Police: Woman taped dog's mouth shut, posted photos on Facebook

Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY Network

A North Carolina woman was charged with animal cruelty after she taped her dog's mouth shut to keep it from barking, according to police.

Kimberly Ann Howell, 25, of Salisbury, N.C., took pictures of the incident and posted them on Facebook on Sept. 28, with the caption, 'hah hah,' according to a statement from the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.

The pictures were reported and investigators went to Howell's home to check on the animal.

Howell said she wrapped duct tape around the dog's mouth and posted several of the photos on Facebook as a joke.

"Ms. Howell stated that she immediately began receiving harassing comments via Facebook and took the photos off," according to the statement.

She told police that she only left the duct tape on long enough to take pictures, and then removed it.

The mixed breed dog appeared to be "healthy" and did not have any injuries or signs of neglect, according to Ryan Barkley, who investigated the incident.

Howell was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals and was also served with an outstanding order for arrest for two older traffic charges, according to the statement.

Barkely consulted with Animal Control, and concluded that because there were "no apparent injuries or signs of neglect or mistreatment," the animal could remain with Howell, the statement said.

The incident comes just months after a 15-month-old dog was found in Charleston, S.C., with electrical tape wrapped around its muzzle.

In that case, "the tape was so tight that Caityln's tongue was caught between her teeth, stopping blood flow to her tongue," the Charleston Animal Society wrote on its Facebook page. She has since recovered.

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