6-Year-Old Boy Found Naked, Locked In Dog Cage In Northeast Philadelphia

A 6-year-old boy was found naked and locked inside a dog cage inside his Philadelphia home while his mother was away from home, according to authorities.

Around 1:00 p.m. on March 23, officers were called to a home in Mayfair after a neighbor found two young girls half-dressed and screaming outside the home, CBS3 reported.

Hector Perez, the neighbor who found the children, told CBS3, "They have pampers on. They have no shirts, no pants, they have no shoes. They're screaming, it's raining, it's cold. They're screaming for their mother and father."

When police arrived at the scene, they found the two girls, ages 4 and 5, outside in the rain. Officers gained entry into the house and once inside, they found the 6-year-old boy naked and locked up in a dog cage, officials said.

Authorities said the mother of the boy left him naked in the dog cage with a pillow and blanket while she was out, and alleged she would often lock the little boy inside the dog cage when she wasn't home.

Police also located an elderly woman at the residence who uses a wheelchair. She was identified as a grandmother to the children. Police said they also found a 40-year-old man, who was identified as an uncle.

Police determined five children were living in the home, but two of them were at school when police responded to the scene.

Eric Gripp, from the Philadelphia Police Department, told CBS3, "Sometimes you just never know what's going on behind closed doors."

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“It just boggles my mind they put their kids in cages,” said the family's neighbor, Perez, who claimed he's seen DHS officials at the home several times over the past couple years.

"I knew something was going on but you tell me he's putting kids in a cage? Hell no. Hell no. I can never imagine that," he added.

The children were taken to the hospital but appeared to be physically okay. They remain in protective custody, CBS3 reported.

The investigation is ongoing, officials noted, and no charges have been filed at this time.

Police said they are still questioning the mother and trying to identify the children’s father.