Good news on the legal front!  I just heard on the news that Illinois has
a new law.  It is called the Companian Animal Hoarding Bill.
 
Anyone discovered hoarding animals is required to seek psychological help.
This does not mean you cannot share your home with as many fuzzies as you
like.  It means that people with a mental illness called "hoarding" (it
is related to obsessive-compulsive disorder)can no longer keep acquiring
animals that they cannot care for.  Instead, they must get treatment for it.
 
I hope other states soon enact similar laws!  If such a law had been in
effect in Utah, that lady would be getting help instead of getting more
animals.  I know that we are all upset because of the suffering of the
innocent animals.  But hating that woman will not help.  Mental illness
is just as real of physical sickness.  In fact, mental illness is often
caused by a lack of needed chemicals in the body.  We don't blame a
diebetic for not creating enough insolin.  We do, however, expect that
they will get help.  Unfortunately, people with mental illness often do
not realize they are sick, and need a little push to help them to seek
treatment.
 
Please don't misunderstand.  I am not condoning the behavior of anyone who
hurts animals!  All the steps people have been taking to prevent her from
getting more animals are among the very best things that can be done!  But
if we can do it with a bit of compassion in our heart for an obviously
sick woman, we will all be better off for it.
 
Peace!
Jodie
[Posted in FML issue 3566]