Married couple gets divorced.
Joint custody of 2 children
(father gets children a couple nights a week)
Mother lives in dirty apartment
children sleep in dirty cribs / in bed / in same room as mother (and astranged male friends)
Pictures of filth and condition of apartment have been filed with DSS
father trying to get
full custody of children
While in mother's care:
children have lice 7 times in 3 months
children are left with relative who has dog
dog bites face of youngest - hospital visit with stitches
mother doesn't fill prescription for antibiotics for 4 days
children are STILL allowed to be in company of dog!
father still trying to get full custody
While in mother's care:
children are left alone with under-age babysitters (obviously not in school during the day)
DSS says "We've seen worse, it's not bad enough yet"
father trying to get custody, still
While in mother's care:
children allowed to leave mother's home with wet hair / no shoes - in the middle of winter = 20 degree weather
father still trying to get custody (Father lives in a clean nice area, children have their own room, and a SCHEDULE, a loving environment and family, and will stay at a certified daycare)
Courts hear DSS case, and father's plea - custody STILL awarded to mother
children don't want to go to mommy's house when it's time to "go home"
In mother's care:
youngest has cigarettes taken away by eldest
youngest has a knife taken away by eldest
youngest falls off couch - BREAKS ARM
father is STILL trying to gain custody..........
WHAT MORE WILL IT TAKE FOR THESE CHILDREN TO GET A CHANCE AT A SAFE AND LOVING CHILDHOOD??