Two high-profile animal hoarding cases in Martin County this summer \u2014 and a third in Palm Beach County \u2014 have prompted questions about whether more can be done to prevent animal neglect before it reaches a crisis point. The answers, experts say, are not simple.<\/p>\n
On July 20, Martin County deputies rescued more than 100 cats and dogs from a house near Hobe Sound.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the worst animal hoarding case that I\u2019ve seen,\u201d Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said at the scene.<\/p>\n
Exactly three weeks later, on Aug. 10, the same group of deputies rescued 36 border collies from a Palm City house piled with feces and rot. The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, which was still handling rescue efforts of the previous case, then said this was the worst hoarding case they\u2019d ever seen.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 16, Palm Beach County Sheriff\u2019s deputies, serving an unrelated arrest warrant near Lantana, rescued 13 dogs from another feces-filled home. According to the affidavit, seven of the dogs were confined inside 2 cages.<\/p>\n
Cesar Perea, vice president of the American Humane Society, said cases like these are not unusual.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s really common throughout the country to see this level of neglect going on,\u201d Perea said.<\/p>\n
When asked why it is so common, Perea pointed to intent gone wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s typically well-intentioned, whether it\u2019s a breeding operation or a rescue operation that just eventually just goes wrong,\u201d Perea said.<\/p>\n
The American Humane Society monitors cases like these across the U.S. and assists law enforcement and local animal rescues when called upon. Perea said he does not believe the number of cases is necessarily growing \u2014 but that public awareness is.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s so much these cases are increasing. I think a lot of it has to do with awareness. I think with social media and people being involved, I think we\u2019re experiencing like a renaissance of people just not standing for it,\u201d Perea said.<\/p>\n
That shift in public attitude is reaching lawmakers, according to Kate MacFall, the Florida state director for Humane World for Animals. MacFall works in Tallahassee, where her job is to help shape Florida\u2019s animal welfare policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur legislators are filing more animal bills,\u201d MacFall said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done a lot of really good things in recent years, but there\u2019s a lot of work to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
But preventing hoarding cases specifically is more complicated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bigger picture question,\u201d MacFall said.<\/p>\n