Ratsicles
Posted : 10/18/2007 9:31:57 AM
I think this is a very interesting topic.
I'll add my two-cents, and because I happen to have a large number of animals, I will use myself as an example as to why judging people based solely on age, or number of animals is a very slippery slope. 
I think everyone agrees that it isn't the number of animals that a person has, but the care those animals recieve. Someone may have a hundred animals and not be a hoarder, or someone may have ten animals and be considered a hoarder. These situations should all be judged individually, IMO.
I currently have: 6 Dogs, 3 Barn cats, 2 Indoor cats, 7 Rats, a litter of foster baby rats, 2 Horses, 3 Goats, 15 or so Chickens, and 6 meat Rabbits. If we're going on numbers alone, I'm probably a pretty good candidate for being considered a hoarder. 
Again, I'm going to set up a hypothetical situation using myself as an example to illustrate why making blanket statements about what constitutes hoarding, and the characteristics of hoarders, is a bad idea. Numbers, or the age of the individual, are not enough to go on.
Let's start with some recognized characteristics of a hoarder.
1. A hoarder is unable or unwilling to provide proper food, veterinary care, and housing for their animals.
All of my animals eat good quality food:
Recieve veterinary care/medicine as needed:
And are provided with clean, appropriate housing:
So, even though I am young, and have a large number of animals, I think these pictures are evidence enough that I don't meet THAT criteria. Some of these pictures are as old as 3 years, and some are as recent as yesterday. So obviously, though I have a very large number of animals, I have been able and willing to provide for their basic needs for longer than I've even been on my own as an adult. Neat, huh?
2. Hoarders often have animals that are unsocialized, unexercised, and either obese or underweight Often they do not have enough time to ensure that all of their animals recieve adequate exercise, training, and stimulation.
Luckily, I am home all day, so I have plenty of time to make sure all of my animals get exercise, training, and play time.
The rats get time to play outside of their cages and eat cookies:
The horses are worked daily- Beck is ridden, and my colt does a little training and very, very light groundwork:
And the dogs are walked:
I also work hard to make sure my animals maintain a healthy weight- not too fat, and not too thin:
3. Hoarders often have so many animals that they are unable to keep their living space sanitary. Urine and *** accumulate to the point where their homes are unliveable.
Again, because I am home all day, I have the luxury of being able to clean on a daily basis. I think it's safe to say that I keep my house darn near spotless:
4. Hoarding is the result of mental illness.
Yes, I believe that hoarding is a result of mental illness. All hoarders have a mental illness, but not all people with mental illnesses are hoarders. For example, I have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. I have also been diagnosed with clinical depression, which runs in my family. The autism manifests itself in me by making me socially awkward. That's pretty much it. I'm not retarded, or incapable of caring for myself. I come from an upper middle class family, graduated high school with honors, and was given a full ride scholorship to the college of my choice. Autism is a spectrum disorder, and this is how it manifests itself in me:
1. I had a hard time understanding idioms and sarcasm as a child.
2. I have social anxiety.
3. I am obsessive about certain topics. People with autism often latch onto one or two serious interests and become, basically, huge nerds on those subjects. For me, those subjects were animals and art.
4. I was able to do college level work in most subjects as early as elementary school, but I have a mental block when it comes to even basic math. Being advanced in some subjects and deficient in others is common with autism.
So, what does this mean for me? Basically, my level of autism means that I am a huge nerd. That's it. I'm socially awkward and nerdy. This is NO way negatively affects my ability to care for my animals.
As for my depression? As long as I take my medicine I'm fine. If I don't take it, I tend to sleep alot. That's about as bad as it gets.
So. My point here is that "mental illness" is a very broad term and to assume that because someone has some kind of mental disorder they are incapable of caring for their pets, is wrong. If we assumed that everyone who was depressed should not have animals, I think ALOT of people on this very forum would lose their pets. Depression is very, very common.
5. Hoarders do not know their limits and will continuously take in animals even when their current pets do not recieve proper care.
Yup. But it is very important to remember that everyone's limits are different. For some people, one dog is too much for them. Others could probably do well with thirty.
Again, using myself as an example:
Before I get any new animal, I sit down and do a budget. I evaluate my finances and figure out exactly how much basic care for that animal will cost on a monthly basis, as well as setting some aside for vet care. I then, if at all possible, try to go a month or two setting aside money and time for that animal, as if I already had it, to see if I can deal with the cost and commitment. If all of that checks out, I then get the animal.
For me, my dog limit is 6. I can handle more financially, but I just plain don't WANT more than six. It would be too crowded, and too much work. Six dogs is a happy number for me. I have similar limits that I recognize for all of my pets. I think that as long as someone is realistic and aware of what their personal limit is, they are not in danger of becoming a hoarder. Hoarders, by definition, are in denial about their situation and are incapable of rationally considering what they can handle.
I know this thread wasn't about me, but I thought it would be useful to have an example of someone who has alot of animals but DOES care for them all properly, to show the difference between someone who is a hoarder, and someone who has alot of pets.
Personally, I think it's important not to judge people if you don't have the entire picture. Just because you can't see yourself doing what they're doing, doesn't mean it's impossible. Everyone is different, and everyone is different in what they personally can handle.