General overview about hoarding behavior

What is the definition of animal hoarding?

 The following criteria are used to define animal hoarding:

  • More than the typical number of companion aniamls
  • Inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter, and veterinary care, with this neglect often resulting in starvation, illness, and death
  • Denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and the impact of that failure on the animals, the household, and human occupants of the dwelling

Illinois Law incorporating this definition(510 ILCS 70/2.10)
Public Health Reports article establishing this definition


Commonly asked questions about hoarding

 Go to questions


General reviews about hoarding from the media

Medical Literature

 Medical Literature Abstracts about hoarding


Photo Gallery

 It is difficult to appreciate the extent to which living spaces are compromised for both people and animals in hoarding situations. The photos in the attached gallery are representative, but by no means extreme in their depiction of hoarding situations. Go to Photos