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Fossati P. Challenges in Sheltering Seized Animals from Hoarders from a One Welfare Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3303. [PMID: 37958058 PMCID: PMC10647514 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal hoarding is a complex issue that, when discovered, frequently necessitates opening shelter doors to many animals. This is due to hoarders' inability to provide even the most basic welfare standards for their animals, resulting in poor welfare conditions that frequently border on mistreatment. These people are frequently unaware of their failure to care for their animals, as well as of the harm that they cause to people around them and the environment. They usually do not care for themselves either. The majority of hoarders have difficult histories, and they all need help getting back on track. When the agencies discover the status quo, the animals are usually seized and taken to shelters, where they face a variety of welfare consequences, beginning with confinement in an unknown environment that is associated with additional risks (e.g., infectious diseases, behavioral deterioration, and distress). Furthermore, the targeted shelters are frequently overcrowded and cannot adequately accommodate the large numbers of animals found in hoarders' environments. The One Welfare approach, which is increasingly being used alongside One Health to work at the intersection of human and animal health and welfare, could be adopted to benefit animals while also addressing the poor states of humans. This concept's depiction of the interconnections between animal welfare, human well-being, and the environment can fit with all the components of the animal-hoarding phenomenon, including the peculiarities of the hoarding environment, as well as those of shelters where animals are often moved. The purpose of this paper is to offer insights into how the One Welfare concept may be critical in tackling all of the interests concerned in these cases and offering solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fossati
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Prato-Previde E, Basso Ricci E, Colombo ES. The Complexity of the Human–Animal Bond: Empathy, Attachment and Anthropomorphism in Human–Animal Relationships and Animal Hoarding. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202835. [PMID: 36290219 PMCID: PMC9597799 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The relationship between humans and animals may have positive effects for both parties, but there are situations in which it has poor or even negative effects for animals or for both humans and animals. Several studies reported the positive effects of this relationship in which both humans and animals obtain physical and psychological benefits from living together in a reciprocated interaction. There is also clear evidence that human–animal relationships may be characterized by different forms and levels of discomfort and suffering for animals and, in some cases, also for people. This work depicts the complex and multifaceted nature of the human–animal relationship; describes the role of empathy, attachment and anthropomorphism in the human–animal bond; shows how these psychological processes are involved in a dysfunctional way in animal hoarding, with highly detrimental effects on animal well-being. Abstract The human–animal relationship is ancient, complex and multifaceted. It may have either positive effects on humans and animals or poor or even negative and detrimental effects on animals or both humans and animals. A large body of literature has investigated the beneficial effects of this relationship in which both human and animals appear to gain physical and psychological benefits from living together in a reciprocated interaction. However, analyzing the literature with a different perspective it clearly emerges that not rarely are human–animal relationships characterized by different forms and levels of discomfort and suffering for animals and, in some cases, also for people. The negative physical and psychological consequences on animals’ well-being may be very nuanced and concealed, but there are situations in which the negative consequences are clear and striking, as in the case of animal violence, abuse or neglect. Empathy, attachment and anthropomorphism are human psychological mechanisms that are considered relevant for positive and healthy relationships with animals, but when dysfunctional or pathological determine physical or psychological suffering, or both, in animals as occurs in animal hoarding. The current work reviews some of the literature on the multifaceted nature of the human–animal relationship; describes the key role of empathy, attachment and anthropomorphism in human–animal relationships; seeks to depict how these psychological processes are distorted and dysfunctional in animal hoarding, with highly detrimental effects on both animal and human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Prato-Previde
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Guerra S, Sousa L, Ribeiro O. Report practices in the field of animal hoarding: a scoping study of the literature. J Ment Health 2020; 30:646-659. [PMID: 33150805 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2020.1844872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal hoarding has been portrayed as a manifestation of hoarding behaviour that is escalating worldwide. Professionals trying to support or help animal hoarders face several challenges due to the lack of systematized information on intervention strategies. AIMS To comprehensively review and systematize the information available on intervention practices with this population. METHOD A scoping study was performed using five databases (B-ON, EBSCO, SCOPUS, Web of SCIENCE, PubMed), searching for papers published until March 2020. Fifteen papers were selected and submitted to thematic analysis. RESULTS The main findings point to two main themes: (i) what is done-responding to animal hoarding as an emergency; and (ii) what should be done-responding animal hoarding in a long-term, integrated manner. CONCLUSIONS To have a consistent strategy that assures better results, it seems relevant to prepare community interventions based on collaborative and solution-focused approaches. In addition, there is a strong need to have more research on animal hoarding and on successful intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Guerra
- Department of Education and Psychology, Centre for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Liliana Sousa
- Department of Education and Psychology, Centre for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Oscar Ribeiro
- Department of Education and Psychology, Centre for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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Larner A. Neurological Signs: Syllogomania; with a note on Diogenes of Sinope. ADVANCES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE & REHABILITATION 2020. [DOI: 10.47795/buog8200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Paloski LH, Ferreira EA, Costa DB, de Oliveira CR, Moret-Tatay C, Irigaray TQ. Cognitive performance of individuals with animal hoarding. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2020; 18:40. [PMID: 32093697 PMCID: PMC7038543 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-020-01288-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to characterize the cognitive performance of individuals with animal hoarding. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study, in which 33 individuals between the ages of 29 to 84 (M = 61.39; SD = 12.69) with animal hoarding have been assessed. The participants completed a neurocognitive battery including measures of general cognitive functioning, visual memory and organization, verbal fluency, and verbal reasoning. RESULTS Data suggest that individuals with animal hoarding have high rates of cognitive deficits related to visual memory and verbal reasoning. CONCLUSIONS Based on the performance tests used, we can suggest the existence of cognitive difficulties related especially to the executive functions of individuals with animal hoarding in this sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Henrique Paloski
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90619-900, Brazil.,Faculdade Meridional - IMED, Rua Senador Pinheiro, 304, Passo Fundo, RS, CEP 99070-220, Brazil
| | - Elisa Arrienti Ferreira
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Dalton Breno Costa
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre - UFCSPA, Rua Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90050170, Brazil
| | - Camila Rosa de Oliveira
- Faculdade Meridional - IMED, Rua Senador Pinheiro, 304, Passo Fundo, RS, CEP 99070-220, Brazil
| | - Carmen Moret-Tatay
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain
| | - Tatiana Quarti Irigaray
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90619-900, Brazil.
