If you have a neighbor or family member whose home or property is overrun by too many cats, dogs, birds, or other animals, you’re probably wondering what you can do about the problem. And it can be a big problem—for the welfare of the animals, the hoarder, anyone else in the home, and even the neighbors.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that a quarter of a million animals suffer from hoarding every year. Many animal rights activists think the real number is much higher than that. When people have more pets than they can care for, they could face legal consequences ranging from animal cruelty charges to having their houses condemned. But without tough laws that specifically address animal hoarding, it can be difficult to get hoarders to stop their behavior.
How Many Pets Are Considered Animal Hoarding?
There’s no threshold number to draw the line between someone who simply has several pets and an animal hoarder. Many responsible animal rescuers have dozens of animals while keeping them clean, well fed, healthy, and appropriately sheltered. Others with only a handful of cats or dogs might be considered hoarders based on their living conditions.
Some cities define (and prohibit) animal hoarding in their ordinances, but these definitions differ widely. For instance, Phoenix defines animal hoarding as keeping 10 or more animals in unsanitary, overcrowded, or inhumane conditions. Other jurisdictions don't specify a number—rather, it’s considered hoarding to house any number of animals in conditions that create a health hazard to animals or people.
Some local governments limit the number of animals that one household may keep on their property. While these ordinances aren't specific to hoarding, they can be used in hoarding situations. But enforcement of these regulations tends to be lax, and animal hoarders are rarely deterred from these laws because they see themselves as rescuers.
Why Do People Hoard Animals? Is It a Disorder?
Some animal hoarders start caring for animals with the best of intentions but then something happens that spirals the situation out of control. A person might become overwhelmed financially or physically and be unable to properly take care of the animals. Sometimes, the animals multiply beyond what the person can care for. Many hoarders refuse to give up their animals and might be compelled to pick up strays or adopt more animals.
Many mental health experts now view animal hoarding as a psychological disorder. Similar to object hoarders, many animal hoarders compulsively accumulate animals and won't give them up. They often don’t (or won't) recognize what’s happening despite the unsanitary conditions. Some researchers attribute these behaviors to the hoarder's desire to control the animals.
Is Animal Hoarding a Crime?
As discussed above, some local governments have ordinances that explicitly forbid animal hoarding. Cities and counties may also have zoning ordinances that limit the number of pets one family can have. Penalties for violating these ordinances may result in civil or criminal infractions (usually a fine) or a misdemeanor.
Animal Neglect and Cruelty Laws
State laws generally don’t address animal hoarding behavior directly. In most states, however, hoarders may be charged with animal cruelty or neglect for not providing their pets with adequate food or shelter. Some states go further, making it a crime to withhold necessary veterinary care or keep animals in unsanitary conditions. Most of the time, animal neglect is only a misdemeanor, although repeat offenders may face felony charges in some states.
In addition to fines and the possibility of jail time, hoarders may have to pay the costs of caring for the animals after authorities have seized and impounded them. Several states also allow courts to forbid people from owning other pets after they’ve been convicted of animal cruelty, but it’s not always clear how well these orders are enforced.
Court-Ordered Psychological Treatment
Even when hoarders are convicted of these crimes, they usually go back to their old ways. Illinois has tried to address this problem by requiring convicted pet hoarders to undergo a psychological evaluation and treatment when its appropriate. (510 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 70/3.01 (2022).) Other states, like California, either require or allow courts to order convicted animal abusers to get counseling as a condition of probation. (Cal. Penal Code § 597(h) (2022).)
Other Legal Consequences for Pet Hoarders
Pet hoarders may be violating state or local health and zoning laws, which could lead authorities to condemn their houses. City officials might also be able to use local nuisance laws to place a lien on the hoarder’s home for nuisance abatement. And if there are children living in the home, the hoarder could face child neglect or endangerment charges.
North Carolina pioneered an innovative approach to the pet hoarding problem by allowing individuals and private groups to sue the hoarders and get possession of the animals, along with the costs of caring for them. The court may then limit or ban the hoarder’s right to have new pets. (N.C. Gen Stat. §§ 19A-3, 19A-4 (2022).)
How to Identify Animal Hoarders
According to the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium, public health experts have identified several criteria to define animal hoarders:
- They have more than the typical number of pets or other animals.
- They neglect the animals by not providing minimum food, sanitation, shelter, and veterinary care, but they can’t or won’t recognize the neglect and the effect it’s having on the animals and people living in the home.
- Despite mounting sanitation and health hazards, they continue to collect more animals.
Some other outward signs of animal hoarding include a strong smell of ammonia in the house or on the property from cat or dog urine (which may extend into the surrounding neighborhood in bad cases), as well as extreme clutter, signs of deterioration, and vermin in the home or yard. When the animals are visible, they may appear emaciated or lethargic. Hoarders often neglect themselves and become isolated (they often don’t want others to see inside the home).
How to Report Animal Hoarding
If you suspect that someone is hoarding companion animals, ask the local humane society or animal control department to investigate the situation. If you know the person, you can always try to offer help in a nonjudgmental way—in the form of cleaning up, taking sick animals to the vet, or suggesting community resources. But be prepared for the hoarder to deny there’s a problem and refuse any help. In order to learn about social services that may be available, contact adult protective services, the health department, or mental health agencies. And if there’s a child in the home who may be neglected or living in unsanitary conditions, contact the local child protective services agency.
If you have a hoarder as a neighbor or tenant on your property, you may want to speak to a landlord-tenant lawyer to learn what your options are for dealing with the problem. And if you're facing animal abuse or neglect charges related to your own pets, you should contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.