Hoarders - why?

There are those people that are called hoarders. Among rescue people these individuals are seen as the most evil of people, comparable often times with animal abusers and murderers.

Lets take a look at the mentality that makes up a hoarder. A hoarder is a person that takes in animals and continues to take in more and more often times with no limit in sight. Their houses are over-run with dogs, cats, and whatever else. These people continue to take in more animals even though they are unable to care for the animals they have in a way that is acceptable by our standards. Most of the time this compulsion is triggered by several factors, namely in an effort to keep these animals from being killed at shelters. Hoarders are not collectors (who may have a “collection” of one type of dog or a particular animal), but instead take any and all animals. It’s not uncommon to see a hoarder with dogs, cats, and horses among other animals.

A hoarders goal starts out very noble and somewhere goes awry. They start out with 2, 3 or 4 animals and begin amassing more and more. Often times they try to adopt out the animals they have, but these efforts get squashed as the toll of taking care of their current animals takes up too much of their time. Their number grow by people dropping off animals to them, they get them from the shelters, strays find their way to the hoarders property and just about any other way to get animals, they get them. As it is very obvious to understand, without a major staff, it is impossible to care for but only a few animals. Hoarders don’t see the crazy cycle of neglect that is cast upon the animals, as their main goal is to keep the animals alive. They clearly see one vision: these animals would all be killed at a shelter. This forces us to look at a scary logic, is it better to have these animals living in somewhat deplorable conditions or kill them at the shelter? There are those who think that killing an animal (or as they refer to it- euthanizing) is a humane thing to do. I can only cite very-very rare occasions in which ending an animals life is a humane thing to do.

Although I do not agree with hoarders, I do understand their twisted logic or I should say, where their hearts lie. These people are animal lovers, they are trying to provide for the animals and save them, but the mission goes wrong somewhere. When the levy finally breaks and the amount of animals attracts enough attention, rescue groups and animal control agencies will step in. At this moment all efforts are shifted toward one thing: saving these animals from these deplorable conditions: although I ask the question, “Where were these people before?” What happens to these animals now is where the true demented logic comes in. For the most part they are taken to rescue organizations which are already over-run with too many animals, they are take to shelters which are also over-run with too many animals and the rest are killed / euthanized because of their conditions. The hoarder will go to jail, serve some time, pay a fine and eventually be free to start the same cycle again.

Ask most people in rescue if they had a million dollars what would they do with that money and I can assure you most will tell you that they would buy a big piece of property and take in as many animals as possible. These are the same people that abhor hoarders; at their core they are the same people. At their core they see the goodness, yet are unaware of the pitfall.

Are hoarders bad people? Are they abusers? I would say NO. The goodness of the mission goes wrong along the way and they get caught in the middle of a whirlwind that can’t be righted. These people started out with the goal of saving animals from the hands of those that will kill them, eventually only to be judged and condemned by these very people. Their animals are not properly cared for mainly because of a lack of resources. It should be noted that hoarders, for the most part, spend all of their money on the animals they have. These people are not living high on the hog in one house with these animals being abused and neglected somewhere else. Quite the contrary, these people live in the very same deplorable conditions that the animals under care live in. This indication alone shows me that these people are no more animal abusers, as they are human abusers because of the abuse they subject themselves to. They deny themselves the luxuries of life and instead live in sub-human conditions with the animals they are trying to save.

When the rescue community steps in, it is generally with a whirlwind of excitement, media attention and accusations hurled against someone who is not that far removed from the people casting the stones. Here is someone whose initial goals started out quite aligned with his or her own. These people step in and start taking the animals one by one, starting out with the ones that can be adopted and eventually ending up at the feral ones that no one can touch. These animals are generally on a short list to be killed.

I’d be a hypocrite if I only laid blame without a solution. And, perhaps my “solution” is less of a solution than an ideal that can be seen as nothing more than a dream. Since these people started out doing the work that all of us in rescue see as “kind of” the right idea that somewhere went wrong, how hard would it be to step in and help these people with some resources and support. What if their homes could be rebuilt to clean them up, some donations could be gathered to help with food and supplies and rescue organizations worked with them to help them adopt their animals out to homes? What if some people volunteered some time to keep this type of “no-kill shelter” rolling? What if our efforts would be geared at helping instead of hurting?

Instead people see these places as a dumping ground for dogs that they’ve been stuck with. Rescue needs to take a good hard look at themselves and understand that if someone is trying to do the right thing, they deserve some help. Throwing a person under the train does nothing to help the animals they’ve tried to help. As humans we are afraid to stand up for someone when it becomes un-popular, it’s easier to cast a stone than to ask people to put their stones down and try and do something.

