Woman charged after posting pictures of dog’s duct-taped mouth

SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) – A Salisbury woman has been charged after authorities say she posted pictures on Facebook showing her dog’s mouth sealed with duct tape.

Multiple news outlets report 25-year-old Kimberly Howell was arrested Wednesday and charged with animal cruelty.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office says Howell told an investigator that she thought it would be funny to put duct tape around the mouth of her young mixed-breed female dog.

Howell told officers that she removed the tape after she took the pictures. Howell told authorities that after posting the pictures, she received harassing comments on Facebook and removed the pictures from the site.

Authorities found no injuries or other signs of abuse or neglect on the dog.

Howell was released from jail on bond. It isn’t clear if she has an attorney.

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