Behind closed doors : a case study of an Ithaca hoarder

Abstract

The Tompkins County SPCA investigated an anonymous complaint in June 2007 and discovered a 92 year old female who was hoarding 54 cats that were inadequately nourished and were in poor medical condition. The hoarder was unaware of the cats' medical status as well as the unsanitary living conditions in which she was living. Cornell Shelter staff treated all animals and a cooperative approach was chosen as a method of follow up care in order to control the cat population. Animal hoarding is a problem that affects all communities and accounts for innumerable cases of animal abuse each year; in many cases, it is associated with elder and child abuse as well. Hoarders suffer from a pathological behavior that results in their drive to collect and control animals despite the needs of the animals they harbor. Veterinarians play a key role in not only treating the animals that fall victim to these situations, but in recognizing clients as hoarders and reporting the situtation for further investigation. Only through education and community collaboration can our society gain control over this devastating problem.