The psychology of animal hoarding

[punk-a-doodle]

Isn't that called sadism? They get a good feeling from others feeling bad?

No, my husband has worked with a true (rare) sadist. A little girl. Very sad case. Nothing alike, nor do hoarders get a sense of pleasure from the dead and dying animals around them. Nor do they recognize that is what is happening, just as material hoarders do not recognize that nothing will ever get done with that rusty board that "is worth something". I really think reading up on these things will help create better understanding. It doesn't mean you have to like what happens to the animals (who here does?),or the people involved. It means actually trying to figure out what is going on so that actual solution may one day be reached.​

 

[onthespot]

I think that hoarders that get into astronimcal numbers of animals don't usually acquire each and every one from scratch. Most of those people get animals they can't afford to spay and they get to breeding out of control and that is where the tipping point happens for a lot of people. I have and have had a lot of animals of different kinds. Birds, chickens, turkeys, geese, dogs, horses, but when their time to find a new home comes, they find new homes. I will be moving soon and have to pare down to a minimum of animals, so right now I am gradually selling down my flocks and dogs, as I find the "right" homes one by one. No rush, no drama. I do kiss them when they go, (the dogs, not the chickens!) but I don't cry. Times are tough right now, so I am being extra choosey and slow placing my animals. I want them to be in the best situation I can find for them.

When I settle in my new place though... I want to try goats!

 

[pbjmaker]

Quote:
I kiss my chickens - what's wrong with you

They smell like warm sunshine and earth.

 

[animalpro24]

Me and my mom were watching Hoarders the other day, not animal Hoarders. They counted 50 something cats in the house. When they pulled all the cats out they counted 41 live cats and 30 something dead cats, including kittens. Most of the cats were in the garage. Even if you tried to smell something dead you couldn't! And the worst part about that is the lady and her husband did't even know there were dead cats!!!! It frustrates me when people hoard animals like that!
I don't understand how they could do that.

 

[chicknrt]

as i new member i have really been facinated by this thread, if i can add that it is ok to judge and disapprove of behaviour that is destructive in any way, but it is possible to hate the behaviour without hating the person by coming to understand that each person (even twins who are brought up in the same home) are capable of misunderstanding really early emotional lessons in life, that can go on to lead to distorted and damaged thinking which then leads to distorted and damaged behaviour... personally i think that if we say we love animals and are prepared to care for even "difficult" animals and seek understanding and acceptance of their ways of being, but we cant spread that to other human beings, we are maybe missing the point?

 

[ChickInDelight]

Wow. I just watched some shows. How heart-breaking. I am ready to see these people and animals get help. Wow.

 

[gritsar]

I disagree that there are those of us that are judging whether a person should have a certain number or type of animals based purely on $$$$. You do need money to feed them of course, unless there is some company out there giving away free pet food that I don't know about. The majority of common pets do need some interaction in order to be happy, but that's free. But there are things that every pet has a right to that either cost money and/or require some work on your part; things like spaying and neutering to not only prevent unwanted offspring but contribute to the health of the animal. Putting the unwanted litter in a bag and tossing them into a river is not an acceptable way to deal with the problem in my book - and there are still people that do that around here. Euthanasia. Euthanasia is a touchy subject. If you have an animal that is suffering from a terminal illness or other malady that brings them nothing but pain and misery,then you have a moral obligation to do something about it. No ifs, ands or buts. If you can't bring yourself to give an animal the gift of freedom from their pain and suffering, then maybe you should think twice before you get another.

So let's look at those four things right there.

Food - Okay so you can't afford TOTW or whatever premium pet food is in vogue right now. That's fine. Many, many animals have been fed Purina throughout their lives and done fine.

Interaction - Again, that's free. You only have to be willing to do it.

Spaying or neutering - every place I have ever lived from Colorado to Miami has had some sort of spay/neuter program in place. Many are low cost or on a sliding scale depending on income.

Euthanasia - if you can't afford it most animal shelters will allow you to surrender the animal and do it for you. Long story short, my mother got angry with me once and ended her visit to my home early. Thing is, she left her 16 year old dog with me. Mom knew Max needed to be put down, he was blind, deaf and had a painful skin condition; but couldn't bring herself to do it. She left that poor old dog with me. ME, when I was in college, trying to raise a five year old, had pets of my own and barely two nickels to rub together. It killed me to do it, but I took Max to our local animal shelter and surrended him, with the understanding that they were going to euthanize him. I would have preferred a different route. I would have preferred to take him to a private vet and stay with him while he crossed the rainbow bridge, but I couldn't afford to do it. I put my needs aside and did what was best for Max.

So yeah, I guess I do believe that if you can't offer an animal those four things, whether you are rich or poor, then maybe you shouldn't own animals in the first place. Once I take an animal into my home, I have a moral obligation to that animal for the rest of their lives. JMHO.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I kiss my chickens - what's wrong with you

They smell like warm sunshine and earth.

Lately I've been taking it one step further. I like to nuzzle Pearl the Polish's crest with my nose.

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
You're awesome, Kat.

 

[3goodeggs]

I know. She's one of my faves!