sad story-- what to do?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
sad story-- what to do?
18
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 8:02am
I have a sad story, and need some advice.

One of the outside cats had babies around two months ago. She had four, two girls two boys. When my daughter went outside to feed them last week, one of the baby girls was laying beside the porch. She looked strange so I kneeled down to look at her, she moved her head, but she wasn't moving otherwise. I picked her up, she was hurt badly, she sort of looked stepped on when we first saw her. She could not stand up, and seemed to be in pain. I wanted to know what happened to my baby, so I walked around the neighborhood asking if anyone knew what happened. I talked to the parents of the children who come over and play with my daughter. One of the children is about four. Most of these people are Vietnemese (sorry I can't spell this morning). They live in the apartment building next door. Now up to this point we have had few problems with them.

The parents of the four year old, tried to tell me to check with this other boy's family. It was difficult to understand them because the wife speaks very little english. We went home not knowing what happened. That night the baby died. There was nothing I could do she had internal injuries.

Two days later, my daughter was outside and one of the little girls in the neighborhood told her who did this. The four year old boy, had punched the baby. She said she saw him do it. I came in and told my boyfriend, and we were discussing what to do about it, when she came in and told me they just found another baby. I went to look and the other female was dead, covered in leaves and grass. She was cold, but I had seen her earlier that day before I went to work. So it had happened that day. I took that baby, and went to find this child and his parents. I found him outsice with his mother and a couple other adults. I told her this was the second dead baby, and he did it. I told her that the little girl saw it. They asked her about it and she said something in Veitnemese. They asked him why he did it. No answer. I told them if I caught him in my year again I was calling the police. I then posted a no tresspassing sign in my yard.

I don't understand how a little child can be so evil. He as done other things, and he was not allowed in my yard before this either. He stole two babies a while back and was made to bring them back to us. He also threw beer bottles and sticks in the box with the babies while they were tiny. He throws rocks ant cars and houses. He has hit one of the children in the neighborhhod. Is there anything else I can do? I really hate this, because he's so young, and I can't do much to him. If it was an older child I might be able to do something about it.

What do I do from here?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 8:29am
That is so awful and makes me sick to think of it!!!! I would call the police anyway as this needs to be stopped. Your poor babies..can you keep them inside!??

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 9:12am
I already have a houseful. Right now, I have seven? cats in the house, and seven outside. Not counting the stray &/or neighborhood cats who like to hang around my house.

You've heard of the crazy old lady with 50 cats.... I'm working on it.

I would love to keep them all inside but for various reasons, these are outdoor cats. I have such a small house, it's not room enough in here now. Two of the outside cats like to come in everytime I open the door, but we have to put them back out, one hisses at everybody, the other(9 month old male) gets harrassed by the big male we have inside.

I am working on gettimg my brother to take the 9 month old and one of the babies. His girlfriend saw them Sunday and I think they will as soon as they move.

Also,the outdoor cats don't have tags,(try getting tags for that many cats). I'm afraid that if I call the police they will make me do something with all my cats, or at least the outdoor ones. I will call if he comes over again for sure. Not much choice then. I would like to find a home for the other baby if I can. I wish I could afford to get all the girls fixed. That a tall order though.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 9:30am
I hear ya about the $$ I know some big cities ahve a free spay program,have you ever checked? I do not know where you live

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 9:50am

Your poor babies.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-04-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 12:29pm
How awful!! I can understand your concern. Although it is so sad that this happened to

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 3:30pm
I agree that the boy is displaying behaviour that is not normal and it would be a good idea to speak to the school principal. Schools generally have a school psychologist who could intervene.

I don't know that the police could or would make you get rid of outdoor cats. There are rules against cruelty to animals, and I believe they differ from state to state. Can you tell us what state you are in? You could look up local animal welfare groups and shelters on petfinder.org and ask them about local animal protection laws and your right to have cats in your backyard. I do think a visit from a poice officer might scare the boy's family into taking this more seriously. Also, is there any kind of fencing around your yard, and can it be built up in any way so that a 4 year old cannot enter? I would even consider putting the young kittens and mother in a large cage in your backyard until they get older, just to protect them. There are also products called Fence-In, used in Europe, to fence in a portion of a yard for cats. (though it sounds like the boy needs fencing in! a 4 year old should be better supervised by his parents)

Cynthia

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 3:44pm
What this kid really needs is psychological help. If there's some way you could communicate with the parents (maybe through someone who knows Vietnamese and English) and urge them to get him some kind of help. Who knows what this kid may try next. And I'm so sorry for your losses. *hugs*

Cindy


Cindy

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 3:55pm
Just one other thought. How long has this family been in the US? Are they citizens? My guess is that they are not. I would even tell the boy's family they must supervise him more closely, because there are laws against animal cruelty in the United States and you will report it to the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) if they do not supervise him and keep him out of your yard and they might have to leave the country. And make sure it is translated so they understand. I don't know that someone could get in trouble with the INS for something like this, but the Vietnamese family probably doesn't know either, and the main thing is to keep him away from small animals (and get him psychological help.)

Cynthia

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 7:57pm
First of all, he is four and is not in school, so he has no principal or anything like that.

I live in NC. I'll check but I do not know the exact laws on cruelty, I have only been here two years.

I know his mother fussed at him, to the point he was laying on the ground crying and kicking. I couldn't understand a word she said of course. But she understood, the point that I would call the police if he was in my yard again. I have not seen him even near my yard since I spoke with her.

I have been keeping my eyes open, and today I sent three older boys home from in front of my yard, they were picking on the younger kids and chased a cat up a tree also.

I don't know what is going on lately.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 8:04pm
There are some sick kids out there today. I seriously doubt that any of them will get any better, even with help. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I would have been arrested myself if I'd been there. You are in a touchy situation with the older boys, because if they think they can hurt the cats to make you mad ect...they will use that to their advantage, so be careful. I just posted on the fence in site (hsus.org/ace/13937)(you must type of this in to get to the info and not general site) has a site listed that keeps cats in your yard, slanted type fencing to put on top of your existing fence, but how would the feral cats get in the yard? Good luck. donna

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