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Via NBCChicago.com
Some of the birds found in David Skeberdis' Aurora, Ill., home.
Misdemeanor animal hoarding charges have been filed against an Aurora, Ill., man whose home was filled with more than 400 birds.
The DuPage County State's Attorney's Office in Illinois said Tuesday that 57-year-old David Skeberdis was ordered to appear in court Dec. 4.
Also on NBCChicago.com: Chihuahua owner fends off coyotes
The charges come after Aurora authorities last month investigated a report of multiple birds visible in Skeberdis' home.
Authorities say that along with 478 birds, Skeberdis' home contained mounds of garbage, bird feces and bird seed, and had potentially hazardous mold counts.
Skeberdis started collecting birds seven years ago, and he acknowledges his bird collecting got out of control.
Skeberdis admitted to NBC Chicago that he was a "slob," but said he was trying to "get these birds good homes."
Skeberdis could face six months in county jail if convicted of the hoarding charges.
Previous story: Illinois hoarder ordered to get rid of hundreds of birds, dead and alive
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Leave a Comment:
Could a woman with lots of children and a dirty house be charged with Children Hoarding. Maybe we need a law.
Interesting comparison you have made.First children have never been considered objects, second it takes two to create one. Next hoarding is the compulsive collecting and unwillingness or inability to let go of excessive objects. I don't know of a single mother who would give up her child so she could have a clean house instead.I also know of single parent fathers whose homes aren't clean either. Having jobs to support ones family complicates things and we are all human. Perfect homes are only found on t.v.
Childhood doesn't wait and as a mother teaches her children responsibilities by assigning household tasks, sometimes kids don't always do the best jobs. But for parents to go behind their backs and redo the job, doesn't teach responsibility and pride in job well done.
Finally, children are our future and it takes sacrifice, hard work, devotion, patience and love to raise them.A houseful of children may seem a burden or unwise to outsiders, but for those so blessed, it is a priceless treasure all too soon given to the world. Yet they will contribute to society, so perhaps society will be more understanding and appreciate those parents later.
For those who suffer from hoarding, it is a nightmare and such a tragedy so many don't understand. And easy to condemn and make fun of.There is a shortage of love and compassion in the world no doubt. I hope this man can get the help he needs and support. He obviously does love animals and didn't mean to cause any harm.
Q: What's the difference between this guy and a chicken farmer?
A: These birds were better treated than the chickens :)
Rest assured there is already such a law - we don't suffer from a lack of laws.
i bet he was on welfare as well.
what a birdbrain!!!
All the birds will be relocated, except for the ones in his head.
If you try to give this guy the bird, he'll probably take it.
Good god!!!............
David Skeberdis - I wonder if he was just trying to live up to his name.
OK, stupid thing to say but let's face it - the guy has to be mentally ill as are most horders. I don't see jail time helping him much. Make him give up the birds to a humane society, give him some community service and INSIST that he no longer keep animals and that he get mental health counseling. Ewww...can you imagine the smell in his house? Wonder if it was a rental - hate to be the landlord!
I hope they demand high bail, you know, so he doesn't fly the coop.
Good idea. Cuckoos are known to range far and away.
aaa
What the hell is wrong with people???
Bird is the word.
@ Mojokat- I hate that saying as there's a car dealership that advertises on the local news. In the ad they have the dealership females/ relatives? say over and over throughout, "Bird is the word!" in an overly enthusiastic voice/ tone. I've no clue if the dealership owner spells his name Bird or Byrd but I am sure they don't really care as the ad worked; that phrase is stuck in my brain. LOL
BTW, I feel for the animal hoarders as I think most of the time they are truly trying to help and it just sadly spirals out of control. It's easier for me to understand than those that abuse animals. If it weren't for my husband, my need to have a VERY clean house and the massive cost of PROPERLY caring for them, we would have had a much larger animal brood than 2 dogs and a 1 cat at a time!
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow
bird is the werd eh
SQUAB!!!
Look it a bird ,its a bird , its a bird it Many birds and that one bird lover.....
A man hoarding 428 birds...shoot man, let those birds out of their cage and fly free!
I don't know why they got their feathers all in a ruffle, lol, the guy just wanted the birds to have a home. Really 478 is way over the line.
What no photo of this guy? I bet he's got quite a beak on him.
He sure gave the bird to the poor guy who had to clean up all the guano. Cagey devil.
Why do we reward people that hoard money? If we did not reward them over and over again, worship them, and let hem keep the money, maybe they would not lie, cheat, and, steal so much. Maybe we would not need millions of laws either. When they get rewarded for their addiction then what is to stop them? How much money do rich people have stashed in offshore bank accounts not doing any good? What are they going to spend it on when they already have x number of cars, y number of houses, etc. What do they "need" the money for?
Why did this guy need over 400 birds? Why do the Koch brothers need over a billion dollars? IT IS THE SAME ADDICTION/MEDICAL CONDICTION, just a different obsession.
Some people don't let them keep the money. They are called politicians. Or thieves. But I repeat myself.
poor birdies!!! :(
He's now in his own bird cage! Wonder if they gonna feed him bird seed's?
This guy wasn't breeding birds and he said he wanted to find them homes. So blame the real culprits here - the people who import, breed, sell animals to anyone and everyone at a rate that far exceeds available good homes. Hoarders often start out as are weak willed animal lovers who people dump their unwanted animals on. Then it grows and morphs and yes maybe mental illness comes into it - but they are not the problem.
Breeders and @!$%#s who get animals then dump them on anyone who will take them are the real problem.
I've had many different pets over my life so far including a couple of pet parrots that I've had for 30 years or so now. These are very intelligent creatures that should be in the wild. I am of the mindset now that very few animals should be allowed to be kept as pets and severe regulation is needed. One or two domesticated dogs or cats should be allowed but all others should be banned. I wish, out of love for my birds, that i could return them to the wild where they could live a normal birdy life
Bird hoarding?
They were Budgies!
Not Ducks
or Geese
or Chickens - you know, something useful,
FU#%IN PARAKEETS!!!
WHO HOARDS FU#%IN PARAKEETS!!!
Do you know how long it would take to make Thanksgiving dinner for 20 that way?!?
I heard they taste like ortolans.
Sad. Any animal hoarding case is just plain sad for all of the animals involved. I have had cockatiels for almost 20 years. Unfortunately, they are relatively easy to breed and therefore grossly abused in this manner.
Responsible breeders are not who I have a problem with (no, I do not breed). It is the people who breed with the intent of $$$ that make me sick to my stomach.
It would be wonderful to say set them free, but that is a sure death sentence. Birds learn early what to eat and what not to eat. They would not know what to eat if you turned them out. Hawks and other predators along with outside hazards will take most if not all down. In the wild only will not work, either. Mankind is destructive and many of the captive birds are nearly extinct in the wild. Our track record as natures keeper is severely lacking. :(
He must be Republican, they hoard the 99% American People's MONEY and he hoards BIRDS!
The election is over. Your guy won. Act like you have been there before and stop making political comments about a story that has nothing to do with politics. You're making yourself look pathetic.
I agree with Cappy.