DID ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICERS ACT APPROPRIATELY?
MAY 4, 2026: East Gwillimbury, Ontario, Canada
WARNING DISTURBING CONTENT INVOLVING DEATH OF A DOG.
A neighbourhood is traumatized and demanding answers after a stray Rottweiler died during an interaction with Aurora Animal Services.
ALREADY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED & YOU’RE OUTRAGED?
Please contact:
- Aurora Chief Administration Officer: Doug Nadorozny email: DNadorozny@aurora.ca
- Aurora Mayor: Tom Mrakas email: tmrakas@aurora.ca
Your message can be as simple as stating you are horrified and respectfully request an investigation. It does not have to be long, the point is to have those who can bring about change realize that the public is concerned.
What should have been a routine call to safely retrieve two stray dogs instead became a prolonged and deeply disturbing incident witnessed by numerous community members.
Earlier in the day, reports were made regarding two dogs running at large.
A mother and daughter were able to safely secure both dogs on their private property. Witnesses state the dogs were leashed after being secured, provided water, and kept calm while waiting for Animal Services officers to arrive.
Video footage captured prior to Animal Services attendance appears to show one dog calmly tied near a bowl of water, while the second dog was being gently held by the daughter.
Our first question: Do these look like vicious dogs?
PLEASE NOTE: The Rottweiler is being held by someone who is a stranger to him — yet his tail is wagging. He’s panting because he’s hot and thirsty. Do you think he is acting agressively?
Aurora Animal Services officer Noemi Viszmeg attended the scene and was able to successfully load both of the dogs, into an enclosure on the truck.
But then removed the Rottweiler from the enclosure – in order to photograph him.
The dog went in easily with treats the first time but then when she attempted to re-load him he refused.
According to multiple eyewitnesses willing to provide statements, the first officer on the scene was then unable to safely re-load the Rottweiler.
A second Animal Services officer, Hailey MacGillvray was then called to assist.
What followed, according to multiple witnesses, was a prolonged and deeply distressing struggle in which officers used catch poles fitted with tightening looped cable restraints (nooses) around the dog’s neck while attempting to force him into the truck.
Witnesses state that officers were trying to lift him by his neck — via the ‘nooses’ — and that he began to gurgle as blood came from his mouth.
Witnesses report, the Rottweiler became increasingly panicked and distressed, repeatedly rolling and struggling against the restraints.
Witnesses report blood was pouring from his nose and mouth while TWO animal control officers, one on each of his sides twisted, tightened and pulled their catch poles/nooses in opposite directions.
Reports state bystanders called out that the dog was being strangled, and pleaded over and over again for the officers to stop what they were doing.
Those pleas were repeatedly ignored.
At one point it is reported that Officer MacGillivary went so far as to say “I don’t give a shit”.
Animal Services officers denied they were strangling or hurting the dog.
9-1-1 was called.
York Regional police arrived while the dog was still alive and insisted there was nothing they could do — even as the dog was being restrained by two nooses, struggling, gurgling and bleeding from his mouth and nose.
Several witnesses report the dog remained in visible distress for an extended period of time.
According to witnesses, officers attempted to load the obviously distressed dog for 2 hours.
Again…
Witnesses state blood was observed coming from the dog’s mouth and nose during the incident.
The dog ultimately collapsed and died at the scene while members of the public watched in horror.
Community members who witnessed the incident report being left deeply shaken and traumatized by what they observed.
A family has now lost their dog.
This incident raises urgent questions about:
- Aurora Animal Services animal handling protocols
- Officer training in canine behaviour, fear responses, and bonded animals
- Lack of compassion, patience and understanding of scared and distressed animals
- Use of force and restraint methods involving distressed but contained dogs
- Incident oversight, reporting, and accountability measures
The level of distress, duration of the incident, and outcome demand transparency and an independent review of what occurred.
A dog is dead.
A family is grieving.
The dog’s owners have claimed his body and a necropsy is being conducted.
A community is demanding answers.
OUTRAGED? PLEASE SPEAK UP!
- Aurora Chief Administration Officer: Doug Nadorozny DNadorozny@aurora.ca
- Aurora Mayor: Tom Mrakas tmrakas@aurora.ca
Your message can be as simple as stating you are horrified and respectfully request an investigation. It does not have to be long, the point is to have those who can bring about change realize that the public is concerned.
WERE YOU A WITNESS?
If you witnessed this incident, have video footage, or relevant information, please come forward.
P.S.
Members of the press are reminded there are multiple witnesses willing to go on the record – you are invited to contact us for more details.
Members of the public — YOU can help by sharing our Facebook post found here with your family and friends — AND please share the page you are currently on with members of the press.
5 thoughts on “A FRIENDLY DOG DIED”
I’ve dealt with that lady before she’s horrible
I can not believe that these officers do not know what they are doing and result is this loss of life
I have never seen such abuse by an individual that chose to work in the animal field, you should be charged for animal cruelty, animal abuse and any other charges that are related and be FIRED immediately. Alsi, you should be banned for life to never own or work with any type of animal, not even a earth worm.
I wish I was there, I can promise you I wouldn’t have just yelled for you to stop, please use your imagination.
Deplorable, Disgusting, Inhumane, Evil, Reckless, Inexcusable and the list goes on.
I’m sorry but there is no excuse for this kind of treatment. The dog was panicking due to snares around his neck. When you put a snare on an animal they can and will panick, all you have to do is loosen the wire so it’s not so tight but still have control of the dog. There is no excuse for this to happen. Over 20 years as an Animal Control officer I have never seen anything like this. I had a 180lb Neopolitan Mastif on the end of a 4ft snare pole picking him up for quarantine for biting the finger off his owner. This dog was on the end out on the end of my pole and I held it like a leash and waited until he hot tired and then walked him into the van. No choking no gasping for breath. Are these Officers not trained on snare poles or how to wrap a dog when putting them in your vehicle if you don’t know about the dogs behaviour? They should be charged with cruelty. I am thoroughly disgusted and horrifying at what I am seeing in those photos Seeing this and hearing about the uneducated Officers that don’t know how to do their jobs properly in handling animals scares me
I don’t see where the dog bit her on the arm! Sounds like BS to me!😡