[Gangnam Perspective] Are You Familiar with 'Animal Hoarding'?

There is a term called Animal Hoarding. It refers to the act of keeping an excessive number of animals despite lacking the ability to properly care for them, resulting in neglect or inadequate care.
Animal Hoarding can be seen as the 'living creature version' of Hoarding disorder. While typical Hoarding disorder involves obsessively collecting objects, Animal Hoarding is characterized by compulsively accumulating and keeping too many animals.
In both cases, individuals compulsively collect beyond their capacity and often fail to recognize the problem. Many people with these tendencies also experience mental health issues such as depression or anxiety disorders in addition to Hoarding disorder.
The problem arises when this condition involves companion animals, as it is classified as a form of animal abuse from the perspective of animal welfare. It is, in fact, a serious social issue.
Admittedly, I first encountered this term in the news. It was a story about the rescue of nearly 200 dogs from a house in Sanggye-dong, Nowon District.
Nearly 200 dogs. I read it several times. Not 20, but around 200. Years ago, a colleague mentioned how expensive it was to feed a single pet dog, saying he would buy a large amount of dog food on payday. I remember thinking, 'Raising just one dog is no small feat.' But someone was keeping 200.
Because of one person who took on more than they could handle, Nowon District was tied up for over a month. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), animal protection organizations, and citizen volunteers came together to rescue the dogs, perform neutering surgeries, and operate temporary animal shelters. There were 137 neutering surgeries alone. The cost exceeded 200 million won, but it was covered through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), not government funding. Animal Hospitals, Pet Grooming Academies, and the entire neighborhood pitched in. Thanks to these efforts, 117 dogs found new homes, which is at least some relief.
Animal Hoarding is not simply about keeping many animals. It refers to keeping more animals than one can manage, leading to deteriorating animal health and welfare, as well as overall problems with the living environment. Ultimately, taking on more than one can handle brings unhappiness to the animals, the individual, and everyone around them.
In fact, this issue is not unique to Animal Hoarding. Many people in society take on more than they can handle and pass the burden onto others. Some buy homes with loans they cannot repay, have children they cannot care for, or start businesses they cannot manage. When they fail, creditors suffer losses, children are neglected, and banks are left with bad debts. The common thread is taking on responsibilities beyond one's capacity and being unable to cope.
Seung-rok Oh, head of Nowon District, promised 'responsible administration for a Nowon where people and animals coexist.' The district office deserves praise for its responsible actions. However, the real credit goes to those who spent their own money to wash dogs, cover neutering surgery costs, clean up after the animals in temporary shelters, and endured barking through the night. Citizens voluntarily brought food bowls and cleaned up after the dogs.
What is reassuring about this incident is that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) truly worked. The costs were shared through PPP, and citizen volunteers stepped up to provide temporary care. Private Animal Hospitals and Pet Grooming Academies also participated, offering neutering surgeries, vaccinations, and hygiene care. Had the government tried to solve everything with tax money, the dogs would likely have been neglected due to limited budgets and manpower.
Among the dogs rescued from the house in Sanggye-dong, some have yet to find new homes. Seventy-eight dogs remain in temporary animal shelters or district-owned containers.
Regardless of the underlying causes of Animal Hoarding, once it becomes a social issue, it must be prevented and treated. Counseling is also necessary. Administrative measures should be strengthened to prevent a second case of Animal Hoarding. A dog is not an object, but a living being.
ahnman@fnnews.com Reporter