Animal Hording - what is it?

A new, previously little known mental illness always makes for terrible headlines: the Animal Hoarding or the German Tierhortung.

13 dogs, five cats, 14 rabbits, a raccoon and a number of small animals in the 60 square meter apartment (Animal Health online)

Animal Hoarding - 16 cats in Southport exempt (Eastern Thuringia newspaper)

Filth, chaos, stench: 200 animals and corpses discovered in the house (animal health online)

23rd February 2003. A terminally ill woman lies in their own excrement. As far too late assistance is called away the 63-year-old in the ambulance on the way to hospital. With her at 15 square meters hausten nearly 80 neglected dogs, some already dead and half-decayed. (Woof Dog magazine)

What are these people who are themselves and their animals do such a thing? What drives these people and what is hidden behind the disease?

Symptoms

Tierhortung characterized by the fact that all of the following criteria are met:

• There are more than the normal usual number of domestic animals kept
• Inability to even the minimum standards in terms of nutrition, cleanliness, shelter and veterinary care observed, often leading to starvation, disease and death
• Denial of the inability to use this minimum level of care to secure and the influence which this to animals, household and the residents of the accommodation has (Source: Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium)

Worth and Beck came in 1981 in a study in the USA, they more people at the New York City Department of Health and the Animal Control Agency regarding Animal Hoarding had become conspicuous, the following results. Most respondents collected dogs and cats, while men tend to be female dogs and cats tend to be tended. Nearly two-thirds of the sample were women and 70% of unmarried participants. It has been reported frequently from loneliness, but rather a consequence of Tierhortung as the cause seemed to be. Many reported that the conduct in the childhood had begun. It is much, that many of the Tierhorter also hoarded other things too, so a typical messie behavior showed, and neither a telephone nor had adequate sanitation.

The results were Patronek 1999, in another study supported. Most people were male (76%), a large part over 60 years old (46%) who were single, divorced or widowed and about half lived alone. Also here were especially cats (participated in 65% of cases) the animals, which have been hoarded, closely followed by dogs (participated in 60% of cases). Although 80% of the cases were dead or sick animals were found in 69% of the homes with urine and feces were contaminated and almost two-thirds even the beds were dirty, saw 60% of the cases involved the issue of the situation. The reasons for their behavior, they particularly intensive animal love, the feeling that the animals had a child held the belief that no one else to take care of the animals and would be the fear that the animals would be eingeschläfert on.

(Source: Psychiatric Times)

Subtypes

Because of similar behavior are different types of Tierhorten define how the Academy for Animal Welfare reported.

The Pflegertyp

Here is a man who initially tried to take care of the animals. That animal has sick people for a high priority. Often multiply the herds, since no segregation occurs. The "Animal Hoarder" Growing numbers of animals over the head and the animals are no longer sufficient supplies. The "Animal Hoarder" is not yet able to communicate his problem and fix them. This "Hoarder-type" deny the problem but not completely, and has a certain insight into the problem. This person is often socially isolated.

The Rettertyp

It is primarily a human being, the inclusion of animals as his vocation and mission committed. Often characterizes these types of illness an extreme fear of death and, as a result of their fear of death, he also opposes euthanasia itself incurably sick and suffering severely from animals strictly. Animals are especially active collected. The diseased animal collector is convinced that the animals only when they have it good. Any insight into the problem of missing. Authorities are shunned and instructions are not followed. These people are not necessarily socially isolated. They not infrequently even lead a normal social life, even businessmen and public life.

The Ausbeutertyp

Here is the animal only from selfish purposes purchased. This guy is extremely narcissistic, has no debt and consciously stone gathers animals mainly active. Through his self-confident and quite eloquently appearance, he is capable of, even something authorities, etc. "prelude".

The Züchtertyp

The animals should originally for the purpose of the exhibition and sale are bred, but the overview of the multiplying herds are lost.

In addition, there are intermediate forms of the described types.

Warnings

The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium draws attention to some things out, the evidence may be that a person hoarded animals:

• Refusal to let visitors see where the animals are housed
• Refusal to say how many animals actually exist
• Little effort to convey animals and great efforts to exclude animals
• Continuous recording of animals despite declining supply of animals
• The allegation of life excellent care of animals with special needs (disabilities, leucosis, extreme aggression) to be able to offer
• Number of Supervisors does not fit the number of animals
• Desiring to animals in remote locations rather than directly to the spot

Animal Hoarding is not what is ...

Not in every case in which a person holds many animals, is Animal Hoarding before. Is the person in a position to supply enough animals, it is perhaps a strange, but not a Pathological behavior. Even in cases where people realize that they have the number of animals over the head has grown and they no longer absorb animals, but efforts, Available animals, is usually no Pathological Hoarding (more) ago.

