A fourth big cat has died at a North Texas animal sanctuary where officials are trying to stop the spread of canine distemper.
A spokeswoman for In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Education Center in Wylie says an 11-year-old male white tiger named Harley died Wednesday night. Lisa Williams says Harley's 9-year-old brother, Abrams, died Monday. A 12-year-old male tiger named Apollo and a 17-year-old lioness called Layla died earlier this month.
More than 20 exotic cats at the center have been diagnosed with canine distemper in recent weeks. Symptoms range from runny noses to seizures.
Wildlife officials are working with veterinarians on the outbreak. Experts believe the canine distemper was transmitted by wild raccoons.
The sanctuary is hosting an emergency bake sale on Thursday, July 18, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help all animals sickened with distemper. All proceeds from the sale will go toward treating the big cats.
The bake sale will be on the first floor of the Premier Place Building located at 5910 North Central Expressway in Dallas.
In-Sync Exotics hoped to raise $2,000, but the bake sale raised $17,400 on Thursday with every dollar matched from the center that hosted the bake sale.
