Why is animal hoarding a community issue?
Neighbors complaints about mistreated or neglected animals or about the stench emanating from the hoarders home or sprawling rodent or insect infestations may be the first indication that something is wrong. Some animal hoarding cases go undetected until an elderly hoarder passes away. The hoarder and any other residents, including minor children and elderly in the care of the hoarder, also suffer from the horrible living conditions. Self-neglect, child neglect, and elder abuse have accompanied the hoarding of animals; in fact, social service agencies are often a source of animal hoarding complaints. Inoperative utilities and appliances may compound the lack of sanitation, rendering the dwelling uninhabitable by normal standards. Excessive clutter and overcrowded conditions can contribute to fire danger, while air ammonia levels in hoarders residences have exceeded levels considered safe. How does animal hoarding impact our animal shelters? Animal hoarding cases are a drain on our comm
