A tempest in the neighbourhood teapot...
Living out in a quiet but friendly little neighbourhood in the east end has its advantages. Close to the beach, but far enough from the yuppies and their SUV-style baby carriages. Close to Little India, but just far enough away that we don't smell all the delicious Tikka goodies day and night. Just out of reach of the white trash -- but just close enough to major streetcar lines.
But when police, ambulance or fire crews arrive... well! The gossip mill starts up. And today, our house was at ground zero.
It seems the old men next door (who I've previously complained about -- mostly that their house is likely a health code violation and their damn trees are taking over the entire sky in the east end) are actually living amongst several health code violations. Apparently, one of the neighbours called and reported them to public health -- likely the last straw with the strong smell of cat urine coming from the property.
Now, we've always tried to establish where the nasty smell was coming from. Were the neighbourhood cats using their untended and decidedly unruly backyard for a kitty potty? Was it the space between the houses? Or did it come from the house itself?
The arrival of what appear to be case workers, several police cars and a number of EMS vehicles heralded a shocking and horrifying discovery about the way these men actually live. Here's what came to light this afternoon:
1) There's actually two old men and an old woman. No one has seen this woman in over three years. The neighbours all thought she had passed away. (Although this gave Chris the opportunity to jump up, point his finger in victorious accusation and shout, "I TOLD you I saw a woman!" in much the same as someone pointing out Santa Claus and the tooth fairy in the sky.)
2) The fellow who drinks too much and sleeps on the porch seems to subsist almost entirely on spam sandwiches.
3) Cats. Lots of cats. So many cats that the Humane Society's Cruelty Investigation people were called (two vans). The number is estimated to be well over 30. One police officer said, "You go into the kitchen and they are falling over each other and falling off the cupboards." One of the Cat Rescuers said there were cats in the cupboards, unders tables... and in the fridge. (Which, I understand, was no longer used as a fridge. Fortunately.)
4) The cats are all sick. Police report no evidence of food, fresh water or kitty litter. Nor were most of the cats likely spayed, as there were several kittens. (I briefly thought of abducting one particularly adorable little creature who trembled in its cage -- but could likely not afford the expense of fixing it, and it was likely quite ill. Poor little fella.) Most of the cats will have to be put down.
5) One of the old men is a hoarder. Newspapers seemed to be his specialty.
6) There was no working toilet. They suspect that these old people were using a makeshift wooden box with a hole in the top... with no apparent exit for subsequent waste. (Frankly, I'm amazed the house didn't have stink waves coming off it.)
7) Two of the old folks were carted off in an ambulance. I'm told they're in extremely "rough shape." The third was missing. We neighbours helpfully suggested that it was quite likely that the third fellow was off at the bar, not to be seen until late this evening. (On my way home from the gym just after 11 p.m. , I saw him tottering and wobbling home. I had terrible visions of violent outbursts, so got in the house as quickly as possible.)
8) No one knows any of these people's names. We don't know if they own the house. And not one of us had any idea that these people were living in such horrifying conditions...
And that, my friends, was the drama of my afternoon. And I just feel sad about all of it -- especially after watching cage after cage after box after box come out of the house and be placed on the lawn. All full of sick little felines, all of whom seemed terrified.
On a slightly plus side, Chris brought home McDonald's for dinner... so I felt a little better. And I expect the smell of cat urine will likely subside in the coming weeks. Thankfully.
But those poor cats.
But when police, ambulance or fire crews arrive... well! The gossip mill starts up. And today, our house was at ground zero.
It seems the old men next door (who I've previously complained about -- mostly that their house is likely a health code violation and their damn trees are taking over the entire sky in the east end) are actually living amongst several health code violations. Apparently, one of the neighbours called and reported them to public health -- likely the last straw with the strong smell of cat urine coming from the property.
Now, we've always tried to establish where the nasty smell was coming from. Were the neighbourhood cats using their untended and decidedly unruly backyard for a kitty potty? Was it the space between the houses? Or did it come from the house itself?
The arrival of what appear to be case workers, several police cars and a number of EMS vehicles heralded a shocking and horrifying discovery about the way these men actually live. Here's what came to light this afternoon:
1) There's actually two old men and an old woman. No one has seen this woman in over three years. The neighbours all thought she had passed away. (Although this gave Chris the opportunity to jump up, point his finger in victorious accusation and shout, "I TOLD you I saw a woman!" in much the same as someone pointing out Santa Claus and the tooth fairy in the sky.)
2) The fellow who drinks too much and sleeps on the porch seems to subsist almost entirely on spam sandwiches.
3) Cats. Lots of cats. So many cats that the Humane Society's Cruelty Investigation people were called (two vans). The number is estimated to be well over 30. One police officer said, "You go into the kitchen and they are falling over each other and falling off the cupboards." One of the Cat Rescuers said there were cats in the cupboards, unders tables... and in the fridge. (Which, I understand, was no longer used as a fridge. Fortunately.)
4) The cats are all sick. Police report no evidence of food, fresh water or kitty litter. Nor were most of the cats likely spayed, as there were several kittens. (I briefly thought of abducting one particularly adorable little creature who trembled in its cage -- but could likely not afford the expense of fixing it, and it was likely quite ill. Poor little fella.) Most of the cats will have to be put down.
5) One of the old men is a hoarder. Newspapers seemed to be his specialty.
6) There was no working toilet. They suspect that these old people were using a makeshift wooden box with a hole in the top... with no apparent exit for subsequent waste. (Frankly, I'm amazed the house didn't have stink waves coming off it.)
7) Two of the old folks were carted off in an ambulance. I'm told they're in extremely "rough shape." The third was missing. We neighbours helpfully suggested that it was quite likely that the third fellow was off at the bar, not to be seen until late this evening. (On my way home from the gym just after 11 p.m. , I saw him tottering and wobbling home. I had terrible visions of violent outbursts, so got in the house as quickly as possible.)
8) No one knows any of these people's names. We don't know if they own the house. And not one of us had any idea that these people were living in such horrifying conditions...
And that, my friends, was the drama of my afternoon. And I just feel sad about all of it -- especially after watching cage after cage after box after box come out of the house and be placed on the lawn. All full of sick little felines, all of whom seemed terrified.
On a slightly plus side, Chris brought home McDonald's for dinner... so I felt a little better. And I expect the smell of cat urine will likely subside in the coming weeks. Thankfully.
But those poor cats.
posted by /hg | 11:28 p.m.
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