As of May 23, 2011 New York City’s parks and beaches are smoke-free.
Examining Animal Hoarding
Every year, approximately 100 new animal hoarding cases are identified by animal welfare services in NYC, some of which involve more than 60 animals in a single residence. Often, cases go undetected for a considerable period of time and are addressed only after neighbors complain. A grant from a family foundation to the Fund for Public Health in New York (FPHNY) enabled the NYC Health Department's Veterinary and Pest Control Office to examine the underlying issues of animal hoarders, who collect large numbers of animals without providing minimal standard of care for the animals or themselves.
Historically, most responses have focused specifically on eliminating large animal populations as a potential public health threat. However, a report made possible with private foundation funding indicates that animal hoarding is as much a human behavior and mental health problem as it is an animal welfare concern. This pilot project examined cases as they occurred to determine the most effective human service interventions and animal welfare services. Over the course of 15 months, a licensed social worker followed 66 cases of animal hoarding and provided a new perspective on the significant physical and mental distress of the people and animals involved. More than 2,350 animals were discovered and an additional 160 animals were found dead. Animal hoarders were found in every demographic group and every borough of New York City, with many of the elderly hoarders, in particular, living in squalor and isolation and facing eviction, foreclosure, self-neglect and potential elder abuse. The environmental conditions in the homes of hoarders were unsafe for both people and animals. Hoarders were found to be suffering from various medical problems such as heart disease and cancer, and mental health illnesses including depression, cognitive impairments, delusional beliefs, trauma and addiction. To read the full report, click here.
The NYC Health Department and other participating organizations are working together to determine the best steps to implement recommendations identified in the course of the project to further address the issue of hoarding. Animal hoarding, little noticed and long neglected, calls for a coordinated response from public agencies and mental health programs to reduce the number of hoarding incidents and lower the high recidivism rate among the collectors, ultimately reducing euthanasia among animals not properly cared for in hoarding environments.