It is not strange to live at home with one or even several pets. In fact, according to the National Association of Pet Food Manufacturers, there are already more than 30 million pets in Spain. That is, one pet for every 1.5 inhabitants. Many choose their company since they offer different types of benefits, among which the reduction of stress or the general increase in happiness stand out. However, they could become a problem if they accumulate compulsively. This is what is known as ‘Noah Syndrome’.
Noah’s Syndrome is already a public health problem
Compulsive animal hoarding is more common than it seems. Although most cases do not even come to light, different groups such as FAADA (Foundation for Advice and Action in Defense of Animals) assure that it is a problem that continues to increase. “There are more and more people suffering from a psychiatric disorder known as Noah Syndrome”he maintains. In fact, scientists from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) assure in their latest report published in the magazine ‘Animal Welfare’ that this situation is already “becoming a public health problem.” The reality is that most of these cases go unnoticed since those who suffer from it “isolate themselves from the rest of society, finding in animals the company that they avoid having with other humans,” according to FAADA. Usually, it is not until a neighbor or someone you know notifies the authorities of the situation that they intervene. Nevertheless, only 58% of cases are registered due to neighborhood complaints.
The disease is more serious than it seems and, in fact, It has been recognized internationally since 2013. The General Council of Spanish Lawyers describes this compulsive disorder as the excessive accumulation of animals “to fill gaps in human emotional needs, while those of animals are ignored.” For this reason, different associations and foundations that work for the protection and welfare of animals are forced to intervene. This is the case of FAADA, who assures that The resolution of this type of case is “very complicated”. As explained on their website, those who suffer from this disorder are people “reluctant to get rid of their animals.” Additionally, finding a new home for hundreds of pets that need to be rehomed overnight is sometimes an almost impossible task.
Loneliness is a key condition among those who suffer from it
In general, those affected by this disorder tend to mask the existence of their problem. Some of them know the seriousness of their situation, although they do not want to accept reality. In fact, they often engage in persuasive and exculpatory speeches in which they justify their situation as an “animal rescue.” However, others are not even consistent that a problem exists. According to the documentary ‘Noé Syndrome in Spain’ broadcast on DMAX, There are different reasons behind this condition that cause their existence. The cases collected indicate that the main factor is loneliness. In fact, 83% of people who suffer from it live alone. Different types of traumatic episodes or fear of socializing also influence. According to the data recorded by the aforementioned program63% of people who suffer from this disorder are over 65 years.
They are also victims of loneliness and many of them do not have any family to accompany them or protect them on a daily basis. For this reason, they decide to live with the love of their animals. Of the total cases registered so far, 54% are women. Paula Clavo, researcher in the anxiety, affective disorders and schizophrenia group of the IMIM and the department of Psychiatry of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), assures that “there are still no standardized action protocols to carry out interventions in these cases.” The modus Operandi of the authorities when a case like this is detected or reported has been the same for years. “The animals are removed, but no type of care is given to the person who suffers from it,” explains the aforementioned researcher. In fact, 60% of patients who suffer from this disorder are repeat offenders.
When they leave their pets out of obligation, many end up surrounded by dozens of animals again. Researchers who have studied this disorder believe that it has important consequences on mental health, animal welfare and public health. Therefore, They ask administrations to create new action protocols multidisciplinary. The General Council of Spanish Lawyers also assures that the process of action by the authorities “can be very slow.” In fact, he points out that it could “take years before the animals are seized.”