S. Florida Teen Recovering After Cougar Attack
CBS 4 - Miami,FL,USA
PALM SPRINGS NORTH (CBS4) ― A South Florida teen is recovering at home after being mauled by a cougar in a North Miami-Dade home Saturday.
The 4-year-old cougar named Chaos belongs to retired teacher Alan Rigerman. Rigerman owns has a second cougar, who is Chaos' mother, along with several snakes, tortoises and alligators at his home in the 17 thousand block of Northwest 84th Avenue. Jorge Pino, a spokesman for The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, says Rigerman is properly permitted to keep the animals at his home.
Miami-Dade police said the incident occurred when the 16 year old entered Rigerman's home with Anthony Zitnick, 21, around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. CBS4 news partners at the Miami Herald report Rigerman said Zitnick went into the house without his permission with a key he'd given him soon after Hurricane Wilma when he did yard work for the older man.
''He helped me with my cats under my supervision,'' Rigerman told the Miami Herald. ``But never, never, never alone.''
Neighbors believe Zitnick took the girl into the house because he was trying to impress her.
Richard Miralles said he was outside when he heard the girl scream. He rushed to the house and was shocked by what he found. The girl was lying on the floor, Chaos was on top of her with the girl's head in his mouth and declawed paw on her face.
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Alan Rigerman was very careless by giving access to a dangerous animal that his "gardner" was not licensed for! I hope the mother and family get all their medical and plastic surgery bills paid by the owner. I would definitely think their is a law suit in the making! Bruce....
ReplyDeleteHi Bruce,
ReplyDeleteThe owner was not there and Zitnick, according to reports, did not have permission to be there at all. Sounds like he was trying to show off to the 16 year old and it turned out badly. This should be a lesson on thinking before people do stupid things.