation" at first glance.
Hoarders do not place a value on training. There may be fecal debris throughout a dwelling or animals that behave in a feral manner.
Look for animals that are underfed, ill, or dead. Hoarders do not put a premium on regularly feeding animals, seeking out veterinary care for the sick, or burying the dead. It is more important for them to have their "collection" than to have concern for their actual condition. As a glimmer into this mindset, the simplest comparison would be to think about dusty knickknacks on shelves.
Hoarders may very well justify their actions under the guise of "caring for animals." Whether a hoarder’s mindset rationalizes the behavior in this manner or not, the key component remains that actions speak louder than words. The best of intentions are meaningless unless responsibly acted upon.

Because numerous hoarders proclaim they are caring for animals, people who actually are caregivers feel threatened by the comparison. Media misrepresentation has a lot to do with the misconception. Rarely do media reports give details on a hoarding situation in conjunction with proper care giving. This can leapfrog into a societal assumption that all people housing an abundance of animals are irresponsible. To properly administer care to numerous animals is work, whether compensation is involved or not. The primary difference between hoarding and care giving is accountability...." More

Animal Hoarding: 'No Kill' or Helping that Hurts?

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:27:00 +0000

by Phyllis M Daugherty

Animal hoarding is reaching epidemic levels nationwide, and increasingly there is evidence that it is correlated to the “No Kill” movement. Maddies’ Fund defines “No Kill” as, ““…all healthy and treatable animals are saved…” Nathan Winograd, challenges his followers farther, stating on a website called The No-Kill Nation, “The only animals dying in a No Kill community are dogs and cats who are irremediably suffering, are sick or injured with a poor or grave prognosis for rehabilitation, and vicious dogs with a poor prognosis. (This does not include shy or non-aggressive scared dogs.) Nothing short of that is acceptable. And nothing less will do.” http://www.thenokillnation.com/?p=8

The idealism sounds wonderful but it is not realistic when unwanted and neglected animals are still pouring in the doors of public and private shelters all over the country, and at least 4 to 5 million a year are not adopted and are euthanized, according to The Humane Society of the United States, While there is much insistence on “saving” the animals, the No Kill websites are devoid of describing the humane conditions under which these “saved” animals must be kept. Unfortunately, many of these “saved” pets spend years in cages and kennels after they are “rescued.”

Best Friends states in a recent Associated Press article that it has 1,700 homeless animals in a “no-kill sanctuary.” Many unwanted pets are transported by shelters to other states and to Canada with no monitoring of their final disposition, to assure they do not show as euthanized on the facility’s statistics. http://www.opposingviews.com/i/l-a-shelter-dogs-transported-to-canada-rescue-or-ruse .

The insistence that animals must be removed from “kill” shelters because there is no fate worse than humane euthanasia can cause serious emotional distress and pressure on a rescuer. Effective animal rescue requires refusing to take responsibility for animals beyond your ability to provide proper care for them. There are many responsible rescuers and private organizations that rehome pets annually and who devote much of their lives to spay/neuter efforts to reduce pet overpopulation. They all want to see an end to the need to euthanize adoptable animals.

But, the radical insistence by "No Kill" proponents that the only thing keeping public shelters from being “No Kill” is a lack of effort to adopt them to the public is not true. Statistically, less than 20 percent of animals are adopted from animal shelters and that has not changed much after billions of dollars has been spent on education and adoption programs.." More

Task Force Developed to Combat Hoarding

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:15:00 +0000

by Melissa Reid

Cleveland Firefighters are facing a new challenge when fighting fires.

Some of the homes they respond to are too full of objects that they cannot get inside to fight the flames.

It happened Wednesay at a home in Cleveland.

“This would be a classic case of what you could classify as a hoarding situation. Debris and items were stacked up in every room on both levels,” said Larry Gray with the Cleveland Fire Department.

Firefighters were forced to attack the fire from the outside.

“That’s usually not a tactic that we use here in the city of Cleveland. But with all the substance that was in the hallways and in every room, it made fighting this fire very difficult,” added Gray.

