Hoarding... or not??

[Jag]

I have a question that I'd like to start a discussion on. I hope that it doesn't turn into a nasty one. My 18 year old said the other day "So now that the birds (Papi and Angel) are better, are you going to give them to someone else?" I about flipped out. He said "Well, I thought you were going to give them to someone else... that you just got them because they needed a home, not because you were going to keep them." Now, keep in mind that 1-this is my special needs kid who doesn't pay attention and 2- we didn't discuss the birds much with him other than 'we're going to get these birds that need a new home, please feed the dogs and let them out to potty'.
When I explained to him that this IS their new home.... hence the new cage...he said "That means you'll have 4 birds! Don't you think that's too many?"

Then the subject came up on another thread about hoarding or having too many birds and not even realizing it. So it got me thinking again. How many birds are 'too many'? I envision hoarding as being when you have so many pets that you can't take care of them... cleaning, feeding, toys, affording, don't have time to spend with them, etc. Maybe to the point that they develop issues (although this could happen with just one bird). Soooo.. what's your thoughts? How many is too many??

[SisterBlue]

Well, we have 9 birds and 3 dogs, and we spend lots of time with all of them. I think the hoarding "threshold" differs by individual person, household, circumstances, etc. Our pets are part of our family. From what I've read, hoarding is an actual illness, a type of addiction, like gambling, etc. Interesting subject!

-SB

[usamma]

I think hoarding is when you can't spend enough time with them all, or get them proper care. I have seen people have like 30 cats and that is IMO hoarding. Letting them breed out of control, not caring properly for them, or letting them take over your home to the point where it's not sanitary or livable. (Heck, I know families that seem to "hoard" kids too, who would fall under this category!)

Sometimes I think I have too many birds, but the budgies are all well cared-for and they don't need social interaction like the parrots do. I would love to rehome a few of them. I just don't know anyone who could care for them properly, and my kids love each and every one of them.

You don't have too many birds.

[cockatiel92]

Originally Posted by Jag

I have a question that I'd like to start a discussion on. I hope that it doesn't turn into a nasty one. My 18 year old said the other day "So now that the birds (Papi and Angel) are better, are you going to give them to someone else?" I about flipped out. He said "Well, I thought you were going to give them to someone else... that you just got them because they needed a home, not because you were going to keep them." Now, keep in mind that 1-this is my special needs kid who doesn't pay attention and 2- we didn't discuss the birds much with him other than 'we're going to get these birds that need a new home, please feed the dogs and let them out to potty'.
When I explained to him that this IS their new home.... hence the new cage...he said "That means you'll have 4 birds! Don't you think that's too many?"

Then the subject came up on another thread about hoarding or having too many birds and not even realizing it. So it got me thinking again. How many birds are 'too many'? I envision hoarding as being when you have so many pets that you can't take care of them... cleaning, feeding, toys, affording, don't have time to spend with them, etc. Maybe to the point that they develop issues (although this could happen with just one bird). Soooo.. what's your thoughts? How many is too many??

its only considered hoarding when you can no longer properly care for your pets. when they reach the point that they are being neglected, and unhealthy.

[brdfvr]

I would agree. Usually hoarders think they are doing the best for the animals (physically, mentally and emotionally) and that any other home would be terrible. When in fact they have animals dying, needing medical attention and food. If you can't afford to care for the animals you have, then that is hoarding. Now if you just choose to not care for the animals you have that's a different story and neglect, but hoarding can be a type of neglect too.

[Astrid660]

^I agree. I think (from what I am told ) It is a mental illness of sorts, someone can not see that they have too many, feel the need to keep saving more even though they can't take care of the ones they already have.

I fear hoarding like you all would not believe and question myself on it a lot... do I have too many, could I handle more without the others suffering, etc. and I think the fact that I ask myself those questions is important. It means I am probably not a hoarder or heading in that direction lol

[Jag]

Ooops, I should have clarified. I don't think that I personally have too many... it's just that his statement mixed with what was brought up on another thread gave me the idea to start this one!

[r2rusmc]

Hoarding is when you keep bringing in animals thinking that you are the only person that can save them and you have too many to properly care for. Hoarding is when you bring in all these animals and end up making your living space uninhabitable.

I haven't heard of too many hoarding cases where the animals were brought in as pets.

Having a lot of pets then getting overwhelmed (whatever the reason) is not hoarding.

I do believe that the hoarding mindset is that you rescued all these animals because no one but you can provide for them.

[slic102]

Yeah I'm going to have to agree with r2 on the meaning of hoarding. I think there is a big difference between that and having too many pets and being overwelmed as she said. I also think only you can tell how many is too many. We have 6 now, and our last one was the tipping point from "I can still have one more" to, "this is it, can't bring any more into the mix right now". I also know many who have 12 and 13 and more that handle that amount just fine...it all depends on your situation and time available to spend with them.

[FirstTimeBirdie]

OBVIOUSLY, this is a subject that interests me as well. I have 6 dogs and it wasn't intentional it was something that happened. Yes, I think it's too many for personal reasons, but that's because I'm very particular with my dogs, I don't like leaving them with anyone else and because I run them to the vet for the slightest thing, so it becomes costly.

But am I a hoarder? Not in my view because (a) well, it's my view..LOL (b) They are all very well cared for, from grooming to vet visits, if it's a need, these dogs get it (c) They are spoiled rotten, I spend more money on my dogs in a month than I do on my house bills (rent excluded). They eat only good food and I buy them supplements such as bee pollen, coconut oil, etc. which is very costly, but I don't put cost on my pets' health.

I work from home so I spend 90 percent of my time giving them affection. I'm not happy unless I'm playing with or loving on one of my dogs. And now I'm getting Sebastian and hopefully at some point in time will have a few birds.

Still don't see this as a problem unless my house is trashed and my pets are filthy and unheathy and not getting attention. My mom always says that when she dies she wants to come back as one of my dogs. LOL