London house clearance specialits Jeffrey Avery & Associates explain how animal hoarding is something which occurs all over the world, and these cases are particularly serious because they often lead to a lot of distress for the animals which have been affected.
It is a form of compulsive hoarding, but instead of collecting items the sufferer has a compulsion to collect animals.
It has been getting more attention recently due to a number of TV programmes which have appeared over recent months which look into the lives of the people affected.
But in its most extreme cases it can lead to serious problems.
One such problem came to light recently in Westchester Township near to Chesterton in the USA. Police are already saying that it is one of the worst animal hoarding cases they have encountered.
The police recently got a search warrant for a property after receiving complaints from neighbours who thought that the animal waste might be affecting their drinking water.
When they arrived they found dogs drinking water which was contaminated with faeces, as well as dogs attacking other dogs.
The female owner then handed over some puppies which were affected by parvovirus and fleas, and over the next few days a total of 82 dogs have been taken from the property. Some of the people removing the dogs were bitten during the process.
But the owner said that she cared for all of her pets and fed them and washed them well. However, she did concede that she had too many dogs and needed a more manageable situation.
It is a very difficult situation because hoarding is a serious mental condition, and the victims often do not realise just how much harm they are causing the animals. They are simply unable to look after so many pets, and as a result the animals often suffer.
It is hoped that the dogs will all now be able to find new homes and make full recoveries.
For confidential advice call Jeffrey Avery on 0800 567 7769
