There are no established protocols for assessing or treating an animal hoarder. HARC is still in the process of evaluating some therapeutic approaches. However, even at this early stage, we can make some recommendations.

First, consider finding a professional who is able and willing to conduct an initial assessment in the hoarder's home environment. Many hoarders will 'clean up' well, in other words appear quite normal and presentable if taken into a psychologist's or psychiatrist's office for the standard assessment looking for a DSM IV diagnosis. We believe that assessment in the home environment is critical in order for the therapist to fully appreciate the contribution of the animal hoarding to the situation. It is also critical that the therapist not ignore the animal situation completely or mistake the cause (hoarding behavior) for the effect (squalor and animal cruelty).

Second, be sure to identify and treat and psychological comorbidities. Hoarders may have a variety of psychological disorders (Borderline Personality Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, Anxiety, Social Phobia, Schizoaffective disorder), which, if addressed, may limit tendency to hoard animals in the future.

One techinque which is gaining popularity in the psychological community for addressing ambivalence and motivation to change for people with substance abuse is motivational interviewing. It is also a technique which seems to offer promise for working with animal hoarders.

   Information for Therapists - Clinical Psychology Reviews 2009