By Steph Selice

Today, Americans are increasingly aware about animal welfare. This is partly because abuse, including animal hoarding, is now widely reported. Pet lovers respond by wanting to adopt hoarded animals. And everyone wants animal hoarding taken seriously and addressed quickly, with no recurrences. So how can we help?

Defining Animal Hoarding

Hoarding is obsessive behavior that can include animals, not just things. Generally, animal hoarding occurs when humans keep too many animals in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Hoarders may not provide the food, water, meds, vet care, space, exercise, and shelter the pets need.

Hoarders almost never hate or mean to abuse animals. They just can’t care for them. People who hoard need help; so do their animals. The consequences for humans are serious, and for pets, potentially fatal.

Virginia Laws and Penalties on Animal Hoarding

Animal hoarding cases have led many states to enact laws against having too many domestic animals in a building. In Alexandria, animal hoarding can be prosecuted under Virginia’s laws against animal cruelty and neglect.

The City of Alexandria sets limits on how many companion animals a resident may have, currently five dogs and four cats. Permits are required to have more animals, or their humans will be subject to housing code or zoning violations.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria investigates cases of animal cruelty and abuse, including hoarding. Extreme neglect, serious injury, or animal deaths can be prosecuted either as a misdemeanor or a felony. Conviction can mean that the animals are seized, forfeiting the human’s right to them. Misdemeanor convictions may mean a 5-year ban on animal ownership, felony convictions a court-ordered lifelong ban. Reporting animal hoarding fairly and accurately is therefore extremely important.

Spotting Animal Hoarding

What are some signs of animal hoarding? Look for three things: the animals’ condition, where they’re kept, and how their humans behave.

The animals may appear underfed, emaciated, injured, or unable to move normally. They may have untreated veterinary problems, including infections, parasites, and breathing or skin issues. Some may be afraid of humans, unsociable, or aggressive. In overcrowded spaces, animals may have multiple offspring; some may be inbred. Dead animals might be in a space with living ones.

Hoards often have unsanitary conditions: feces or urine on floors, decay, or garbage. They may stink intensely. The building may be cluttered, broken down, or with blocked exits and windows. Flies, other insects, and vermin might infest the property.

Hoarders might be isolated, not allowing outside visitors. They often neglect their own health and believe their animals are healthy and happy. Despite horrific conditions, they might keep bringing new animal’s home.

Reporting Animal Hoards

Experts advise treating animal hoarders cautiously and with sensitivity. If you suspect a neighbor has an animal hoard, take these steps.

Document Your Concerns

Officials need accurate information about hoards. Note the address and its condition. Estimate how many animals are being hoarded, including species or breeds. What signs of neglect, injury, or illness have you seen, in the animals and/or hoarders?

Contact Animal Care Authorities

In Alexandria, contact the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) or the city’s Hoarding Task Force [see Resources]. You can report anonymously. Animals rescued from hoards are taken to the AWLA shelter for vet care and rehabilitation, then offered for adoption.

Contact Human/Social Services

If hoarders appear to need help with physical or mental health concerns, call Adult Protective Services [see Resources] for a welfare check.

Don’t Confront Hoarders

Dealing with hoarders yourself could backfire and make life worse for the animals. No matter what you see, don’t remove animals yourself. This could be considered theft. Hoarders might react in a way that harms you, the animals, or themselves.

Adopting/Fostering Hoarded Animals

Hoarded animals may need more loving care than other adopted or fostered pets. Your new pets may be fearful, unsocialized, and unused to an “unhoarded” place. They may react timidly to a well-maintained home and carpet, or grass in a clean backyard. The world may seem terrifying.

Consult your veterinarian or animal rescue about your new pet’s specific needs. At first, your pet may want to stay in one “safe” spot—a bedroom or bathroom with food, water, and bedding—and might guard all this closely at first. Find ways to help your pet relax.

Hoarded pets may have veterinary conditions and may need more initial vet visits, medication, or dental work than other pets. Animal rescue will have treated them for parasites and other diseases, including skin or respiratory infections. But these pets may need carefully managed diets or other routine veterinary care.

Hoarded animals may not have been housetrained or know how to react well to people and other animals. A regular walking schedule (dogs) or easy access to multiple clean litterboxes (cats, rabbits) will help foster good habits. Vets suggest using a harness instead of a collar on animals who aren’t used to a leash, reducing the pressure on the animal’s neck. Your pet may need time to adjust to being walked, but a daily routine helps ease this transition.

Above all, allow your new pet time to adjust to you. Never force an interaction with an animal who isn’t ready. A timid pet can become a more loving, confident animal, with patience and devoted care. And treats!

About the Author: Steph Selice volunteered as an adoption counselor at King Street Cats in Alexandria for seven years.

Resources

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria Tipline
https://alexandriaanimals.org/alexandrias-animal-services/

AWLA Animal Services Team: 703-746-4444 (24/7 dispatch)
AnimalServices@alexandriaanimals.org

Alexandria Hoarding Task Force
For multi-faceted cases that may involve human health or structural hazards hoardingtaskforce@alexandriava.gov

City of Alexandria
https://www.alexandriava.gov/older-adult-services/program/adult-protective-services#:~:text=APS%20is%20a%20part%20of,email%20the%20Hoarding%20Task%20Force.  https://dars.virginia.gov/

Telephone Intake Line: 703-746-5778 (Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)
After hours and 24/7 toll-free hotline: 1-888-832-3858
TDD: 703-836-1493

Emergency Mental Health Services: 703-746-3401

Nuisance Abatement Hotline: 703-746-4311

Code of Virginia
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title3.2/chapter65/section3.2-6503/

Alexandria Animal Shelters/Rescues

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

4101 Eisenhower Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22304

703-838-4774

http://alexandriaanimals.org/

King Street Cats
25 S. Dove Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

703-231-7199
https://www.kingstreetcats.org/