Yet another animal hoarding story with tragic consequences to report...this time an Animal Rescue Team from the Humane Society of the United States responded to a call from a local sheriff's department for help in removing over 250 dogs, cats, chickens and other animals from a remote property just outside Show Low Arizona. Needless to say, these animals had been living in deplorable conditions, and all suffered the consequences of severe neglect-dehydration (there was no running water on the property), skin diseases, malnourishment and untreated injuries. The rescuers also discovered the remains of many animals that died before help arrived-evidencing many years of these horrific conditions.
It was discovered that the woman who was "keeping these animals", if you can call it that, had a long history of animal hoarding in Colorado and apparently fled to rural Arizona to avoid a cease-and-desist order. According to this piece, the woman has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty.
Read the full article and see a slide show of photos from the rescue on Wayne Purcell's blog, A Humane Nation-Wayne is the President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States: hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2011/03/arizona-rescue.html.
We wish we could somehow make sense of the concept of animal hoarding- a topic that seems to be in the news quite a lot lately. But with such disastrous consequences, we can't seem to sort it out in any reasonable way. What is heartening is that there are organizations like the Humane Society, and charitable arms of companies (in this case, Petsmart Charities donated to the rescue efforts) that rescue, rehabilitate and re-home those animals that survive.
We wish we could somehow make sense of the concept of animal hoarding- a topic that seems to be in the news quite a lot lately. But with such disastrous consequences, we can't seem to sort it out in any reasonable way. What is heartening is that there are organizations like the Humane Society, and charitable arms of companies (in this case, Petsmart Charities donated to the rescue efforts) that rescue, rehabilitate and re-home those animals that survive.
11 comments:
It's such a strange malady for sure. Oregon just passed a tough new law, enforcing some serious jail time for each abused animal. While I applaud this, I hope these people get the mental health counsel they so desperatly need.
Wyatt's Mom
Well said, Wyatt-we agree.
I agree. That people need help.
So sad for the creatures.
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Pip's mom here. I have participated in several hoarding rescues as part of my work with Red Door Animal Shelter (Pip's shelter). You only have to see one hoarding situation up close and personal to lose your sympathy for these people. These are not people who love animals and took on too much - these are abusers of the worse kind and they deserve to be punished severely. This may sound harsh, but I have been inside a couple of these places and they are a living hell and the horrors will stay with me forever.
Kristin (Pip's mom)
Hi Pip and Pips Mom,
Thanks for your insightful comment based on first hand experience. What I can't wrap my head around is why this happens-how or why does someone do this? So therefore, I suspect that some are mentally ill in some way, because it is so far from normal behavior...I don't really feel sorry for them-think they should be punished for their crime, but also get some help, so perhaps they can break the cycle and not repeat this horror...Thank you for all the work you do for Pip's shelter:-)
I will never understand the concept of why people do this to animals. I get personally frustrated because I cant go out into the field and help because im too emotional, Ive always donated items or money as my way of helping. Sadly no matter how much we educate humans on what is right and wrong in regards to animals there is always going to be cruelty issues. Its a never ending battle but I will spend my life doing what I can to try and make a diffrence.
Muzzer says she doesn't understand animal hoarders either, but it is clearly an illness that manifests in an ugly way.
g
Thanks to all of you who've weighed in on this issue-please keep your thoughts coming: speaking for Parental Unit and me, we feel like we're learning so much for your comments and very much appreciate them. We've never seen this first hand, but can only imagine the horror.
Thanks!
Don't forget to give a little love to United Animal Nations, one of the groups who sent people to the area to assist in the rescue. They respond all over the country to natural and man-made disasters affecting pets.
Hi again,
I know I have pretty strong opinions on this subject. I definitely agree that these people have some serious mental health issues and should receive help. But child molesters also have mental health issues, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be punished. Maybe this is too harsh, but it just makes me so angry how these animals suffer. And I have encountered some in the animal welfare world (no one here) who say - well, they mean well, they love animals. There is just no excuse in my book and there is such a thing as personal responsibility.
We have had several hoarding cases at Red Door. We fostered a cat named Phoenix from a horrible hoarding situation in which there was a fire and many animals (who had already suffered so much) died. Phoenix, our foster cat, was the last cat found alive. He was trapped for over a week under the rubble, including many dead animals. We fostered him and took care of burns and when he was healed he eventually went on to a wonderful home. He was one of the lucky ones because he got a second chance. We had another cat at the shelter who had lived her whole life in a small carrier - a carrier that was so filled with her own waste, she literally couldn't move!
I could go on and on. This must stop and these people must be held accountable!
Very well said, Kristin (aka Pip's Mom) We surely agree that these "hoarders" must be held accountable and punished. Personally, we don't have an ounce of sympathy for them. My thought, though, is that in addition to the punishment, they should be required to have mental health counselling from psycologists trained in this area. Perhaps this would help stop this cycle of abuse...
Post a Comment
We love hearing from you!