Houston Chronicle – Houston’s tiger saga has come to a happy close, partially thanks to one local celebrity: Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s wife, Linda McIngvale.
India, the 9-month-old tiger who made headlines in Houston and across the country as police searched for the animal, was transported to BARC Houston on Saturday.
McIngvale helped facilitate India’s surrender from his handlers and presumed owners at her business, Club Westside, a West Houston fitness center that is also home to a few exotic animals, the Houston Chronicle’s Rebecca Carballo and Julian Gill report.
McIngvale said in a statement that she became acquainted with Victor Hugo Cuevas and his wife, Gia Cuevas when they visited Club Westside.
Linda McIngvale, who is married to Mattress Mack, said she and Victor and Gia Cuevas share a love of animals, with her giving them Capuchin monkeys. https://t.co/KQm73UWxiv
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) May 17, 2021
“I was contacted by Jarred Mears, the animal enforcement manager for BARC with the City of Houston to see if I knew them and could possibly help with the safe return of the tiger,” McIngvale said. “I was able to arrange, through the help of the Cuevas’ for the tiger to be located and anonymously delivered to us where BARC was on stand-by to receive. We are happy that the tiger is now safe and with the sanctuary and appreciate the Cuevas’ help in this matter.”
India is now at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch, an animal sanctuary with several other tigers.
“We are happy to take India back home to Black Beauty, where he would be taken to a half-acre naturally wooded habitat with a pool, trees, and a proper nutritious diet,” senior director Noelle Almrud said, according to Carballo and Gill. “Our goal is to provide the best quality of life for the rest of his life.”