An animal control worker in Michigan was convinced he was looking at a young tiger lying in a driveway, so he approached with care. He grabbed a pole and a shield, and called police.

Lucky for him, it was a stuffed animal.

The Grand Rapids Press reports that Kent County Animal Control received a call about a tiger in the driveway of a vacant Grand Rapids home.

Supervisor Joe Dainelis (dan-EHL’-iss) responded to the call, and when he spotted the animal, he grabbed his safety gear.

Neighbors also thought the lifesized, furry toy was real. But when co-worker Rachel Jensen approached from another direction, she realized there was nothing ferocious about the toy feline. Dainelis says he expects to be teased for a few days.

Source: The Grand Rapids Press, www.mlive.com/grand-rapids