Animal Protection - Rescues & Investigations

The Idaho Humane Society rescues many abused animals every year. Read about a few of our success stories below.

Abused Dalmation Gets New Lease on Life

As these before and after photos demonstrate, our I.H.S. foster families do a great job rehabilitating and re-homing the many abused animals we rescue each year.

Indy was suffering from severe starvation when he was seized from an abusive owner by I.H.S. animal control officers in March 2005. The owner was cited for cruelty to animals. At the time he was rescued, I.H.S. veterinarians evaluated Indy, and scored his body condition as a "1" using the Henneke body condition scoring system.

The Henneke system is used by veterinarians and animal control officers to objectively evaluate the physical condition of animals. The system rates the animals on a scale of 1 to 9. A score of 1 is considered poor or emaciated with no body fat. A 9 is extremely fat or obese. Veterinarians consider a body score of between 4 and 7 as acceptable.

Luckily, one of our terrific foster volunteers nursed Indy back to health and he has been re-homed to a great family in Oregon where he is loved.

How can you help animals like Indy? Consider becoming an I.H.S. foster volunteer. It’s a challenging but a deeply rewarding experience to rescue a shelter dog or cat. Please contact our Foster Parent Program for more information on this invaluable I.H.S. volunteer opportunity.

Idaho Humane Society Rescues 60 Horses

On April 1, 2004, the Idaho Humane Society rescued nearly 60 neglected horses from a pasture near Meridian, Idaho. The horses suffered from malnutrition, starvation, lice, and worms. They had not been vaccinated for anything. Their owner failed to provide them with enough food for the large herd, and the food that was periodically provided was of very poor quality. Their feet were long and had not been trimmed and their teeth had not been floated (many horses were of a mature age where this would have been appropriate). The horses suffered from a heavy parasite load of tape and round worms and an infestation of sucking lice. The herd was comprised of about thirty mares and nearly twenty stallions, along with their yearlings and foals, all mixed together in one pasture. This was definitely a bad situation.

With the help of the Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Humane Society staff and volunteers, the horses were rounded up and impounded at the Wild Horse Corrals just south of Boise. There, the horses were separated into smaller groups, wormed, vaccinated, gelded, fed a special diet, checked repeatedly by several veterinarians, and rehabilitated. After nearly two months of veterinary care and feeding, most of the horses were in stable condition and able to be adopted out to new, loving, homes.

The Idaho Humane Society would like to thank the community for their outstanding support which made this large rescue operation a success. If you would like to contribute to the Idaho Humane Society’s Livestock Division so that we can continue to rescue horses in need, please contact Chris Moore at (208) 342-3508, Ext. 231.

Great Dane Rescued by the Idaho Humane Society

Raider is a young Great Dane who was taken from neglectful owners by an Idaho Humane Society Animal Control Officer, because Raider's owners did not provide him with food or water.

When Raider arrived at the shelter a veterinarian weighed him. Raider weighed only 89 pounds! In the picture you see, Raider weighs 92 pounds and has been in a foster home for one week. Raider is currently living in a permanent, loving, home.

The Nightmare World of Animal Hoarding

Animal hoarders have a distorted view of reality, frequently believing that they provide a sanctuary for an ever growing number of collected animals. They seem oblivious to the suffering they cause. When I.H.S. officers encounter an animal hoarding situation they are frequently horrified by the abusive conditions they discover and the terrible condition of the animals.

There were more high volume animal seizures in 2003 than ever before in Idaho Humane Society history. In the bizarre world of animal hoarding, never is the old saying "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" more true. Most hoarders suffer from psychological ailments such as obsessive compulsive disorder or depression. The collecting usually begins with a desire to help the animals, but in time leads to disaster as conditions become more and more unsanitary and the animals continually breed and spread disease. These cases are very difficult for the Idaho Humane Society; animal control officers must work under often dangerously unsanitary conditions to rescue cats and dogs from a fate worse than death - a miserable life of deprivation and suffering. As the shelter is frequently at maximum holding capacity for dogs and cats, bringing so many animals into shelter creates a tragic crisis for us. We deeply appreciate all the support the community provides during these times of need. For more information on the psychological condition known as animal hoarding, please visit the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium at Tufts University.

