Important: Please Help

[size=85]I temporarily live with my father. I pay him rent every month for a room, until my fiance' and I can get back on our feet.
   
I share my room with my cat, and my three rats.
   
My issue is this: My father has more animals than he has room for. He can't afford to take them to the vet, or even purchase food. My grandmother buys dog food every month to feed the dogs, because my father said she could keep her puppy there. He also gets cat food "donated" to him whenever he runs out because he cannot afford to feed to all of them.
   
When I first moved in, I began helping because it wasn't that big of a deal. But with all of the animals he has (and continues to acquire), it became difficult for even me to help take care of them. I continue to take care of my animals, with vet visits, food, whatever they need, but I'm worried about the other animals.
   
I thought about calling the humane society, but I was told that even if my pets are in good health and are properly being taken care of, that they will still take mine because they're in the house. I really don't want to lose them but at the same time I hate to see these other animals living in filth.
   
I've tried to talk to my father and his wife about it, and the furthest I've gotten was his wife calling my mother in law, and asking her if she would like mice or rats. When she's turned down she just decides to keep them.
   
& If one her "beloved" pets pass away, she runs out and purchases another of the same species. I really have no idea what to do. Does anybody have any suggestions?[/size]

How many pets does your father & his wife have?
   
If she's running out to get the same one that died, I think this sounds like a hoarding problem. Some people actually hoard animals, it can get VERY messy for everyone involved. It's a mental health problem.
   
And is it your father, or actually your father's wife? Or both of them? He may just be going along with the situation to keep the peace (most animal hoarders are women).
   
I suggest the following:
   
First, you need information from the agencies involved, not secondhand.
   
Call the humane society (or whatever county dept.) & ask what the policy is when the owner of a home appears to have an animal hoarding problem with insufficient income to care for the animals, but there is also a tenant paying rent in a portion of the house that is a responsible pet owner who is taking care of his pets properly. How do they deal with this? = = Ask: If a tenant paying rent reports a pet/animal problem in the residence he is living in, will the reporting tenant have to argue with the county abt his own pets, which are properly cared for? Don't give your address or your father's address at this time - hedge, be vague, don't admit to being directly involved. Do not give them your address at this time. If they insist on knowing why you want the info, tell them that there's a house in your neighborhood that you're concerned about, & don't tell them anything else. Don't volunteer ANY information.
   
Remember, just because you're related to the homeowner, you're an adult & are paying rent, so you are not technically part of your father's household; you are only a renter for legal purposes.
   
To strengthen your position as a legal renter, buy a key lock doorknob & install it on your room's door. A new doorknob isn't expensive & can be installed in the existing doorknob hole. Just remove the old doorknob & install the new one. If your father & his wife fuss about it, tell them that you prefer to have the ability to lock your door, after all, they may have guests sometime when you don't want to be disturbed, or you may just want to be left alone, so it's easier for you to be able to lock your door & sleep without being concerned as to whether someone you don't know might accidently open your door. And also, it will protect your dog from getting out unexpectedly. Couch it however your father will accept it - lie thru your teeth if necessary, just get him to accept the idea.
   
Then lock your door whenever you leave the house & whenever you want privacy, and at night.
   
Second:
   
Find the local mental health hotline. Call & describe the situation at your father's house; ask if they think there may be a hoarding problem or other mental problem that might cause the behavior. If there is a problem, maybe you can get a doctor involved.
   
Talk to your mother, if possible (is she available?). Ask if she can throw any light on this situation.
   
Once you have some more information, post again, & you can decide your next move. We can figure this out with enough information.

Thank you for the information. I will definitely look into it. No, my mother is not available she passed away a little while ago. That's how we kind of got into the sticky situation with this lady.
   
They have 6 cats, 3 dogs, 4 mice, 2 rats, 2 birds, a ferret, fish, and are trying to get another rabbit becasue hers passed away. :/
   
Unfortuneately I am unable to get the lock just yet, because I at my mother inlaws house until my cat heals. (He got into a nasty fight with one of their cats, and I had to take him elsewhere.)
   
As soon as I can, I will update and let you know what's going on. Thanks so much again.