If you want to talk about bad parenting...

[buttmunch]

CLEVELAND Oct 10, 2005 — An attorney for two parents who kept some of their 11 adopted children in cages at night released photographs showing the kids laughing and playing in a home full of toys and gifts.

Attorney David Sherman said the 20-plus photos he shared with The Plain Dealer demonstrate that allegations of neglect and abuse against his clients are unfounded.

Michael and Sharen Gravelle adopted youngsters with ailments such as autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, HIV and pica, an eating disorder in which children compulsively eat nonfood materials such as dirt and rocks.

Authorities say the couple put some of the children in homemade wooden cages to sleep and as punishment during the day. The couple have denied harming the children, and no charges have been filed while authorities investigate.

"This case has been very one-sided from the beginning," Sherman told the newspaper for a story published Sunday. "There is absolutely no basis of child abuse or neglect. These are happy children."

The children, ages 1 to 14, were taken from the Gravelles last month and placed in foster homes.

Sherman said the children were not caged but kept in "enclosures" built around bunk beds to stop them from doing things such as setting fires, eating batteries and cutting themselves.

The photographs show sleeping quarters with mattresses and sensors that would sound an alarm if a child opened the door.

Huron County Sheriff Dick Sutherland said the photographs reflect the conditions he saw in the house, about 50 miles west of Cleveland. But Sutherland said a photo can't tell the whole story. "You can't photograph the smell," he said.

Sherman said odors in the house were caused by the children urinating in heating vents, which he attributed to their disorders.

Huron County Prosecutor Russ Leffler said a criminal investigation continues. He declined to comment on the photos. He has said he's waiting for psychological exams of the children before taking the case to a grand jury.

Ok, does anyone actually agree that putting a child in a cage for punishment is acceptable? Because if you do, I will personally hunt you down and lock you in a cage until you stop being a moron.

[muchlove]

If they can't find a way to handle the kids with the use of kennels, then they shouldn't have the children.

[BlueEyesCryin]

Muchlove, did you say that right? Or am I just not understanding?

[muchlove]

lol... I don't know, I haven't been to bed.

I just mean that if they can't figure out how to handle special needs kids without wrangling them into cages, they shouldn't have taken on the responsibility in the first place.

[BlueEyesCryin]

Right on! and go to bed already ...

[LynnieD]

How scary are people???

[*trina*]

awww those poor kids