Animal hoarding Dr Mandy Paterson Principal Scientist RSPCA Qld

Pet hoarding leads to squalor

Animal Hoarding Always accompanied by squalor Majority include hoarded objects Majority include excessive clutter Many don’t have running water Many don’t have electricity connected

What is animal hoarding? The accumulation of an unusually large number of animals and failure to provide minimal standards of care. Failure to notice suffering. Sometimes labeled “Pathological collecting”. Animals are subject to ‘chronic cruelty’ through long-term neglect. Failure to provide adequate care Inability to recognise effects of this failure Obsessive attempts to accumulate animals Inability to allow animals to go Denial of problems

Animal hoarding Animal hoarding is mentioned under the new DSM-5 Hoarding Disorder as perhaps a special case. Differences: causes involvement of squalor poor insight intervention options treatment options

Disconnect People say they: Love animals Rescue animals Care for them Have a special bond Are running a shelter Are breeders But the animals are: Neglected/dead Living in filth Hungry Overcrowded Diseased Suffering

RSPCA’s role RSPCA inspectors administer the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 This Act adopts an educative function where possible but gives inspectors powers to seize animals when necessary Animals can be signed over to RSPCA by owner or by the court Once they belong to RSPCA they can be rehomed

RSPCA’s role RSPCA relies on information to investigate Information can be provided anonymously RSPCA plans raids in advance Law may not mandate reporting but ethical duty may The extent of animal suffering must never be downplayed

Intervention considerations Animal welfare law Animal management law Need for ‘intent’?Little understanding Adequate care?Animals dealt with Individual animalsNo help for hoarders hoarder/mental healthCost concerns label Animals as evidence Bargains Excuses in court

Management challenges Little knowledge/understanding Hoarders actively avoid help Lack of successful treatment options High recidivism rate Conflict between best for human v animals Individual civil rights/ confidentiality Locating hoarders Lack of communication btwn jurisdictions

Simple model Animallook after the Servicesanimals Legal options Referral Look after the Humanpeople ServicesSupport legal option Animal management (Council) Animal welfare (RSPCA, Government) GP Mental health ACAT Disability support Social worker Housing & cleaning Team leader for people and on- going support Only reason for continued presence is if some animals left with people

Simple model: complex problem Might be serious risk to persons & animals of fire, disease, injury Need to assess risk to persons undertaking intervention – zoonosis, injury, air quality Takes time to process the animals but need for speed Highly traumatic to hoarder Traumatic to all attenders

Questions?