Tiger Attacks Woman at Fund-Raiser

B O I S E, Idaho. Aug. 12 -- A woman was mauled by a tiger at a fund-raiser for Zoo Boise after the cat slipped through a cage door.

Janet C. Gold, 40, suffered a broken leg and puncture wounds inthe attack and was hospitalized in serious but stable conditiontoday, authorities said.

She also suffered a gunshot wound to the leg when police firednear the tiger to scare it away. Police are not clear whether thewoman suffered the wound from a direct shot or a ricochet.

The attack occurred Friday at a “Feast for the Beast” dinner.Patrons had been taken to a building which houses the cages for twoAmur tigers.

“Somehow, one of the tigers bumped open a gate on the cage andattacked the woman,” said Boise Police Lt. Jim Tibbs. “Everyoneelse ran out.”

Police Sgt. Rich Schnebly said another officer drew his gunwhile the woman was being attacked.

“The officer fired two shots over the tiger’s head. He couldn’tshoot at the tiger because he was afraid he would hit the woman,”Schnebly said.

The cat retreated. But when Schnebly and a zoo officialapproached Gold, the tiger advanced again. The policeman firedanother shot, the tiger backed into the cage and the men locked thegate.

The condition of the tiger was unclear.

Zoo Boise has two male Amur tigers, the largest cats in theworld. Males can weigh between 700 and 800 pounds when fully grown.