What is animal hoarding? 

An animal hoarder is an individual who has accumulated a large number of animals, exceeding their capacity to care for them. Animals may lack proper food, shelter, veterinary care, and clean environments, resulting in significant suffering for both the animals and often the hoarder themselves. 

Animal hoarding is a complex and often hidden form of animal cruelty. Though less publicly visible than other types of abuse, it is increasingly recognised as a serious welfare and public health concern in the UK.  

Defining animal hoarding 

Animal hoarding is more than simply having a large number of pets. It is defined by several key features: 

The behaviour often results in severe neglect and poor living conditions, even when hoarders claim to love and care for their animals. 

Prevalence in the UK 

Data on the prevalence of animal hoarding in the UK is limited due to underreporting and the hidden nature of the problem. However, the RSPCA, which responds to tens of thousands of welfare complaints annually, has noted an increasing number of serious multi-animal cases, many of which would meet the criteria for hoarding. Some estimates suggest hundreds of such cases occur each year, often involving dozens or even hundreds of animals in a single home. Hoarding appears to be more prevalent in urban areas of high deprivation, with a high unemployment rate among offenders (or sufferers – depending on how you define it). 

Psychological and social factors 

Animal hoarding is often associated with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is sometimes categorised as a subtype of hoarding disorder, which was officially recognised in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 2013. Hoarding disorder is estimated to affect 2–6% of the population, and is characterised by self-neglect, domestic squalor, apathy, compulsive hoarding of garbage and lack of shame. 

 Contributing psychological factors include: 

Animal welfare impacts 

The animal welfare consequences of hoarding can be profound. Common issues include: 

In many cases, animals are found living in squalor, surrounded by waste, rotting food, or even the corpses of other animals. 

Human and public health risks 

The risks extend beyond animal suffering. Human occupants – often including children or vulnerable adults – may live in unsafe and unsanitary environments. Risks include: 

Legal framework 

In the UK, there is no offence specifically termed “animal hoarding”, but the behaviour is usually addressed under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which requires that: 

Hoarding often results in multiple breaches of these duties. 

Local authorities, environmental health officers, housing officers, and social services may become involved, especially when the hoarding affects neighbours, property, or poses safeguarding concerns. In severe cases, hoarders may be prosecuted, banned from keeping animals, and animals seized. 

However, the law’s ability to prevent recurrence is limited, and hoarders frequently reoffend after bans expire, or find new ways to acquire animals. 

Recent UK Cases 

Recent cases have highlighted the scale and seriousness of animal hoarding: 

• Exeter Case (2025): A couple who kept 29 pets in a flat were banned from keeping animals for eight years. The court heard that the animals were not fed, watered or exercised enough and had to live in the faeces-covered flat with not enough living space or heating. 

• Doncaster Case (2025): More than 80 dogs which were rescued from a house in Doncaster where they had been living in squalid conditions. 

• Essex Case (2025): Police charged a man after 37 dogs were found dead at an animal rescue centre. Essex Police, the RSPCA and Basildon Borough Council uncovered the remains of 37 dogs and seized 20 others to ensure their safety. 

Such cases reveal not only cruelty but systemic gaps in early intervention and long-term support. 

Challenges in intervention 

There are several challenges in responding effectively to animal hoarding: 

The role of charities and multi-agency work 

The RSPCA, Cats Protection, Dogs Trust, and smaller rescues are often first on the scene in hoarding cases. Their roles include: 

However, solving hoarding cases often requires a multi-agency approach. Housing providers, social workers, NHS mental health services, environmental health teams, and the police may all need to collaborate. 

In recent years, the concept of One Welfare – recognising the interconnectedness of animal, human, and environmental welfare – has gained ground in hoarding cases. Initiatives encouraging joined-up thinking are starting to emerge, especially in complex safeguarding scenarios. 

Prevention and early detection 

Early detection is critical. Warning signs may include: 

Veterinary practices and rehoming organisations can play a key role in identifying red flags, particularly when individuals attempt to adopt large numbers of pets or bring in animals in poor condition. 

Public education is also important 

Understanding that hoarding is a welfare issue, not eccentricity, can help change attitudes and encourage earlier reporting. 

Conclusion 

Animal hoarding is a hidden but harmful problem in the UK, impacting hundreds of animals and people each year. While rooted in psychological distress and often driven by misplaced compassion, the results are frequently devastating. With no single agency responsible and no dedicated offence in law, hoarding cases fall between the cracks of animal welfare and human safeguarding systems. 

Tackling animal hoarding effectively requires: 

Only through a compassionate, coordinated and preventative approach can we protect both animals and the people who hoard them.