Getting hoarded animals ready for rescue

Dogs, cats, birds, horse found in condemned Putnam County home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dozens of dogs seized in a Putnam County hoarding case have made their way to Jacksonville for medical treatment and some pampering. First Coast No More Homeless Pets is assisting Putnam County Animal Control in getting about 70 animals healthy again and ready for a new home.

The teamwork between the clinic and the agency will prevent the animals from being euthanized and give them a second chance at a long, healthy life.

"It's a pretty common day around here," FCNMHP Executive Director Rick Ducharme said. "We do about 100 surgeries a day usually. Plus see about 100 patients a day in our veterinary clinic, so it's a busy day without a doubt."

All hands were on deck Wednesday unloading nearly 40 dogs and cats from several vans.

"All of them are terribly fearful. They're not mean. They're just afraid. They've been deprived of contact with other people and other situations. It was obvious many of them had never been outside," canine behavior consultant Jim Crosby said. "Their body condition's scores are inadequate, there's heavy matting and dirt in the fur."

At the end of July, Putnam Animal Control was called to a home in San Mateo where an elderly couple was hoarding about 70 animals. Dozens of dogs, 15 cats, four exotic birds and a horse were removed from deplorable conditions. 

"The people probably intended to do well but just get overwhelmed, which is classic," Crosby said.

But Putnam County has a small shelter that didn't have enough resources to help all the animals. Several rescues and clinics like Jacksonville's FCNMHP stepped in to help.

"We loaned them some equipment and some crates," Ducharme said. "We worked with them to get a grant from PetSmart Charities to help fund some of the efforts that they needed to do."

Now things are looking up for the animals. They're getting the medical treatment they need, they're being spayed or neutered, and they're being groomed.

Workers at FCNMHP just hope the animals' story will bring some attention to the issue of hoarding and the effect it has, not only on these animals, but on the people around them.

"They're suffering because they're in unsanitary conditions," Crosby said. "The neighborhood suffers, everybody around hoarding cases is affected -- not just the animals."

As for the other animals in this case, including the birds and horse, they're being treated and fostered by volunteers and rescue shelters.

Several rescues from across the nation have already planned to pick up some of the animals from the Putnam hoarding investigation, including Chow Rescue from New York, which is picking up nine dogs from FCNMHP tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

The other animals that are healthy and ready will be available for adoption during Putnam County's adoption event Friday and Saturday in Palatka. The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday at 2509 Crill Ave., Suite 700.

For more information on FCNMHP, go to http://www.fcnmhp.org