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Family heartbroken after death of family dog spooked by fireworks

'How long did (he) lay there hurt, scared and alone? All for someone to enjoy five minutes of fireworks?' laments woman who has started a petition targeting fireworks

This week, a Warminster family lost their beloved pet after the canine was spooked by fireworks, escaped a fenced property, was hit by a car and later succumbed to his injuries.

On Sunday, Kristin Vanden Heuvel and Jeff Wilson were taking the final dip in their pool for the season when they heard loud cracks of fireworks vibrate through the air.

Their 11-year-old Pekingese cross, Grizzly, was spooked, darted from the pool area and, in a frightened panic, escaped both fences that surrounded the property.

“He has never run from home before as he loved his family so much,” said Kendra Vanden Heuvel, who is Kristin’s sister.  

“My sister and her husband searched for all hours of the night to no avail. They opened all their doors praying he'd come home; they didn't sleep a wink and went right back at it at the crack of dawn," she explained.

After reaching out via social media, Kristin and Jeff received a phone call from a local farmer who had located Grizzly. However, he was in a bad state of distress.

“My sister and her husband rushed him to O'Sullivan Animal Hospital in Barrie where it was established our sweet little man had been hit by a car. They pleaded and begged for them to fix him, 'Whatever it takes,' they cried. But, unfortunately, his injuries were very severe (and) it would take hours of surgeries that can't be performed on a little guy who had a heart murmur,” Vanden Heuvel explained.

On Monday night, Grizzly passed away.

“Kristin and Jeff had to go tell their three precious girls that Grizz wasn't coming home. My niece cried so hard she was gagging, I've never seen so much pain in my sister's eyes,” Vanden Heuvel said.

“Grizzly was the most loyal, loving, patient guy. He went through three babies pulling his tail, and he would just kiss them. He loved his girls so much.”

Will Vanden Heuvel and her family are grieving, they can’t help but feel anger toward whoever shot off the fireworks in their neighbourhood.

“Grizzly made it 12.6 kilometres from his home in complete fear. This little being who has given us so much love, laid soaking wet, freezing cold with injuries. He didn't deserve this, he was missing for over 17 hours,” she explained.

"How long did (he) lay there hurt, scared and alone? All for someone to enjoy five minutes of fireworks? This is not fair.”

In memory of Grizzly, Vanden Heuvel has started a petition to ban fireworks in residential areas.

“If I can spread awareness and save a few puppies, then he won't have died for nothing,” she said.

So far, Vanden Heuvel’s petition has garnered more than 150 signatures.

“I’ve had tons of messages and comments, not just from dog owners but horse owners, peafowl breeders, and so many mothers of young children,” she said.

Vanden Heuvel is hopeful that her petition will at least allow for some change, and maybe even allow for firework users and pet owners to work together.

“This could allow for owners of scared fur and feather babies to join along with people who may want to light some fireworks off," she explained.

"As a courtesy they could post the date, area and time they will be doing so and the others could get notifications so they can properly secure their fur and feather babies,” she explained.

“If we spread this kind of awareness no one loses. If this existed maybe (Grizzly) would still be here.”

While Barrie has moved to limit fireworks within the city, the Township of Oro-Medonte has not considered such a move, says Jenny Legget, the township's communications and public relations officer.

She says the township receives minimal complaints regarding fireworks. 

"Additionally, with the exception of Victoria Day, Canada Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, the township’s fireworks bylaw requires individuals to obtain a permit prior to setting fireworks off," she said. 

Fireworks are not permitted in Orillia, says Jennifer Ruff, the city's director of business development and communications. 

She said the discharging of fireworks is regulated by Chapter 938 of the City of Orillia’s Municipal Code.  Ruff says this regulation prohibits at all times the detonation of any fireworks within a residential area or quiet zone, or from a location where the sound will travel to these areas.

"The City of Orillia would like to remind residents that igniting fireworks in Orillia is prohibited under the city's noise bylaw. Please be respectful of your neighbours and other residents," she said. 


Tyler Evans

About the Author: Tyler Evans

Tyler Evans got his start in the news business when he was just 15-years-old and now serves as a video producer and reporter with OrilliaMatters
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