Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home east of Kalamazoo and south of Battle Creek to rescue 68 dogs from deplorable conditions. Unfortunately, a 69th was found dead in the yard.
If caring for even one or two dogs properly is expensive, how can someone end up with nearly 70 and believe they can provide for them all, unless they’re running a professional kennel or have substantial wealth?
How Does Someone Become a Pet Hoarder?
Most people are familiar with hoarders thanks to the popular reality TV show Hoarders. The show documented the lives of people with compulsive hoarding disorder.
Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition characterized by the persistent difficulty or inability to discard or part with possessions, regardless of their value. This leads to an excessive accumulation of items that clutter and fill living spaces, causing significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.
Pet hoarding often begins with good intentions; someone takes in a few animals out of compassion or a desire to help. Over time, however, the number of animals increases beyond their ability to provide proper care. This situation is usually driven by a mix of factors, including mental health challenges, past trauma, and a skewed sense of responsibility or purpose. As the situation worsens, the living conditions deteriorate: homes become filthy with animal waste, and the animals themselves frequently suffer from neglect, malnutrition, and illness…