dolfan wrote:I saw enough. Look, dirty houses are just that -- dirty houses. Some are unkempt, untidy, some are a little worse (ever seen Clean House?). Some are unhealthy, nasty and plain old dangerous to little kids. If it were adults living there without a helpless child, live and let live. With a child, uh-uh. Kids in that situation are like prisoners, no voice, no choice. Someone has to act to protect them from dangers that their parents won't, or worse, from dangers their parents create or allow.
The backstory here is probably one of serious mental illness by the parents. Few people are actually just hard-out, plain-old everyday sorry enough to keep their kid in that circumstance without seeking some kind of welfare assistance. The story didn't mention any (did it? I quit about 80% through it --- if it did, they should've mentioned it earlier -- it is that important a detail). And, that's a key to remember: if the parents are able to straighten up, they will get their child back. The state will help them do that. But, if they are low functioning enough that they can't prevent this kind of thing, then the welfare of the child has to come first. If the kid grows up and then decides to live that way, God bless America, land of the free. Until then, the kid has rights not to be held hostage by his parents and exposed to that squalor without legal review of it.
Dolfan I just want to say AMEN!!!! You always seem to make great post regarding real life situations. Here is the deal if they are poor that does not mean they cant clean there house some. Second if they are so poor they can not help themselves there is welfare and section eight housing. I am aware many section eight homes are in the ghetto but they have to meet a standard my old boss used to have 2 he rented out.
I think you are correct there most likely is some kinda mental health issue here.
It reminded me of a house in Chesapeake Va across from my Grandparents. The yard always looked awful and disgusting so my Granddad would go out there and cut there grass on the outside of their fence and trim the bushes because it would bother him.
They would see rats going from the trees to the roof of the house.
Later the state found out what was going on in the house and was going to condemn it I believe. The people called the news trying to help them and when they went inside they had to leave and come back in suits covered head to toe. It was disgusting with huge rats running all through the house.
They had to place the people in a hotel and they went in and bombed it with rat poison and were carrying out bags and bags of rats. The man was feeding them as pets
Few days later they saw the man pull up in his car throwing bread all around the house, why? To try to get his rats to come back. It was the most nasty house I have ever seen.
They condemned the house and sold it, then built a brand new home.
Kids are innocent and deserve to be healthy and have the chance to not catch diseases from that filth.
They can get the kids back if they just do as they are asked and clean up, if they need assistance they can get it.
The landlord would be responsible to have the place meet health code standards before he rents the house , if he did not then he has some fault.
. 
.
![[amer-ribbon90.gif]](/images/amer-ribbon90.gif "Remember our veterans and troops currently serving today.")