“...can you imagine how the neighbor feels...”
I know, I feel really bad for him. I once had a neighbor who kind of neglected her kid. She didn’t abuse him, she sent him to school, but she neglected him. He once ended up sleeping at my house and I don’t know if the mother had any idea where he was. He was about 6 years old, maybe.
I thought long and hard about calling child welfare (and my sainted father was a child welfare worker in NYC for many years) but I decided not to. The woman had family, etc. and I just couldn’t believe that involving the state wouldn’t have made things worse for the kid.
It’s a shame we have to think that way, but we do.
You were correct in your decision I don’t know of ONE THING that the government has NOT screwed up!!! It used to be the military however lately they have their tentacles in there screwing it up also!!! I feel very badly for that little boy who stayed at your home, but I can guarantee you in the hands of the state he would have been worse off!!! God bless you for watching over him when you needed to!!!