What is hoarding?

The Mayo Clinic defines hoarding as the excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them. Hoarding can also be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but many people who hoard don’t have other OCD-related symptoms.

It’s important to note that hoarding is different from collecting. The difference lies in how the items are displayed. People who have collections will search out specific items, organize the collections, and display the collections carefully. People who hoard will typically save random items and/or items that have seemingly no real value to non-hoarders. They will also display them haphazardly in their home, creating unsanitary and dangerous conditions.

When most people think of the term “hoarding”, they think of those affected hoarding items. People typically hoard items because they believe that the item will have future value, or the item has some emotional significance attached to it. For example, the item can remind the person of a beloved family member, friend or pet. The hoarded items can also make the person feel safer and more secure.

It is not just inanimate objects that people hoard, however. People may also hoard animals. Animals may be confined inside, so they can be concealed more easily. Animals in hoarding conditions can be discovered by a veterinarian, but many hoarded animals are not taken to the vet because of their large numbers and the expense involved.

In January of this year 45 dogs were seized from a Victoria-area animal hoarder. One of the dogs was found dead, but the rest survived, although many were in bad condition. There were a number of pregnant moms, and nine puppies. The dogs were taken into SPCA care. In June of this year, 19 cats and kittens were found in distress in Tahsis, B.C., suffering from a range of medical issues, including wounds, lesions, ear mites, internal parasites, ocular discharge, fleas and diarrhea.

In most jurisdictions, the maximum number of dogs allowed is 2-3. For example, in North Vancouver, the limit is 3 dogs, in Burnaby; the limit is just 2 dogs (over the age of four months). Animal hoarders typically go over this limit many times.