In Franklin, Ohio, a seven-year-old boy was hungry because he hadn’t eaten in days, so he devised a clever way to try and get some cash: He decided he would try to sell his teddy bear for food.

His proposition caught the eye of police officer Steve Dunham. The officer took him to subway for a sandwich.

Tammy and Michael Bethel, the boys parents, are facing child endangerment charges after the authorities found four other boys, ages 11, 12, 15, and 17, living in the home in what the authorities called squalor. It seems the home was not in good condition, smelled of urine, and had cockroaches and multiple liquor bottles. all 5 children have been removed from the home.

The boys mother has claimed on facebook that she does feed her children. In my experience, that is entirely possible. Not sure about you, but I’ve had kids complain they hadn’t eaten for days when it’s only been a few hours since their last meal. Kids are prone to exaggeration.

Yet it would seem that the condition of the home might warrant some outside help. Keep in mind that under all but the most extreme circumstances, taking the kids away from the home they know is an additional hardship on them, and should not be done lightly. Perhaps lessons in cleanliness and hygiene, as well as proper food storage, might be of more help here.