American Humane Urges New Mexico to Make Animal Hoarding a Crime

American Humane Association
Thursday, 27 February 2003

American Humane today urged authorities in New Mexico to pass recently proposed HB 19 to make the act of animal hoarding a misdemeanor. American Humane, a national organization that has been protecting animals since 1877, urges residents of New Mexico to send a letter of support for the legislation to their elected officials.

House bill 19, which is currently in the New Mexico House of Representatives, makes the act of animal hoarding, where a person possesses more than 15 animals and does not properly care for them, a misdemeanor. The bill requires owners of confiscated animals to post bond to cover the cost of care and boarding of the animals during court proceedings. The bill also calls for psychological counseling for the offender, upon conviction of hoarding, and could preclude the hoarder from owning animals in the future.

"Typically hoarders mean well and have affection for the animals they've hoarded, but do not have the means or the ability to provide for them," says Jodi Lytle Buckman, American Humane's director of shelter services. "The result is often horrendous living conditions for both the hoarder and the animals. In many cases, the caretaker's home is literally covered in feces and the animals feed off the carcasses of other animals that have died of neglect."

The sponsor of HB 19, Republican Representative Joe Thompson, notes that New Mexico currently does not have a process to deal with hoarders or to help shelters care for a large number of animals over an indefinite period of time. His motivation for introducing the bill was concern that animal shelters cannot handle the financial burden and strain of the large number of animals that come with these hoarding cases.

A recent animal hoarding seizure in Las Cruces, New Mexico, illustrates the importance of this legislation. According to Sharon Middleton, executive director of the Dona Ana County Humane Society, roughly 200 cats, found dead and alive, were taken from the home of a Las Cruces resident after a neighbor complained of the smell. The humane society is currently holding 86 of the cats, which are in varying states of poor health. Without the hoarding law, the shelter has been burdened with the financial costs of caring for the cats.

Middleton adds, "The humane society is completely overwhelmed with trying to care and provide for these cats. We are in need of volunteers, general cleaning supplies, cat food, and cat litter." She says people can contact the shelter directly at 505-382-0018 to get information on how they can help.

Lytle Buckman adds that American Humane strongly supports legislation in all states that addresses the issue of hoarding and requires owners to post bond for the care of their animals. Moreover, American Humane urges people who see instances of animal abuse or cruelty to report it to their local authorities. "Not only do we owe it to the animals, we owe it to our communities," she says.

For more information, or to contact American Humane Association, see their website at: www.americanhumane.org