What is hoarding? It is a mental illness defined as an emotional attachment to things or animals in order to feel needed or loved. It interferes with normal life and usually affects others, as well.

Important to note: The number of animals a person has does not define hoarding. Hoarding is defined by the environmental conditions and the level of care present for the animals.

Characteristics of Hoarders:

1. Pre-occupied with animals
2. Presence of enablers
3. Claims of persecution
4. Denial and alibis for behavior
5. Repetition or cycling of addictive behavior

**There is usually a progression of problems that leads to hoarding, i.e. lack of spay/neuter, physical/psychological neglect of animals, declining or absent veterinary care, and a decline in the quality of food and environment.

General Types of Hoarders:

1. Overwhelmed caregivers
2. Rescue hoarders
3. Incipient hoarder
4. Breeder hoarder

True quote from a convicted hoarder: "I wouldn't adopt one of my animals to Jesus Christ if he walked through the door!"

This is the perfect example of a hoarder's mindset: no one else is good enough to care for their pets. They are the only ones who they can fathom doing it.

**The general notion is that hoarders are never cured from their illness. The only real way to stop hoarding is to prevent a relapse.

Ways to Prevent Relapse:

1. Continued psychological assessments/counseling
2. Probation
3. Unannounced monitoring of their home
4. Ordered to have no animal contact

For more information on hoarders, please visit:

www.tufts.edu/vet/cfa/hoarding.html

**Info. adapted from the ASPCA

Dear Cedar Valley Humane Society,

I adopted Hobo in October, 2010 after he had been at the shelter since February of 2010. He hid for about two weeks as he was becoming acclimated. Now, he is still staying upstairs in his "room," but now when I go up there he comes out to rub up against me and asks to be brushed. He is a bit overweight at 16.2 lbs. I would like him to weigh ten lbs.  He checked out fine at the vet, except having to lose some of the weight. :) I was truly afraid that he would either hate dogs or fear them, but he comes out and rubs against my 55 lb dog all the time! They will be great friends. I love my Hobo, and even though he is no longer a hobo because he has a home, he will be keeping the name. I can't wait until he is coming downstairs regularly and sleeping on the couch with me! He has a home forever now.

Thanks again,

Meagan