THE COLONY, Texas -- A Texas man has been arrested after police say he taped the muzzle of his brother's dog shut -- and the dog died.

The 1-year-old black Labrador retriever -- named Bull -- was euthanized after suffering from heat stroke.

Police said Richard Swift of The Colony, near Dallas, taped the dog's muzzle shut last week to stop him from barking so he could sleep.

Swift was arrested two days later on a felony animal cruelty charge. He's free on bond. If convicted, he faces up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

An official with the SPCA of Texas told The Dallas Morning News that the taped muzzle kept the dog from panting. Panting allows dogs to cool down, since they don't sweat like humans. full story...