SAN ANTONIO - Bexar County Sheriff's Office officials are saying a report about large exotic cats being on the loose in North Bexar County was false.
Bexar County Sheriff's deputies were sent to a home in the 27000 block of Okent Drive, near Blanco Road and Old Blanco Road around 9:00 a.m. Tuesday after receiving reports about large cats being loose on the property. Timberwood Park Elementary School was placed on lockdown after officials there were contacted by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. and told officers believed three white tigers could be loose in the area.
A Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesperson told News 4 WOAI when their officers arrived, they found three tigers inside their cages. However, the owner kept insisting he could see at least one running loose. The San Antonio Zoo was called and a three-person team was dispatched to assist with the capture of the cats. The officers continued searching the property but found no other exotic animals. They were then told two panthers were contained inside the man's bedroom, so they went inside to check. When they opened the bedroom door, they found two stuffed panthers.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office says the owner apparently became confused and may have been hallucinating. They asked him to get a medical exam, but said he refused. They said the man does have a license from the USDA to keep the three tigers on his property. They are now checking with the USDA concerning his ability to keep the license.
Neighbors told News 4 WOAI the man has had exotic animals on his property for at least 30 years. They said the tigers are the man's pets, but that he also made money by allowing companies to use for them advertisements.