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Hill K, Yates D, Dean R, Stavisky J. A novel approach to welfare interventions in problem multi-cat households. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:434. [PMID: 31796018 PMCID: PMC6891977 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-2183-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thousands of injured, stray and relinquished cats are received at the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital each year. A significant and challenging proportion of these cats are confiscated from multicat households by RSPCA Inspectors, due to the owners' inability to care for them. These households share many characteristics of animal hoarding, including poor owner compliance with suggested welfare improvements and recidivism. The relatively poor adoption potential of animals from such households are a perennial problem for the charity. The aim of this study was to determine if offering female cat neutering assistance to multi-cat owners significantly improved colony welfare. RESULTS Ten multicat households with a history of public complaint to the RSPCA were recruited. An RSPCA veterinary surgeon (VS) initially assessed the overall welfare of each household's cat population, individual cat welfare and the living environment. All entire female cats aged over 8 weeks were neutered and basic animal care education provided. Follow up visits were completed two and 12 months later to reassess welfare parameters and population numbers. The total number of cats was 176 across ten households (range 7-33, median 16). All owners consented to having all entire female cats spayed. At the first visit, mean individual cat welfare scores ranged from 5.4-8.7/ 16 across the 10 households, where 16 represented best possible welfare. Overall household mean welfare scores were significantly improved at both the 2 month and 12 month revisits (p = 0.011 and p = 0.01 respectively) when compared to the initial visits. By the end of the study period, three out of the ten households had voluntarily relinquished all of their cats, and overall there was a 40% reduction in the number of cats. CONCLUSIONS Animal hoarding has previously been an intractable welfare concern with little evidence informing intervention techniques. These results show that positive veterinary engagement on site, focused on preventative care and population control, can yield significant improvement in welfare scoring systems in relatively short timescales. Promptly collecting and neutering all female cats at a site, combined with advice and support, show promise in improving welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh Hill
- Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, 411 Eccles New Road, Salford, M5 5NN UK
| | - David Yates
- Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, 411 Eccles New Road, Salford, M5 5NN UK
| | - Rachel Dean
- Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, College Road, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK
| | - Jenny Stavisky
- Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, College Road, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK
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Ferreira EA, Paloski LH, Costa DB, Fiametti VS, De Oliveira CR, de Lima Argimon II, Gonzatti V, Irigaray TQ. Animal Hoarding Disorder: A new psychopathology? Psychiatry Res 2017; 258:221-225. [PMID: 28843626 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to characterize the sociodemographic profile of animal hoarders in a southern city of Brazil. In addition, it aimed to propose Animal Hoarding Disorder as a new nosological category, distinct from Hoarding Disorder. Thirty-three individuals with Animal Hoarding Disorder, 73% female and 60% elderly, composed the sample. The average age of the sample was 61.39 years (SD = 12.69) and the average period that individuals hoarded or lived with a large number of animals was 23.09 years (SD = 15.98.) It was observed that 56.7% of the sample hoarded other inanimate objects, besides the animals. The total number of hoarded animals was 1.357 and the average number of animals per hoarder was approximately 41 (SD = 24.41). Significant differences between hoarding disorder and animal hoarding are discussed. Unlike hoarded objects, hoarded animals generally do not obstruct domicile environments. The processes of disengaging from or donating animals also differ from those of object hoarding, since there is an affectional bond with lives and not with unanimated objects. In this sense, the characterization of Animal Hoarding Disorder as a new mental disorder may arouse great interest from both clinical professionals and researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Arrienti Ferreira
- Postgraduate Program in Psychology of School of Humanities, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luis Henrique Paloski
- Postgraduate Program in Psychology of School of Humanities, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Dalton Breno Costa
- Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Vânia Saretta Fiametti
- Postgraduate Program in Psychology of School of Humanities, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Camila Rosa De Oliveira
- Department of Psychology, Faculdade Meridional - IMED, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Irani Iracema de Lima Argimon
- Postgraduate Program in Psychology of School of Humanities, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Valéria Gonzatti
- Postgraduate Program in Psychology of School of Humanities, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Quarti Irigaray
- Postgraduate Program in Psychology of School of Humanities, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Building 11, 9th floor, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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