Tragic phenomenon of animal hoarding

Animal rights campaigners say the problem of animal hoarding is on the rise, and investigators in Germany say they found 1,700 birds at one apartment in Berlin. — dpa

Just like anyone who hoards objects, people who hoard animals are often long neglected until someone finds that their home crammed with cats, dogs, birds or other animals.

By the time they are discovered, hoarders have amassed an average of 105 animals, according to a 2012 study by Tina Sperlin at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover, Germany. Other studies have pointed to an average of about 120 animals.