Animal Hoarding
 

Every now and again you hear a story on the news about an animal hoarder. Yesterday 46 cats and 16 dogs were removed from a home in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia. Many of the animals were sick, covered in urine and feces, some had difficulty walking. I've heard anywhere between $43,000 and $93,000 worth of fines for animal cruelty and the the cost of the clean up of the residence.

The homeowner was also apparently hoarding a feces-covered mentally ill woman in her basement.

Strangely, I didn't know the mentally ill woman.

But I did know the hoarder.

She's a former coworker.

Stench Leads Rescusers to House with 62 Pets, Feces Coated Woman

I'm glad you said former. sounds like she's become a Cat Orker now.

I watch Animal Planet cops a lot, and they always show hoarders.

For most people, I'm sure it's inconceivable; and yet I'm scared to say I understand those people. I know -- know--how things can slide so out of control.

Those animals (and people) are living in horrible, cruel, conditions, and yet the hoarders invariably cry and fight anyone who wants to take even one of their animals.

So, were you surprised to hear the news?

It seems that when ever I hear about an animal horder, it's always a woman. Men hoard cool stuff.

That reminds me of a joke:

A little girl walks in to a bank with a big jar of nickels that she wants to deposit.

The teller says, "My, little girl, did you hoard all of those nickels yourself?"

And the little girl says,

"No."





My sister whored half of them."

:D :D

Like dead bodies?

Not always a woman. Plenty of men hoarders on Animal Planet too.

(Cloud: trying to prevent the slide into crazy cat lady)

Yeah, anything tip you off, Wolf? They couldn't have had a pleasant odor about them, that's for sure.

How did you know about the dead bodies?


This would have been more effective in a PM.

Somewhat. The condition is what's surprising, not the numbers.

I think it's been at least four years since she's worked for the nuthouse. She used to be just a mildly goofy catlady ... usually had between 5 and 10 in the house that she took excellent care of, and placed into good homes. She even had a deal with a vet that would do physicals, shots, spayings or neuterings at just the cost of the meds. Someone in my office still has one of her cats, and I know that there were quite a few others.

We also didn't expect her tendency to take in strays would extend to people.

She had a rough childhood. Most people mean they were sent to bed without dinner a couple times. This lady's life is like something from a Lifetime movie.

The evidence and demand is in the PM

I once had a friend who cared for around 20 cats. She wouldn't let them inside, though. They lived in a big shed outside her house. Her catfood bill must have been alarming. She finally rounded them all up - not sure how - and got them all spayed or neutered. Happy ever after.

I think, among other obvious problems, hoarders have no boundaries. They just can't say "no" to yet another animal. It puzzles me that these people think they're doing the creatures any favor by keeping them under such conditions. Part of the pathology, I suppose. :headshake

Cat people are strange. No not you 1-3 owners, those 25+ owners of cats.

and 25+ dog people aren't?