Just a short note...my mother is a hoarder. Not of animals thank goodness but of everything else. Fining, throwing them in jail or any other form of what normal people consider "punishment" won't do anything. They are in a different world. You can correct the problem physically but it will only happen again regardless.
I do not understand it and it's frustrating as hell to deal with. I have seen tendencies in my siblings and myself to do the same and we are check points with each other to say "Enough"
Many hoarders are replacing emotions or people with things or animals. Unfortunately animals are living, feeling creatures. My mom's mom died when she was three. I'm sure there's a connection.
I'm just saying you can't judge before walking in those shoes...worse yet, in the shoes of those closest that have to deal with the consequences.
Claudia