SANTA ANA HEIGHTS : Neighbors Nervous, Even if Tony’s Tame

A 6-month-old Bengal tiger that eats 10 pounds of meat a day and spends much of its time lounging in a back yard has some neighborhood residents worried.

But the tiger’s owner, who has permits to keep the 100-pound cub named Tony at a house in the 1500 block of Indus Circle, says the cat poses no threat.

Marguerite Hogan and her husband, Thomas, said they were frightened to learn last week that their neighbor across the street was keeping the tiger cub in the back yard. The Hogans said they are so frightened that they won’t cook meat, fearing that the scent will entice the tiger.

“I am nervous about having a tiger living across the street,” Marguerite Hogan said. “Wouldn’t you be scared too?”

Tony is a Royal Bengal tiger that was brought to Santa Ana Heights last Thursday by Alan Pezzuto, who owns a ranch in Nevada and has 36 other exotic cats, including cougars and lions. The Bengal cub is in Orange County for a month of charity events and visits to area high schools, where it will pose for pictures.

Pezzuto said Tony is a fifth-generation captive cat and is accustomed to being around people. Pezzuto said he has all the necessary permits and takes every precaution to ensure that Tony does not escape.

“This is not a vicious critter,” Pezzuto said.

But like the Hogans, some residents worry that the tiger cub could break loose and maul children or pets.

“You never know about an animal like that,” said Bob Hanley, who also lives across the street from Pezzuto.

Judy Maitlen, director of Orange County Animal Control, said Pezzuto notified her office from Nevada before bringing the tiger into the county last week. She said the agency confirmed that Pezzuto has a permit from the California Department of Fish and Game to possess the tiger. Bengal tigers are on the endangered-species list.

County officials issued Pezzuto a one-month, exotic-animal permit and have inspected Tony and his cage.

When Pezzuto and Tony are not on the charity circuit, Tony lounges in a fenced yard behind the house. In addition to being chained to a tree while under supervision, Tony spends time in a chain-link cage.

Occasionally, Tony lets out a cry that startles the neighborhood, residents said.

“It sounds like a person screaming,” Marguerite Hogan said.

To calm and educate his neighbors, Pezzuto is inviting them over to his house on Saturday afternoon to pet Tony and take pictures.