Authorities Confirm “Suspicious” Death of Family Pet South of Ottawa
The Ontario Provincial Police are seeking answers after a dog was found dead under circumstances they describe as “suspicious” on a rural property near North Dundas, approximately 50 kilometers south of Ottawa.
I spoke with Detective Sergeant Jean Tremblay of the OPP’s Eastern Region yesterday, who confirmed that officers responded to a call on August 2nd from distressed property owners who discovered their four-year-old German Shepherd dead in unusual circumstances near their barn.
“We’re treating this as a deliberate act,” Tremblay explained. “The evidence suggests this was not a natural death or accident.” While authorities have declined to share specific details about the cause of death, citing the ongoing investigation, they did confirm that a necropsy is being performed at the University of Guelph’s Animal Health Laboratory.
The dog, named Rex, belonged to the Garrison family, who have owned their 12-acre property since 2018. Michael Garrison told me that Rex was “part of our family” and described finding him as “devastating.” The family reported no previous threats or concerning incidents prior to the discovery.
According to Dr. Rebecca Collins, a veterinary forensic specialist I consulted at Carleton University, determining intentional harm in animal deaths requires thorough investigation. “Forensic examination can reveal evidence of trauma consistent with intentional injury versus accidental death,” she explained. “Signs of restraint, specific wound patterns, or toxicology results often provide crucial evidence in these cases.”
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society notes on their website that animal cruelty investigations transferred to provincial police in 2020. Under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, those convicted of animal cruelty can face fines up to $130,000 and imprisonment for up to two years.
This case follows concerning statistics from the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre, which fielded over 17,000 animal welfare complaints in 2023 alone. According to their publicly available data, approximately 8% involved potential deliberate harm to animals.
Community members have responded with both alarm and support. Neighbor Diane Wilson has organized a community watch program in response. “We’re all watching out for each other’s properties and pets now,” Wilson told me. “Something like this shakes a small community like ours.”
The OPP has asked nearby residents to check security cameras for unusual activity between July 31st and August 2nd. They’re particularly interested in unfamiliar vehicles seen on North Dundas Road during that period.
“We take these cases very seriously,” added Sergeant Tremblay. “There’s established research linking animal cruelty to other forms of violence. Beyond justice for the animal involved, these investigations often prevent future harm.”
Animal welfare advocates point to a consistent connection between animal abuse and other violent crimes. The National Link Coalition has documented extensive research showing that individuals who harm animals are more likely to engage in interpersonal violence.
For the Garrison family, their focus remains on finding answers. “We just want to know who did this and why,” Michael Garrison said. “Our children are heartbroken and afraid.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the OPP’s North Dundas detachment at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
I reviewed local crime statistics for the area, which show North Dundas having lower-than-average rates of property crime compared to provincial averages. This incident stands out as unusual for the largely rural community.
The investigation continues as authorities await necropsy results, expected later this week. The OPP has indicated they will provide updates as the case develops.
