Saturday, March 5, 2011

SPECIAL REPORT: Animal Hoarding

By Molly Kelleher


From a Benton County breeder busted for housing hundreds of dogs, to a Kennewick house full of feral cats, animal cruelty cases have certainly popped up in our area.

n a special report, KEPR investigated animal hoarding.

The pictures of the homes tell a compelling story: pet owners in over their heads. The very secret world of animal hoarding is now the top-rated show on the Animal Planet.

Sometimes reality TV can be anything but, and this is a real problem happening here in the Tri-Cities.

Tri-Cities Animal Shelter Director Angela Zilar says, "I think people would be surprised. It's it every day, it's all around us. It could be your next door neighbor and you just aren't aware of it yet."

Zilar told KEPR she sees about three cases a year of animal hoarding. She's certain plenty more go unreported.

Zilar explains, "Situations with people spending their life savings or paycheck to paycheck just so they can't deal with or care for, just overwhelmed."..." More & video



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