³ÉÈËXÕ¾

A Gig Harbor man faces felony animal cruelty charges for allegedly duct taping his dog’s mouth shut to get him to stop barking.

Pierce County prosecutors say Paul G. Sweeney, 57, pleaded not guilty Tuesday and was released on his own recognizance.

The trouble started when someone spotted Sweeney’s dog Daisy in his backyard with its snout taped shut, foaming at the mouth, according to court documents. The passerby reported the dog also had tape around its front legs.

A Pierce County sheriff’s deputy called to the home found the dog lying on the ground with its snout and legs taped.

The deputy reported Sweeney told him he had taped the dog to keep it from barking and digging up his yard.

After the deputy ordered Sweeney to remove the tape, the suspect told an animal control officer Daisy had been taped for “about four hours.” The court documents say the dog whimpered in pain as Sweeney removed the tape.

Sweeney reportedly told the officer he’d taped the dog’s mouth shut once or twice before.

The animal control officer reported the dog had been left in full sun with no drinking water and was foaming at the mouth, a sign of heat stroke, records say.

Daisy reportedly made a full recovery after some water and rest in an air-conditioned room.

Sweeney the charge against him is “so wrong.”

His son Zak Sweeney told the News Tribune “his father is a good man who has never been cruel to Daisy, who is known to chew off retail muzzles the family uses to try to control her barking.”

Zak Sweeney said the family has had the 2-year-old Doberman Pinscher since it was a puppy. He said Daisy always “has access to shade, food and water and is groomed once a month.”

He also disputed the accusation Daisy was taped for four hours.

“There’s nothing wrong with the dog,” Zak Sweeney said. “The dog was fine.”