The owner of a dog has been given a formal warning for leaving it muzzled and unable to drink or eat while she was out shopping, an act which amounted to neglect.

Muzzling can only be done for short periods of time when the dog is a threat to the public

She has also been slapped with a fine of €300 because the dog, a mixed breed, eight-month-old female, was not microchipped, Animal Welfare Department director Joseph John Vella said.

The department was alerted to the dog’s plight after a photo made the rounds on Facebook last week.

It gave the impression that its mouth had been taped shut.

Some questioned how people could be so cruel to animals. One person wrote: “What type of monster does this?”

Others pointed out that it did not seem the animal was taped but was wearing a proper muzzle. They called on commentators not to pass judgement before having the facts in hand.

Last week animal welfare officers headed to Swieqi, where the dog was kept in an internal yard, to see for themselves.

They found that the dog’s mouth was not taped but muzzled. The owner told officers she muzzled her pet while she went out shopping so that the dog would not bark and disturb the neighbours.

The dog seemed to be well looked after, well-fed and healthy, Mr Vella said, adding it was not illegal to muzzle a dog. However, this could only be done for short periods of time when the dog was a threat to the public.

Muzzling the dog and leaving the house amounted to neglect.

For this the owner had been warned, he said.