Skip to content

Who killed Zombie?

When Rosalea Van Mierlo called the Humane Society for help in catching her dog Zombie, she didn't expect it would end with the death of her beloved pet without her knowledge or permission.

When Rosalea Van Mierlo called the Humane Society for help in catching her dog Zombie, she didn't expect it would end with the death of her beloved pet without her knowledge or permission.

Zombie was a two year old male Siberian husky, his owner called him loveable and playful.

So why then did he end up dead?

See In Memory of Zombie Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/inmemoryofzombie?fref=nf

The beginning of this story starts when Zombie was a puppy and he was attacked by a golden retriever. It left a frightful memory on the young dog.

So on the afternoon of Friday January 23rd, when neighbours released their retriever into a fenced yard nearby, Zombie “freaked out”, according to Van Mierlo.

Close friend Jessyca Beek brought Zombie inside and tried to calm him. The dog snarled and jumped at Jessyca, but didn’t bite, she says.

By now the retriever was back inside, so Van Mierlo took her dog back outside, and that was the beginning of the end for Zombie.

“The dog jumped over the fence and took off on me,” she says.

After chasing Zombie for almost an hour late Friday afternoon, in desperation, she called the Humane Society for help.

“I was so scared he would be hit by a car.”

The dogcatcher was no more successful---until Zombie returned on his own.

Van Mierlo says the officer from the Humane Society then put a catchpole on Zombie, then struggled to force the dog into his truck.

Van Mierlo was shocked by what she says happened next.

“He said ‘It’s either you give us your dog or euthanize him right now’, and I was like, I don’t want to do either. I just wanted you to catch him. I want my dog back.”

After consulting with his manager by phone, the officer allowed her to keep the dog but warned, her to report the 'lunging at Beek incident' to the Health Unit or be fined $5,000.

Before leaving, Van Mierlo says the officer asked Jessyca if she was bitten.

“I showed him my arms and legs and said no”, she replied.

The only thing Rosalea has left of her dog Zombie is a collar, leash and memories.

Van Mierlo dutifully reported the incident to the Health Unit the next morning, Saturday.

She says a Health Unit employee asked if there were any bites, and was told no. He said an inspector would be by that Monday to investigate and Zombie should be kept muzzled and was under immediate quarantine for possible rabies.

To be fair, Zombie does have a one-bite history.

This past June, Zombie was on a six foot leash, when an acquaintance asked if she could play with him. Provoked with a stick, Zombie lunged and bit the woman, breaking the skin, says Van Mierlo.

The woman went to the hospital, and the incident was promptly reported to the health unit.

Zombie was put on a successful 10 day quarantine, and that was that.

When Health Unit inspector Chuck Poltz arrived Monday the 26th, he took a picture of Zombie and repeated that the dog must be kept muzzled. He was told again that no bite had occurred.

Then on Wednesday the 28th Van Mierlo detected a strong odour coming from her dog.

“I noticed he had a little bit of brown stuff underneath his chin. It happened to be blood.

“It stunk. I smelled like death.”

Van Mierlo called her vet and was told to immediately bring Zombie in for emergency treatment.

So she called the Health Unit to explain the emergency, and that she needed to get Zombie to a vet for treatment. Van Mierlo says she was told no, as the dog was under quarantine. She then asked what she could possibly do.

The Health Unit suggested she consider euthanizing the dog, something Van Mierlo says she wasn’t prepared to do.

Later that afternoon, the Health Unit’s Inspector Chuck Poltz told Van Mierlo that he would send a vet to get the dog, get him treatment, and hold Zombie until his 10 day quarantine was over.

The next morning, Van Mierlo says Sandy Briggs (Animal Control Powassan) came to her home.

Van Mierlo said “Hi, I’m Rosalea Van Mierlo. I’m the dog’s owner”.

“I knelt down and looked at Zombie and said ‘I love you buddy, I’ll see you Monday’.”

She didn’t know it would be the last time she would see her beloved Zombie alive.

And so that Monday, February 2nd, Van Mierlo waited patiently at home for her dog’s return.

Nothing --- and as her cell phone records confirm, not even a phone call.

Panicking, Van Mierlo called the Health Unit four times trying to get information on Zombie.

It wasn’t until the next day, Tuesday Feb. 3rd that she got her answer---Zombie had been destroyed---without her consent or knowledge.

She wasn’t given an answer why, only told to phone Sandy Briggs, the owner of Wimberway Kennels and Farm.

Van Mierlo says she phoned Briggs immediately, and asked why her dog was put down.

She says she was initially told that her dog had been given away to a Husky Rescue, but after pressing for more information says she was told by Briggs that Zombie had been euthanized at the request of the Health Unit.

Sadly, Van Mierlo’s next contact with her pet would be Sunday Feb. 8 at Wimberway Kennels --- the shocking sight of Zombie’s lifeless body, frozen stiff in the back of a pickup truck.

“What they did was wrong. Nobody contacted me to tell me Zombie was being euthanized. ‘I’m pretty sure you need a signature from the owner. Nobody told me they were going to kill him. He was supposed to be returned to me.”

In fact, the veterinary clinic “Euthanasia Consent Form” makes no mention of Van Mierlo, but instead lists the dog owner as the North Bay Health Unit, and the signature of consent is that of Sandy Briggs.

BayToday was able to contact Briggs, but she declined to comment on the case.

“Let’s put it this way, because there is the possibility of court action, we have no comment.”

In the Health Unit’s own files, obtained by a Freedom of Information request, it says, “that the future of the dog after its release is up to the owner and Sandy Briggs.”

But less than an hour later a note says, “tc (telephone call) to C. Poltz and informed him that dog release would be completed today. Also stated that dog would be euthanized.”

This, against the advice and concern of Poltz.

According to a Health Unit document dated February 2nd regarding the order to euthanize, it says “C. Poltz stated that the owners were not aware of this and that the inspector should contact Van Mierlo and present it to her. He stated the owner may be reluctant. This inspector (Kate Anderson) informed him of (Director of Environmental Health) Robert R.A. Muhong’s direction. C.Poltz stated that he feels the owner should be contacted.”

But Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical officer of health, and Executive officer denies Health Unit involvement.

Chirico would not consent to an interview, nor answer a written list of submitted email questions, but in a statement provided by an assistant says “Zombie was assessed as per the rabies protocol and the Health Unit did not issue an order to euthanize the dog.”

So who did?

Rick Champagne is a provincial appointee, and Chair of the Board of Health.

He’s met with Van Mierlo and is looking into the issue.

“I just want to make sure my facts are right and their facts are right. If there is something that went wrong, it went wrong. If it didn’t go wrong and they followed protocol, then there it is, but I want to make sure I get it right.”

Meanwhile, Van Mierlo waits. She doesn’t want other dog owners to go through what she’s had had to endure.

She wants justice, and an answer to her question, “Who killed Zombie”.


Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
Read more

Reader Feedback