How sad...Hoarder near Denver

http://9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNA...7-c589c01ca7bf

Be sure to watch the video, because the article does not tell the whole story. The officer interviewed said that he saw a cat with it's eye protruding from it's socket, bleeding and infected, and other cats bleeding and urinating blood on the porch. Poor cats! And the stupid homeowner denies everything. Said they weren't her cats, and the condition in the home "isn't bad".

Of course, the other really sad part is that the only thing they say about feral cats is that they are suseptible to spreading disease. Not so with good caretakers! I'll be writing 9News an email about that...

Oh no that is so sad!

It's just so unbelievable how selfish these owners are to subject the lives of these beautiful creatures because of their ignorance. It's one thing to have these cats and take care of them, but, to let them live like that with no medical attention is inexcusable.

Hopefully they all won't be euthanized and some get adopted. Truly heartbreaking.

You're right Cheryl, it is inexcusable.

Here's an update story, the video shows some images from inside the home. http://9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNA...7-c589c01ca7bf It also shows them removing some of the cats in humane traps. Poor kitties, they are so scared. It sounds like they are going to try to treat and adopt out as many as they can, but with no medical treatment and raging ringworm and other conditions they don't know how many can be saved.

Originally Posted by ccoccocats

It's just so unbelievable how selfish these owners are to subject the lives of these beautiful creatures because of their ignorance. It's one thing to have these cats and take care of them, but, to let them live like that with no medical attention is inexcusable.

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Sorry, but is it really selfish? I thought hoarders had a extreme form of OCD or something so for them it couldn't be helped or something?

Not that I'm defending them in anyway, those were filthy conditions and I can't understand how a person could live that way... but I just thought that hoarders don't know better or something?

The whole hoarding thing baffles me. There was a recent story here where the woman almost was blaming the world or something, I saw video of when they took the cats and she was being so critical of her house and house messy it was almost like it was someone elses, it was very odd. And while I know she *may* have meant well in taking in cats, they were obviously so sick how could she just sit there with so many sick like that? Someone I guess finally called animal control, they were actualy nice to her, said "now no more of this right?" and took the cats, were doubtful they would be able to nurse them back. It seems the cats would fair better outside as ferals! At least them they could find a dumpster or something to eat out of!

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Sorry, but is it really selfish? I thought hoarders had a extreme form of OCD or something so for them it couldn't be helped or something?

Not that I'm defending them in anyway, those were filthy conditions and I can't understand how a person could live that way... but I just thought that hoarders don't know better or something?

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I, myself, have OCD. Although I sometimes can not control my disorder, even though medication helps me, I am still aware that what I am doing is not right, or out of the norm of what people actually do.

To subject another life for your own medical necessity and not care for those lives to me just isn't right. No one would say that living with fecal matter all over the house is something that can't be helped, don't ya think? Maybe it's just me, I dunno.

I'm a psy major at UNC, and I know that really doesnt make me an expert or anything (far from it, still only a soph. getting my BA!). However, I do know that many people with a mental illness are unable to realize the depths of their situation. A huge symptom of mental illness is dementia, which in laymanâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s terms means, the person does not have the ability to distinguish between reality, and what is going on in their mind. The kinda odd part of this particular case is that the authorities are claiming the woman has the hoarding tendencies of OCD. However, dementia is rarely associated w/ just straight OCD, because part of the diagnosis of OCD requires that the person is upset/bothered by their ritualistic behaviors, and obviously this woman isnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t (she claimed all was well, even though it was not). I would hazard a guess that this woman is also suffering from some other form of mental illness, which is either manifesting itself in OCD behaviors (hoarding) or is causing OCD. So, I realize that has nothing to do with anything said so far, but hereâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s where I was going Please donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t assume all mental illness is alike. Previously someone stated that they had OCD, but would never contribute to animal cruelty in the way this woman has. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m sure that is true, however, this woman may not be making a conscious decision to hurt the animals. That is in no way, shape, or form, an excuse for animal abuse, however she may not be the criminally negligent person the authorities are claiming. Mental illness has such a distorted image in our culture due to the media, and this is prime example of such – this woman is not simply suffering from OCD like the media has claimed, and while her hoarding is an OCD behavior, OCD is not her full diagnosis. As I previously stated, those with mental illness and dementia are not aware of their actions and whether those actions are morally right, or wrong. With so many stigmas regarding mental illness, it makes me so sad to see the person suffering from the disease being punished. If anyone needs someone to blame, please focus the attention on the family of this woman who shouldâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve seen to her getting care for her illness. Or, blame the police dept. because the neighbors have been trying to get the issue resolved for months, and only when they realized the cats are affecting others did they decide to step in to end the inhumane treatment. Please, if anyone has any questions on mental illness, I will send you information and links on different diseases. This is a horrible act that was committed against animals, but the only way to stop the hoarding is to treat the disease, the only way to treat the disease is to endorse the disease, and the only way to endorse the disease is to accept the disease. Please believe me when I say, sometimes you cannot control your actions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Thanks for that Nessa. I thought I remember reading/hearing a discussion/seeing something on Animal Planet about hoarding being part of a disease but I couldn't remember.

