Tiger Found in Cage at Houston Home by Anonymous Caller Who Went There to Smoke Marijuana, Police Say

An anonymous tipster who reportedly went to a Houston house to smoke marijuana found a live tiger inside. Houston police Sgt. Jason Alderete told KTRK-TV that when the person called 311, officials asked if they were under the effects of drugs or actually saw a tiger. But the tiger was real and was being kept in a "rinky-dink" cage in an unlocked garage in the 9400 block of East Avenue J, police told Click2Houston.com. The garage was being secured with a screwdriver and nylon strap.Several packages of meat were found with the animal, KTRK reported.Houston police obtained a warrant to enter the home and on Monday, BARC animal enforcement officers retrieved the tiger, the shelter said in a Facebook post. Lara Cottingham with BARC told the Houston Chronicle that the caller was reportedly concerned the female tiger was being held in a cage that was too small.Cottingham said a wildlife refuge can take the tiger, but not until Tuesday so it will be spending the night at the BARC shelter "safely secured from our other animals."  Continue reading...