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#1
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
I have been a lifelong lover of animals. I don't find it odd that I
fell into the job that I did (Zoonotic disease Research Analyst) working for the state. I've become involved in a lot of animal oriented projects at a much higher magnitude, but I remember, and cherish every year that I spent in animal rescue. And many times it was a literal rescue - from a treed cat at midnight who's flea collar had slipped under a forearm and had litterally embedded itself into the skin and muscle layers, to the feral which had been hit by a car and was hiding under some parked trailors. I remember it seeming like hours while I lay belly down in the cold mud, inching forward, and praying that I wouldn't lose the cat. The first time I was called in to see the results of animal hoarding was under in the worst circumstances possible - after a fire. I was appalled and devastated. Trying to rescue those that had a chance, and having a vet immediately euthanize all the feral cats that were locked in the basement and suffered smoke inhalation and some burns. The woman who owned the house fit the classic profile of an animal hoarder (or just a plain hoarder of STUFF). Even after the fire, it was evident that there were cat and dog food cans littering almost the entire house, newspapers stacked from floor the ceiling, and on the stairs as well. Knowing that she was a very large, disabled woman, I could see why she wasn't able to make it down the stairs, and had to be taken out of a second floor window to escape the fire and smoke. It's not simply that she was "crazy"; although she certainly had an OCD problem, she sincerely loved her pets and believed that they were like surrogate children to her. Pet hoarding or collecting usually stems from ignorance rather than malice aforethought. When I speak on animal hoarding, I recount my own experiences, but I would like to hear from other people who have been through similar situations. As a public health official, and a member of a Hoarding Task Force which has brought agencies and organizations together so that they may work together in times of crisis, animal hoarding or not. I knew of one woman within our Animal Resce organization, who was a cat "collector". After several mishaps at her house which resulted in the deaths of the cats involved, and other more "mysterious" deaths (probably a combination of stress and malnourishment) - she was banned from taking anymore foster animals from our organization, or adopting any. She, unfortunately, refused to see the problem, and finally went off on her own to start another animal welfare group - after we had demanded that she relinquish all cats in her possession that were fosteree's from our organization. We were soon able to disperse them into appropriate homes. I have worked with Dr. Randy Frost, and am on the Task Force with him, but don't honestly believe that he knows as much about animal hoarding as the papers that he's published report. I hope to add to this deficit of first hand knowledge which he has, and which I or we have experienced first hand. Thanks! Claudia |
#2
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
I saw your message Claudia I will post some of my stories about this when I
get a chance just very busy. I am at two different shelters and just experienced a cat hoarding issue in the last month. |
#3
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
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#4
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
Hi, I would like to contribute as I am also in animal rescue, but I'm not
sure exactly what you are looking for. Do you want accounts of working with hoarders, or just hoarders who are involved in animal rescue, or any rescue stories? -- -Kelly "Yankee Rose" wrote in message ups.com... I have been a lifelong lover of animals. I don't find it odd that I fell into the job that I did (Zoonotic disease Research Analyst) working for the state. I've become involved in a lot of animal oriented projects at a much higher magnitude, but I remember, and cherish every year that I spent in animal rescue. And many times it was a literal rescue - from a treed cat at midnight who's flea collar had slipped under a forearm and had litterally embedded itself into the skin and muscle layers, to the feral which had been hit by a car and was hiding under some parked trailors. I remember it seeming like hours while I lay belly down in the cold mud, inching forward, and praying that I wouldn't lose the cat. The first time I was called in to see the results of animal hoarding was under in the worst circumstances possible - after a fire. I was appalled and devastated. Trying to rescue those that had a chance, and having a vet immediately euthanize all the feral cats that were locked in the basement and suffered smoke inhalation and some burns. The woman who owned the house fit the classic profile of an animal hoarder (or just a plain hoarder of STUFF). Even after the fire, it was evident that there were cat and dog food cans littering almost the entire house, newspapers stacked from floor the ceiling, and on the stairs as well. Knowing that she was a very large, disabled woman, I could see why she wasn't able to make it down the stairs, and had to be taken out of a second floor window to escape the fire and smoke. It's not simply that she was "crazy"; although she certainly had an OCD problem, she sincerely loved her pets and believed that they were like surrogate children to her. Pet hoarding or collecting usually stems from ignorance rather than malice aforethought. When I speak on animal hoarding, I recount my own experiences, but I would like to hear from other