Transcript HOARDING: THE ANIMAL ASPECT

HOARDING:
THE ANIMAL ASPECT
Doug Kelley
Denver Animal Care & Control
September 18, 2007
ANIMAL HOARDER DEFINED
• Accumulated a large number of animals,
overwhelming that person’s ability to provide
even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation,
and veterinary care.
• Failed to acknowledge the deteriorating
condition of the animals (including disease,
starvation, and even death) and household
environments (severe overcrowding, very
unsanitary conditions).
• Failed to recognize the negative effect of the
collection on his or her own health and wellbeing, and that of other household members.
Profile of an Animal Hoarder
• 76% are female
• 46% are 60 years of age or older
• Most are unmarried and do not have close
relationships with family
• Over ½ live alone
• In 69% of the cases animal feces and urine
accumulate in living areas, and ¼ of the
hoarder’s beds were soiled with animal feces
• Dead or sick animals are reported in 80% of the
cases
• Cats are involved in 65% of the cases, and
dogs are involved in 60% of the cases.
• Animal hoarders come from all social and
demographic backgrounds.
• Tend to have an inordinate fear of death
• Although hoarders tend to be
socioeconomically disadvantaged people,
there have been multiple cases with
working professionals such as college
professors, nurses, bankers, and even
veterinarians.
THE
INTENTIONALLY
ABUSED ANIMAL
• 74% are companion animals
67% are dogs
22% are cats
• 14 % are farm animals
• 6% are wildlife
THE ANIMAL ABUSER
• Gender
76% male, 24% female
• Age
31 % are teenagers under 18 years of
age
• 4% are under 12 years of age
Hoarding cases
• 76% of offenders are female
• 46% are 60 years of age or older
Media Coverage
• The collector’s insistence that he or she wants to
save animals’ lives plays well to the press, and
journalists often naively glorify such people.
• Heartwarming stories are recounted that belie
the gruesome conditions the hoarder’s victims
are forced to endure.
• These stories have the effect, if not the intent, of
causing already overwhelmed individuals to
acquire even more animals.
Addressing the Media
• Be forthcoming, even proactive, with information.
• Educate about the realities of the animals’
conditions, and the psychology of the animal
hoarder.
• Use video footage or pictures taken during the
rescue.
• Allow the media to observe and film the
condition of the animals. Encourage them to
follow-up in the coming days and weeks for new
developments.
Veterinarian Connection
• Veterinarians may be unwitting enablers.
A well-meaning veterinarian who regularly
refers unwanted animals to a client or staff
member and sends samples of food or
supplies home with that person may be
facilitating the accumulation of an
unmanageable number of animals
Tips for veterinarians in identifying
hoarders
• A constantly changing parade of pets,
most seen once and not again.
• Visits for problems not usually seen in
good preventive health care, such as
trauma or infectious disease.
• Rarely seeing the same animal for
diseases of old age, such as cancer or
heart disease.
• May travel great distances to the practice, come
at odd hours, and use multiple veterinarians so
as not to tip them off about the number of
animals.
• May seek heroic and futile care for animals they
have recently found.
• Perfuming or bathing animals prior to a visit to
conceal odor.
• Bringing in a relatively presentable animal in an
attempt to get medication for more seriously ill
animals at home, and trying to persuade the
veterinarian to provide medication or refills
without seeing the animals
• Being unwilling or unable to say how many
animals they have.
• Claiming to have just found or rescued an
animal in obviously deplorable condition,
although the condition of the animal,
including strong odor of urine, overgrown
nails, and muscle atrophy, may be more
indicative of confinement in filthy
conditions than wandering the streets.
• An interest in rescuing even more animals,
including checking bulletin boards and
questioning other clients.
PROSECUTION
The primary purposes of prosecuting an animal
hoarder for cruelty to animals is to
• separate him or her from the animal victims and
• to see that the hoarder receives the
psychological counseling needed to prevent the
person from repeating the abusive behavior.
• Effective plea arrangements can be an
acceptable alternative to permanent injunctions.
§18-9-202 Cruelty
To Animals
A person commits cruelty to animals if he
or she knowingly, recklessly or with
criminal negligence overdrives, overloads,
overworks, torments, deprives of necessary
sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beats,
allows to be housed in a manner that
results in chronic or repeated serious
physical harm, carries or confines in or
upon any vehicles in a cruel or reckless
manner… needlessly kills, or otherwise
mistreats or neglects any animal, or
causes or procures it to be done, or, having
the charge or custody of any animal fails to
provide it with proper food, drink, or
protection from the weather, or abandons an
animal.
Definitions
• “Mistreatment” means every act or
omission that causes or unreasonably
permits the continuation of unnecessary or
unjustifiable pain or suffering.
• “Neglect” means failure to provide food,
water, protection fro the elements, or other
care generally considered to be normal,
usual and accepted for an animals health
and well-being consistent with the species,
breed, and type of animal.
Colorado Penalties
• Misdemeanor (Class 1):
6 months to 18 months County Jail
and/or $500 to $5,000 fine
• Felony (Class 6)
12 months to 18 months Department
of Corrections and/or $1,000 to
$100,000 fine
18-9-202.5. Financial bonding requirements
for costs of holding impounded animals.
• The owner or custodian of an animal that has been
impounded because of alleged neglect or abuse, or
because of investigation of charges of cruelty to
animals may prevent disposition of the animal by an
animal shelter that is caring for the animal by posting
a bond with the court in an amount sufficient to
provide for the animal's care and keeping for at least
thirty days. Such bond shall be filed with the court
within ten days after the animal is impounded.
At the end of the time for which expenses are covered
by the bond, if the owner or custodian desires to
prevent disposition of the animal by the animal
shelter, the owner or custodian shall post a new bond
with the court within ten days after the prior bond's
expiration. However, the court shall order the
immediate disposition of the animal by euthanasia if,
in the opinion of a veterinarian, the animal is
experiencing extreme pain or suffering. At the end of
the time for which expenses are covered by the bond,
the animal shelter may determine disposition of the
animal unless there is a court order prohibiting such
disposition. The owner or custodian shall be liable
for the cost of the care, keeping, or disposal of the
animal.
Associated Costs for Bonding
• Personnel Costs including overtime (don’t
forget benefit costs)
– Kennel care
– Court time
– Administrative Costs
• Veterinary care above and beyond shelter
costs
• Animal food
• Other associated costs
BUILDING STRATEGIC
ALLIANCES
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Animal Control Officers
Shelter/Humane Society Personnel
State Veterinarian’s Office
City/county court prosecutors
District Attorney’s Office
Police/Sheriff’s Department
Local Health Department
Social Service Agencies
Veterinary Community
Code Enforcement