Hoarding - 19 cats La Vergne, TN (US) Incident Date: Saturday, Jan 31, 2004 County: Rutherford Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Janis Oberkirsch

Case ID: 2084 Classification: Hoarding Animal: cat View more cases in TN (US) Login to Watch this Case

Janis Oberkirsch pleaded guilty to  to one count of animal cruelty for having 19 cats. She faces a year and 29 days of probation, 20 hours of community service and a $100 fine. She is not allowed to keep pets, and she is subject to random inspections of her home by Rutherford County Animal Services, special judge Ned Jackson Coleman ruled yesterday. The deal was reached by Oberkirsch, Animal Services and Assistant District Attorney General Jude Santana.

Oberkirsch, age 47, said a program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous or Gamblers Anonymous would help people like her, who think they are helping the animals.

Animal Services Investigator Patricia King said the woman wound up with more stray pets than she could handle but said Oberkirsch's heart was in the right place. Authorities said her home was covered in cat filth. Teachers reported Oberkirsch after her son came to school smelling of pet urine.

Authorities believe Oberkirsch has symptoms of a behavior called animal hoarding, where people take in more animals than they can realistically care for. Some medical experts link it to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Oberkirsch plans to do her volunteer work with the Animal Services shelter so she can still be around animals and care for stray pets. She has not been ordered to any counseling or therapy.

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