Pack Rat Houses

Pack Rat Houses / Hoarding

'Pack Rat' behavior is the uncontrolled collecting of
newspapers, clothing, or other materials, even rotten
food. It can be confined to a single room, or expand
to include the entire residence, outbuildings and
property. Also known as hoarding, it is a disease, a
form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that can put
the occupants and others at risk.

We at Bowdecon understand this and empathize with
the occupant(s), realizing all the while the dangers
involved in this type of setting. As far as possible, we
will work with the occupant to ensure that family
heirlooms and truly valuable items are retained and
properly cared for.

In some cases, however, the entire contents of a Pack
Rat House must be disposed of. At the very least, a
sorting of the items must be done to identify the
salvageable property which can then be kept, donated,
or sold.

"A rescue effort"
In many cases, the mess is simply a gradual build-up
over time, until it gets to such a state that the
occupants simply can't cope. They just stop trying
because they are overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude
of the mess and then it really gets out of hand. The
result is a mountain of debris that can attract rodents,
bugs, mold, fungus and a host of other undesirable
pests. It can be a health hazard to the occupants,
their guests, and even the surrounding neighborhood,
as the pests tend to spread to other areas nearby. The
clutter can also be a fire hazard, posing an immediate
danger to the residence and possible collateral damage
to close neighboring residences.

More than 80 percent of hoarders suffer from physical
health problems relating directly to the clutter.
Imagine trying to get a stretcher in and out of such a
place in an emergency and you can see yet another
not-so-hidden danger associated with these
environments.

Bowdecon Trauma and Crime Scene Services staff is
properly trained and fully certified to safely remove
and dispose of the unwanted items (furniture, garbage,
carpet, sharps, etc.) and return the residence to a safe,
comfortable, useful 'home' that no longer presents a
danger to all who enter or live nearby.

We will clean, decontaminate and remove any
associated odors and biohazards from the residence
and items to be retained, to make the property
habitable and/or ready for resale. To the best of our
ability, items to be discarded will be recycled rather
than simply disposed in a landfill.