Damn, this is rough. I've had a few friends I've seen on the outs, but nothing this bad. Here's my take: 1) As stated by many, you can't help him unless he wants to be helped. So, you could talk to him first and see what he makes of his current situation. Calling the police and/or health department sounds good, but it won't help him. A better approach than this would be to send an anonymous report to the home owner they're renting from. If you want him on the street, they'll take care of that. 2) Before you talk to him or report anything, call the human society. If your goal is to fix any of his problems, you'll want to take care of this before you even mention his problems. I'd wait a week or two since you just saw him, but regardless, if he knows you called on his dogs, he's going to be much less likely to listen to you when you ask if he needs help. And once you've offered some advice and heard him out, you'll be that much more of a dick for reporting his dogs at that point.
You need to tell him exactly what you posted for us to read. Alot of people in these situations just don't realize what kind of mess they are living in. Also tell him, as a friend, you are prepared to take appropriate action so you don't have to see him live like this. Don't give him freebies or anything of that nature, but picking up a few job applications for him to fill out is a start.
Job applications? Until he gets cleaned up that's pointless. He couldn't pass the drug test for sure, and if his home is that disgusting his personal appearance probably isn't much either. So the order in which things should happen I think goes like this: 1) Humane society - the dogs have to be tended to immediately. 2) Health department or home owner - you could talk to him first, but there's probably no point. Wait a few weeks on this, to avoid him figuring out it was you. Or have me call, I'll do it. 3) Intervention. This step is the least likely to succeed, but may be worth a try. 4) Employment. Once he gets clean he'll need a job.
About the appearance though... he is probably not that bad, otherwise Torx would have noticed it no? But the rest... it must be a nightmare. For a comparison basis, are the rooms more disgusting than the basement in the Saw movie?
I think I'd need to see a picture of your house torx, to give me an idea of what you're used to. Since we're not likely to get to see this guy's place.
And if he sat with him in a car and smoked a bowl....wouldn't the dude have smelled like shit when he sat in the car? I'm just saying...if he seemed normal in the car then why can't he get a job.
he didnt smell too pleasing okay, thank you all for your kind consideration on what i should do. Since my sister is a vet, ive managed to pull some strings on getting her animal clinic to take the dogs in and put them up for adoption. I really dont want him to get charged with any animal cruelty and he agreed this was the best option for him including the dogs. I say adoption, but in reality the dogs could have something abnormally wrong and/or be a costly fix so they'll be put to sleep. Im now in talks with his family since they are the homeowners on what the best option to go forward with. They havent been in the house although they are familiar with the smell from the outside. I told them everything i saw and how it could impact the resell value of the home including possible renovation issues.. They couldnt believe it. They dont wanna kick them out but they want them out to sell the home.. Its all a mess. But im in talks(emails) with our local health official on anonymity and various questions regarding what evidence or circumstances are needed to enter the home for cleanup or whatever they do. The thing that im worried about is if this family knows as much as i do already and are allowing this shit to happen...
You mentioned "resale value". Without spending 20-45 thousand, there is no resale value. I've flipped homes like that you just can't fumigate the smell away. It'll require new drywall, new floors and new insulation. The smell and mold get into all those surfaces and you can't just cover it over.
Ain't that the truth! I've got a bathroom in my house that was sheetrocked over, the house was renovated in '91, clean the bath "spotless" and it's o.k.,,,, until the first shower. One hot shower and I smell the old sheetrock and melamine that was buried. Next project, I still need to post a thread on this garage/ worksop I've put up. Torx, good luck, you'll need it, It is a good thing you do.
Well done Torx, you're doing the right thing. But I agree though - the family probably knew about this mess, at least to some degree. And yeah, the house will have to be gutted down to the studs. Unless they sell to another batch of losers.
Gutted to the studs and cieling+floor joists. if it's an older home and the re-build estimates top $45,000, probably best to raise the dang thing and build a new one on the same foundation. Last year, I recieved a work order to go and take measurements/notes for a makeover job in the upscale neighborhood on the eastside of town. The home was horrible! 60+ cats in the house and garbage/fecal matter everywhere. I can't see how anyone can possibly live that way, and these people weren't even on drugs or alcohol. There was rotted drywal from cats pissing on it all over the place....rotted clear through the insulation and siding! My estimate was for $175,000 and I refused to step foot back inside that episode of "squaller in america".
well at least you are already doing something. I'm suprised as well that the kid even let you in that house knowing how shitty the inside was in. But yea looks like you are doing the right thing in getting other people involved and there family involved. They need some major help. Good Luck and keep us updated.
