August 1, 1997 Beaverdam, OH An employee of Allen Bros Circus was charged with four counts of animal cruelty for leaving two Bengal tigers and two lions for over eight hours in a disabled trailer with no access to water. Authorities impounded the vehicle and took the animals to the Toledo Zoo. Big Cats
July 12, 1997 Hartford, CT A “pet” monkey was going for a walk when he broke free and wandered into a neighboring yard. The monkey jumped onto a woman’s head and grabbed her hair and then bit her on the arm. Primates
July 3, 1997 Pompano Beach, FL A woman awoke in the middle of the night with a 5-1/2-ft-long rainbow boa constrictor across her shoulders and legs. Police captured the boa and took it home to a “foster” cage. It was presumed that the snake was a lost “pet.” Reptiles
June 28, 1997 Seagoville, TX A man who entered the animal area for Clyde Bros. Johnson Circus was attacked by an elephant and suffered a broken arm and dislocated shoulder. Elephants
June 7, 1997 Bridgton, ME A “pet” monkey bit and scratched a woman in a supermarket checkout line. This same monkey bit a child in 02/96. Primates
May 28, 1997 Scappoose, OR A “pet” leopard escaped its cage and attacked a neighbor. The neighbor was hospitalized with deep puncture wounds to her neck. Big Cats
May 27, 1997 Little Rock, AR Two gorillas at the Little Rock Zoo escaped from their cage during the night and remained loose in the room next to their outdoor area until they were discovered the next morning by zoo employees. One gorilla was darted and both were led back to their cage. Primates
May 8, 1997 Gainesville, TX An elephant at the Frank Buck Zoo crushed her handler to death when he entered the animal’s pen to move her to another pen. Elephants
May 7, 1997 Carrollton, PA A 400-lb tiger with Frazen Bros Circus killed his trainer by pouncing on him and dragging him around the ring by his neck in front of 200 kids. Big Cats