Animal hoarding, and the cleanup that comes after

This site connects you with independent hoarding cleanup providers near you. It does not do the cleanup itself.

What animal hoarding is

The ASPCA defines animal hoarding by an inability to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter and veterinary care. The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) describes it as having a large number of animals but failing to meet their basic care needs. The American Psychiatric Association describes it as a possible special type of hoarding disorder, involving large numbers of animals, dozens or even hundreds.

Numbers alone do not decide it. The ASPCA says having multiple animals does not automatically indicate hoarding. Many people care well for several pets. What matters is whether the animals’ basic needs are being met.

Signs people often notice

• More animals than the person can feed, clean up after or take to a vet
• Animals that look thin, unwell or untreated
• A strong smell of urine or ammonia from the home or the yard

The person may love the animals deeply and be very afraid of losing them. That is part of why the situation is so painful, and why shaming them rarely helps.

The animals come first

Before anyone thinks about cleaning, the animals need to be safe. Contact your local animal services, animal control or a humane society. They can assess the animals, arrange veterinary care and decide what happens next. Please do not try to remove, rehome or take animals from the home yourself. It can put you, the person and the animals at risk, and it can make a hard situation harder.

Caring for the person, too

Losing animals they love can be devastating for the person, even when it is the right thing for the animals. The same advice applies as for any hoarding situation: lead with care, avoid blame and involve support. The IOCDF Find Help directory lists therapists who treat hoarding. If the person is an older or disabled adult who can no longer meet their own basic needs, Adult Protective Services can help. Our guide on how to help someone with hoarding covers how to talk about it.

The cleanup after the animals are safe

A home where many animals have lived without enough care can need far more than an ordinary cleanup. Urine and droppings can soak into carpets, furniture, floors and walls. Odor can stay long after the animals have gone. This is careful work, and it usually comes in stages.

1. Confirm the animals are safe and that animal services have finished any work in the home
2. A walk-through to see which rooms, floors and furnishings are affected
3. Removal of soiled bedding, litter, waste and items that cannot be saved
4. Sorting the person’s other belongings, with them where possible
5. Deep cleaning and disinfecting of hard surfaces
6. Checking carpets, floors and subfloors, and removing what cannot be cleaned
7. Odor treatment, then repairs by the right trade where needed

Floors, subfloors and odor

Ask the provider how they decide whether carpet, padding, flooring or subfloor can be cleaned or has to be removed, and what odor treatment they use. Porous materials are often harder to save. The EPA notes, for mold, that porous materials may need to be thrown away, and the same thinking often applies to soaked flooring. A provider who explains their reasoning in writing makes it easier to compare options.

Safety during the cleanup

Animal waste, rodents drawn in by pet food and broken items all carry risks. The CDC says not to sweep or vacuum rodent urine, droppings or nesting materials, and to wear rubber or plastic gloves. OSHA says broken glass that may be contaminated should never be picked up with bare hands. Protective gear, ventilation and the right disinfectants are part of why this work is usually left to a provider.

What to ask an animal hoarding cleanup provider

• Have the animals’ welfare and any animal services visits been taken care of before you start?
• How do you decide what flooring or furniture can be cleaned and what has to go?
• What disinfectants and odor treatments do you use, and are they safe for pets who return later?
• Will you work with the person present, at a pace they can manage?
• How do you handle papers, photos and keepsakes found during the work?
• Is the estimate in writing, and what might change it?

Paying for it

Homeowners insurance usually does not cover hoarding cleanup; ask your insurer. If the home is a rental, hoarding disorder can count as a disability under fair housing law, so landlords and tenants should get fair housing advice before acting. If the person has moved out or passed away, the guide to hoarder cleanouts covers estates and empty homes, and hoarder house cleaning explains the stages of a cleanup when the person still lives there.

Questions people ask

If you or someone you love is struggling or in crisis, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is free and confidential.