Wayward dog climbs into Tiger area at Memphis Zoo

 

Updated: Jan 8, 2008 06:16 PM EST

 

A dog described as a lab or golden retriever is being treated for puncture wounds after climbing into the tiger area of Cat Country at the Memphis Zoo on Tuesday.

 

The dog ran into the zoo through a service entrance around one o’clock Tuesday afternoon.

After about 15 minutes of running from zoo workers, the dog leapt over this visitor barrier, swam through the tiger’s moat, and made it onto dry land in the tiger exhibit.

 

One of the two tigers in the exhibit attacked the dog leaving him with cuts.

 

“Our security team mobilized our team, curators and zoo keepers involved, used noise makers and smoke to help keep the two of them separate, once we were able to separate them the tiger saw that it’s night house was opened so it went in night house,” zoo spokesperson Brian Carter said.

 

The dog was able to walk out of the exhibit.

 

The tigers were taken off exhibit Tuesday to give them some time to cool down.

 

The Memphis Zoo says the tiger exhibit is made to keep the tigers in. It is not made to keep other animals, which aren’t allowed into the zoo, out.

 

The zoo said the dog did a have rabies vaccination tag on it’s collar.

 

The dog will be transferred to Animal Services who will then work to contact the dog’s owner.