North Texas, Summer 1997: Lexie, a one-year-old female cougar, was chained to a tree in her owners' backyard. During a thunderstorm, she panicked and jumped through a window on her owners' trailer. She broke the glass and deeply lacerated her rear leg in two places.

Lexie spent 4-5 days in this condition because her owners were on vacation! Finally, she was seized by authorities and taken to a local veterinarian. He cleaned her wounds, started her on some much needed antibiotics and sent her on her way to the sanctuary. Once at the sanctuary, she continued her course of antibiotics and underwent  several weeks of hydrotherapy.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)   

The condition of Lexie's leg when she was taken to the local vet.

2004: After Lexie recovered, she was spayed and then gradually introduced to the other cougars living at the sanctuary in a large natural enclosure.

Left: Several cougars sunbathing in a portion of their large enclosure. Lexie is playing hide-n-seek under the right hidespot.

Right: Lexie, about 30 seconds later.