What are the actual health risks to living in such a filthy house?
Answer Hi Nancy, thanks for your question. Animal waste inside a home is not recommended for several reasons. Not only can it spread disease, it also poses respiratory problems for the animal owner and visitor. It is also not good for young children to be exposed to such material because of the risk of infection. Here is a website from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a government agency, on this subject: http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/browse_by_animal.htm I suspect that the problem is more complicated than you first expressed. Pet ownership has been shown to be beneficial for many elders. If your mother is overwhelmed by the number of animals in her home, she may not be able to care for them adequately. Perhaps you can persuade her to give up a few for adoption. With fewer animals, she may be able to give the the rest the care that they need. I am no psychologist, but many elders are depressed or mentally impaired, but these symptoms often go unrecognized. Perhaps a visit with a
