[Update 11/30/2015]: The Facebook post that went viral, and involved varying police agencies has now been resolved, to a degree. The woman named Katharine F. Lemansky, 45, was arrested by Cary, NC police. Police stated Lemansky performed the duct tape punishment on her dog in their city. She has been charged with one count of Class 1 Misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals after her confession.
Cary Police Captain Randall Rhyne also said they could not remove the animals from Lemansky’s home, stating, “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. 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.” The charge can carry a fine, and up to 150 days in prison.
[Update 11:14 a.m. EST] The City of South Daytona is working diligently with officials, and is asking concerned citizens not to contact their dispatchers as they are aware of the case, and working through various channels to track Brown. You can follow the updates here on the city’s maintained Facebook page.
[Update: 8:08 a.m. EST] South Daytona City officials state Brown was in town briefly for vacation prior to departing. The city’s Facebook page reported they were advised the dog is doing “ok.” Concerned citizens are demanding Avon, Connecticut police respond to the picture Brown posted. It is rumored that is where Brown currently lives. On Brown’s Facebook page, she updated her status demanding to know who posted her truck online, and once she found out they would “be done.” A friend responded advising they are unfriending her due to the influx of messages received. Calls have been made to the potential residential police department with no significant response. Viral Global News will continue to follow this story.
[Original]: Katie Brown (pictured) from Connecticut, but was visiting in Florida to see her son, uploaded a picture on November 27 of her dog to Facebook. Unlike the sweet moments shared by pet owners, the muzzle of the dog was wrapped in duct tape as a form of punishment. Friends responded angrily, as others started sharing the post to bring awareness to the situation the dog endured. As of Saturday morning, the post has been shared more than 80,000 times. Depicting the domestic pet in such restraint poses dangers to the dog, and also breaks animal protection laws.
In response to the demands of friends who unfriended Brown, she tossed another post indicating a sense of justification in her stance. The South Daytona police department received hundreds of calls around the world as concerned Facebookers demanded the removal of the dog from Brown’s home.
The police department said they are currently looking for the woman, but have taken the calls, and messages seriously.
It is possible Katie Brown may be Katherine Brown, and it is possible she may be in Florida or Connecticut. Police have declined explaining further, advising they are looking into the situation but need to follow the proper protocols in doing so.
Brown claims her dog would not stop barking, and utilized the tape as a method to cease it. The story brings emotions to the surface, especially following the Caitlyn story. Earlier this year a concerned resident in Charleston, South Carolina contacted police after they spotted a dog’s muzzle shut severely with electrical tape. Caitlyn’s tongue was black, her mouth bleeding when authorities arrived at the scene.
The Staffordshire-mix was quickly placed under the care of the Charleston Animal Society. In time, officials located Caitlyn’s owner, William Leonard Dodson. The 41-year-old man was arrested, and charged with ill treatment of animals.
Currently, Caitlyn is with a foster family, and the Charleston Animal Society reports she is healing, and “doing great.” The chocolate pooch will have scars for the rest of her life, but hopefully enough love to wipe out the atrocities committed by her previous owner.
Brown has not updated her status following the photos, and rebuttal of taping her dog’s muzzle shut. We will follow this story as updates become available.