The Animal Hoarding project

Today I received the following e-mail from Erica at the Animal Planet show "Confessions: Animal Hoarding." It is an important topic that we in the pet rat community have had to deal with before. Please read on:

Animal hoarding is a serious animal welfare problem that affects every community in the country… but hardly anyone is doing anything about it. It’s only when the hoarding degenerates into criminal animal abuse that authorities can get involved. Before then, it festers, with helpless pets locked away inside the homes of people who are often suffering from serious emotional problems. Studies have shown that without psychological help the recidivism rate for animal hoarders is near 100 percent.

Although animal hoarding is not yet formally recognized as a distinct psychological disorder in the psychiatric diagnostic manual, the mental health community is trying to better understand and approach animal hoarding through a human lens. Unless this problem is addressed and understood at a human level, it will never be solved. Animal Planet's series is providing an opportunity for experts in psychology, veterinary health and leading organizations to address and unlock the problem on a national level.

Unfortunately, animal hoarding affects every different species of animals and the exotic pet community. As professionals in your industry and respected members of the Rat & Mice community, we ask that you help us put an end to animal suffering.

Most hoarders start out as dedicated pet owners or want to turn their love for animals into a legitimate business- through breeding, unfortunately they let their situation get out of hand. If you get any leads or letters about a potential hoarder, contact us so that we can provide the psychological help, professional support and find new homes for the animals.

If you are interested in making animal hoarding a topic for public recognition, discussion and therefore action, please feel free to use us as a resource. The Animal Planet show, CONFESSIONS: ANIMAL HOARDING, is currently looking for people who own more animals than they can properly care for and need help - whether they have a houseful of rabbits, reptiles, birds or common household pets.

Please watch the latest news coverage of our cause, http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Animal-PLa-104297124.html

The production team is currently seeking stories. If you or your organization knows someone who could benefit from participating on our show, call: 1-877-698-7387 or encourage them to contact us directly. You can also submit someone to be considered for the show online at www.animalplanet.com/animalhoarding. People can submit their animal hoarding story directly to http://www.animalhoardingproject.com/machform/view.php?id=1