Two parents from the United States have been charged with child endangerment after their young son was found trying to sell his teddy bear to buy food.
Police in Franklin, Ohio, were called after people reported a young boy walking around the city alone on Sunday.
The seven-year-old was reportedly trying to sell his toy in front of a pharmacy to get money for food because he hadn’t eaten in days.
When police investigated, they discovered he and his four brothers lived in squalor and charged their parents with ten counts of child endangering.
Officer Steve Dunham, who found the boy roaming the streets, told WLWT News: “It broke my heart. He told me he was trying to sell his stuffed animal to get money for food because he hadn't eaten in several days.”
He took the child to a Subway and got him dinner, before taking him back to the police station.
Officers reportedly went to the boy’s home and discovered four other boys, aged 11, 12, 15 and 17, living amongst rubbish, cat and human urine, cockroaches and alcohol bottles.
A photo of the kitchen released by the police department show the small amount of food in the fridge was rotting and dirty.
Police arrested the parents and took the other children into the care of relatives.
Both parents, who have reportedly pleaded not guilty, have been ordered to make no contact with them.
Police chief, Russ Whitman, said officer Dunham had “treated them like their own.”
He added: “Hopefully, these officers’ actions change these kids’ lives and maybe change the lives of the parents to become better parents.”
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