Kevin, my eight-year-old neighbor, kept sneaking into our yard. One day I caught him on camera—not stealing packages, but shoveling our dog’s prescription kibble into his mouth. Frustrated, I called the non-emergency police line to scare his parents into controlling him.
When the officers arrived, one recognized the dog food. It was a special enzyme-fortified prescription diet for pancreatic issues. He grew concerned and called a social worker. A visit to Kevin’s house didn’t go well—his parents were defensive and refused help.
A few days later, I found Kevin in my yard again. This time, I talked to him calmly. Through tears, he admitted his stomach hurt all the time. He’d overheard a vet explain that the enzymes in my dog’s food help with digestion, and he thought they might help him too. His parents believed in faith healing and wouldn’t take him to a doctor.
Heartbroken, I contacted the social worker and shared what Kevin told me. Authorities intervened. It turned out Kevin had cystic fibrosis and was severely malnourished because he wasn’t receiving medical treatment. His parents were charged with child endangerment, and he was placed in foster care for treatment.
A year later, the family returned. Kevin looked healthy and happy, now receiving proper care. His mother tearfully thanked me, admitting they had been wrong and blinded by their beliefs.
What I thought was a nuisance was actually a child trying to save himself. Calling the police felt harsh at first—but it ended up saving his life.