NEW Scary news from the home front (see post 25)

[phesina]

For starters.. the WiFi in my apartment is out now (supposed to be on until Aug. 31), and I'm at the library writing this. Don't know how soon I can get back, hopefully tomorrow afternoon because it doesn't open until noon on Sundays.

The bigger news: Apartment inspection yesterday. I got a letter from management a couple of weeks before saying, first, I wasn't disposing of litter properly, and I called to ask WHAT? because I scoop several times a day and always dispose of the waste, double-bagged, in the dumpster as regulations require and were repeated in this letter. When the management person returned my call two days later she said there was a ..smell in the apartment and outside the door.

I told her I hadn't noticed such, and this was the first I'd heard of it, and I said I'd take care of it.

Wound up having whole apartment professionally house-cleaned and then carpet-cleaned in preparation. Boarded cats while the cleaning was going on, changed litter for one supposedly more odor-killing and then put additive in to make it even more odor-killing, got plastic sheeting to put under boxes so there wouldn't be anything getting into rugs.

Brought the cats home Wednesday. Well, they were freaked by the odors of the cleaning solutions and even more so of the changed litter.. I didn't see much in the way of use of the new litter.

Took Bob and Elmer to my sister's early Friday.

When I got back I discovered a new, very potent reek coming from the living room corner. Well, surprise! That's where ..somebody decided was better than the new-smell litterboxes!

So I'm wiping that up and then dousing it with Nature's Miracle and trying to do something to fix this before they come. (I'd also called asking whom I could expect for this around what time, but that call was never returned.) That's when they showed up: the apartment-complex maintenance head and the brand new "manager" (fifth in less than a year).

Maintenance guy said the carpet, matting and all, has to go.

It turns out they are supposed to, in fact are required by state law to replace the carpet every five years, which of course they never bothered to enlighten us about.. so the ball is (hopefully) in their court. I think they are going to make as much trouble as they can about it.

I'm very frightened.

Prayers, good wishes, positive energies, please send along.. Thank you very much!

[Felicia's Mom]

sending you prayers and positive thoughts.

[mbsmum]

Prayers and positive thoughts on the way.

[mon]

Good luck honey! Hate it when the poo hits the fan! Lotsa prayers and best wishes!

[Catty1]

Pat, if there's a landlord and tenant act in your state, you might want to find out at who should pay for this removal and replacement. Find out the details of that law they mentioned. In some places you can get free legal advice on certain topics.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[Karen]

Prayers on the way for you and your kitties!

[cassiesmom]

For starters.. the WiFi in my apartment is out now (supposed to be on until Aug. 31), and I'm at the library writing this. Don't know how soon I can get back, hopefully tomorrow afternoon because it doesn't open until noon on Sundays.

The bigger news: Apartment inspection yesterday. I got a letter from management a couple of weeks before saying, first, I wasn't disposing of litter properly, and I called to ask WHAT? because I scoop several times a day and always dispose of the waste, double-bagged, in the dumpster as regulations require and were repeated in this letter. When the management person returned my call two days later she said there was a ..smell in the apartment and outside the door.

I told her I hadn't noticed such, and this was the first I'd heard of it, and I said I'd take care of it.

Wound up having whole apartment professionally house-cleaned and then carpet-cleaned in preparation. Boarded cats while the cleaning was going on, changed litter for one supposedly more odor-killing and then put additive in to make it even more odor-killing, got plastic sheeting to put under boxes so there wouldn't be anything getting into rugs.

Brought the cats home Wednesday. Well, they were freaked by the odors of the cleaning solutions and even more so of the changed litter.. I didn't see much in the way of use of the new litter.

Took Bob and Elmer to my sister's early Friday, so when the inspectors came by they couldn't possibly see more than the two pets maximum we're allowed here.

When I got back I discovered a new, very potent reek coming from the living room corner. Well, surprise! That's where ..somebody decided was better than the new-smell litterboxes!

So I'm wiping that up and then dousing it with Nature's Miracle and trying to do something to fix this before they come. (I'd also called asking whom I could expect for this around what time, but that call was never returned.) That's when they showed up: the apartment-complex maintenance head and the brand new "manager" (fifth in less than a year).