If hoarders are such evil people, we need to define when they turn evil and what makes them evil. Is it when they have more than 10 animals, 20, 50 or 100? If they suddenly become evil at that point, why don’t people step in then and help? Is the act of evil that they are keeping these animals from being destroyed at shelters? Is the act of evil that they take these animals from people who drop them off to them, who tie them to their fences or even throw them over those very fences? Is evil living in deplorable conditions along with the animals in their care? As rescue we need to step up and help those who are helping, we need to work together. And, when one of our own is prosecuted, we should step up to help. I am in no way condoning hoarders or hoarding, but I am inviting you to look at that what makes hoarding what it is. We live in a country where we kill millions of animals every year. It’s done in a back room at the end of a hallway. We all know the room is there, but we choose to ignore it. If getting an animal out of a shelter gives it a chance at life, is it better to do that or kill it? It’s a perplexing question and one that we have to ask. If you were given the option to live in sub-standard conditions or face death, what would you choose? Personally I don’t know many dogs who live the life of the dogs that my closest friends have, but yet they live. Are we to judge what is good enough, and play G-d?

Robert Cabral
Bound Angels

Selling Pets on Street Corners is Wrong

I often get into discussions as to what contributes to the severe problem we face in trying to solve the shelter crisis in this country and beyond. The answer, in short, is ignorance. People are not aware, or simply do not care what they are doing. In part to greed, people sell dogs that they are breeding themselves in their backyards. These dogs very often end up in shelter, and are killed there. Selling a dog for $50 on a street corner is stupid and should be outlawed.

I personally hate pet stores that make pet purchase an impulse item like a new T-shirt or a cd. We need to wake up as a society and take some responsibility. Imagine if the killing of these family pets threatened our water supplies or the air quality. Imagine if their rotting and decomposing carcasses were put in places that could threaten the health of our cities... People would be up in arms, demanding that something be done. But, since it does not affect these people directly, people are quite happy to "let it be." Well, to people like me who walked the kennel runs of our municipal shelters, I see a different picture. I see how our societies carelessness and ignorance is affecting some very important lives.

With that in mind, there is a bill on the California Senate called AB 1122, its endorsed by the ASPCA and I think we should all get behind it. Please read the following:

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California Assembly Bill 1122 would prohibit the sale of animals on roadsides and in parking lots. Many of these animals are bred and raised in poor conditions and sick at the time of sale-and since dogs and cats sold in this manner usually are not spayed or neutered, they contribute to the pet overpopulation that leads to tens of thousands of homeless animals being euthanized in the state each year.

If passed, this humane legislation will:
- eliminate the profit motive from people who sell sick animals, and
- protect consumers from unscrupulous breeders.

The bill contains language that exempts adoption events run by humane societies and legitimate animal rescues.

AB 1122 has already passed the California Assembly and moved to the Senate for consideration.

What You Can Do
The California Senate Public Safety Committee is expected to hold a hearing on AB 1122 this Tuesday, June 23.

It is critical that you contact the committee's members before Tuesday to let them know that AB 1122 matters to Californians like you and you want them to support it.

Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center now to email the entire committee and ask them to do all they can to get AB 1122 passed. CLICK HERE TO HELP....

Thank you, California, for taking action for animals.

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Pets have feelings too. Regardless of your spiritual or religious opinions, we have an obligation to the animals "beneath us."

Giving a Voice to Animals

Robert Cabral

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Robert Cabral
BOUND ANGELS
"giving a voice to animals"
www.boundangels.org
www.BoundAngels.tv
www.youtube.com/boundangels
www.blackbeltdogtraining.com

California Legislation to shorten Shelter Animals' Lives

I just put in a call to Governor Schwarzennegger's office. It seems that there is legislation on the table to shorten shelter animals holding times before killing them. The lady I spoke to said that they have been getting a lot of calls about the issue. I would urge anyone living in California to call right away.

These animals barely have 4 days before they are killed (not euthanized-but killed). I strongly oppose any legislation would shorten the time an animal is help. Budget cuts or no budget cuts, this is WRONG. Please voice your opinion.

Call Governor Schwarzenegger today at 916-445-2841 and e-mail him at
http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email to oppose his plan to expedite animal
shelter killings to save money

Thank you for helping those that cannot help themselves.

Robert Cabral
Director Bound Angels
www.boundangels.org

Zeus - the happy ending

Zeus was more than a rescue or a dog I trained.  Zeus and I connected on such a deep spiritual level that its hard to describe in words.  I knew he would be a part of my life the first time I ever walked by his cage in August 2008.  I made several pleas, but no one stepped up.  Since he wasn't a 100% purebred Malinois, the Malinois rescues shunned him.  So, he was due to be killed.  Being the stubborn person I am, I bailed him out with no hope of what to do with him.  Living in a loft at the beach with one dominant dog, I knew he would not be coming to sleep over.  I boarded him and immediately began training and socializing him.  Something he did not have since he spent the last 5 months at the shelter.

