"With what appeared to be some type of white athletic tape," said Freeport Police Lt. Ray Garivey who says Freeport Animal Control officers responded after complaints by a next door neighbor at Old River Street and N. Avenue C.
That neighbor, Sydney Gay, says he and his wife had seen the dog with its mouth taped shut numerous times.
"This is wrong. I can't take it," said Gay of the dog chained to tree in the side yard next to his home. "He was trying to shake his head. Trying not to let them put it on, and whimpering."
"The husband and wife (owners of the dog) admitted that they taped the dog's mouth shut because the dog was barking too much," said Lt. Garivey.
The dog, named "Bear" is now in the custody of Freeport Animal Control and was scheduled to be checked out by a veterinarian Tuesday to make sure it didn't have any lasting injuries.
"Dogs cool themselves by panting, they have their mouth open. If he can't pant, you know he can't cool down," said Freeport Animal Control officer Tiana McPherson. "Food, water, and shelter, those are the basic necessities that any animal needs. And to be deprived of it is just cruel."
"Actually the owners said they didn't think it was (cruel)," said Garivey. "They compared it to a muzzle and they believed that taping the dog's mouth shut wasn't a problem."
Animal Control officers say a muzzle, compared to a tightly wound band of athletic tape, would have at least allowed the dog to open its mouth enough to breathe freely (and drink water).
11Alive's Houston sister station, KHOU, reached a woman identified by neighbors and police as the owner of the dog. She declined comment, said the dog was not hers, and drove away from the Freeport home.
Freeport Animal Control says the dog, if cleared by a veterinarian, will be offered for adoption or placed in a foster home while the Brazoria County District Attorney decides if criminal charges will be filed.
(WXIA-TV - Dec 9, 2014)
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