Family Pets Abandoned, Living in Filth Inside Mobile Home
Six dogs and a large litter of kittens were forced to fend for themselves inside a Kennewick mobile home for close to a week, after their owners apparently skipped town. Hood Avenue Mobile Home Park owner Randy Jackson found the abandoned pets last Sunday. Shocked and unsure of what to do, Jackson called Action News looking for help.
"Somebody was supposed to get the animals and come back," Jackson said. "I haven't seen anybody or heard from anybody."
When Action News arrived, a few of the dogs were running around in the front yard but most of the pets were living in deplorable conditions inside the home. What we found was appalling: animals running rampant on floors covered in feces and urine, litter boxes full, and the furniture torn to shreds. There was a kitten eating out of a dirty bowl, flies swarming, and the smell was overwhelming. And that was just in the living room. Down the hallway, three medium-sized dogs huddled together, barely moving, on the bathroom floor.
"I was shocked, upset and trying to figure out what I was going to do," Jackson said.
The landlord gave the animals food and water, but felt his hands were tied by the Landlord Tenant Act.
"In Washington, pets are considered property," Angela Zilar said, Tri-City Animal Control director.
Legally, landlords can't give animals away until 45 days have passed. That's the window of time pet owners have to reclaim their pets. Jackson doesn't anticipate anyone returning but, if they did, the person who adopted the animals could be sued.
Even in disgusting conditions, police and animal control advocates are bound by the same rules. "Every body's trying to work to this to get it resolved but there are laws in place that we all have to abide by," Zilar said.
So the question remains: what does Jackson do in the meantime? He can't afford a kennel and it'll be hard to re-rent the mobile home. Jackson hoped volunteers will foster them until the 45 days are up.
"They're good little dogs," continued. "They're not vicious dogs, I just need to find them a home."
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/100667104.html