We all either know someone, know OF someone, or have read (in the newspapers in a big bust) or heard about someone who has this problem (animal collecting and hoarding) The person may start off with the best of intentions they have a big heart, are actual very likeable people, compassionate people (some of them), but then the more animals attained sometimes via rescue, sometimes via other breeders, the degree of care gets compromised. Each new compulsive addition the person (people) make an allowance, that they have the room, and resources. The "What is one more mentality." They tell themselves the animals are all family members, they love them all, and they typically do but are delusional. Love is as Love does. Care is as Care does. As the number of animals grow, the eyes and mind of the collector become even more blind to the realities of the situation.
Sometimes animal hoarders have only one type of animal sometimes it is variable as to types/species of animals. One thing in common, though the stories differ, is that the person will defend the behaviors and make allowances for such behaviors, will have friends, family and other people they know make excuses or allowances, breeders who will sell to them, public willing to give their animals up to them, only for those animals to be bred as well. People turn a blind eye, minding their own buisness if the animal looks alright they must be getting care. Anyone that thinks placing any animal in a *cage* or on a chain is OK needs to seriously examine their own ethical perspectives.
I have included some very important articles and links for the public to carefully read through and if you know of anyone be they friend or family member a collector/hoarder breeder dont support them!!!!!! dont help them to continue such a self destructive path! There are degrees of how severe some animal collectors keep their animals. Some animal collectors manage to give minimal care such as food, but they are on a very tedious slope and are only kidding themselves as to what they can in reality handle to give all the *proper* care time wise, health wise, care wise.
Anyone looking for a puppy or kitten or any type of animal should not purchase from such people, anyone looking to find a reputable rescue should find one that is really a reputable rescue organization not someone who represents themselves as a rescue whom really is simply a collector, looking to get free animals to keep and even breed as own stock. Animal collectors who are already in the midst of the disease will even read the following articles and see NOTHING of themselves in the articles, they will say things like "Oh I am nothing like that, my animals get fed." In essence they are already too ill to see the illness. I have myself turned my head away many times because they may be people I know, or I made excuses it cant be that bad until I find out otherwise...till it slaps me in the head I have put my own head in the sand so as to not cause problems for someone I may know and even like.
It is not just breeders who can be animal collectors MANY a rescue falls into all the same categories.
An animal one decides to bring into their life should have the ULTIMATE in space, containment, and care . Tigers should not live in *cages* monkeys in a box, bears, wolves, dogs, cats, if you cannot afford to do your BEST by them, and in the case of wild animals are not licensed and regulated by fish and wildlife to have them, then please dont get them simply cause YOU WANT them, or can have them even. If this all sounds serious, thats because it is, animals welfare and lives depend on the public at large BEING SERIOUS about all animal welfare.
If anyone reading the above gets pains of anger, upset etc please ask yourself WHY, could it be you know deep down theres a problem. Ask for help, or take steps to turn the problem around before its too late.
Animal Hoarding and Collecting Q and A's
Animal Collectors The Hidden Danger