Unless and until the law cracks down on these hoarders, and I mean HARD, nothing will change. Perhaps it is a mental illness, I don't know. What I do know is that there's an "itis" or an "ism" or a "syndrome" for everything now to let people off the hook from taking personal and legal responsibility. Who suffers for it? The animals. I don't wish to appear unsympathetic towards people since my philosophy has always been "people first" but that doesn't mean that they should get away w/mistreatment and neglect of the very animals that they claim to love. If there is no penalty, they do it again and more animals suffer as a result. Yes, everyone deserves a second chance...TO DO RIGHT, not to repeat the same offense. I can't even watch these news reports any more; I get so angry and sad. Donna, your Ari is one lucky boy to have you and I've read your posts throughout the years and know just how devoted you are to your cat family. I can only imagine how you must feel about this particular hoarder. When you're finished giving him lots o' lovin', give him a belly rub or two from me and the fur posse, will ya? And sleep well because you've done a great job, girl.