Originally Posted by Nessa

As I previously stated, those with mental illness and dementia are not aware of their actions and whether those actions are morally right, or wrong. With so many stigmas regarding mental illness, it makes me so sad to see the person suffering from the disease being punished. Please believe me when I say, sometimes you cannot control your actions, thoughts, and behaviors.

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For someone who's just starting out, you're very well educated. You are 100% on all you said. I suffer from many mental disorders, some of which you mentioned.

For anyone who reads your reply please know that this information is accurate and true. Take it from one who has been, and is, there.

Thanks for setting me straight too, with my tunnel vision response.

When I first saw your post, before I read it, I thought well maybe they finally did something about my neighbor, but after reading it she hasn't gotten that bad..... yet.

Originally Posted by ccoccocats

For someone who's just starting out, you're very well educated. You are 100% on all you said. I suffer from many mental disorders, some of which you mentioned.

For anyone who reads your reply please know that this information is accurate and true. Take it from one who has been, and is, there.

Thanks for setting me straight too, with my tunnel vision response.

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thank you very much my hope is to one day be able to better assist those with mental disorders such as OCD (an be a veternarian, and an astronaut, and save the world ) so things like these dont happen again - at least not with my patients!!! (btw- I wouldnt call it tunnel vision as much as an appropriate response to a sad situation )

Originally Posted by Nessa

...my hope is to one day be able to better assist those with mental disorders such as OCD (an be a veternarian, and an astronaut, and save the world

)

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Wow... I always said I wanted to be taller when I grow up.

So far, so good!

"Sources tell 9NEWS that Flanders has a number of sores up and down her arms, which may be of interest because she works in the seafood department at an Albertsons grocery store in Boulder."


THAT scares me!

you are doing a great job, Nessa! Thank you for reminding us that instead of being judgmental, we need to use the old saying, "There but for the Grace of God goes I". Being near the criminal justice system (my husband is a public defender), I've come to know more about mental illness. Your comments were right on! And it could happen to any of us - just the other day, my daughter's doctor was telling us about a patient of his who is in jail for having temper tantrums in a store. To make it worse, he had a fit at his sentencing in the courtroom, and got charged for contempt. The county doctor has not put him back on the anti-seizure medicine that the doctor wanted to try. Why the anti-seizure medicine??? Well, the young man slipped on ice & hit his head, and now he's got these temper tantrums (not all seizures are epileptic fits), which is an accident that could happen to any of us! Susan

I maintain that behind every truly devoted animal person there is a hoarder lurking in the wings. Not that everyone thinks this way but it can be a short step from handling these animals within ones means and taking on (either voluntarilly or - oopps that cat was PREGNANT) more than you can handle. Many live on the edge and circumstances keep them from falling, be it family, friends, funds, space, or other limits. Change one of those variables and whammo - Animal control's worst nightmare and animals suffering.

Having dealt with well over 100 hoarders in my career, I've seen them come in all ages, sexes, jobs, etc. Some have been straight up mental persons. I have one lady's written complaint that alleges I was the agent of the "Evil Newton Gingrinch"! I kid you not, the six page type written (thats with a REAL typewritter) has a total of three mistakes and is so in depth that we had a hard time breathing after we read it. Periodically we raided her house (In our finest Fester hates 'em jackbooted thug fashion) and hauled away diseased cat after injured animal. I was especially happy to see that all of the cats from our last 34 were placed (Fester's pet shelter project took some as well) so I was not amongst the "you only take them so you can kill them" crowd.

I hope that as rescuers and animal friends, you take the time to VISIT anyone that keeps anything for you or an organization that you work with. Helpers that always have an excuse as to why its not convenient should be turned in the nearest law enforcement agency if they aren't willing to let someone in unannounced or in this case, announced.

I taught a class in Hoarder Investigations last year for the Colorado animal control officers association. Hopefully, some of the information made it to the officers who handled this case.

Ok. Back off my soapbox again...