Replies to '07/01 A Secret Inside: Extreme Hoarding'

The showed touched on the most important thing - the children.  Yes, there are many factors behind hoarding and sufferers need help.  However, a more important and immediate concern is the children.  Not only are there health and safety concerns, but the long term emotional issues will haunt the children forever.  From the example set by parents, they may become hoarders too.

Thankfully, there are people who will risk a friendship to bring a situation out in the open as was the case today.  These people are few and far between and as shown on today's show are met with hostility for "interferring".   This leave absolutely no one to safeguard the safety of the children.   Would Dr Phil have a show about pedofiles and paint them as "needing help"?  Of course not.  The victims are the children, not those who suffer from pedo or hoarding.   The children's safety should be the primary focus.

As mentioned on today's show, the police were involved 30 times.  Was Child Protective Services  involved?  My guess is if they did, nothing was done to protect the children.   I have personally seen a situation where time and time again CPS doesn't not see hoarding as a detriment to the child.  If there are no broken bones, blood, etc, there is no neglect.  Even in cases where enviromental neglect was found, all they felt was necessary was guidence for the offender.  

Thankfully, your show at least touched on the real issue - children and not just the hoarders as victims of circumstances.  Perhaps someone, somewhere in Protective Services will make the connection.   I'd love to see someone from CPS in Dr Phill's hot seat trying to explain why they don't think living in a pig style isn't child abuse.