A South Carolina man who taped the mouth of a dog shut pleaded guilty to animal cruelty on Aug. 8.
Local newspaper Post and Courier reported that William Leonard Dodson of North Charleston pleaded guilty to a felony charge of ill treatment of animals. Dodson faces between 180 days and five years in prison, and he could be fined as much as $5,000 when he is sentenced.
According to an affidavit, Dodson purchased the dog—then named Diamond—from a woman for $20. The following night, he told the woman he taped the dog’s mouth shut because it wouldn’t stop barking and apparently was laughing about what he had done.
The severely dehydrated 15-month-old brown Staffordshire mix was found by neighbors on May 27, 2015, with electrical tape wrapped tightly around its muzzle.
Pictures of her taped muzzle went viral and since its discovery, the dog—now named Caitlyn—has been in the care of the Charleston Animal Society (CAS).