people who have been through similar situations. As a public health official, and a member of a Hoarding Task Force which has brought agencies and organizations together so that they may work together in times of crisis, animal hoarding or not. I knew of one woman within our Animal Resce organization, who was a cat "collector". After several mishaps at her house which resulted in the deaths of the cats involved, and other more "mysterious" deaths (probably a combination of stress and malnourishment) - she was banned from taking anymore foster animals from our organization, or adopting any. She, unfortunately, refused to see the problem, and finally went off on her own to start another animal welfare group - after we had demanded that she relinquish all cats in her possession that were fosteree's from our organization. We were soon able to disperse them into appropriate homes. I have worked with Dr. Randy Frost, and am on the Task Force with him, but don't honestly believe that he knows as much about animal hoarding as the papers that he's published report. I hope to add to this deficit of first hand knowledge which he has, and which I or we have experienced first hand. Thanks! Claudia |
#5
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
On Sat 05 Nov 2005 05:32:06p, Snittens wrote in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav ): Hi, I would like to contribute as I am also in animal rescue, but I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for. Do you want accounts of working with hoarders, or just hoarders who are involved in animal rescue, or any rescue stories? I could offer a story about an animal rescuer who turned into a hoarder, or possibly a couple of stories. But I think this is the dark side of animal rescue, and a sign of emotional problems and it's hard to talk about. It makes the life of the animals no less easier, just because they were taken in by someone supposedly dedicated to their welfare. That said, I'm hesitant to talk about it, especially since everyone here knows my full name because of the stalker. Oh, the stories I could tell. But won't. -- Cheryl |
#6
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
"Cheryl" wrote
I could offer a story about an animal rescuer who turned into a hoarder, or possibly a couple of stories. But I think this is the dark side of animal rescue, and a sign of emotional problems and it's hard to talk about. It makes the life of the animals no less easier, just because they were taken in by someone supposedly dedicated to their welfare. That said, I'm hesitant to talk about it, especially since everyone here knows my full name because of the stalker. Oh, the stories I could tell. But won't. True, it is the dark side. And in a way, I think most hoarders think they are rescuers in a way. They think they are doing good but they obviously, they aren't. -- -Kelly |
#7
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
I'm looking more for stories from people who have been involved in
removing animals from hoarding situations. Of course, I'd love to hear first hand from someone who is/was an animal hoarder. Cheryl, if you would like to email me, my email address is: I won't use anyone's real name unless they want me to. Thanks! ~ Claudia |
#8
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
"Yankee Rose" wrote in message oups.com... I'm looking more for stories from people who have been involved in removing animals from hoarding situations. Of course, I'd love to hear first hand from someone who is/was an animal hoarder. Cheryl, if you would like to email me, my email address is: I won't use anyone's real name unless they want me to. Claudia, you made it clear in your first post that email was fine, which is why I was having a hard time understanding why anyone at all was replying in the group. By the way, have you contacted shelters and animal control agencies? You might find more reliable and forthcoming information there than in Usenet. |
#9
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
"Yankee Rose" wrote in message oups.com... I'm looking more for stories from people who have been involved in removing animals from hoarding situations. Of course, I'd love to hear first hand from someone who is/was an animal hoarder. Cheryl, if you would like to email me, my email address is: I won't use anyone's real name unless they want me to. Claudia, My mistake--it was in your second post that you wrote: "My email address, if you prefer to send your message that way is: " Also, I see from reviewing your first that you have worked for state animal agencies.Still, I would in your place be very careful about the "information" you gather from Usenet. You undoubtedly know this, since you are a reporter, but given your request for informationhere, it seemed worth saying anyway. Good luck. |
#10
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Still looking for info. Let me try a different tactic to get some discussion going!
Yankee Rose wrote: I'm looking more for stories from people who have been involved in removing animals from hoarding situations. Of course, I'd love to hear first hand from someone who is/was an animal hoarder. Cheryl, if you would like to email me, my email address is: I won't use anyone's real name unless they want me to. Thanks! ~ Claudia There are a number of stories from rescuers already posted on Usenet - which is public domain. Just search "hoarder" or "hoarding" in this ng and the dog health groups. Many who posted the stories still post under the same email addresses. One thing I have found is that mainstream media never prints the situation as bad as it is. It's almost like they censor it to protect the privacy of the hoarder, or something. -L. |
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