Maintenance guy said the carpet, matting and all, has to go.

It turns out they are supposed to, in fact are required by state law to replace the carpet every five years, which of course they never bothered to enlighten us about.. so the ball is (hopefully) in their court. I think they are going to make as much trouble as they can about it.

I'm very frightened.

Prayers, good wishes, positive energies, please send along.. Thank you very much!

More prayers and good wishes. Were Bob and Elmer still out of the house when someone chose the corner instead of the litter pan? I don't see how they can give you a big hassle when you made a good-faith effort to respond to the first notice. If they're supposed to exchange the carpeting anyway ... would they wait till after you've finished your surgery and rehab? Since you did just have it cleaned. ((((HUGS))) and prayers and positive energies and good wishes!

[Queen of Poop]

Sending you prayers and strength!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Tons of prayers and well wishes are on the way from me for sure!

[Freedom]

So many things to juggle all at once! Prayers for patience and calm during this hectic time. Sounds like you are on track to get the information and support you need.

Is the 2 pets max written in your rental agreement / lease? Was it always that way (you said many changes in management).
Then, how long have you been in 'violation?' Do NOT answer these questions on here, this is a public forum. But these are things your legal representative will need to know. Because the longer you have been in violation the stronger they can argue the management knew and looked the other way.

The legal clinic w/3rd year students is a great option for you, do follow up on that as well as all the other things you have to do. They are eager, chomping at the bit, and have plenty of oversight by seasoned attorneys.

[phesina]

So many things to juggle all at once! Prayers for patience and calm during this hectic time. Sounds like you are on track to get the information and support you need.

Is the 2 pets max written in your rental agreement / lease? Was it always that way (you said many changes in management).
Then, how long have you been in 'violation?' Do NOT answer these questions on here, this is a public forum. But these are things your legal representative will need to know. Because the longer you have been in violation the stronger they can argue the management knew and looked the other way.

The legal clinic w/3rd year students is a great option for you, do follow up on that as well as all the other things you have to do. They are eager, chomping at the bit, and have plenty of oversight by seasoned attorneys.

Thanks, Sandie, for the prayers and good wishes and advice. I'm having a hard time staying patient and calm, I'm afraid. I need to remind myself that getting all stressed out and worried is not going to help one bit.

I know the two pets max is in the official agreement. And I am looking forward to getting in touch with the legal clinic, once I know more just what is really going on here.

[phesina]

Thank you so much to all you good people for your prayers and good wishes and strengthening energies and warm encouraging thoughts.

They really mean the world to me. God bless you all.

Love ,
Pat (and cats)

[phesina]

Well, guess what...

I have this WiFi enhancer thing because the signal is not strong in my apartment.

Seems the brief power outage the other day must have knocked the enhancer off.. And this possibility just occurred to me now, after hearing my phone message from Crosstown Wireless saying everything was fine.

So sure enough, it was off.. and sure enough after I turned it back on, I'm online again!

DUHHH..

At least I don't have to be concerned about that at the moment (until the 31st, anyway)...

[phesina]

More prayers and good wishes. Were Bob and Elmer still out of the house when someone chose the corner instead of the litter pan? I don't see how they can give you a big hassle when you made a good-faith effort to respond to the first notice. If they're supposed to exchange the carpeting anyway ... would they wait till after you've finished your surgery and rehab? Since you did just have it cleaned. ((((HUGS))) and prayers and positive energies and good wishes!

Thanks, Elyse. Bob was out of the house Thursday night; Elmer left Friday morning. Friday after I got back from dropping him off was when I discovered the pee puddle.

That's what I think.. I made an absolute good-faith effort responding well over and above, and at ENORMOUS expense, to what they'd stated in the letter and then in my phone call to the manager.

The maintenance super said it: the whole carpet needs to be replaced. And that is on them to do, since they've never done it in my 12 years here and they are supposed to do it every 5 years.

I have a huge lot of stuff to move out of the way if the carpet is going to be replaced. Smaller things so they can move the furniture. Don't know if they'll want to let it go until after the surgery and rehab. This remains to be figured out just what is to happen when, and right now I need to hear back from them to know what's next.

Thanks for all the ((((HUGS))) and prayers and positive energies and good wishes!