The Erickson dog hoarding case was covered extensively by local and national media. In January, the I.H.S. and animal welfare agencies, groups and volunteers from throughout the Northwest assisted in the rescue of dogs from Malheur County, Oregon. The dogs belonged to the now notorious Barbara Erickson. Unfortunately, this was not the first time I.H.S. had to deal with this animal hoarder. I.H.S. seized a large number of dogs from the Erickson residence in Midvale in 1996, before she moved across the border to Oregon. This recent incident has become infamous and was the largest dog seizure in U.S. history. The Idaho Humane Society brought 83 of these dogs into the shelter, spayed and neutered all of them, performed extensive dental work and other medical treatments, and then adopted them to caring families. Many more of the rescued dogs were brought into our veterinary hospital for spay/neuter and other medical procedures and then adopted out by other local groups.

These kittens rescued by I.H.S. were extremely ill, as is frequently the case in cat hoarding situations. In April, nineteen cats were removed from a residence in the Boise bench area. Neighbors complained to I.H.S. Animal Control about odors emanating from the house, and one neighbor with a respiratory ailment was unable to utilize his backyard due to the overpowering ammonia-like fumes.

Many of the cats found by I.H.S. officers in these cruel situations are feral, and difficult to capture in the garbage and debris strewn dwellings of the typical animal hoarder. In June, in what one Boise City police officer called "the worst thing I've seen in 18 years on the force", the I.H.S. rescued 48 cats living in horrendous conditions in a north end Boise neighborhood house. Mummified and decomposing feline cadavers were discovered among a terrible accumulation of feces and garbage at this residence. Conditions were so terrible that I.H.S. staff required respirators to perform the rescue operation.

The mummified corpse of a newborn kitten lies strangely on a shelf in this home where I.H.S. officers removed dozens of emaciated cats in 2003. In July, 26 cats were removed from unsanitary conditions in a South east Boise residence. Many more eluded capture on the premises and I.H.S. has had to return to this property many times since to capture more emaciated and sickly felines. Conditions are such that neighborhood residents are unable to enjoy the outdoors due to the odor and are distressed by the sight of suffering cats. Abandoned cars on the property were found to house litters of kittens, many of them diseased or dying. Conditions within the cat owner's house were, in the opinion of I.H.S. personnel, "horrific".

As I.H.S. officers discovered in this Boise residence overrun with cats, animal hoarders and the animals they keep frequently live in conditions of appalling filth. In September, 15 cats, 4 small dogs and several feline cadavers were seized from an Ada County house by I.H.S. The cats and dogs had begun feeding on the deceased animals in the household.

The typical animal hoarder will claim to love the animals they keep; in reality they are indifferent to their suffering from disease or starvation. In October, 28 cats and one large dog were removed from a squalid home in Ada County by the Idaho Humane Society. Children were removed from the home by the Ada County Sheriff's Department. Due to an outpouring of community support for animals, all but one cat (which had serious medical problems) were adopted to new owners.

Animal hoarders typically live secretive and reclusive lives with only their collection of animals for companionship. Neighbors may be unaware of the hellish conditions and large number of animals that exist within the residence of a hoarder.

According to the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium the definition of an animal hoarder is as follows:

  • It's not a question of the number of animals that defines hoarding, but the way they are kept.
  • Hoarders accumulate a large number of animals.
  • They fail to provide minimal standards of care and even sanitation.
  • They fail to act on the deteriorating condition of the animals and their housing.
  • They fail to act on the negative impact of their animal collecting on their own health and well-being.

If you recognize yourself, a friend, or family member in any of this, then it's time to stop and think and find some help. All animals deserve adequate food, water, and access to the outdoors, as well as proper grooming and human companionship. If you know or suspect that someone you know may be an animal collector, contact the local authorities, such as the local animal control agency, or a humane society and report your suspicions.

You Can Help

We rely on your tax-deductible donations to support our rescue efforts. Your donations allow us to place thousands of dogs, cats, and other domestic pets in loving, nurturing homes – sparing them the fate of so many unwanted animals in our society. We greatly appreciate your concern for these creatures and assure you that your gift will do much to ensure their welfare. Click here to learn more about how you can help or call 208/342-3508 ext. 231. Your donation will make a difference! The Idaho Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.