Rethinking legal regulation of animal hoarding

Abstract

Animal hoarding is a poorly understood phenomenon with potentially disastrous consequences for both the people and animals involved, but there has been little critique of the current legal regulation in Australia. The author examines the current regulation of animal hoarding in Australia, argues it is deficient because it does not address the psychological disorder underpinning the hoarding behaviour, and suggests a new model for regulating and addressing animal hoarding, including changes to animal welfare statutes and a multidisciplinary regulatory ‘court’ with a long-term focus.