Animals lovers: what would you do?
May 15, 2013 9:05 AM Subscribe
Strange but true: I need help rescuing a pet turtle that was boarded up alive in a house by an evil property company.
So, this happened in my neighborhood. Setting aside the disgusting injustice of it all, I am really bothered by the fact that right now, in my neighborhood, there is a house with a small animal boarded up and left to die in it. I want to get him out and make sure he's cared for and eventually reunite him with his owners. How do I go about the first part?
I feel strongly enough about this that I considered breaking in myself but I don't want to get arrested (and also I don't know how). I contacted animal care and control through their website and will follow up by phone on my lunch break but I'm afraid I don't have a lot of faith in city services here in Chicago. Does anyone have any experience with calling in a neglect/cruelty call? How long does it take them to investigate? And what do they do if the house is locked and no one is home (as will definitely be the case here)? Do they have the authority to break in? Are there any other animal welfare orgs that could help me? It doesn't sound like the company who owns would be reasonable enough to let me in...though maybe if I threatened them with an animal cruelty charge they'd change their minds. Anyone have any other ideas? The thought of the little turtle slowly dying in there is killing me.
So, this happened in my neighborhood. Setting aside the disgusting injustice of it all, I am really bothered by the fact that right now, in my neighborhood, there is a house with a small animal boarded up and left to die in it. I want to get him out and make sure he's cared for and eventually reunite him with his owners. How do I go about the first part?
I feel strongly enough about this that I considered breaking in myself but I don't want to get arrested (and also I don't know how). I contacted animal care and control through their website and will follow up by phone on my lunch break but I'm afraid I don't have a lot of faith in city services here in Chicago. Does anyone have any experience with calling in a neglect/cruelty call? How long does it take them to investigate? And what do they do if the house is locked and no one is home (as will definitely be the case here)? Do they have the authority to break in? Are there any other animal welfare orgs that could help me? It doesn't sound like the company who owns would be reasonable enough to let me in...though maybe if I threatened them with an animal cruelty charge they'd change their minds. Anyone have any other ideas? The thought of the little turtle slowly dying in there is killing me.
Call the local ASPCA, explain the situation, ask them what to do.
posted by zippy at 9:11 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by zippy at 9:11 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The thought of the little turtle slowly dying in there is killing me.
I wouldn't be letting that happen either. Horrible!
I'd start with the company who owns the place. Tell them you only want to get in to rescue the turtle. If they say no, tell them you'll contact the local newspaper. (Bonus points for one of those free community papers with a huge circulation; they LOVE stories like this.)
...oh, just saw elizardbits' post. Bummer. :(
posted by Salamander at 9:13 AM on May 15, 2013
I wouldn't be letting that happen either. Horrible!
I'd start with the company who owns the place. Tell them you only want to get in to rescue the turtle. If they say no, tell them you'll contact the local newspaper. (Bonus points for one of those free community papers with a huge circulation; they LOVE stories like this.)
...oh, just saw elizardbits' post. Bummer. :(
posted by Salamander at 9:13 AM on May 15, 2013
Best answer: No no no! Don't give up! He could well be alive!
posted by greenish at 9:15 AM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by greenish at 9:15 AM on May 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
For sure he could still be alive. Go for it. My turtle appears to be made of iron.
posted by skbw at 9:16 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by skbw at 9:16 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
All a guess here, but to me, the turtle's fate as described in the article ("was never recovered from the home") sounds like a circumlocution.
If I were writing this story and the turtle had died, I'd have described it like this to avoid distracting the reader from the point of the story. They already went in and found the cat; they'd have been looking for the turtle too. I think if the turtle was lost, they would have said "still missing."
posted by randomination at 9:20 AM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
If I were writing this story and the turtle had died, I'd have described it like this to avoid distracting the reader from the point of the story. They already went in and found the cat; they'd have been looking for the turtle too. I think if the turtle was lost, they would have said "still missing."
posted by randomination at 9:20 AM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
My turtle can survive for weeks without eating. Not because I withheld food, mind you, but because she's gone on hunger strikes that long before. It's only been two weeks - don't take it for granted that the critter is dead!
posted by 1adam12 at 9:56 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by 1adam12 at 9:56 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Contact your local political representative's office?
posted by spunweb at 10:14 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by spunweb at 10:14 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Another vote that he could still be alive. A friend of mine had a house fire. He was severely injured. It was at least 3 weeks before we arranged to get into the apartment, and we found his red-ear slider turtle alive and well in his tank, which was filled with debris from the fire.
posted by kimdog at 10:22 AM on May 15, 2013
posted by kimdog at 10:22 AM on May 15, 2013
Response by poster: Hey guys, thanks for not making me feel like a weirdo for caring about a reptile (unlike the lady at 311 when I called to follow up). I've also contacted Anti-Cruelty, the company that owns the property and our alderman. So far no response but I will keep you updated.
