November 24, 1996 Loxahatchee, FL A cougar named Missy briefly escaped from the property she was being housed at by jumping over a 10-ft wall after a barrier fence fell down. Big Cats
November 19, 1996 Mesa, AZ A woman flushed her toilet and came face to face with a 6-ft-long boa constrictor. A wildlife expert removed the snake from the toilet. The snake, dubbed Johnny, was a “pet” that found its way into the sewer system. Reptiles
October 30, 1996 Penacook State, NH A “pet” monkey, Angel, bit at least 5 people on separate occasions, including a boy who lived in the neighborhood. Angel’s teeth were removed to prevent further bites. Primates
October 20, 1996 Los Angeles, CA An elephant attacked an assistant trainer during a training exercise at the Los Angeles Zoo, breaking three ribs and a collarbone. Elephants
October 13, 1996 Massapequa, NY A 50-year-old man who secretly kept 12 “pet” snakes at his home was bitten by a 1-ft-long poisonous viper on his left index finger while milking it for venom. The man was rushed to the hospital for antivenin. The police confiscated all 12 snakes (8 rattlesnakes, 2 African puff adders, an African rhinoceros viper, and another snake unidentified) and were attempting to relocate them to the Bronx Zoo. Reptiles
October 9, 1996 Las Vegas, NV Bonnie, an 8-year-old Bengal tiger at Keepers of the Wild, mauled her trainer when he fed her. The trainer underwent surgery on his feet and legs. Big Cats
October 9, 1996 Daytona Beach, FL A child riding an elephant at the Octoberfest festival knocked her head when she slipped in the seat and fell on her side. The girl was taken to the hospital for treatment of a possible concussion. Elephants
October 1, 1996 Queens, NY A 19-year-old man was killed by his “pet” python after the snake wrapped itself around the man’s neck. The snake was kept uncaged in the man’s apartment and was presumed safe since it never attacked the household cat. Reptiles
September 20, 1996 AZ A 3-week-old boy was admitted to the hospital with a fever, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea of 15 days’ duration. The boy was diagnosed with Salmonella, which he received from the family’s “pet” iguana. Reptiles
September 16, 1996 VA A “pet” iguana attacked his possessor by biting her nose. The woman required more than 30 stitches and $14,000 in plastic surgery. Reptiles