Neither is it in Massenvermehrern to Tierhorter. These people are usually aware that they are animals present only minimal care and have no problems with it, animals Available - because that yes, they earn their money eventually. Surely there are cases in which Massenvermehrern Tierhorter are made.

Even those animals "collect" are not necessarily Horter. As long as the animals are well supplied and people with an overview of their stock holding, it is not for real Animal Hoarding. For lovers and breeders of some exotic species, it is sometimes not unusual, a certain "collector behavior" on the day to determine what, but mostly it says that most rare or special animals are sought. This is not about quantity, but rather certain qualities.

Explanatory models

Delusions

The explanatory model assumes that Tierhorter under a very specific delusion suffer. In one study reported patients, for example, that special ability to communicate with animals. Moreover, many Horter the abject state in which their animals are not true and claim stiff and solid, all animals do it well and they were excellent care. This is a clear case of distorted perception of reality, as delusions of typical. Delusion, however, are still not a disease in itself, but occur as symptoms of an illness such as schizophrenia, a delusional disorder or severe depression or emotional Ströung on.

Dementia

Patronek Animal Hoarding sees as a first warning signs of incipient dementia, so the dismantling of thinking and decision-making ability. Based on this theory is the fact that 26% of participants in Partoneks study in 1999, assisted living facilities lived or had a guardian. Even the messie phenomenon occurs frequently in dementen people. Since, however could not clarify whether the affected persons due to their Hortungsverhaltens in appropriate care came, so what reason and what a result, this model can not be substantiated.

Drug Abuse

Because of the similarities between Animal Hoarding and substance abuse (no disease insight excuses for the behavior, isolation, Vernachläsigung) beat Lockwood 1994 a model that Tierhortung as addictive behavior explains. According to popular Diagnosemanualen (IDC-10, DSM-IV) is an addictive behavior, but only if a substance (drugs, alcohol, nicotine) is involved.

Impulse control disorder

This model stresses the parallels with the behavior of a Tierhorters to a game "addicted" to a shopping or "addicted". In none of the cases is a true addiction, because no substance is involved with a mental or physical dependence can induce.

Zoophilia

When Zoophilia is a disorder of sexual behavior in animals at the center of sexual activity back. A title would be tougher sodomy. This notion is, however, in medical Dianostik - which should be neutral - because of the negative cast rather avoid. However, there are very few cases in which this incident as a reason for Tierhortung can be viewed.

Binding disorder

It is estimated risen that the parties concerned in its infancy due to lack of parental affection not a normal bond behavior could develop. Therefore, they are in adulthood is not capable, stable, effective relationships with other people build and use animals as a substitute partner. This model is consistent with the results of Worth and Beck 1981, by the desire of those affected, through the unconditional love of animals to learn to report.

Obsessive compulsive disorder

The best explanation seems to offer the assumption that it is in Animal Hoarding is a compulsion disorder is. Obsessive compulsive disorder belong to the group of anxiety disorders, as in the attempt, a compulsion to suppress thoughts or compulsive act to refrain from severe anxiety occur. These fears can be on the scale of death fears accept. Often stakeholders also have strong fears earlier that they related persons zustoßen something bad could the general or something terrible will happen if they do not follow their compulsion. This fits with the observation that Tierhorter assume that nobody else to take care of their animals and that the animals would eingeschläfert if they would not absorb. 80% of Animal Hoarder hoarded Patronek that not only animals but also objects, a behavior which, even at 20-30% of the compulsion disorder occurs.

Final word

The final word I leave the German federal animal welfare, for education in Germany still largely unknown disease Animal Hoarding calls:

"It is expected that the number of known cases of expectant Animal Hoarding increase. And there is still much work time and take up the Animal Hoarding also in Germany is recognized as a disease. To the people and hence the animals permanently to help, is an interdisciplinary cooperation is required. The official veterinarian should have the opportunity to immediately intervene and ensure the livestock. At the same time, is a timely judicial decision-arranged with psychological therapy and animal-stopping necessary. "(Source: paws and fur)

Literature

• Lockwood R (1994), The psychology of animal collectors. 9:18-21 trends.
• Patronek GJ (1999), Hoarding of animals: an under-recognized public health problem in a difficult-to-study population. Public Health Rep 114 (1) :81-87.
• Worth D, Beck AM (1981), multiple ownership of animals in New York City. Trans Stud Coll Physician Philadelphia 3 (4) :280-300.

The image "Rescued cats whatwhenwhere 089" was written by doustpauline on Flickr under a Creative Commons license available. On the screen is not displayed Animal Hoarding, but it is a recording of cats in a foster home.