Humane Society Awarded Custody Of Confiscated Tiger
Reporter: By Eli Ross
Email Address: eli.ross@kwtx.com
HAMILTON (February 24, 2009)—Hamilton County Justice of the Peace Judge James Lively has awarded custody of a tiger confiscated from a rural property earlier this month to the Humane Society of North Texas after the owner failed to show up for a hearing on the feline’s fate.
Sheriff’s deputies, assisted by Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens seized the adult Bengal tiger on Feb. 11 from a residence in Hamilton County.
Hamilton County Sheriff Greg Bewley says the tiger was underweight and was suffering from hookworms, but Lively said he has been assured with treatment, the tiger will be OK.
Bewley said after treatment, the tiger would most likely be taken to an animal sanctuary.
Hamilton County deputies had been investigating the case since Jan. 3, and that investigation led to 2842 County Road 203, where the animal was being kept.
The property owner’s name was not immediately released.
Officers reported the animal was confined to a cage that did not meet state standards for keeping a dangerous wild animal and based on violations of the state health and safety code and federal animal welfare laws seized the tiger.
