February 1, 2002 Loxahatchee, FL A 58-year-old woman was bitten on the head by a 750-lb Siberian-Bengal mix tiger named Bobo. Bobo was the pet of former Hollywood actor Steve Sipek. The woman, Carol Pistilli, survived but was in the hospital for two months. She sustained permanent damage to her face. Big Cats
January 24, 2002 Bound Brook, NJ A freedom-seeking “pet” iguana was blamed for igniting a fire that damaged an apartment complex by knocking over a heat lamp. Reptiles
January 17, 2002 Gentry, AR Two animal handlers at Wild Wilderness Drive Thru Safari were attacked while transferring cougars between cages. One handler received multiple bites to the arm and leg, and the other was bitten in the face. Big Cats
January 17, 2002 Hollywood, FL A 12-year-old boy lost the tip of his finger when his “pet” iguana bit it off. Reptiles
January 16, 2002 Bayview, TX The body of “pet” giraffe Winnie was found two weeks after she escaped from her enclosure on a ranch that sold tours. Other
January 16, 2002 Newark, DE The body of a 42-year-old man who lived with seven Nile Monitor lizards was discovered being eaten by his “pets.” Reptiles
January 14, 2002 Palm Beach, FL A 31-year-old man was bitten by a captive diamondback rattlesnake. He was treated at a nearby hospital. Reptiles
January 11, 2002 James City, VA A “pet” Arizona desert king snake escaped its enclosure and was still roaming the James River Elementary School. Reptiles
January 10, 2002 Knoxville, TN A “pet” monkey accused of biting a neighbor was held pending investigation. Primates