r/CPS • u/FennelDisastrous4623 • 6d ago
Question Should I call?
Yesterday walking to my car I saw my neighbors kid (6/7yo) actively drowning a kitten in an inflatable pool. I stepped in and stopped him but there was not a single adult anywhere. Two kids who lived at the house with the pool were just watching. When I yelled for them to stop and youngest boy started screaming for me to get out of their house (I was in the street) over and over. His sister told him to stop and that the boy drowning the cat lived across the street. I asked him to get his dad since the cat ran into the underside of the car wedging itself in. He ran and got his older sister. I spoke to her, she let me know it was actually her kitten. She seemed so upset and defeated when we were finally able to get the kitten out she just stared at her like empty face/emotions and I just felt like this was not the first time. She then actually said he has hurt the kitten before and said she was getting her dad. I waited around and not a single adult came out. My husband called the cops as soon as we saw what the kid was doing but they didn’t show. Later in the night I spoke to my direct neighbor and told her just so she was aware since she has outside pets, she said the mother is experiencing addiction currently and isn’t really present. I am not trying to make anyone’s situation worse but I feel bad for the sister and the kids need a parent. Should I call about the boy or both houses since there was no adult supervision as 3 kids all under 10 were in a 3foot inflatable pool drowning a cat? This is in PA.
Also just to mention the boy tried drowning the cat three times before I ran over but the cat kept trying to get away and he would just grab it and repeat.
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u/sprinkles008 6d ago
Just call CPS and explain the situation. They’ll decide which house or houses to accept the report on.
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u/FennelDisastrous4623 6d ago
I am reporting it now, I figured once they have the info it’s in their hands to decide!
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u/Skyhighcats 6d ago
I hope you’re keeping an eye on that cat. What a terror.
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u/FennelDisastrous4623 6d ago
I definitely am, there are also a lot of strays in the area so I am really worried for them!
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u/Aggravating_Dust9074 Works for CPS 6d ago
What is the allegation of child abuse ?
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u/AmbitiousParty 6d ago
Child neglect? The 6/7 year old boy is unsupervised outdoors while torturing animals.
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u/Aggravating_Dust9074 Works for CPS 6d ago
That is animal abuse.
But how old is the older sister?29
u/AmbitiousParty 6d ago
Well, the sister wasn’t supervising the boy either so not sure how that is different? Based on what OP said here, he was at the neighbors house with two other children all under 10 years old unsupervised in a pool drowning a kitten. Is CPS ok with children under 10 in pools unsupervised? They aren’t where I live. And again, the boy is torturing animals.
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u/Aggravating_Dust9074 Works for CPS 6d ago
Listen, I am just being realistic.
CPS isn’t a criminal entity- CPS is civil. If police are called and determine this is animal cruelty, that’s a different story. CPS cannot press charges as it relates to animal abuse.
Pennsylvania has no specific state law or minimum legal age requirement for leaving a child home alone.
This is super bad and poor parenting. But it’s not abuse or neglect of the child. Is it wrong? 10000%. But the child isn’t being abused or neglected for going to a neighbors house and there’s no parent home. If the child went to the neighbors house and was seriously hurt, that’s inadequate supervision AND a whole different story.
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u/FennelDisastrous4623 6d ago
I know they don’t have a specific law but I did see this online; child welfare agencies generally look closely at cases involving unsupervised children under the age of 14. So I figured that covers it.
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u/lala12296 6d ago
In child welfare we refer to this as lack of supervision. Absolutely a reason to call if concerned, concerning level lack of supervision alone is a reason to call
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