He was a handful, and I don't say that too often.  Take a look at the videos and you'll see what mean.  For those who know the physical strength of a Mal,  you may understand.  He was one of the most challenging dogs I've trained and the most challenging one I've rescued.  I spent 3 weeks training him ever day and spending on average 2 hours a day with him.  He needed a lot of work.

In my heart I wanted to keep him, but I know my responsibility to him was to find him the best home I could.  Strangely enough I got an email from some great people who saw the YouTube video I did on him.  I had talked to several others, but none clicked with me.  Tim did right away.  Then I talked to his wife Lori and it was a hit.  I reviewed their application and drove down a few days later with Zeus.  Zeus and I looked at each other and we knew this is where he belonged.  I handed the leash over to their son Joey and the energy between Zeus and I moved to another place.  He would glance at me from time to time, but he knew what was happening.  He and I always communicated with a look, and this time was no different.

Zeus was so well behaved and calm, he was a teacher for me as much as I was for him.  He taught me strength and I taught him discipline, we taught each other about love.  The family of Lori, Tim and Joey are such a perfect family for him that my heart, although sad to say goodbye, was warm in knowing the love they would share.

I've received so many emails and calls from them praising how they love him that I feel still connected with him.  They give him the love and structure plus the big yard a dog like Zeus needs.  I am blessed to have met Zeus and further blessed that a loving, perfect family like Tim, Lori and Joey opened their hearts and door to him.

He Only Had 9 Days

Look at the face in this picture, look really close.  A sweet, young dog full of love and life who ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Truman entered the shelter and never left.  He is the face of millions of dogs that are killed each and every year.  Truman lived in the shelter for 9 days.  9 days..  9 days of looking through steel linked fencing at the outside world.  Not touched by human hands.  9 days of not touching grass or lifting his little leg against a tree.  No running, no romping.  No one knows what he thought or what he wanted to say.  

Was he hoping that someone would come get him?  Someone would give him a loving home?  Did he yearn for that rub on the belly or did he give up once the steel door closed behind him?  Where do dogs like Truman end up?  The end up piled into a garbage truck and carted off to disposal facilities that dispose of their carcasses in ways you could never imagine.  Piles and piles of cold, stiff dead bodies processed into everything from lipstick to dog food to fertilizer.  Remember, these are healthy, young adoptable animals that are just like the dogs sold at pet stores across America and around the world.

A friend of mine commented to me the other day, "Why should I adopt a dog at a shelter?  Why should I make it my problem, the fact that someone else didn't want the dog."  The answer is simple, the dog is not at fault and its not a problem.  Its a life.  Shelter dogs come in all sizes and colors, all breeds and personalities.  There are purebreds and mutts..  Its the biggest pet store in the world.  There is no problem with them, there are just not enough people who are compassionate enough to go and get them out.  

I have a purebred dog that I rescued before it went into the shelter, and it would have.  I rescued another dog from the shelter who died after living with me a very short while.  I can tell you that my heart was shattered on that day and has never healed fully since.  I don't think I could have loved him more or less because he came from a shelter.  He was full of life and spirit, full of love and made my life.  I think of him every day.  His name was Boots.  And, because of Boots I have dedicated so much more of my life to rescue.

Everyone can adopt a shelter dog.  If you can't, you can find someone who can and get one out.  Adopting a shelter dog is cool.  Much cooler than getting one from a pet store.  Shelter dogs have a better personality, have more spunk, have a little bit more of an edge....  and can do anything pet store dogs can do better.  They will love you more than a dog from a pet store, because believe it or not, they know YOU rescued them.  

I deal with behavioral issues on dogs and I see over and over again the dogs that were rescued have an amazing bond with their owners.  I've seen dogs that I've pulled out of shelters look at me in a way no other dog ever looked at me when I visit their house.  

Look at the face of Truman and realize that I came a day to late to get him, and so did a few others.  He never stood a chance in the shelter system of today.  He was an innocent victim.

BOUND ANGELS is looking for volunteers, warriors for the rights of the innocent victims.  Send us an email at boundangels@gmail.com and get involved.  Together we can change the system.

"How Could You?".... You Gotta Read This!

A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full page

ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of his

community.

By Jim Willis, 2001

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, an despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad,"you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" – but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I wa fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.

Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me.

These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog ," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand  the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.

When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days.

As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear

ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"

Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or

abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

A Note from the Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets who die each year in American & Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals.

Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but it could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet.

Remember...They love UNCONDITIONALLY