July 19, 2007 Guilford County, NC A large cat, either a bobcat or a lynx, was spotted by a passerby in a minivan at a local auto auction. The passerby called Guilford County Animal Control because the animal was exposed to severe heat being locked in the van. The van’s owner received a $50 citation and his sister, the possessor of the cat, might also have been cited. Authorities were checking on the legality of owning an exotic cat in the woman’s hometown in Georgia. Big Cats
July 17, 2007 Bellingham, WA Otis, a “pet” squirrel monkey, was turned over to a local veterinarian after his fugitive “owner” was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail on two warrants. Primates
July 17, 2007 Magnolia, OH Two bear cubs were found dead and their possessors believed someone may have killed them. The local police chief inspected their facility and said that there were feces everywhere and he believed the cubs may have died from dehydration. An investigation continued. Bears
July 16, 2007 Holly Hill, FL A 15-ft-long python was captured in a residential neighborhood. The trapper who caught the snake arranged to have him transported to Native Village, a small private zoo in Hollywood, Florida. Reptiles
July 16, 2007 Juneau , WS A baby kangaroo in a diaper was found safe over the weekend, two hours after being reported missing from an exotic animal farm, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Other
July 15, 2007 Oakley, CA A 3-ft-long alligator was taken to his new home at an exotic animal education facility in Petaluma. The alligator was sighted and captured in a neighbor’s front yard. Reptiles
July 14, 2007 San Antonio, TX A zookeeper at the San Antonio Zoo was attacked and critically injured by a 5-year-old Sumatran tiger, Berani. Several zoo visitors witnessed the attack. A spokesperson for the zoo asserted that nothing would be done to Berani. Big Cats
July 14, 2007 Norfolk, VA A 1-year-old red panda, Yin, escaped from her enclosure at the Virginia Zoo for the second time in under a month. Yin was found in a tree not far from her exhibit. Zookeepers climbed the tree to coax her down. Yin was placed in a holding facility until keepers could determine and remedy additional escape routes. Bears
July 14, 2007 Waxahachie, TX An 18-year-old Red Oak man was taken into custody relating to the 07/05/07 shooting death of a zebra on HiView Farm near Rockett. The man was charged with cruelty to animals after officers recovered a .30-30 rifle, shell casing, and the bullet from the zebra’s body. Other
July 13, 2007 Spokane, WA A baby American alligator escaped from his possessor’s home and was found at a neighbor’s house. An animal pest company retrieved the alligator and he was being held at Animal Control along with another alligator that belonged to the same person. It is against the law to own any reptile in the crocodilian family in the City of Spokane. Reptiles