Cat Hoarding Problem near me...Interesting story but sad

[bleedingheart]

http://www.post-gazette.com/breaking/20040715catsp8.asp

"Humane officials wearing masks and hazmat suits were removing dozens of cats from a woman’s home in Westmoreland County, which authorities said will have to be demolished.

“We’ve been here since 10 a.m. and we got about 50 out — 30 alive and 20 dead. There’s probably 30, 40 more still inside,” humane officer Katie Waters said yesterday."

Now I know this neighborhood and everyone in the neighborhood knew about this problem. All the people who lived around this woman had been complaining and even calling the police...but nothing was done.

One neighbor finally had his fill of this situation (he couldn't be in his backyard because the stench from the house was unbelievable...even family picnics were cut short because of it)...so he took a look in the house and saw the disaster and called the news station.

So I have been thinking about this and I think I may know why the woman and her cat problem were not dealt with earlier...it may be because her husband was influential with some fire/emergency organizations and he had helped to found those groups.. It is the only reason why I think her problem was "overlooked" for so long.

We drove by the house the other day and they are dismantling the inside of the home...it will have to be demolished...hell they are finding dead kittens in the walls and the attic...the situation was completely out of control.

[JaySherman]

1. What is it that causes people to do this?

I hear about cases like this every so often. It's sickening.

[bleedingheart]

2. According to the news program the Humane Society rep said

that hoarding is being looked at as a disorder.

As she said on tv...some people collect salt shakers and some people collect cats but they need care, attention food and to be cleaned up after.

[jukes]

3. this is horrifying

i have *many* cats, but mine all receive regular medical care. i've trained myself to administer the appropriate vaccines & keep copious records.

i truly can't understand acquiring more animals than you are able to, or willing to, care for properly.


very, very sad.

[bleedingheart]

4. the sick part is that her daughters knew of this problem and were

upset to have the authorities get involved.

Clearly this entire family is nuts because if my mother had started to "collect" living animals I would have her at a doctor and the animals would be sent to a shelter immediately where they would get better care.