IRVINE, Calif.—A 21-year-old Irvine woman accused of taping shut the snouts of her dogs to prevent them from barking posted bail and was released from jail May 31.
Gabriela Barrera was booked on suspicion of animal cruelty on Saturday, Irvine Police Department Sgt. Karie Davies said.
Police were called Saturday when a resident heard dogs whimpering on the patio of a home on Eastshore and then noticed that multiple canines had their snouts taped shut, Davies said.
When officers arrived they saw one dog on a patio with masking tape wrapped around its snout, Davies said.
Barrera arrived home then and told officers she taped the snouts shut to keep the pets from barking and nipping at other dogs, Davies said.
Police found seven dogs in the home with three having their snouts taped shut, Davies said. There were three adult female dogs, two adult male dogs, a female puppy, and a male puppy, and they appear to be husky or husky-German shepherd mixed-breed canines, Davies said.
Police suspect the dogs’ snouts were taped for more than two hours, Davies said.
All of the dogs were taken away and examined by a veterinarian and appear to be in good condition, Davies said.
Barrera listed her occupation as “caregiver” in jail records.
