Oodles and Oodles of Poodles—Animal Hoarding

Thirty-three Poodles were sharing a two-bedroom house with an elderly couple in Queens, New York, according to the New York Post. Animal rescuers reported that Poodles were “literally everywhere, scurrying under sofas, under beds, peeking out at us.”

The Poodles were not being walked, did not go outside, so the conditions inside the home were as you might imagine.

A social worker visiting the owners reported the conditions to the ASPCA. Officials are certain they can find homes for the Poodles, who are small dogs, under twenty pounds.

The elderly couple will not face criminal charges. Although it seems like animal cruelty (and it is), animal hoarding is a mental disorder. The people need treatment, not prosecution.

Animal hoarding typically begins as an effort to provide a loving home for a reasonable number of pets, but then it gets out of control and the owners feel overwhelmed. They are reluctant to seek help, fearing that the animals will be euthanized. Often they don’t see the real conditions under which they are living. They believe that their animals give them unquestioning and uncritical love and they give it back.

According to Gini Barett, director of an animal rescue group:

Collectors exist in almost every community, large or small, rural or urban. They are in a state of denial that prevents them from seeing the filth or understanding their animals are sick, dying or dead. They need help. Psychiatric Times

Over 600 animals were found in the home of a Los Angeles woman, who insisted the animals were well-cared for in spite of the filthy conditions of her home.

Collectors are often elderly and more frequently female, but recently a 47-year-old South Carolina man was found living in “very filthy conditions with a 3-year-old boy, 45 cats, 3 dogs and a pet squirrel.”

There is a difference between animal collecting and animal hoarding. Collecting is a hobby. Hoarding is pathological. Here are the criteria of animal hoarding, according to the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium

1. More than the typical number of companion animals  
2. Inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter, and   veterinary care, with this neglect often resulting in starvation, illness, and death
3. Denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and the impact of that failure on the animals, the household, and human occupants of the dwelling

Comments

[Lynn Sinclair]

A few months ago, my local SPCA picked up 47 cats from a hoarder. They posted photos of the living conditions -- quite horrid. The poodles look in pretty good condition, and I hope they all find loving homes.

[schnoodlepooh]

whew.... i guess i don't qualify.

i was worried there for a minute.

[Sling]

When I was 12 years old,I had over two-hundred rats.
..damm things breed like poodles.

[jackie]

sad...for the people and for the dogs..

[Serendipity]

Oh dear, that's terrible! Poor dogs and the poor couple too. That is a problem alright. I've read such cases happening over at my side too. There was this man who kept more than 20 dogs in his house compound that can only fit one car and a small garden. After neighbours complained, the local pound came and seized his dogs. As much I could understand the violation, I felt sorry for the man. He looked so devastated and went berserk when they came for the dogs. He obviously loved the dogs he rescued off the street but didn't go around doing it the right way in providing them a proper home.

[gordy and georgie]

I always feel so sorry for the hoarders they show on Animal Planet. It is obviously an emotional issue and they think they are helping the animals. They just don't see that it is more than they can handle.

[rosemary]

Hum....I am approaching being considered "elderly" I guess....64. So, the total if my addition is correct....we have 4 cats that are strictly inside cats and 2 dogs in and out....all day long. We are considering another lab puppy in spring. Am I?

[Jennie/Kahshe Cottager]

It is a shocking situation for both the hoarders and the animals they hoard. I hope the dogs all find good homes and the people get some help as well.

[Biggie-Z]

There was a story from last year or the year before of a couple in a very large house in NJ that had something like 50 dogs, including frozen corpses in the garage. Ugh.

[Gus, Louie and Callie]

The couple probably thought they were doing the dogs a favor. They were just to old to understand anymore...

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

[Jimmy]

I could never imagine having more than 2 or 3 dogs at a time? My two girls are very demanding of my time. They would never stand for a harem!!!!!!

[Jimmy]

I think that's how the movie "Ben" got started?

[cube]

Pretty sad story from either perspective. I feel sorry for the poodles and the old couple.

The only thing I hoard is Star Trek collectibles, but they don't stink up your house... um, some might they do figuratively, but not literally ;-)

[Marion]

I would have to have a mental disorder to even contemplate having more than two big dogs...

Their bills for Vets, Food and Grooming are higher than ours, lol. They're great companions, but I sure wouldn't want any more!

[Tony]

Good Grief!!!!
We couldn't have more than 1 Poodle as Dixie expects 100% devotion from us both. Anything less would be unacceptable to our little Princess Poodle of Distinction....

[Lindsay]

Yikes, that does happen all over the place, more often than we realize. I do hope all those poor little poodles get good homes.

[Coll]

It breaks my heart to hear how common this is. I am relieved to learn that these little poodles were found and that something is to be done to help them and the elderly couple.

[Saint Lover]

I guess I qualify as a collector by those standards then. I have more than the usual number of companion animals. However, I take extremely good care of my dogs (I dont think Im in denial) I vet them, feed them good food, they are clean, my house is clean, they are well exercised, and socialized. I hate to think that people would ever class me as a hoarder/collector and it makes me sad.

[PUPPY PAL]

I LIVE IN RURAL FLORIDA, OUR AREA IS AGRICULTURAL, AND SITS NEXT TO A SMALL SUBDIVISION. A FEW YEARS AGO A WOMAN MOVES THERE FROM OUT OF STATE AND BEGAN TO COLLECT ANIMALS. SHE STARTED CALLING IT A N ANIMAL RESCUE, BUT ALTHOUGH SHE TAKES DONATIONS NONE OF THE ANIMALS ARE EVER ADOPTED AND THEIR NUMBERS INCREASE. AND NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO SEE THE ANIMALS TO ADOPT THEM. THE POOR THINGS BARK ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT, I THINK SHE FEEDS THEM BUT THEY GET NO ATTENTION. SOME HAVE TURNED VICIOUS AND WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BE ADOPTED AT THIS POINT. LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS NO RESPONSE BECAUSE AS WE HAVE NO ANIMAL SHELTER IN THIS COUNTY THEY HESITATE TO GET INVOLVED. SOME OF THESE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM HOMES IN THE AREA. I SEE THE DOGS THAT ARE ON FLYERS POSTED BY ANXIOUS OWNERS BUT WHEN THEY INQUIRE THEY ARE MET WITH CURSES AND MANIC BEHAVIOR. BEWARE RAJAHS RESCUE IN MAYO FLORIDA. BEHIND THOSE 6 FT PRIVACY FENCES HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS SPEND THEIR LIVES IN MISERY.

[Celeste Killeen]

Purdue University Press is releasing a new book, Inside Animal Hoarding, which profiles one of the largest and most intriguing cases of animal hoarding in recent history. Celeste Killeen's investigation pries open the door to Barbara Erickson's hidden and closely guarded life, offering an in-depth view of animal hoarding. Dr. Arnold Arluke's discussion follows the Erickson story with current research on animal hoarding and how it ties into the Erickson case. This integration of investigative journalism and scholarship offers a fresh approach with appeal to a broad audience of readers, those new to learning about the phenomenon, and those with first-hand experience in the animal welfare field.