According to the Cleveland Fire Department, hoarding within city limits has become such an issue they’ve initiated a task force, along with the Department of Health and the Department of Aging..." More

Nearly 100 dogs, 5 birds seized in Pinal animal hoarding case

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:03:00 +0000

by Anna Gunderson

Nearly 100 dogs and five exotic birds have been rescued in what Pinal County Animal Care and Control officials are calling an extreme case of animal hoarding. One dog had severely infected bite wounds and had to be euthanized.

The dogs were found Tuesday living in what officials described as deplorable conditions at a home in the rural community of Maricopa 35 miles south of Phoenix.

Two people were living in the home with no power or running water and floors covered with garbage and several inches of dog waste.

"We worked this incident in fear for our own health," a press release from Animal Care and Control said. "I cannot fathom how the two adult residents were able to live there."
Pinal County spokeswoman Heather Murphy said 93 dogs and five exotic birds were removed from the home, which investigators described as "uninhabitable:"

"Cases such as this are heartbreakers for animal control officers," Murphy said.

The owner of the home voluntarily surrendered the animals when Animal Care and Control was on scene, Murphy said. A veterinarian will examine the animals before putting them up for adoption in the coming weeks.

An investigation is under way, and the owner faces possible charges, Murphy noted. Once the investigation is completed, it will be up to the Pinal County Attorney's office to press charges. In addition, Animal Care and Control may pursue civil or administrative charges against the owner, the spokeswoman said..." More & photos

Video: click here

U.K. - Woman who hoarded 69 animals gets life ban Read more: Woman who hoarded 69 animals gets life ban

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:55:00 +0000

By Dan Santy

A WOMAN who kept a staggering 69 animals in appalling conditions at her modest three-bedroom house in Bilton has been banned from keeping pets for life.

Carole Cartledge was slapped with the ban after a court heard how she kept nine cats, three dogs and some 57 rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and birds in filthy, cramped and disease ridden conditions at her home in Cherry Grove.

Magistrates in Nuneaton were told how police and RSPCA officers spent a 'long and difficult' day clearing Cartledge's home once the extent of her animal hoarding was discovered.

The 65-year-old pleaded guilty to ten charges of neglect which included failing to provide food and water, a hygienic environment and veterinary care for her animals.

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Nicholas Sutton, said: "She showed a systematic disregard for the animals in her care and the appalling conditions she kept them in.

"You simply cannot keep this number of animals in this type of environment. It's outrageous and the animals suffer as a result."

Mr Sutton told the court the RSPCA believed Cartledge hoarded animals for no apparent reason other than a mistaken belief she was caring for them by taking them in.

The situation only came to light in June when a woman was invited round to Cartledge's home to buy some of her chinchillas.

The woman later told the authorities how she entered to be met with an overpowering smell. Once inside she saw cats being kept in cramped rooms behind locked doors, two obese dogs and cages stacked on top of each other containing a large number of chinchillas and birds.

She also claims to have found three dead kittens in a bin outside the house, although this matter was not pursued by the court.

Once alerted, the police and RSPCA went to Cartledge's home and seized nearly all of the animals, only leaving behind her dogs and some of the cats.

Vets who examined the animals found they were distressed, malnourished, dehydrated and suffering with diseases and dental problems..." More

Experts say animal hoarding difficult to treat, understand

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:46:00 +0000

By: Anne Williams

Animal hoarding is often misunderstood and can be difficult to treat, according to Jane Nathanson, a counselor and consultant for human-animal health and welfare in Boston.

Nathanson, who provides counseling and court-ordered assessments for animal hoarders and their families, said animal hoarding represents itself in a variety of ways and is not defined as one person having many animals.

Overwhelmed caregivers, people who feel the need to rescue animals, people who keep animals to serve their own needs and those who start breeding animals, but have difficulty maintaining proper care, are among those who can be considered animal hoarders, she said.

