Hoarders

You may have heard about the case in Arizona where approximately 800 dogs were removed from the mobile home of a couple. These were all toy dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, and the people were selling them alongside roads and at shopping centers. Print reports made it sound like it was all simply a case of getting in too deep, with statements such as "the dogs had free run of the house" and "the couple were grateful for the help of animal control." But the limited television coverage and the accounts of humane workers on the scene painted a different picture. The inside of the home was wall-to-wall plastic crates, many containing more than one dog. The dogs had broken teeth from trying to chew their way out, and some were missing paws. Bitches were giving birth on the way to the shelter. This was a for-profit operation with little consideration for the well-being of the dogs. Those in the area said that no buyers were ever allowed to visit the premises.
This is not a case of initially well-meaning individuals attempting to do animal rescue and getting in over their heads, ending up with too many animals. These animals were being intentionally bred to produce more animals. It's important to separate these two things.
Animal hoarders, those who think they are doing a good thing, but end up with their "rescues" in an abusive situation on their own premises, generally suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. What starts out as an admirable act quickly mushrooms into trying to save them all, an act clearly beyond the abilities of any person or group. But the hoarder does not see the reality of what is happening, and gets in deeper and deeper. They usually truly are grateful when authorities step in.
Animal hoarders should receive a medical referral rather than punishment -- OCD can often be treated successfully. Those keeping dogs to create a marketable product, with little or no regard to the welfare of the animals or the ultimate human-animal bond with an often-defective "product" should be prosecuted.