Rats as Pets
This is in response to an article about three infants found dead in a Massachusetts home. http://news.yahoo.com/prosecutor-3-babies-bodies-found-filthy-house-232828140.html
The following comment was in response to an article about three dead babies that were found in a Massachusetts home. This story hit me hard.
The comments section is full of stories about adults who don't have the emotional and intellectual ability to raise children.
There was a case here in my city, probably at least 20 years ago. It was an old house in what had become a mostly commercial urban area. Someone noticed a child who was about 8 years old or so, looking out a window & holding a very large rat. When reported & investigated, it was a very sad story. There was an elderly woman who was a semi-invalid & her daughter, a severely mentally handicapped woman who was around 30, & then this little girl. These 3 lived there together, mostly in their own little world. The curtains/blinds were almost always kept closed. The grandmother received social security, the daughter worked at a very menial job. The grandmother 'watched' the child while the mother was working. The mother did not communicate at all with co-workers & the family had no friends or outside contacts. The child was absolutely terrified of all other people, such as the police & child welfare people who came in. She had never had any contact with anyone except her mother & grandmother. The child could barely speak, no on had ever really spoken to her. She made a few sounds, not real words. The house was actually fairly clean, but there was a bad rodent problem. There were large rats running freely all over the house. They were not afraid of people, the child had made them her pets. Well, the conclusion was finally reached & it was that these were people who 'fell through the cracks' & needed help, but had no idea how to get any. The mother & grandmother had no ill intent toward the child, they loved her & treated her kindly. They just honestly did the best they knew how. Thankfully, the local government officials decided to do the right thing & help the family, with no penalization as there was no evil intent or malice on their part. They were moved to an apartment, got the child a pet cat & got a social worker to be on the case & have people teach them all the proper things about cleaning & socialization for the child. She was tutored in the home until the experts felt she could be placed in a day-school for special needs care & socialization. It was all handled so well & they got the help they needed. For awhile, our local newspaper published occasional updates on the family & how they were doing. I wonder what the child's life is like now. The grandmother is probably deceased by now & just the mother & child remaining. The experts did not expect much progress with the mother, and also that the child would never live a normal life. But at least they are helped & have good outside contacts to help them. But, you see, this was a really bad situation, but it was made so much better, and I am proud that my city handled this all so well, and with kindness & caring. I wonder what has become of the child now, she must be in about her 30's.
= new reply since forum marked as read
