CYPRESS, Texas – Police conducting an investigation found exotic and dangerous animals at a Houston-area home where a woman lived with a child.
The investigation happened on Sept. 26 in the 11000 block of Cypresswood Drive.
Houston Police Department officers said they were sent to investigate Trisha Meyer’s home after she tried selling a kitten to a man in California for $3,000, but never gave him the kitten after receiving the money.
When officers arrived at the home, they found several wild animals all roaming freely inside Meyer’s home, including three tigers, a cougar, a skunk and a fox, police said. They also said Meyer’s 14-year-old daughter was in the home during that time, police said.
Meyer also told police she had several monkeys, which can be vicious and had attacked someone previously, police said.
Police said she had permits for the tigers, but none for the skunks and foxes.
Meyer was arrested Nov. 7 in Pahrump, Nevada. She is charged with theft and child endangerment.
In Nevada, Meyer is accused of keeping three tigers in the backyard, as well as eight monkeys inside.
The tigers were in the backyard feeding on raw chicken. The backyard was contained by a 4-foot tall fence. A 17-year-old juvenile was supervising the feeding tigers, police said.
Meyer is being held on a $2,000 bail in the Nye County Jail.
According to Nye County authorities, Meyer will be extradited to Harris County in a few weeks.