“I find there a number of psychological factors or conditions that contribute to animal hoarding behavior,” Nathanson said. “In the context of the law, it is considered animal hoarding. But the psychology of it is not animal hoarding. There are underlying factors..." More

Bemidji woman with 50 dogs may keep seven; rest headed for shelter

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:17:00 +0000

By Anne Williams

Most of the dogs will go, seven will stay and a few could be returned home once they've been neutered or spayed and her house is cleaned.

That is what 63-year-old Carol Schmidt agreed to Wednesday.

"That's what I want," the rural Bemidji woman said after signing a custodial agreement with the Animal Humane Society to have more than 40 of her dogs taken to an animal shelter in Golden Valley.

Beltrami County Environmental Services Director Bill Patnaude, officials with the Beltrami County sheriff's office and Wade Hanson, an investigator with the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley, met with Schmidt at her mobile home two days after authorities conducted a welfare check and found more than 50 dogs and some cats living inside two mobile homes on her property.

"I want them in the Cities," Schmidt said, referring to the dogs that will be taken to the animal shelter in Golden Valley. "It's good for people down there that need guard dogs for their places."

While Schmidt is not breaking any laws by having so many pets at her residence on Grant Valley Road Northwest in Grant Valley Township, the dogs are being removed because of what Hanson called "unsanitary conditions."

"She has agreed she has way too many animals," said Hanson, who according to the Animal Humane Society is an expert on animal hoarding and humane investigations. "We're going to do what we can for now. We'll be back up here once in a while to see whether or not the situation has gotten better..." More

ASPCA Intervenes in Potential Hoarding Situation in Brooklyn

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:13:00 +0000

A Brooklyn woman has agreed to give up five of the 18 pit bulls she has been keeping in her home, part of an arrangement with the ASPCA after agents looked into a possible case of animal hoarding at her home last week.

The 57-year-old woman had 13 adult pit bulls living in her backyard and basement, and five one-month-old puppies inside the house, according to the ASPCA.

"She was well-intentioned in her actions but she was on the path to becoming quickly overwhelmed," said ASPCA spokesman Bret Hopman.

Hopman said the woman, originally from Tobago, grew up on 72 acres of land and with 27 dogs that were used primarily to hunt wild game.

After moving into Brooklyn, "the first dog she brought in was back in 2003," said Hopman. "She found him near her neighborhood and it appeared he had been a victim of dogfighting. Soon after, she encountered another pit bull stray and brought her in, too.

"Neither dog was spayed or neutered, so they ended up mating," he said. "Eventually the owner ended up with 18 dogs."

The ASPCA found the woman's living conditions and the conditions of the dogs were acceptable, but "there was a very high likelihood that her situation could have escalated into a larger-scale crisis," said Hopman.

Workers from the ASPCA's two-year-old program Cruelty Intervention Advocacy (CIA) stepped in to help the woman get proper care for the dogs. The ASPCA's mobile unit arrived at the woman's home Jan. 26 to spay and neuter a number of the adult dogs.

The five puppies will also be spayed and neutered, and put up for adoption when they are of the appropriate age, said Hopman..." More

Gladewater to write animal ordinance - Texas

noreply@blogger.com (gia) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Frederick Williams owns one dog and doesn't like the idea of the city telling him or anyone else what to do.

"If a person can care for 40 animals, I think he should be able to possess those animals," he said. "I don't think the city should intervene on how many pets a person can afford."

But Gladewater officials say they have no choice.

"There's really not any ordinance about how many animals per size of lot or anything like that," Police Chief Farrell Alexander said.

He said the city gets complaints about noise and smell because there's no cap on animal ownership.

Currently, the city council is using Longview as a guide.

Animal Advocate Belinda Wiggins advised Longview's mayor on new ordinances in 2010.

"We want to strengthen those ordinances to protect the safety and welfare of the animal and to protect the public," she said. "Six dogs and six cats per house. Combination cats and dogs. Not six cats and six dogs a combination."

She said the people of Gladewater could benefit greatly from something like a six animal limit..." More