From the Chicago Tribune: Drunk, naked man operated on pet Doberman

[Karen]

Is it just me or does there seem to be an increase in animal hoarding and abuse?

Momcat, I think it is just a combination of factors that lead to us hearing more about it these days. First, anything at all horrifying is picked up by every news outlet around the world, and repeated over and over. Fifty years ago, the same thing may have happened, but I in Boston wouldn't have heard about it. Also, I think with families being more spread out across the country than before, people can easily get isolated with no one to physically check in on them, and these situations are less likely to be discovered until they become extreme. If her kids or siblings had lived next door, it likely wouldn't have gotten that bad before someone stepped in, but it is easy to lie over the phone and say, "Oh, I'm fine, and you?" no matter what is happening around you.

Abuse is also now, more and more, recognized as a crime, which is just wasn't years ago. In that way, society is improving.

[wombat2u2004]

Yeah, the man oughta be locked up and the key thrown away, the bloody idiot.

[lizbud]

Momcat, I think it is just a combination of factors that lead to us hearing more about it these days. First, anything at all horrifying is picked up by every news outlet around the world, and repeated over and over. Fifty years ago, the same thing may have happened, but I in Boston wouldn't have heard about it. Also, I think with families being more spread out across the country than before, people can easily get isolated with no one to physically check in on them, and these situations are less likely to be discovered until they become extreme. If her kids or siblings had lived next door, it likely wouldn't have gotten that bad before someone stepped in, but it is easy to lie over the phone and say, "Oh, I'm fine, and you?" no matter what is happening around you.

Abuse is also now, more and more, recognized as a crime, which is just wasn't years ago. In that way, society is improving.

I like your point of view. I only hope the last sentence is really true.