[DRB]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/04/home.alone.ap/index.html

A husband and wife -- who found a dog sitter for their new puppies but left their 9-year-old son home to care for his younger autistic brother while they celebrated the new year in Las Vegas -- were arrested Wednesday, police said.

Jacob Calero and his wife, Michelle De la Vega, left Calero's sons -- Joshua, 9, and Jason, 5 -- at their San Ramon home early Friday while the newlyweds headed out of town for a five-day trip, police said.

Joshua said he and his brother ate cereal for breakfast and cooked frozen dinners in the microwave for lunch and dinner. He said his dad and stepmother left Friday morning while they were asleep. They had asked him to watch his younger brother, but didn't tell him where they were staying, he said.

"They shouldn't leave us alone," Joshua said, sitting in the living room of his grandmother's apartment. "I didn't know who I could call in an emergency. Even if I called my father, he's far away so there wouldn't be much he could do."

Joshua said the couple got each other puppies for Christmas and went so far as to bring the pug and the poodle-Maltese mix to De la Vega's mother before leaving town.

"I thought they loved them more than us," the boy said.

:mumble:

 

[SkaredShtles]

Wow. That's fabulous.

 

[splat]

That is just sad.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Were they swingers?

 

[Brian HCM#1]

That's the next town over from us:angry: It is ALL over the local news. Some people are so F'ed up in the head.

 

[Potroast88]

Has anyone priced Pug puppies lately? I'd hire a sitter, too.

 

[binary visions]

What's everyone so worked up over? They found a place to put the dogs, didn't they?

 

[N8 v2.0]

What's everyone so worked up over? They found a place to put the dogs, didn't they?

No chit! This should go over well with the 'dogs are people' people on here...

 

[LordOpie]

They should've brought the autistic kid with 'em to count cards.

 

[DRB]

They should've brought the autistic kid with 'em to count cards.

Autistic kid? HOLY CRAP I missed that completely.

 

[Echo]

They should've brought the autistic kid with 'em to count cards.

That 9 year old kid sounds pretty damn smart.

 

[binary visions]

They should've brought the autistic kid with 'em to count cards.

Gotta get my boxer shorts at K-Mart.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Autistic kid? HOLY CRAP I missed that completely.

Sometimes I wonder about you.............

 

[DRB]

Sometimes I wonder about you.............

You and me both. It amazes me that I can find my way to work most days.

 

[SkaredShtles]

You and me both. It amazes me that I can find my way to work most days.

Well, to your credit, you *are* drunk most days on the way to work, no?

 

[hooples3]

nice... they are definately nominated for parents of the decade too

 

[Tenchiro]

I think these people really take the award though.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/01/04/caged.children.ap/index.html

WAKEMAN, Ohio (AP) -- A couple accused of abusing their 11 adopted special-needs children by making them sleep in cages defended their actions but said they'd be willing to give up the enclosures to get the children back.

 

[TreeSaw]

That 9 year old kid sounds pretty damn smart.

That's what I was thinking. Sad to think he's smarter than his parents!

 

[Reactor]

It boggles the mind.

 

[TreeSaw]

I think these people really take the award though.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/01/04/caged.children.ap/index.html

Maybe they should have to be caged for a while! Some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed!

 

[Westy]

And you need need licenses to have dogs but not kids. Hmmmmm.

 

[TreeSaw]

And you need need licenses to have dogs but not kids. Hmmmmm.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Stories like this amaze me that adults actually do stuff like this.......

Those 2 boys need some real parents....hopefully they won't be shuttled off to the foster care system or anything like that.

 

[Jeremy R]

They should've brought the autistic kid with 'em to count cards.

Ah, you beat me to it.
Props.

 

[blt2ride]

That is just sad.

It truly is...

 

[robdamanii]

Good lord. It's 5 days in and already we have idiot of the year.

 

[blt2ride]

Good lord. It's 5 days in and already we have idiot of the year.

Well, techincally this couples' stupidly started in 2005, when they left for Vegas. Nonetheless, they will probably win the "idiots of the decade award," anyway. I just don't see how they could have a good time knowing that their kids were home alone. I mean, they were sober enough to find someone to watch the dogs...it's un-effing-believable!

 

[sanjuro]

While these people deserve to be punched repeatedly in the face and body, unfortunately I have noticed a rash of children stories which have not turned out well.

At least no one was hurt.

 

[Konabumm]

i dont see what all the fuss is about. 9 years old if old enough to baby-sit in my book

people need to relax

 

[narlus]

i dont see what all the fuss is about. 9 years old if old enough to baby-sit in my book

people need to relax

hey n00bie Dad, there's a couple of crucials bits you may have overlooked.

- the youngest is autistic
- the parents didn't tell them where they were going, left no contact number, and left while the kids WERE SLEEPING.

 

[Westy]

Waking the kids up late at night is just irresponsible.

 

[BikeGeek]

I'm astounded by what some people think is acceptable behavior when it comes to their children. Did you hear about the VA woman who recently punished her 3-year old son by holding him in scalding water and then not seeking any medical help for him until a week later? Disgusting.

This story reminded me of something that happened to my friend in HS. He woke up one morning and found a note on the table from his dad and mom that read "...went to New Zealand, we'll be back at the end of the month...here's $20 for food..."

 

[LordOpie]

Waking the kids up late at night is just irresponsible.

Not to mention how cranky they get.

 

[binary visions]

i dont see what all the fuss is about. 9 years old if old enough to baby-sit in my book

people need to relax

...

Are you serious?

You'd leave a 9 year old child in charge of a little kid (autistic or not), for five days and nights?

Regardless of the other circumstances which made this situation completely unacceptable (the youngest was autistic, the parents left at night, they had no emergency phone numbers, etc.), that right there isn't acceptable. I'm not sure I'd leave a 9 year old in charge of another human being for a day, let alone most of a week.

 

[BKQuill]

i dont see what all the fuss is about. 9 years old if old enough to baby-sit in my book

people need to relax

I hope that this is your attempt at sarcasm....

 

[Ciaran]

...

Are you serious?

You'd leave a 9 year old child in charge of a little kid (autistic or not), for five days and nights?

Regardless of the other circumstances which made this situation completely unacceptable (the youngest was autistic, the parents left at night, they had no emergency phone numbers, etc.), that right there isn't acceptable. I'm not sure I'd leave a 9 year old in charge of another human being for a day, let alone most of a week.

Hell, I still had a baby sitter when I was 9.

 

[LordOpie]

I'm not sure I'd leave a 9 year old in charge of another human being for a day, let alone most of a week.

And yet, we have a 9yo in charge of the country. Go figure.

 

[sanjuro]

i dont see what all the fuss is about. 9 years old if old enough to baby-sit in my book

people need to relax

R U kidding? A nine year old is a good babysitter if you are the phone or have to cook dinner. I wouldn't trust a nine year old for babysitting by themselves for an hour, much less 5 days.

 

[sanjuro]

And yet, we have a 9yo in charge of the country. Go figure.

He only reads at a 9 year old level.

 

[Konabumm]

HAHA I figured this would spin your guys up

Yes I am kidding

The girl next door just got her babysitter license thingy, she wansn't able to get that until 12