Slain woman's friend, husky find comfort in each other's company after Wilno-area tragedy
Genevieve Way's husky, Sheba, is never far from her side. It's been that way for a year, ever since the 15-year-old dog's previous owner, Way's friend Anastasia Kuzyk, was gunned down.
"When I reach to touch her she stills flinches, even though she knows she's safe," Way says.
On Sept. 22, 2015, police rushed to Kuzyk home in response to a 911 call. They found the 36-year-old Wilno, Ont., resident shot to death, and later found her dog Sheba wandering nearby.
Kuzyk's former partner, Basil Borutski, has been charged in her death, and in the deaths of two other women, Nathalie Warmerdam, 48, and Carol Culleton, 66. All three were killed that same September morning in their homes.
Dog showed evidence of beatings
At the time of the killings, Way's own dog had just died, so Kuzyk's sister asked her to care for Sheba. Kuzyk's other two dogs were adopted by other families.
Way says Sheba showed evidence of having been beaten.
"She had indications of a broken rib and a broken tail," Way says. "[Anastasia] did mention that Basil beat the dogs in order to punish her."
Sheba showed other, less obvious signs of trauma.
"When Sheba came to us, she was not the dog you see here today. Her head hung low. She didn't look anyone in the eyes. She curled up in a corner and I felt she was waiting for her people to come and take her home," Way says.
"She witnessed Anastasia being killed and then she was taken from her home. Even though she was brought to a safe place, it took her a long time to know that."
Way was grieving and feeling traumatized, too. She was also friends with one of the other victims, Nathalie Warmerdam.
"Her loss was so sudden and so awful," Way says. "It shocked me to the core. It shocked all of us."
Support group cancelled
Way decided soon after the murders to put her skills as a group facilitator to use. She posted signs offering to run a support group for others who were affected by the women's deaths.
But she says both police and the Crown's office asked that she cancel the sessions over concerns some participants might be called as witnesses at Borutski's trial.
"I was crushed by that and it was a hard winter for me," she says. "I was deeply hurt."
Way decided instead to focus on helping her adopted pet recover from its physical and emotional scars.
"She's comfortable with everyone who comes in the house now and she greets people at the door now, she's happy and wagging to see people," Way says.
In return, the dog has helped her.
"It's healing for me to know that I can give Sheba a safe and fun and healthy retirement," she says. "In dealing with the murders, this is just a real positive."
