Sad topic, rescuer to hoarder?

I just read your update after I posted my comment. I think it is commendable of you to donate. However, I would also caution you to think about involving the local animal control authorities if the animal hoarding situation is as bad as you describe.

I realize that my tone may sound mean, but I'm concerned for those animals welfare. I have no sympathy for animal hoarders especially knowing a couple here, stateside.

One woman I knew years ago, who rescued cats, had an anxiety/OCD disorder, and she rescued cats. She'd leave food on her kitchen counter to rot, her car was full of garbage, her living room, kitchen and bedroom were full of garbage and she never regularly cleaned her cat litterboxes which overflowed with poop. When you entered her home, your eyes would sting from the strong urine ammonia smell of cat urine all over her walls.

Another woman, also hoarded animals she rescued. They were all emaciated dogs and cats because she rarely fed them regularly and rarely cleaned their cages. She was reported to the local animal control (not by me, actually) and her house was raided and her rescuing days came to an end. She was in her 60s and on disability. I knew her through the other woman, when I thought about rescuing cats (not anymore).

I love animals. Like you, I know my limits. And while I commend those who rescue animals I also worry for those strays welfare when the person(s) aren't reliable or responsible (and like your friend, won't control their hoarding or need to collect/rescue animals).

That is 100% the problem with the people who run animal rescues. Their adoption processes are random and based on their own biases. I tried to adopt a kitten from an animal rescue but she didn't like where I went to college, so she rejected my application.

As I mentioned in the first page of the thread, I live in a developing country and there is no SPCA or Animal Control to report to. In addition, I don't have her exact address if I could make a report.

We have an animal cruelty law, but it doesn't cover things like this situation. The main thing that could be an Animal Control issue elsewhere is the number of animals she has in a small apartment. From her posts online, it seems like she gets enough donations to keep them fed and I don't think they are being abused. The animal cruelty law gets the PDI (sort of like the FBI) involved.

Anyways, I closely followed the development of this law and the regulations that implement it. There was discussion of limiting how many pets you can have in a space, to avoid these sort of situations. Something along the lines of if your home is 100 square meters you can have three pets, etc. That proposal was pretty controversial. It was considered discriminatory against lower-income households since their homes tend to be smaller. In the end, it wasn't included in the final law or regulations.


I know in some cases, the municipal health department has gotten involved in cases where people have excessive animals, usually in an apartment, due to noise, smell, etc. But, her neighbors would probably have to be the ones to complain. I am kind of surprised they haven't.