Bobcat back home with owner in Beach Haven West

BEACH HAVEN WEST, N.J. (WPVI) -- Ginny Fine of Beach Haven West couldn't be happier. That's because Rocky, her 38 pound hybrid bobcat, is back home.

After Rocky escaped several times over the last year or so, a judge ordered the cat held at the Popcorn Park Zoo until Fine could prove she can stop this hairy Houdini from escaping again.

"He is very happy to be home," Fine said. "I've been visiting him at Popcorn Park and his personality is completely different. So very quickly came back into being his normal personality, which I was concerned about. It was 56 days he was gone."

Not only is there a cage with a roof for Rocky to roam around outside, but Fine has installed a double door vestibule system in her house.

"They work as the first system of doors," Fine explained.

It's the same concept used and prisons.

Ginny says, "It's a safety mechanism just in case the animals should ever get out. My lawyer said that if he gets out now he's not Rocky, he's Houdini."

To get Rocky back Ginny pleaded guilty to one count of letting an animal run at large. She's paid a $250 fine, plus court costs and had to reimburse the zoo almost $500 for taking care of Rocky.

That's not to mention construction costs and attorney fees.

Fine says it's worth it.

"I missed him an awful lot. He's a high maintenance pet - needs a lot of care. There certainly was a huge chunk missing from the home without him," she said.

Ginny Fine is hoping all of the new security works because the judge made it clear that if Rocky escapes one more time she'll have to give up the bobcat - permanently.