Roomate abandoned pets..what to do?
My roomate is going to jail for 6 months and she has pets that lives here. I'm not able to care for her pets nor able to afford them and informed her of this. Now that she won't be able to pay her half of the rent & bills I had to pick up a second job and barely have time to attend school and sleep. She has become very nonchalant about this entire situation and will not give me a direct answer as to what to do with her pets. I was advised by my landlord that I can not move her out unless she agrees because we are stuck on a year lease together. Therefore I'm not allowed to touch her possessions.
She has a dog and 2 guniea pigs
Any advise of what I can do would be greatly appreciated I'm not happy with her or the irresponsibility and selfishness that has become of her this past year. This is all very bad timing. She is going to jail due to prior DUI and reoccurance of driving with a suspended license. I'm in no way happy to help. I'm just confused as to my obligations if I'm not allowed to touch her possessions.
Answers & Comments
Send her an e-mail to document that in her abs cense, you will not be responsible for her pets, so she needs to find and secure a home for them for the entire duration of her incarceration. Let her also know that if she does not remove her pets from the premises BEFORE her incarceration, they will be considered abandoned. Therefore, you will have no other choice but to bring them to an animal shelter.
Then, wait and see what happens and follow through with the plan if she forces you to do so.
You ARE NOT responsible for her pets. She IS!
AIthough animals are possessions, it is SHE who is responsible for them.
I think it is VERY important to send her that e-mail to document her circumstances and responsibility SHE has for her pets care and well being.
Give ZERO reasons or excuses why you do not want to pay for and care for her animals for 6 months. You OWE her nothing.
SHE should sublease her room, as SHE is still responsible for The rent, utilities and such! That is a whole other problem of her irresponsible lifestyle. Next time, get to know a roommate before you comingle your expenses and sign legal documents.
Guinee pigs are very taste. If she is behind in her share of the rent. You can have her evicted. File a claim against her for non pay of her share of the rent also. Once even evicted you can not take her personal belongings. For your use or sell them. This does not mean they can not be set outside for others to take. If the pound ask who the dogs belong to tell them & give them her contact name in jail. Let them handle that.
The local shelter where i live does take pocket pets. If you won't take care of them, turn them in. Your roommate doesn't have the right to abandon them with you.
Call local animal control and see if they can advise on animal abandonment laws for your area.
If you can't find friends or family to take the pets, contact your local animal shelter and explain the situation. Then proceed from there.
You contact her family and tell them to come get her pets or they will be going to a local shelter. You have no obligation to care for her pets, you DO have an obligation to make sure they do not suffer.
ASPCA will take the critters
Then you tell her to rehome her pets to her family/friends or you will be forced to call animal control and have them removed.... if you signed the same contract you are both individually legally liable for 100% of the rent so yes you need to pay it if she is not able to or the landlord can evict you both
They will have to go to a shelter. They are not possessions, you are not liable to look after them.
Are you paying for her half of the rent. Just so you know, you don’t have to. It’s her responsibility. If she can’t pay it, the landlord will either evict her or let you find someone to move in.
When she gets evicted, then you can move all her stuff out. Just give her a warning so she knows.
Do you know any of her family members. Give the pets back to them.