Carol Asvestas claimed that around 7:00am she heard her small dog screaming on the porch. When she ran out she saw the cougar attacking her small dog. Carol claimed she ran out and kicked the cougar who then took off running with another large dog chasing the cougar.
Sarah is approximately 11 years old and was supposed to relocate to Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia next week along with the last male cougar living at the Leslie Road facility, bring the total cougars transported to WRR to four cougars. Once the last two cougars leave for Kendalia, then there will be no more cougars living at the Wild Animal Orphanage.
Here are the initial news reports:
News links:
http://www.ksat.com/news/25852551/detail.html#story
SAN ANTONIO -- Law enforcement authorities were on the lookout Friday for an adult wild cougar that escaped from the Wild Animal Orphanage on the city's far Northwest Side.
Watch Jessie Degollado's Report - http://www.ksat.com/news/25852551/detail.html#video
At 1 p.m., Galm Elementary was under on a soft lockdown after a report of the animal being spotted nearby, but the report turned out to be false.
Carol Asvestas, the former director of the animal facility, told KSAT 12 News that the cougar showed up on the deck of her home in the 9600 block of Leslie Road and dragged a puppy away. An adult dog chased off the cougar and led Asvestas to a dry creek bed, where the puppy was. The puppy was injured and was being treated at a veterinary hospital.
Asvestas said the cougar escaped from a hole in an enclosure it was being kept in.
Police officers armed with tranquilizer guns and regular firearms are being joined in the search by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and staff members from the Wild Animal Orphanage.
The focus of the search is along a creek bed in a dense brush area that is low residential, said Sgt. Marcial Luvano of the San Antonio Police Department.
People who live in the area of Leslie Road and Loop 1604 are urged to remain inside. Anyone who sees the cougar is urged to call police immediately.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/wild_cougar_loose_on_the_northwest_side_109250074.html?c=y&page=1#storytop
Wild cougar loose on the Northwest Side
By Peter J. Holley - Express-News Web Posted: 11/19/2010 12:45 PM CST
Authorities locked down Galm Elementary School following reports that an escaped cougar is nearby, but as parents began to arrive to pick up kids at the end of the school day, the principal said it was a mistaken sighting.
Police continued to urge residents on the Northwest Side to remain indoors.
The cougar escaped from the Wild Animal Orphanage on Friday morning, which is about seven miles from the elementary school. It may be in a wooded area around Leslie Road and Loop 1604, police said, but the search was taking in a wider area.
A woman had reported seeing the cougar blocks from the elementary school but her description has persuaded authorities that she saw a bobcat or large house cat instead, said Galm principal Ben Muir.
School officials had pulled children inside from recess and locked classrooms after the reported sighting. They planned to release them to parents as classes ended at 2:45 p.m..
Residents of the Villages of West Creek, a neighborhood off Military Drive a half-mile from the school, said officers told them their area was searched and declared “cleared” but that they should remain indoors anyway.
Police warn that the animal, an adult female, is not domesticated. An adult female can weigh anywhere from 45 to 96 pounds and exceed six feet in length, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. School officials said they were told by police, however, that the escaped cougar was 120 pounds.
Police said they are securing the area and continue to look for the cougar with patrol cars and a helicopter. Details of the escape remain unknown, but police are asking residents to take precautions.
“We recommend everyone remain inside, if at all possible,” police department spokesperson Sandy Gutierrez said. If the cougar is seen, residents are asked to call police immediately.
The wildlife orphanage consists of two parcels, a seven-acre lot on Leslie Road and a 102-acre property on Talley Road, according to the organization's website. A message on the website says the facility is in the process of shutting down and relocating its animals to other facilities across the county.
Nearly 200 animals remain to be rescued from the Wild Animal Orphanage, including 20 more tigers, three lions, one black leopard and more than 100 monkeys.
News Researcher Kevin Frazzini contributed to this report.
I am very scared for Sarah - she must be hungry and very frightened right now. From what I understand, there was a "hole" in the cougar's enclosure that is located very close to the Asvestas' property line.
I have written before about my concerns of having the cougars (and at the time the Patas monkeys) living so close to the Asvestas' property line, especially since these cages, I was told, were tampered earlier this year (garbage thrown in the patas monkeys' cage, a water hose pushed under the Asvestas fence into the cougars' cage, etc).
I have no evidence that the Asvestas' had anything to do with the escaped cougar, but I can say this, it would not surprise me in the least if they did tampered with the cougars' enclosure resulting in this escape. Thankfully, only Sarah left the enclosure and not the male cougar.
And what I found odd is that Carol, while being interviewed on TV, had her hair and makeup in place and she did not look like she even shed one single tear for the "wounded" small dog.
If my dog was hurt and taken to the vet, I would still be at the vet with my dog. I would have NEVER have left my dog's side as all my animals are precious members of my family. Why did Carol get all "dolled" up for the media? It would not surprise me if there was an injured dog, if it was taken by "someone" (since Carol does not have a valid driver's license from what I understand) to the vet, it was probably taken to Dr. Ehrlund's clinic, so Dr. Ehruld can rack up all the bills (for treatment not needed or required) just so Carol Asvestas can sue the WAO for even more money!
And if this rumor is true, I'm truly sickened -- it is rumored that Michelle Cryer ran up to Carol Asvetas and gave her a hug saying she was "so sorry." From what I heard, Carol said something like, "let's just focus on finding the cougar." Oh yeah, I smell blood in the water, and it's not from the cougar.
Dear Jesus,
Please Bless and Protect Sarah the cougar. She is scared, alone, and could really use your Blessed Protection. Please help her return back to the WAO safe and unharmed. In you Wonder Magnificant Name I pray and ask it - Amen.
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