Article by Gwen Jones, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2025 June)
Animal hoarding usually starts with good intentions. Someone takes in animals they think are unwanted and need care, but if the animals aren't spayed or neutered, they will begin breeding. As the number of animals grows, living conditions and the animals' health can get worse. This can create a dangerous situation for the people and animals in the home. However, even as things get worse, the person continues to believe that they are helping the animals and doesn't see that the animals are actually suffering.
What is Animal Hoarding?
Animal hoarding is when someone:
- Possesses more animals than is typical.
- Doesn't provide basic needs like food, clean living spaces, shelter, and veterinary care. This neglect can lead to the animals getting sick or even dying from hunger, diseases, or untreated injuries.
- Denies that they can't take care of the animals properly and doesn't see how this affects the animals, the home, and the people living there.
- Continues to collect and keep animals despite not being able to care for them.
People who hoard animals can come from any background and income level. Studies also show that between 31 and 100 percent of people who hoard animals also hoard possessions. While the number of men and women who hoard possessions is about the same, most of the people who hoard animals are women.
The Dangers of Animal Hoarding
Keeping too many animals in a home can quickly become dangerous. As the person gets overwhelmed by the number of animals, they can no longer keep things clean, provide enough food, or ensure proper veterinary care. The animals may start to inbreed, get sick, starve, or even die. The buildup of animal waste in the home can lead to poor air quality. These living conditions can harm the health of the people, the animals, and their neighbors.
Besides the physical dangers, animals living in a hoarding situation can also suffer mentally, even after they are taken away from the home. In a 2013 survey of people who had adopted dogs from hoarding cases, 88% said their dogs had behavioral and emotional problems at the time they were adopted. Several months later, 44% said their dogs still had moderate to severe problems.
How to Spot Animal Hoarding
Authorities usually learn about animal hoarding from complaints made by neighbors or visitors to the home. These complaints often mention poor sanitation, bad smells, and loud noises from barking. Other signs to look for include:
- The home is dirty and falling apart, with broken furniture, holes in the walls and floor, and lots of clutter.
- Windows in the home might be covered to stop people from seeing inside or have a dirty film on them.
- The person has many animals in their home and may not even know the exact number.
- There is a strong smell of ammonia, and the floors might be covered with dried feces, urine, vomit, and other waste.
- The animals are very thin, lethargic, and not well socialized.
- Fleas and other pests are present.
- The person is isolated, looks unkempt, or seems to need help.
- The person insists the animals are happy and healthy, even when there are clear signs of distress and illness.
What to Do if You Suspect Animal Hoarding
Family and friends might be afraid to report someone they think is hoarding animals because they don't want their loved one to get in trouble. However, the earlier Fairfax County’s Animal Protection Police Officers (APPO) can investigate the allegation, the better the outcome for both the person and the animals. Getting help early means everyone can get the care and treatment they need to be safe and healthy. If you suspect that someone is hoarding animals, you should call FCPD’s non-emergency number at 703-691-2131 right away so an APPO can investigate.
How Fairfax County Investigates and Addresses Animal Hoarding Complaints
In Fairfax County, APPO can lawfully seize and impound animals from a residence if the living conditions are a direct and immediate threat to the animals’ life, safety, or health. In 2024, Fairfax County’s APPO responded to approximately ten reports of possible animal hoarding. When cases were found to be substantiated, the animals were taken into protective custody and given necessary medical care.
While investigating animal hoarding, APPO may find that the person is also hoarding possessions. When this happens, they notify the Department of Code Compliance, and the departments work together to investigate due to the overlapping concerns during hoarding events.
Even after animals are removed from the home due to animal hoarding, there is a worry that the person might get more animals. To prevent this, the animal owners are connected with other county services, like Adult Protective Services and mental health resources, to address the problems that led to hoarding. Sometimes, the court may declare that the person is unfit to own animals and prohibit them from having any. After two years, the person may petition the court to have their rights to own animals reinstated.
In the next article of our hoarding disorder series, we will address how family members or caregivers can help their loved ones with hoarding in a respectful way to bring about meaningful change and understanding.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).