Tiger in Texas!!!

[s&wchad]

Not Tiger Woods, but a real tiger was found wandering in a Houston suburb. The news made it sound like a serious threat, but apparently it was only 3 months old and had the front claws removed. It was wearing a collar and dragging a leash.

One goofball with what looked like a Glock was giving it commands to stop. Fortunately, he didn't shoot it. I saw one report that claimed he was an off duty deputy, but I can't verify it. That video isn't forum friendly, so please don't post it.

A young couple with a child later spotted the cub and dad decided to approach it. According to the story, the cat charged him, put its paws on his shoulders and licked his face. His girlfriend then got out of the car and petted her. I hope mom didn't take her little girl with her. They held the young female until animal control arrived and claimed the young cat obeyed commands to sit and lay down!

This brings to mind a few questions...

Why would anyone keep a tiger as a pet? Cubs are cute, but adults can weigh over 500 lbs and eat you!

Where would you buy one? I don't remember ever seeing a Tigers R Us!

Would you approach even a 3 month old tiger cub that you're unfamiliar with, especially with your wife and child present?

...and lastly, is a bear gun suitable for tigers or lions?

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKLRHPkSYIQ[/ame]

 

[lihpster]

Tiger medicine. Google howdah pistol.

 

[6518John]

I think this is all the medicine you need for him:

PET FIT FOR LIFE 2 Guinea Feather Wand Cat Toy - Chewy.com

 

[old bear]

Why would anyone keep a tiger as a pet? Cubs are cute, but adults can weigh over 500 lbs and eat you!

Would you approach even a 3 month old tiger cub that you're unfamiliar with, especially with your wife and child present?

To insure they were included in the running for the 2021 Darwin award

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Time to check the Loads in those Howdah Pistols!

 

[Fishinfool]

Actually, I have heard there is a "glut" of tiger and lion cubs out there, and are not too hard to obtain if you do a little searching.

It's a shame they had the front claws removed, since I doubt she will be able to live with others of her species when grown.

I may be wrong, but there are some states that allow exotic pets like tigers, and I think Texas is one of them, so the owners might get her back.

A tiger as a pet? No thanks. I don't care how "sweet" she is, and friendly. Anyone who owns a domesticated house cat knows sooner or later you are going to get a "playful" nip, or a little rough play. "Playful" nip by a 500 lbs cat? No thanks.

That size, and under those conditions, leaving the family in the car, I probably would approach her, and try to get hold of the leash before some num nut shot her, but then I aint the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes.

Larry

 

[Muss Muggins]

.45-70? I hear it's good soaked in Italian and grilles with bacon . . .

 

[SteveA]

Its a style trend with drug dealers. We had some yahoos here with pet cougars, and I'm not talking the two legged variety. Things got dicey during a search warrant execution but the four legged animals weren't harmed.

 

[Rudi]

I always wanted a Tiger.

 

[GaryS]

I did medical support for a drug warrant service where the dealer was reputed to have a four foot long alligator in his basement. Apparently, he threatened rivals that he'd feed them to his alligator if they crossed him.

It was closer to three feet long, including the tail. State conservation officer took it into custody after duct taping it's snout shut. What happened to it, I don't know.

The drug dealer was arrested.

Its a style trend with drug dealers. We had some yahoos here with pet cougars, and I'm not talking the two legged variety. Things got dicey during a search warrant execution but the four legged animals weren't harmed.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I think ANYONE who de claws ANY cat ought to have the first joints of each of their fingers amputated since that is what declawing is. Ditto with removing dew claws or docking dogs tails or ears. Don't care what "the breed standard" is

 

[Rustyt1953]

I think ANYONE who de claws ANY cat ought to have the first joints of each of their fingers amputated since that is what declawing is. Ditto with removing dew claws or docking dogs tails or ears. Don't care what "the breed standard" is

 

[pharmer]

I watched the one "neighbor made" video. That cat got within 10 feet of the guy by the truck, TWICE. The guy shouldn't been out there but since he was, I'd have emptied my magazine way before it closed distance to 10 feet. Animal lover my ***. Joe

 

[TheHobbyist]

Imagine the size of that litter box...

No, thanks!

 

[arjay]

It's Texas [emoji38]

 

[Steve912]

Why would anyone keep a tiger as a pet?

Wasn't it in Texas, ten or fifteen years ago, that some
eccentric dude had a menagerie of lions, tigers, bears,
apes, etc---who let em all loose, and shot himself?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Wasn't it in Texas, ten or fifteen years ago, that some
eccentric dude had a menagerie of lions, tigers, bears,
apes, etc---who let em all loose, and shot himself?

That was in Muskingum County Ohio. 10 years ago this coming October.

Ohio especially Central and Southeast Ohio has a self perpetuating population of African Lions. The ODNR says we don't, but they show up often (since the mid 1970's) I would say our over abundance of deer keeps them well fed.

Ivan

 

[6518John]

African Lions in Ohio? Have you been partying over at Rusty's again?

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

Exotic animals in Texas are not as uncommon as people elsewhere might think. At this point, I'm not too shocked by anything around here anymore.

IIRC and FWIW such exotic animals are LEGAL in the state of Texas FOR THE MOST PART. City of Houston has an ordnance on the books prohibiting them. I don't think Harris County itself does (lot of people with weird stuff in the county).

According to the local news, the owner of the tiger is out on bail on a murder charge from 2017 and the authorities are actively looking for him (I highly doubt that, except maybe the guy becomes the big cat's din din.)

Awhile back, someone had a pet mountain lion escape up north in Montgomery County. You should've seen the truckloads of guys with everything from muzzleloaders to 460 Weatherbys out "helping" the sheriff look for the big cat....which one found and I think you can guess how it ended.

 

[Absalom]

A tiger? No. Just no. No matter how "cub". Tigers kill fully grown elephants on occasion. A grizzly is a teddy bear in comparison. Tigers are awesome, but only at a safe distance or in a secure enclosure.

Good video of tiger attacks is rare because people tend to get pre-occupied with things other than filming. The most famous is the one below, of a 2004 charge against Indian park rangers mounted on elephants. The mahout was incredibly lucky and only lost three fingers.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mWSIuTllSoA[/ame]