Position Statement on Hoarding It can be difficult, at least
initially, to distinguish between legitimate animal rescuers and
“hoarders.” What may begin as a refuge for a handful of homeless
animals can over time become a highly unsanitary environment
where animals live without food, water, exercise and veterinary
care, including sterilization. These situations often come to
light only when the situation has deteriorated to the point that
the animals are suffering severe neglect or have died from
untreated ailments or from starvation. Unfortunately, without
interventionboth through law enforcement and court-mandated
counselingthe hoarder typically will continue to take in more
animals even when it is clearly beyond his or her means to care
for them. The ASPCA believes that hoarding endangers animals and
frequently leads to their death. Therefore this practice should
be treated as a violation of relevant animal cruelty and neglect
laws. The ASPCA supports laws that would allow for intervention
in hoarding case