ICAWC 2013 Barcelona, Spain - Vicky Halls' presentation on The Human Issues Behind Animal Hoarding

1. THE HUMAN ISSUES BEHIND
ANIMAL HOARDING
VICKY HALLS RVN Dip Couns MBACP
Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour
Counsellors

2. INTRODUCTION
Hoarding of Animal
Research Consortium
Lack of data
Increase awareness in the
welfare sector, veterinary
profession and general
public
Early intervention

3. CONTENTS
Defining ‘Animal Hoarding’
Characteristics of ‘hoarders’
Explanatory models
HARC sub-categories
Specifics
Consequences
Interventions
Recognising hoarders

4. ANIMAL HOARDING
Definition:
“Someone who accumulates a large number of animals;
fails to provide minimal standards of nutrition,
sanitation and veterinary care; and fails to act on the
deteriorating condition of the animals (including
disease, starvation and even death) or the
environment (severely overcrowded and unsanitary
conditions), or the negative impact of the collection on
their own health and well-being.” [Patronek (1999)]

5. FACTS ABOUT ANIMAL HOARDING
Almost every type of animal can
be a victim of hoarding domestic, farm animals, exotics,
dangerous wildlife
Cats are very common - easily
available, easier to conceal than
dogs
In most situations, hoarders tend
to concentrate on one species

6. ANIMAL HOARDING
To be distinguished from:
Compulsive hoarders
(inanimate objects)
People who live in squalor
(Diogenes Syndrome)
People who live with large
numbers of animals for whom
they provide adequate care

7. CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL
HOARDERS
Hoarders of
inanimate objects
also
Non-functional
utilities (plumbing)
Perceive themselves
as rescuers

8. CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL
HOARDERS
Anthropomorphic
Intense love of animals
“No-one else cares better”

9. CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL
HOARDERS
Childhood: chaotic,
inconsistent parenting
Belief that they possess
special abilities to
communicate with animals
Recidivists

10. EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR
ANIMAL HOARDING
Delusional model
Hoarders insist that
their animals are well
cared for, despite clear
and immediate
information to the
contrary

11. EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR
ANIMAL HOARDING
Impulse control model
Addiction akin to substance
abuse: preoccupation with
animals, denial of a
problem, excuses for the
behaviour, isolation from
society, claims of
persecution and neglect of
personal and environmental
conditions

12. EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR
ANIMAL HOARDING
Compulsive Disorder
The Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSMV) classifies the hoarding
of inanimate objects as
‘hoarding disorder’ under
obsessive-compulsive
and related disorders
(animal hoarding special
manifestation)

13. EXPLANATORY MODELS FOR
ANIMAL HOARDING
Attachment model
The individual may suffer
from early developmental
deprivation associated with
childhood experiences of
absent, neglectful or
abusive parents and is
unable to establish close
human relationships in
adulthood

14. SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS
Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD
Overwhelmed caregiver
Rescue hoarder
Exploiter hoarder

15. SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS
Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD
Overwhelmed caregiver
Some awareness
Passive acquisition
Triggered by change in
circumstances
Inability to problem-solve

16. SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS
Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD
Overwhelmed caregiver
Socially isolated
Caregiver = self-esteem
Fewer issues with authority
Animals “family members”

17. SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS
Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD
Rescue hoarder
Mission -> unavoidable
compulsion
Fear of death
More active vs. passive
acquisition
Only one who can provide
care

18. SUB-CATEGORY OF HOARDERS
Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD
Rescue hoarder
Extensive network of
enablers
Doesn’t necessarily live
with the animals
Rescue -> adoption
becomes rescue only

19. SUB-CATEGORY OF HOARDERS
Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD
Exploiter hoarder
Tends to have
sociopathic tendencies
Lacks empathy for
people or animals
Indifferent to harm
caused
Rejects outsiders’
concern

20. SUB-CATEGORIES OF HOARDERS
Animal Hoarding: What caseworkers need to know GJ Patronek VMD PhD
Exploiter hoarder
Superficial charm and
charisma
Lacks guilt/remorse
Manipulative and cunning
Adopts controlling role of
expert

21. DEMOGRAPHICS OF ANIMAL
HOARDING
US Studies:
Patronek 1999
76% female (>60yrs = 46%)
Most were single, half lived alone
65% hoarded cats
57% cases brought to authorities’
attention by neighbours

22. DEMOGRAPHICS OF ANIMAL
HOARDING
% of women owners in complaint calls with >10 cats
2006: 62%
2007: 66% *
*More recent data unavailable
Source: UK (RSPCA Inspectorate Information Analyst)

23. DEALING WITH HOARDERS
Owner (hoarder)
Family, friends, ‘enablers’
Neighbours
Other agencies/charities

24. DEALING WITH HOARDERS
Justification
Excuses
Normalise behaviour

25. DEALING WITH HOARDERS
Empathic (accept working with
owner’s ‘reality’)
Genuine
Non-judgemental
Practical
Respectful

26. DEALING WITH HOARDERS
Keep records of all
conversations,
interventions etc.

27. IMPACT OF ANIMAL HOARDING
Huge impact on
resources
Large number of
animals
Possible prosecution
Recidivism

28. WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Early intervention
Offering support and
guidance when the need
for intervention is
acknowledged
Overwhelmed caregivers
Breeders
‘Rescue’
Pet owners

29. WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Increased knowledge
and awareness
Veterinary
Profession
Welfare Sector
General public

30. SIGNS OF ANIMAL HOARDING
Evidence of hoarding
objects
Property in disrepair
Strong smells, flies

31. SIGNS OF ANIMAL HOARDING
Owner of property ‘reclusive’
Owner reluctant to let
anyone in
Feeding strays or feral
colony
Large number of cats in the
vicinity

32. SIGNS OF ‘OVERWHELMED
CAREGIVER’ IN RESCUE
CENTRES
Poor conditions
High numbers for available
facilities
Reluctance to provide
details of:
Routine & veterinary care
Re-homing
numbers/statistics

33. POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR ANIMAL
HOARDING?
Vigilance
Earlier intervention
RSPCA continuing to work
alongside Social Services
and Environmental Health
ASPCA – Cruelty
Intervention Advocacy
Programme

34. POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR ANIMAL
HOARDING?
Psychiatric care and/or
Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT) for the
hoarder?
Further research

35. “Inside Animal Hoarding”
The Case of Barbara Erickson and
her 552 dogs

36. www.vet.tufts.edu/hoarding
www.aspcapro.org

37. THE END
Thank you for listening