I don't think that the shelters could help stop this because there are so many free pets available. These people have a mental illness. It sounds so sad. Wolfsoul - it sounds like your Grandma needs help if her pets are sick and she is unable or unwilling to do anything to help them.

It reminds me a little of Munchausen by proxy - where the person keeps injuring their children so that they can feel important. Could a person with this problem actually want to have sick animals because they then think they have some kind of purpose in life?

So sad.