I know this isn't a legal help site but I am scared and at my wit's end.
I have had cats my entire life. I am now in college, living in a Chicago apartment with two other co-tenants. I do not currently have a cat, though my roommate, K, does, and it is clear she does not care for him.
My other roommate, A, and I have been clear from the beginning: the litter box needs to be cleaned, he needs to be fed and groomed, but mostly, he needs to be loved. A and I have been providing most of the love for this pet, which of course does not mean she is neglecting him based on that alone. However, she is bad at giving him food and water regularly. She insists on giving him a feeding schedule but stays out late/all night without asking us to feed him, or sleeps in late so he waits hours for food. She also does not clean the litter box nearly enough, so he will pee elsewhere (I also suspect he may be sick--he hasn't been to the vet in years). He also vomits and it will stay around for weeks without her removing it. These are just the basics...
I have been trying to figure out what to do for months. A & I care for the cat as much as we can, but we are college students with jobs and this is not our pet. Illinois has strict animal cruelty laws but I have been warned that we may be held responsible because we share the lease with her. And even if I report it anonymously or find the cat a new home, she will know I did this and retaliate. She is not a kind person and I would not put it past her to steal/damage my things. Again, I am in college. I cannot afford to move, sue, buy new stuff, etc. But I also cannot allow this to go on.
I recently returned from visiting my family for a month. K is gone, and left us to give food and water to the cat. Not a big deal, we already do this. Her mom is supposed to come clean the litter box, but she didn't leave her keys with her like she said she would so her mom hasn't been here. She didn't tell us this until yesterday, three days after she has left. It is now day 4 without the litter being cleaned. Because it is already rarely cleaned properly and the cat pees elsewhere, our place smells terribly of ammonia. There is vomit on the floor that was there before she left. None of this really surprises me, unfortunately...but this is too far. I am so terrified for this cat and for myself.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Can A and I be held responsible though this is not our cat? Can we get just our roommate evicted, or at least make sure she is unable to resign the lease (it is up in August)? I plan on taking action as I know she moves out. I cannot risk my safety, so I will continue to provide for the cat until that time. I need to know my rights, however.
Please help. I am worried and desperate.
I have had cats my entire life. I am now in college, living in a Chicago apartment with two other co-tenants. I do not currently have a cat, though my roommate, K, does, and it is clear she does not care for him.
My other roommate, A, and I have been clear from the beginning: the litter box needs to be cleaned, he needs to be fed and groomed, but mostly, he needs to be loved. A and I have been providing most of the love for this pet, which of course does not mean she is neglecting him based on that alone. However, she is bad at giving him food and water regularly. She insists on giving him a feeding schedule but stays out late/all night without asking us to feed him, or sleeps in late so he waits hours for food. She also does not clean the litter box nearly enough, so he will pee elsewhere (I also suspect he may be sick--he hasn't been to the vet in years). He also vomits and it will stay around for weeks without her removing it. These are just the basics...
I have been trying to figure out what to do for months. A & I care for the cat as much as we can, but we are college students with jobs and this is not our pet. Illinois has strict animal cruelty laws but I have been warned that we may be held responsible because we share the lease with her. And even if I report it anonymously or find the cat a new home, she will know I did this and retaliate. She is not a kind person and I would not put it past her to steal/damage my things. Again, I am in college. I cannot afford to move, sue, buy new stuff, etc. But I also cannot allow this to go on.
I recently returned from visiting my family for a month. K is gone, and left us to give food and water to the cat. Not a big deal, we already do this. Her mom is supposed to come clean the litter box, but she didn't leave her keys with her like she said she would so her mom hasn't been here. She didn't tell us this until yesterday, three days after she has left. It is now day 4 without the litter being cleaned. Because it is already rarely cleaned properly and the cat pees elsewhere, our place smells terribly of ammonia. There is vomit on the floor that was there before she left. None of this really surprises me, unfortunately...but this is too far. I am so terrified for this cat and for myself.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Can A and I be held responsible though this is not our cat? Can we get just our roommate evicted, or at least make sure she is unable to resign the lease (it is up in August)? I plan on taking action as I know she moves out. I cannot risk my safety, so I will continue to provide for the cat until that time. I need to know my rights, however.
Please help. I am worried and desperate.