Animal Hoarding Cases Concern Local Officers

Despite animal advocates’ fight for stronger laws against animal cruelty, animal control officers are concerned because they’re finding abuse and hoarding cases on a monthly basis.

Officers in Iredell County in particular told Channel 9 they struggle with hoarding cases.

Iredell County Animal Control Director Chris Royal said in one such case, officers found four dogs tied up outside a home and piles of garbage inside, along with a dead turtle and a pot-bellied pig.

“The pig had been living in the house for 10 years,” Royal said.

The pig later died, and one of the dogs was put down. The three other dogs are being boarded and cannot be adopted out while the case is being appealed.

Royal said the delay is adding up to thousands of dollars in taxpayer money. She estimates 15 percent of her cases are related to hoarding..." More