Man Finds Tiger In Abandoned House While Finding Somewhere To Smoke Weed

An overweight female tiger was found caged in an abandoned house in Houston on Monday.

Police said animal control received a call from an anonymous tipster who said he went to the house to smoke marijuana and found a tiger there. The tipster said he, along with few others, thought they were hallucinating when they first saw the animal.

"A concerned citizen called 311. They were trying to get into this house to smoke marijuana. We questioned them as to whether they were under the effects of the drugs or they actually saw a tiger. They saw a tiger in this building, this vacant house that's obviously been abandoned for some time," said Sgt. Jason Alderete, of Houston Police Department's (HPD) Major Offenders, Livestock Animal Cruelty Unit, ABC 13 reported.

The animal was found caged in a garage that was not locked but was secured only with a screwdriver and a nylon strap.

Lara Cottingham, chief of staff of Houston's Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department, said, "A pretty small cage inside basically a garage in a house that didn't look like it was in the best shape. So it was important that we get it out of that situation.”

When animal control reached the house, they found the tiger and immediately informed HPD. The police secured a warrant to get the tiger removed. The animal was tranquilized in order to move it out of the house.

The tiger was at the BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions and would be shifted to another facility Tuesday.

“There's an incredible network all across the United States and here in Houston and here in Texas. It's just finding the right combination and then transporting," Cottingham said, Click 2 Houston reported.

Heidi Krahn, executive director of the Center for Animal Research & Education said, “We made arrangements for the tiger to be transferred to another facility that is licensed to handle exotic pets. Finding a forever home for a tiger is not easy.”

In a statement, the Houston Zoo confirmed the big cat would not be placed there.

"The Houston Zoo is aware of the tiger found in southeast Houston today, Feb. 11; however, the Houston Zoo is not involved in this case, and is not receiving the tiger, as incorrectly reported,” the zoo officials said.

"The Houston Zoo is home to two Malayan tigers, Berani and Satu, and does not have capacity to receive additional tigers. Fewer than 3,500 tigers of all tiger subspecies remain in the wild today, according to the Tiger Conservation Campaign. Malayan tigers surviving on the Malay Peninsula are critically endangered with an estimated population of 300 remaining in the wild,” the statement added.

The incident was under investigation and it was unclear what charges the owner of the house could face.