Dog discovered hanged east of Oshawa

ORONO, Ont. – A miniature schnauzer was found dead in the backyard of her owner’s home east of Oshawa after she was hanged intentionally, the Humane Society of Durham Region said.

The four-year-old dog, named Heidi, was found dead in her Orono, Ont. home on Sept. 17.

Heidi’s owner, a retired firefighter, had leashed the family dog to a running line. When he and his wife returned home about an hour later, they discovered the dog dead, with her feet hanging off the ground.

“I’m home alone for most of the time,” Bob Heurkens, the owner, told CityNews.

“She was my companion, she was my buddy,” he said.

“I can’t honestly imagine someone who’s so sick enough, self-centred and narrow-minded enough to do something like this,” Roseanne, his wife, said.

According to OSPCA investigator, Debby Houghton, someone had apparently connected a chain to the dog’s neck, which suspended her mid-air.

“You would have to have come right up to her for the dog to be hung,” she told 680News.

“This case is disturbing and the intent that was involved to harm this dog in this manner…there’s somebody out there that I think we really need to find out who it is.”