Police in have arrested two parents after it was found that their 7 children were living in poor conditions what authorities described as “unsanitary” and “unsafe living environment which included caged rats and feces on the home’s floor.
Authorities received reports towards the end of last month of three children staying in an abandoned trailer in West Rockhill Township, 40 miles north of Philadelphia and responded immediately according to a police affidavit filed this month.
The police responded to the reports and found the children, they spoke with their parents and took them to their home which is not far from the abandoned trailer.
There, the officers observed “deplorable living conditions” and a refrigerator secured with a padlock, according to authorities.
The mother of the three told police she had to keep the refrigerator locked because the children were stealing everything and she even called them ‘garbage disposals with legs,’” according to the police affidavit.
When officers later went to the home after filing a report with Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, they discovered four more children inside.
One of the rooms had approximately two dozen rats in cages, according to the affidavit. Feces was found on the floor of another area of the home.
There was a bad smell and several bugs in the house, the affidavit read. It was noted that “two dogs, two turtles, two rabbits, snakes, toads, and a four-foot reptile were also in the home, the affidavit read.
The children were taken into protective custody and transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
A later investigation revealed none of the seven children had attended school and lacked basic knowledge, according to authorities. They also exhibited social anxiety, police say.
Authorities said medical evaluations concluded the children were “clinically underweight and malnourished.”
According to the news released, personal hygiene of the children was also found to be concerning, resulting in two of the children having to shave their hair due to severe matting.
The father and the mother were charged with seven felony counts each of endangering the welfare of children, according to the release. Both posted the a bail, police say.
