Animal hoarding involves keeping more animals than can be adequately cared for, causing chronic suffering and is one of the most extreme forms of animal neglect.
Animals in hoarding situations experience chronic suffering from starvation, dehydration, untreated disease, and extreme overcrowding. The deterioration is often progressive and hidden from social contact. Effective intervention requires coordinated animal welfare and mental health response. Prosecution without mental health treatment results in high rates of reoffending. Animals removed from hoarding situations often require extensive rehabilitation.