posted by Jess the Mess at 10:56 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Jess the Mess at 10:56 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Oh and according to the guy who wrote the article this morning, the couple believes the turtle is either still in the house or has been discarded with a bunch of other stuff(?). So he may or may not still be there but I feel I have to try in case he is.
posted by Jess the Mess at 11:00 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Jess the Mess at 11:00 AM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
"Save the Turtle" Facebook page. If you could get even a couple hundred people supporting a page like that it helps a lot when talking with public officials, the media, or the company the owns the house. I'll bet 'Save the Turtle' would spread like wildfire and you'd end up with a lot more than just a couple hundred supporters on it.
posted by flug at 11:01 AM on May 15, 2013
posted by flug at 11:01 AM on May 15, 2013
I'd definitely start by contacting the company that owns the house, and be polite. There might have been some misunderstanding about the turtle. Failing that:
You could call the police and see if you get a sympathetic officer who will help rescue the turtle. They should know what to do.
Alternatively, knock on doors and tell your neighbors about it. Eventually you'll find someone who will be outraged and nurturing enough, and crowbar-owning enough, to break in and rescue the turtle.
posted by amtho at 1:16 PM on May 15, 2013
You could call the police and see if you get a sympathetic officer who will help rescue the turtle. They should know what to do.
Alternatively, knock on doors and tell your neighbors about it. Eventually you'll find someone who will be outraged and nurturing enough, and crowbar-owning enough, to break in and rescue the turtle.
posted by amtho at 1:16 PM on May 15, 2013
I "wouldn't" just round up a few friends to help me break in and get the turtle. You "shouldn't" do that because it's illegal, and breaking the law is very very bad.
The authorities are unlikely to resolve this in time. I'm going to pray for the turtle, I hope you're successful!
posted by windykites at 2:17 PM on May 15, 2013
The authorities are unlikely to resolve this in time. I'm going to pray for the turtle, I hope you're successful!
posted by windykites at 2:17 PM on May 15, 2013
Also, maybe other animal rights groups could help? PETA, maybe? Those guys are intense.
posted by windykites at 2:19 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by windykites at 2:19 PM on May 15, 2013
you're not weird....I'd be concerned too. Get him out! and if he got 'tossed out'....holy crap I'd get that alllllll over the local paper. good luck!
posted by jrobin276 at 4:29 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by jrobin276 at 4:29 PM on May 15, 2013
Response by poster: Just when I was about to start asking around for a crowbar, my alderman's office sent me this:
"When this matter was first brought to our attention on the afternoon of Friday, May 3, I spent a great deal of time convincing the property manager to allow friends of the family access to the property to rescue these animals. The property manager met friends of the family at the home, and they did remove the cat from the building. They were not able to access the area of the house where the turtle is believed to have been.
In a conversation with the property manager this afternoon, Invitation Homes stated that contractors sent to board up the property discovered the turtle in its container near a rear door. They have stated that these contractors report moving the turtle and its container near the garage. According to the property manager, the next time anyone was at the house, both the turtle and its container were gone.
I understand that supporters of the family are suspicious of this explanation. It is also my understanding that the management company and the family have a signed agreement allowing access to the property tomorrow for recovery of any items left in the house.
I sincerely hope that the turtle is safe."
So not a great outcome but it doesn't sound like there's anything I can realistically do to help at this point. Hopefully, the family will be able to get into the place tomorrow and maybe they'll find him in the house after all.
posted by Jess the Mess at 5:04 PM on May 15, 2013
"When this matter was first brought to our attention on the afternoon of Friday, May 3, I spent a great deal of time convincing the property manager to allow friends of the family access to the property to rescue these animals. The property manager met friends of the family at the home, and they did remove the cat from the building. They were not able to access the area of the house where the turtle is believed to have been.
In a conversation with the property manager this afternoon, Invitation Homes stated that contractors sent to board up the property discovered the turtle in its container near a rear door. They have stated that these contractors report moving the turtle and its container near the garage. According to the property manager, the next time anyone was at the house, both the turtle and its container were gone.
I understand that supporters of the family are suspicious of this explanation. It is also my understanding that the management company and the family have a signed agreement allowing access to the property tomorrow for recovery of any items left in the house.
I sincerely hope that the turtle is safe."
So not a great outcome but it doesn't sound like there's anything I can realistically do to help at this point. Hopefully, the family will be able to get into the place tomorrow and maybe they'll find him in the house after all.
posted by Jess the Mess at 5:04 PM on May 15, 2013
This is what I would do. This isn't what I am telling you to do. I would enlist 5 or so witnesses, I would pry off a board, I would rescue the turtle (only... I wouldn't take anything else) and I would carefully and thoroughly replace the board on the window.
posted by brownrd at 5:45 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by brownrd at 5:45 PM on May 15, 2013
I like brownrd's idea. It's like an open rescue. Also, I would contact local animal rights and vegan organisations.
posted by faraasha at 4:23 AM on May 16, 2013
posted by faraasha at 4:23 AM on May 16, 2013
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posted by elizardbits at 9:10 AM on May 15, 2013