People keeping an 80 pound cougar in their apartment--it's now in a refuge

New York City apartments are small. But that didn’t stop people living in one from housing an 11-month-old cougar they raised from a cub. They recently surrendered the 80-pound animal, which has the potential to hurt people. The animal, named Sasha, spent this past weekend at the Bronx Zoo being looked over by vet staff, and then was sent off to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. Keeping a cougar as a pet is illegal, and the case is “currently under investigation” by police. The Humane Society of the United States was on scene with the owner who surrendered the 80-pound cougar Thursday night. Meanwhile, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and NYPD also worked toward the animal's safe removal from the home and transported her to the Bronx Zoo, where she was examined and cared for by veterinarians and staff over the weekend until her transport to an Arkansas animal sanctuary Monday afternoon. The cougar, nicknamed Sasha, is heading to Turpentine Creek, an accredited sanctuary where she will receive lifelong care.

Not sure who would keep a cougar as a pet...or why.