Just when you think you’ve heard enough terrible stories another one comes to the surface. Luckily this one had a happy outcome for the dog and not so much the cruel “owner.” Sarah Boothby, an Illinois woman, was issued a class A misdemeanor citation by local police after she posted a disturbing picture on her Facebook page.
The photo depicted Boothby’s dog with shoelace tied tightly around its muzzle. Boothby’s comment on the photo said, “When you chew up mommy’s shoe laces…” As dog owners, we all know that dogs will chew for a number of reasons, but most of those reasons are the fault of the owner and not the dog. Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs that can become a nuisance if left unaddressed. Regardless of the dog’s behavior, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to tie a dog’s mouth closed.
A screenshot of the disturbing post, which was quickly removed, along with her personal FB account:
Luckily, we’re not the only ones that were outraged at this photo. The Shiloh Police Department was notified by several concerned citizens, leading them to begin an investigation of animal cruelty. Officers found that the dog was otherwise in good health and well cared for and they state the dog’s mouth was tied approximately 45 seconds. Still, Boothby was rightfully issued a citation to pay for her poor judgment. Hopefully she will never do this again and changes her mind on how best to care for her canine companion.
