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Katharine Lemansky, better known by her social media moniker, Katie Brown, was charged with animal cruelty last November when she wrapped duct tape around her chocolate Lab’s muzzle and posted a photo to Facebook with the caption, “This is what happens when you don’t shut up!!!”
The photo outraged animal lovers who demanded justice for the pup, whose mouth was wrapped tightly enough that she could not bark, pant, eat or drink. A flood of calls, messages, and emails to police sparked an investigation that spanned three states before Lemansky was finally found in Cary, North Carolina.
On Friday, Katharine Lemansky finally appeared in court where she faced animal cruelty charges for the incident.
In court, Cary Animal Control Supervisor, Shelly Smith, said Lemansky admitted duct taping the dog’s mouth, calling it a joke and saying it was a way to stop the dog from barking. Lemansky claimed to have accidentally posted the picture to Facebook, meaning to only send it to her son.
She said the duct tape was only wrapped around the dog’s muzzle for 15 to 20 seconds.
Shelly Smith examined the dog, Brown, after the incident last November and found her to be in good spirits, in good health, and not suffering any hair loss or swelling as a result of being duct taped. Lemansky was permitted to keep her dog, despite being charged with animal cruelty.
For her act of animal cruelty, Lemansky was sentenced to 12 months supervised probation, but the judge immediately suspended the sentence, meaning although the charge and sentence are public record, she will not have to serve any of her sentence.
She will be responsible for court fees.
MCH
says:I don’t think the judge made a smart decision, that’s for sure! It was the least she could have received-this sends out a message of a weak system. We love animals, and we want kind people to care for all animals. If anyone sees unkind acts please report immediately. Young people are different nowadays, there are so many with mental illness and are just darn right mean to animals, and humans. Allowing people to do harm to an animal is allowing that person to someday do harm to any living creature or a human. Be wise and care, don’t not do anything. Thanks in advance.
laura
says:And she keeps the dog … wow.
The dog had tape on his mouth 20 mins and no sign of having any sore mouth or anything
Most people are cruel to there pets.
Beat hurt then and people do shit all about it
Some dogs go with out water for more than 20 mins. Left in cars. Tied up all day
She should be in. Jail!she should never own a pet ever! The state in which she lives needs to change their cruelty to animal laws for Christ sakes! What is wrong with you people?
I guess the best we can do is hope the people involved in the investigation can be trusted. People do stupid shit. I hope she learned a lesson.
It’s on permanent record. If it happens again. Hang her.
Bonnie Bradshaw
says:there is no way this woman should be allowed to keep that poor dog….God knows what else she will do to the poor thing…this is not an appropriate sentence…there is nothing funny about this at all…duct tape her mouth shut…she how much fun she thinks it is then…
GKL
says:I totally agree.
Pitbullmomma
says:WTF??? She’s allowed to keep the dog she abused and she gets her sentence dropped? Maybe karma will perform some social justice to this evil bitch. Karma’s coming for you and I hope its a painful lesson.
Robyn Snowden
says:She should not have been allowed to keep the dog and should have had some jail time. It would have also been appropriate to have her assigned to do community service at a facility that rehabs abused animals. Maybe if she saw how cruel others have been to animals her cruelty might haunt her for life.
Sherri LeBel-Kruy
says:All I have to say is “Are you kidding me”?
Reeni
says:Really? Who’s to say the tape wasn’t on longer than 15 seconds. The dog should have been removed. Ugh! Nobody is serious about animal cruelty! When is this going to stop?
Pam Thimack
says:Totally not satisfied with no justice served for this precious dog.
So they checked the dog and it seemed fine and there was no swelling. She said it was only a joke meant for her son. Really? Is the court system blind to the “fact” that she DID INTENTIONALLY duct taped the dogs mouth shut (and don’t believe it was a few seconds. One second is one too many and took a picture for goodness sakes?!)
No, she should have had the dog taken from her, never permitted to own another animal, EVER. And she should have spent jail time.
Period!
SueBee
says:This saddens me. Greatly. Dogs – and other animals – are treated like inanimate objects by some people. Research has shown, over and over, they are thinking, feeling caring, loving, dedicated animals. On a different level, but just like we human animals.
Jean Cervi
says:She should not be allowed to have animals since her level of respect and caring for them is below zero. One very demented person.
The punishment doesn’t fit the crime. How do courts expect to stop this kind of abuse when all the criminals gets is a pity patty on the hand and absolutely no detourment from doing it again. The makes me angry that once again it’s the animal is the only thing that did any suffering.
SHE NEEDED PUNISHMENT AS WELL AS HAVING THE DOG REMOVED FROM HER AND NOT ALLOWED TO EVER OWN A PET AGAIN, PERIOD! IF THE COURTS ARE NOT GOING TO SERVE JUSTICE ON ANIMAL ABUSE, THIS SICK BEHAVIOR IS NOT GOING TO STOP AND MORE AND MORE ANIMALS ARE GOING TO SUFFER FROM SUCH ABUSE. HAD SHE DONE THIS TO A CHILD, YOU BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR SHE WOULD BE PUNISHED AND RIGHTFULLY SO. HOWEVER, ANIMALS ARE LIVING, FEELING, BEINGS, YET CANNOT USE THEIR VOICES TO REPORT SUCH ABUSE. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE IMMEDIATELY!!!
teresa
says:this is bull crap for one thing she should not be able to keep her dog and for another thing she is not really paying for what she did NO JUSTICE!! she is getting off with a slap on the hand this is not right!!!
BellaDonna
says:I hope someone “rescues” the dog.
David
says:Ban her from owning any animal for life. She is a sadistic individual!
The “public record” is an appropriate sentence. She will carry it around forever and should she repeat, the hammer will fall.
Irene butler
says:Why why why is she allowed to keep the dog? No justice!!