Panel seeks state action on hoarding
Connecticut Post

BILL McDONALD bmcdonald@ctpost.com
Article Last Updated: 06/27/2007

MILFORD — Panelists in a regional symposium on Wednesday enlisted the support of House Speaker James A. Amann and state Sen. Gayle Slossberg as they recommended the state establish a blue ribbon task force to examine animal and material hoarding by the mentally ill.
The panelists urged lawmakers to study the social problems caused by hoarding and the mental health issues underlying the disorder as they convened "Bursting at the Seams: Too Many Pets and Too Much Stuff." The symposium was organized and sponsored by the Milford Health Department and Bridges Inc., A Community Support Agency.

City Health Director A. Dennis McBride, who moderated the daylong meeting at Platt Technical High School, said Milford and other towns have encountered "compulsive hoarders" of pets and other items like newspapers and garbage.

"These individuals are often isolated physically and live in hazardous home environments that not only threaten their own well-being, but can also threaten the surrounding community," McBride said.

Amann agreed the problem has grown in recent years.

"We do hear terrible stories about animals," said Amann, a keynote speaker at the event. "There have been more animal-protection bills in recent years. Sometimes the media laughs at us for paying too much attention to animals. We need to emphasize the time and money involved in animal hoarding."

Slossberg noted the state Legislature usually leaves animal matters to municipalities to handle. "But it would be a good idea to get a state statute on" hoarding, she said.
Amann and Slossberg agreed that hoarding was primarily a mental health problem that needed more attention from the state.

"For many years, we have neglected mental health issues," Slossberg said. "We need to increase reimbursement rates for mental health providers."

Amann, a Democrat, chided Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell for not giving enough attention to mental health. "Governor Rell wants to be known for leaving a legacy for education," Amann said. "So that's getting a lot more attention at the expense of attending to funding for mental health.

"Nonprofit groups like Bridges are trying to get things done, but they're in the middle of a political battle between the Democrats and Republicans," he said, adding, "Nonprofits save the taxpayers money. You need to tell your legislators to cut it out and do the things they're supposed to do."

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