117 cats, raccoon, rabbit found in Omaha home
By nova1945
@nova1945 (1612)
United States
July 24, 2008 8:57am CST
OMAHA, Neb. - Humane society workers found 117 cats, a raccoon and a rabbit inside a north Omaha house.
The discovery came Wednesday after Council Bluffs, Iowa, police caught the 54-year-old homeowner allegedly stealing cat food. Officials said the woman smelled like cat urine.
Police said the woman has been in trouble before for having too many cats. At one time, humane society pulled more than 200 cats from her house.
Many of the cats taken Wednesday were sick and the floor was covered in feces. Some of the cats were dead.
This was reported by the Associated Press yesterday.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25823096/?GT1=43001
Sounds like yet another case of hoarding disorder. I can understand how some people get overwhelmed just because they think the are helping in the beginning. But the animals are the ones who actually suffer in the end, no matter how good the hoarder's intentions were.
This was reported by the Associated Press yesterday.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25823096/?GT1=43001
Sounds like yet another case of hoarding disorder. I can understand how some people get overwhelmed just because they think the are helping in the beginning. But the animals are the ones who actually suffer in the end, no matter how good the hoarder's intentions were.3 people like this
4 responses
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
22 Dec 09
I know how easy it is to get overwhelmed with pets. We have just our one cat, Morgana, but if it wasn't for our lease limiting us to one cat...we probably would have had more. I have a soft heart and I hate to see dogs or cats left outside to face the elements. I wish that ppl that had pets would take better care of them so that others wouldn't have to. I hope this woman gets some help for what sounds like a serious disorder.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STANDING STRONG IN MY BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I understand too, as I was a hoarder once also. Though not quite that many, but 14 cats in an apartment is just too much. I constantly have to fight the urge to take in stray or abused pets just to give them love and a home. But, as long as I stay out of shelters and pet stores, I manage to stick with my 2 cats. That newest Humane Society commercial on the Animal Planet channel makes me cry and I just want to gather them all up in my arms and take them home. But know I must stay strong.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 Jul 08
Its awfull.
I have a friend who picks up stray dogs.
I stopped going into her apartment because the place smelled and the dogs are filthy.
She doesn't have many, just two or three, but the condition thay are in and the fact that she shouts at them all the time is ridiculous.
1 person likes this
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
24 Jul 08
That's so sad. She probably thinks she is saving them too and really does mean to do that. But if she keeps it up she could end up with way more than she can handle. I was once a hoarder with cats, but did finally stop doing that and now have only the amount I can handle physically and financially. Never had 117 of them though.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
14 May 09
I know what you mean by this. I see some old ladies here; with their good intentions, they just can't provide for all. And the cats or animals they take care of are sometimes neglected too. I think if one has a heart of gold and truly wanting to help, could take the cat to a pet hostel and let the people there take care of them. If they can afford to. Or else, can adopt this example of an old lady in my neighborhood area. She would always make it a point to go downstairs near the neighborhood block and she will stand on one corner and a few cats will rush down to her. There she would give them food and then she leaves. I've noticed her doing that several times per week. That's so noble of her, I think. Rather than picking up almost every cat in town or the neighborhood and creating more unwanted problems.
@bongkarpasang (1377)
• Indonesia
15 Aug 08
ouch! that's so sad. the woman had misunderstood about the proper way to save animals, I guess. weren't there any better place to receive the animals? if she really cares about the animals, she should have brought the animals to such places.
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
15 Aug 08
I agree, but I understand how easily this can happen. They start with a couple of animals and before they realize it things get completly out of hand, If I wasn't careful I would be a hoarder too. I can't go into a shelter of even pet store and look at all the puppies and kittens without thinking I want them all, to give them a loving and safe home. Fortunately I realize this so don't go into those places often. lol