A full-grown tiger running loose in a Georgia neighborhood was fatally shot by police Wednesday morning who are now trying to determine where the huge animal came from.
Henry County police were forced to close a portion of Interstate 75 after receiving several 911 calls about the jungle cat wandering near the northbound lanes on the highway in the city that’s roughly 30 minutes from Atlanta.
The striped feline apparently then made its way to a residential area near Jodeco Road where it jumped a fence around 6am.
The huge cat ended up in the backyard of a residence where it chased Brittany Speck’s dog named Journey before attacking it, CBS 46 reported.
A full-grown tiger (above) running loose in a Georgia neighborhood was fatally shot by police Wednesday morning who are now trying to determine where the huge animal came from
Police were forced to close a portion of Interstate 75 after receiving several 911 calls about the jungle cat wandering near the northbound lanes on the highway (above)
Authorities say they were forced to shoot the tiger because they did not want the homeowner or her children to come outside of the home and get hurt.
‘With the tiger in close proximity to a school bus route in a densely populated area, officers made the decision to put the animal down with gunfire fearing that occupants of the home could be in danger as well as others in the area,’ a statement from police reads.
In addition, officers did not have tranquilizer guns at the time and were also worried about children who would be traveling to school, WXIA reported.
Speck told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she was inside the home when she heard Journey, who is a Dachshund, ‘going crazy in the backyard.’
The concerned mother spotted the feline in her back yard as it jumped the fence and began attacking Journey.
The tiger eventually made its way into Brittany Speck’s backyard and attacked her dog (above together). Officers then shot the tiger dead, as they did not have tranquilizer guns
Authorities say they were forced to shoot the tiger dead (above) because they did not want the homeowner or her children to come outside of the home and get hurt. Police are asking anyone with information on where the feline came from to come forward
‘It was like a full-grown zoo tiger,’ Speck told the newspaper. ‘And the officers I guess just started firing rounds and took it down and then gave me my dog back.’
Journey survived and only suffered minor injuries, she added.
Zoo officials in Atlanta said that the tiger was not one of theirs.
‘Our two Sumatran tigers are definitely accounted for,’ zoo spokeswoman Rachel Davis said.
Officials with Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary said in a Facebook post that the tiger did not come from their facilities either.
Zoo officials in Atlanta said that the tiger was not one of theirs. Officials with Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary said in a Facebook post (above) that the tiger did not come from their facilities either
‘Noah’s Ark was contacted by Henry County Police with reports of a loose tiger on I-75,’ the post reads.
‘We responded immediately and were on the way to the scene with hopes of chemically immobilizing the tiger and bringing it to Noah’s Ark. Unfortunately, human life became at risk and the tiger was shot by the authorities.
‘All of our tigers are accounted for. Thank you to the officers for trying their best to bring this animal to safety.’
Gerri Yoder, Henry County’s animal control director said: ‘No idea where she (the tiger) belonged. There are a lot of theories, but who knows?’
Anyone with information on where the tiger came from is asked to call Henry County police at 770-288-8200 or Henry County Animal Control at 770-288-7387. Tipsters can also call the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.