JUSTICE FOR HEINIU
Dog alive.
Tail wagging.
Aurora Animal Control arrived.
Less than 2 hours later…
Heiniu was dead.
JUSTICE FOR HEINIU
East Gwillimbury, Ontario: Video captured on May 4, 2026 shows Rottweiler Heiniu with a relaxed body, a wagging tail, and no obvious fear of the strangers handling him — and no signs of any aggression. (There are NO gory images in the 2 videos featured immediately below.)
DO THESE LOOK LIKE VICIOUS DOGS?
Aurora Animal Services, which provides animal control services for Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Georgina, arrived at the scene.
Less than two hours later — after 2 officers resorted to using catch poles – devices with nooses — Heiniu the Rottweiler was dead.
Many across Ontario, and beyond, including us – believe Heiniu’s death was entirely preventable and that the two officers should be charged under the Criminal Code of Canada.
3 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP
TAKE A LOOK AT THE FACTS & SHARE THIS PAGE
MAY 4, 2026: 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 (ABOVE) captured prior to Aurora Animal Control officers attendance appears to show one dog calmly tied near a bowl of water, while the second dog, Heiniu, was being gently held by the daughter – a stranger to him.
But then removed Heiniu from the enclosure – in order to photograph him.
Heiniu went in easily with treats the first time but then when Officer Noemi Viszmeg attempted to re-load him Heiniu refused.
According to multiple eyewitnesses willing to provide statements, the first officer on the scene was then NOT able to safely re-load Heiniu.
A second Animal Services officer, Hailey MacGillvray was then called to assist. (Arriving at 5:45 p.m.)
Officer MacGillvray was immediately warned not to touch his neck. She proceeded to grab Heiniu’s collar.
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 Heiniu began to gurgle as blood came from his mouth.
Witnesses report, Heiniu 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 Heiniu was being strangled, and pleaded over and over again for the officers to stop what they were doing.
Those pleas were repeatedly ignored.
The two Animal Services officers repeatedly denied they were strangling or hurting the dog.
One as you’ll read below was quoted as stating “I don’t give a shit”.
A CALL WAS MADE TO 9-1-1
York Regional Police (Elliot Whitelock) arrived while the dog was still alive.
According to witnesses he insisted there was nothing police could do to intervene and help Heiniu — even as Heiniu was being restrained by two nooses, struggling, gurgling and bleeding from his mouth and nose.
According to witnesses, Animal Services officers Viszmeg and MacGillivray attempted to load the obviously distressed dog for almost 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 (between 6:50/6:57 P.M.) while members of the public watched in horror.
Heiniu’s owners arrived at 7:02 P.M.
Video features Hailey MacGillivray.
Witnesses report that at one point Officer MacGillivary went so far as to say “I don’t give a shit”.
Video features Noemi Viszmeg .
Please note: Auto-generated captions are not 100% accurate. For example, the audio states that the dog was taken to 404 Vet, but the captions are incorrect on this point.
BAILEY LESTER WITNESS TO HEINIU'S DEATH
Speaking at Aurora Town Council meeting…
Bailey was also interviewed by Canine Foundations…
Bailey described Heiniu lying on the ground bleeding, his blood gurgling in his throat and Bailey stating: “Heiniu looked up at me with his big brown eyes begging me for help”.
”Heinu tried to stand up, he yelped in pain but was unable to get up. Both of the catch poles were still around his neck and Hailey and Noemi responded to his yelp by again tightening and twisting their respective poles in opposite directions”.
Watching, “I asked my sister if Heiniu’s chest was still going up and down and and my sister saying no”. Then coming to the realization that they had killed him.
A LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: ANIMAL CRUELTY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE
Many people — including, unfortunately, some in law enforcement — may not realize that animal cruelty is not simply a matter for Provincial Animal Welfare Services (in Ontario) or other similar agencies including the SPCA in other provinces.
The Criminal Code of Canada applies to animals too. In Ontario, Provincial Animal Welfare Services can NOT lay criminal charges, only the Ontario Provincial Police or Regional Police forces can.
Section 445.1 of the Criminal Code makes it a criminal offence to wilfully cause unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal.
That means when an animal is seriously injured or killed through the alleged use of excessive or unnecessary force, the circumstances may warrant a criminal investigation by police – regardless of whether Provincial Animal Welfare Services is also involved.
In Heiniu’s case, we believe the evidence raises serious questions about whether the force used on the scene was necessary, proportionate or lawful.
We believe Heiniu’s death should be investigated as a potential criminal offence — not simply deferred to Provincial Animal Welfare Services.
SEND A DONE-FOR-YOU LETTER
It takes LESS than 2 minutes to fill out the form and send a DONE-FOR-YOU email DEMANDING that York Regional Police who have to date deferred to Animal Welfare Services – thoroughly investigate.
Click here and see the CALL TO ACTION.
The Justice for Heiniu .com website is the result of two animal advocacy groups locking arms and coming together so that no other family has to experience the tragic and needless death of a beloved family pet.
Learn more about this cause and others we are currently working on…
Humane Initiative is an Ontario-based animal advocacy group dedicated to protecting animals through advocacy, accountability, intervention, and community action.
We work to ensure animals in distress are not ignored — whether that means stepping in to assist with emergency safety, temporary foster placement, veterinary care coordination, or advocating for stronger protections and enforcement.
Our work also focuses on holding responsible agencies and governing bodies accountable, including Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS), municipal animal control agencies, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and other authorities entrusted with animal welfare oversight.
Ban Horse Slaughter is a North American-wide, Canadian-based advocacy group dedicated to banning the slaughter of horses within Canada and beyond for any purpose — including human consumption.
Yes, we know that it may be hard for some to believe that horses are slaughtered within Canada for human consumption, INCLUDING horses imported from the USA.
Canadian businesses also ship horses to other markets, including Japan, to be slaughtered for human consumption. (Learn more here.)
We are primarily focused on issues involving horses, but when asked to use our extensive experience and expertise to edit and write blog and social media posts and to create email campaigns, we gladly stepped up.
