Kirk Miller, DVM, helps us understand the issues around hoarding beyond those of the long-established crazy cat lady. He says what classifies a person as a hoarder isn’t a particular number of animals, rather it’s whether or not those animals are provided with sufficient care.
Miller explains three types of hoarders and potential intervention approaches.
- The overwhelmed caregiver
- The rescue hoarder
- The exploiter hoarder
Source: DVM 360, June 7, 2019. Link.
Hoarding disorder is now a separate listing in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders <link>. Theories regarding the causes abound. The penalties for animal hoarding are often inconsistent and ineffective at deterring the crime.
INSIGHTS: All animal health pros need to be aware of hoarding issues and their dynamics. As backyard poultry and small farm locations expand, hoarding can exist with horses and large animals, as well as with cats and dogs.