Introduction The concept of animal rights has gained a lot of concern in recent years, with several groups emerging to fight for the welfare of animals. These efforts are not aimed at attaining equality between human beings and animals, but ensuring that animals are reared in healthy conditions that do not undermine their survival. While this has been stepped, it is doubtless that concerned individuals and groups have had to confront inhumane practices and traditions, which demean animal rights in an array of ways. One of these practices is animal hoarding, a behavior that continues to draw mixed reactions from all walks of life. It undermines animals kept like pets in numerous ways and is highly discouraged (Tremayne 12). This research paper explores the concept of animal hoarding by synthesizing several issues that revolve around this topic of study. In laying the foundation of the research, background information and introduction will be covered to gain clarity of ideas. Additionally, this synthesis will explore causes of this practice and focusing on ways through which such “push” factors could be controlled to tame the impact of these inhumane actions to animals. Moreover, the research will expound the implication of animal hoarding, with an aim of understating some of the negative effects of the practice to animals and to the community. In its concluding segments, the research will discuss approaches that have been adopted or proposed in combating this behavior together with the use of legal mechanisms to promote the welfare of animals around the world. To achieve this task, required information will be sourced from academic library databases to guarantee the authenticity of information. Animal hoarding Like many other issues, animal affects the community and it encompasses discrepancies from all walks of life. Whilst little or no attention is given to animal hoarding in some parts of the world, this practice has far-reaching effects, which may include but not limited to public health concern, animal rights and the mental health of individuals. According to Patronek (1999), animal hoarding can be defined based on a particular criterion that captures three core issues that give way for the discussion of the topic. The first idea is that hoarders usually keep a large number of animals beyond the recommended size. Additionally, these animals are denied basic needs and conditions to promote their healthy living. For instance, they are exposed to malnutrition, poor sanitation, inaccessible veterinary care, poor sanitation and negligence leading to starvation and death. The last point that characterizes this definition is consistent denial among animal hoarders, of their inability to provide required animal care. In most cases, these people lay blames on the animals, human occupants around or the households (Patronek 82). It is however important to note that the issue of animal hoarding has received minimal scientific research coverage, making it a less recognized syndrome in the society. Nevertheless, there is sporadic animal hoarding in most parts of the United States. In a 1999 research, Patronek notes that the issue of animal hoarding goes beyond mere ownership of pets and other animals, and it is not determined by the number of animals being kept by an individual (Patronek 82). Collecting and rearing of animals only becomes a po