Alan knew something was wrong before he reached the front door. The smell hit from down the street. What waited inside turned out to be one of the worst apartments he had ever encountered.
Every experienced constable develops a sense for trouble.
Sometimes it's a feeling.
Sometimes it's a warning from a client.
And sometimes it's a smell strong enough to announce itself from half a block away.
When Alan arrived for the eviction, the odor was impossible to miss. Inside, the reason became immediately clear. The apartment had been overtaken by animals living in conditions that were unhealthy for them and nearly uninhabitable for everyone else.
Animal waste covered the floors.
Makeshift pathways had been created using flattened boxes.
The tenant was hospitalized, and a friend had supposedly been caring for the animals in the meantime.
The evidence suggested otherwise.
Concern quickly shifted from the condition of the apartment to the welfare of the animals inside. Animal Control was called, difficult conversations followed, and plans were made to ensure the animals would receive proper care.
As for the apartment itself, the damage was so severe that almost nothing could be salvaged.
Almost.
The Constable Files – Episode 31: The Smell is a true story about animal neglect, overwhelming living conditions, and an eviction where the odor arrived long before the constable did.
Because sometimes the first thing you notice tells you everything you need to know.
