Sarnia Police Service officials allege: Police in Sarnia say a 15-year-old is facing a criminal charge after a family dog suffered a severe tail injury that ultimately required amputation.
Sarnia police said they were called to a residence following a report involving injuries to a family pet.
On February 19, 2026, a family noticed their dog, a five-year-old labrador named Jagger, had an injury to his tail. Closer inspection revealed an elastic hair tie tightly wrapped around the tail. Because the tie closely matched the colour of the dog’s fur, it was not readily noticeable and appeared to have been there for several days.
Jagger was immediately taken to a local veterinary clinic, where efforts were made to preserve his tail. He was sent home with instructions for the family to return if treatment failed.
On February 24, 2026, despite those efforts, the tip of Jagger’s tail had deteriorated and ultimately detached, leaving an open wound with visible bone. He was taken back to the clinic and, on February 25, 2026, his tail was amputated in emergency surgery. The family’s veterinary costs exceeded $2,300.
The incident was reported to police on February 26, 2026. Investigators determined that a 15-year-old female, known to the family but not a member of the household, had been using cannabis and was in proximity to the dog. For unknown reasons, the young person deliberately wrapped a hair tie around Jagger’s tail multiple times, cutting off circulation beyond that point.
The youth was arrested and later released on a youth undertaking with conditions. She is charged with injuring an animal under Section 445(a) of the Criminal Code.
Police noted that the identity of the accused cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
