Caretakers believe this is the first time "Tyson" the Tiger stepped on grass! The big cat was found in a small travel cage inside an abandoned #Houston home. Today he's safe at a @HumaneSociety rehab in #HendersonCounty #wfaa @KHOU #AnimalAbuse pic.twitter.com/7c21xEKpwG
— Sebastian Robertson (@wfaasebastian) February 13, 2019
Animal control officers, working on tips, found a tiger kept in the garage of an abandoned home in Houston on Monday. It is illegal to keep exotic pets in the city. The tiger was tranquilized and then transferred to the BARC Animal Shelter in its cage, which must have been the most exciting day at the Houston pound in recent memory. On Tuesday, the tiger had already found a home, and was shipped to the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch, which is equipped to handle exotic animals, including big cats.
An anonymous tipster reported seeing the animal about a week ago, according to BARC.
The tipster said they were at the house to smoke marijuana and thought they were hallucinating when they first saw the tiger, according to police.
The tiger was found in a "rinky-dink" cage in the garage, which was not locked, police said. The garage was secured with a screwdriver and a nylon strap, according to police.
Police are investigating to find the owner of the property and the tiger. -Thanks, WTM!