Police: Pot Smokers Find Caged Tiger In Abandoned House

HOUSTON (AP) β€” Houston police say some people who went into an abandoned home to smoke marijuana found a caged tiger.

They called police on Monday and the major offender animal cruelty unit and animal shelter volunteers arrived on the scene. Authorities nicknamed the tiger β€œTyson” after the movie β€œThe Hangover.”

Officials tell KHOU-TV the tiger was well fed, but the cage was secured by a nylon strap and screwdriver. Officials say it could easily open and the tiger could have gone on a β€œrampage.”

The tiger was taken to an animal shelter and will be transferred to an undisclosed animal sanctuary in Texas.

It’s legal to own a tiger in Texas if the owner has a wild game permit. But it is illegal to have a tiger in Houston.