Lee County, FL – A teenager who had been living in squalor, with 13 dogs, was so desperate for help that he called the police for a welfare check on himself. The tidy exterior of the Lehigh Acres home belied the horror hiding behind closed doors and hid the sad reality of the squalid conditions inside from neighbors living nearby.
As reported by WINK News, the 16-year-old boy who called for help had resorted to using a respirator because of the overwhelming smell of ammonia and feces inside the house. He told the authorities that he had been living in terrible conditions for years and that his mother frequently left him home alone to clean the house, but it was too overwhelming for him to continue doing it himself.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office seized all of the dogs from the home. No word on the fate of the 16-year-old boy.
The boy’s mother, a board member for Cat Tails and More, has not been charged yet and her name has not been released. The non-profit organization has stated that the woman has had no “meaningful contact” with the agency in eight months and that she has no authority to take in dogs for them.
Horrific. What a smart boy. Rescues have become havens for animal hoarders. They need to monitor their supporters.
The poor kid as well as the animals. One wonders what her state of mind is. I am glad he called for help because he too was vulnerable. I hope they keep an eye on her to make sure she does not bring in more animals.
Totally agree this poor kid. At least he knew enough to do the right thing by calling. Rescue organizations need to be monitored as well as breeders to ensure the health and safety of all involved. Hoarders usually start with good intentions and then suddenly it becomes too much to handle and they often feel helpless in resolving their crisis of having too many.
Thank God he called…