Woman charged after puppy, Chloe, found with mouth duct-taped shut

HOUSTON – A southeast Houston woman is accused of duct-taping her puppy's mouth shut in order to keep the animal quiet, police say.

Sherrise Damielle Reed, 33, is charged with cruelty to nonlivestock animals.

Houston police responded to a report of a dog whimpering on a patio at 15240 Galveston Road on the morning of Jan 30. 

Officers found the female puppy on the patio of the town home with its mouth taped shut.

Police said Reed received a noise notice three days previously and taped the dog's mouth shut to keep it quiet.  The puppy was emaciated, dehydrated and had not been fed for a couple of days.

The case was handed over to the Houston Police Department Major Offenders Animal Cruelty Unit to investigate, and charges were filed earlier this week.

A warrant has been issued for Reed's arrest and her bond has been set at $2,000, according to Harris County court records.

The puppy was placed in the custody of the city of Houston's Animal Shelter and Adoption Facility.  Employees at BARC named the puppy Chloe. She has since been adopted.