Woman who duct taped dog’s mouth shut charged with animal cruelty

The Facebook post showed the dog with tape wrapped around its mouth (Katie Brown/Facebook)

A North Carolina woman was arrested on Tuesday after photos a dog’s mouth taped shut sparked outrage online.

Katharine F Lemansky, 45, allegedly posted the photo on Facebook with the caption, “This is what happens when you don’t shut up!!!”

Fox 8 reports that she later posted another update saying, “Don't panic everyone it was only for a minute but hasn't barked since… POINT MADE!!!”

Katharine F Lemansky appears in a Facebook photo with her dog. Facebook (Katharine F Lemansky/Facebook)

Town of Cary Police worked across two states and investigated by Animal Control officers. After officials from Avon, Connecticut and the City of South Daytona determined Ms Lemansky lived in neither locations, she was arrested at Churchview Street in Cary where she was then charged.

Cary Police Captain Randall Rhyne said that "taping the dog’s muzzle shut was a terrible decision on Ms Lemansky’s part, and charging her with animal cruelty under North Carolina law was the right thing to do.” However, he said that upon inspection, the woman’s dogs appeared to be “very well cared for.”

“At the same time, it’s important to also note that our animal control officers who physically examined both Brown and her littermate found the dogs to be very well cared for, which is why we did not and could not remove them from the owner,” Captain Rhyne said in a statement Tuesday.

“The dogs are current on their shots, spayed, and microchipped. They are clean and well-nourished and appear to be comfortable in their surroundings. And there were no signs of injury to Brown’s muzzle, not even detectable hair loss.”

Ms Lemansky now faces a fine and up to 150 days in jail.