Police Investigate Facebook Photo of Dog With Mouth Taped Shut

A woman allegedly posted a photo of her dog's mouth taped shut with duct tape.

ByABC News
November 30, 2015, 7:10 PM

— -- Police in Florida and Connecticut are trying to track down a woman after a picture of her dog with its mouth taped shut was posted on her Facebook page.

A post Friday from “Katie Brown” -- the name police said Katherine Lemansky uses on Facebook -- shows a Chocolate Lab with duct tape wrapped around its mouth, a statement from the South Daytona Police Department said.

The caption on the photo reads, “This is what happens when you don’t shut up!!!” After receiving negative comments and thousands of shares, another post appeared on Lemansky's page reading: “Dont panic everyone it was only for a minute but hasnt barked since... POINT MADE!!!”

Police said that because Lemansky identified herself as living in South Daytona on her Facebook page, the police department and city email and Facebook pages were bombarded with questions and concerns.

“The City Facebook postings reached 1.4 million people and received more than 19,000 comments and 600 messages,” police said. “The City brought in extra resources to handle the high volume of calls to the police station.”

According to police, Lemansky owns property in both Florida and Connecticut, making it difficult to determine where she is living.

“The local property in South Daytona appears vacant and is currently under code enforcement action,” police said.

In order to find her, the South Daytona police were working with the Torrington Police Department in Connecticut, which also received about 200 messages of concern on its Facebook page, Torrington Police Department spokesman Linas Venclauskas told ABC News today.

“Some of the posts were from Canada and all over the country,” Venclauskas said.

Venclauskas said investigators believe Lemansky was heading back to Florida after visiting family.

South Daytona police said they have reached out to Lemansky’s friends and family and requested that they “urge her to bring the dog into the nearest police station so that the well-being of the animal can be determined.”

Lemansky has not been charged, but both police departments said that once she is located, investigators will determine how to proceed.

South Daytona Police added: “It is important for everyone to know that this case is a high priority and will be handled as would any other criminal investigation.”

Lemansky could not be reached by ABC News for comment.