LINCOLN COUNTY, Wyo. -- A Wyoming woman is now defending 45-year-old Katharine Lemansky, the woman arrested in North Carolina after she taped her dog's mouth shut.
Attisyn Chadwick, of Thayne, Wyoming, even went so far as to post a video on Facebook taping her own dog's mouth shut.
The controversy started Friday when Lemansky, who had a Facebook page under the name “Katie Brown,” posted the photo with the caption, “This is what happens when you dont shut up!!!”
The photo had been shared nearly 400,000 times as of Saturday night, many calling for action to be taken against the dog’s owner.
Photo taken from Katie Brown's public Facebook page.
As of Sunday, it appeared the Facebook post was either deleted or made private.
Lemansky then wrote a second message on Facebook saying, “Dont panic everyone it was only for a minute but hasnt barked since… POINT MADE!!!”
Since then, authorities said they’ve been flooded with calls about her, according to FOX61.
Monday police in Cary, North Carolina, issued a press release saying they had arrested Lemansky and charged her with misdemeanor animal cruelty.
Now another woman is coming to her aid; Attisyn Chadwick, of Thayne, Wyoming, said she thinks the public needs to ease up on Lemansky, according to KTWO.
Chadwick posted a similar video on Facebook of her dog with duct tape around its snout.
She says she didn't do it to punish her dog but to show that the tape can be gently removed.
KTWO said Chadwick is now getting much of the same backlash Lemansky received.
Chadwick posted a public apology on Facebook on Monday night.
Tuesday the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office announced Chadwick would be charged with animal cruelty.
Cary Police Captain Randall Rhyne released this statement:
"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. 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. 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."
