A male teen has been charged for allegedly stabbing a dog and setting a Mississauga home on fire.
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Peel Regional Police Const. Tyler Bell says officers were called to the Cawthra and Lakeshore Rd. area shortly before noon on Thursday for reports of a house on fire.
“They located an animal in the residence suffering from apparent stab wounds,” Bell said.
Crews did not find anyone in the home and no human injuries were sustained.
“A dog was stabbed and taken to local hospital and is apparently doing OK now,” he said without confirming if the dog lived in the home. Other media have reported the dog belonged to a neighbour.
Bell said officers located a teenaged boy “in the vicinity” and “took him into custody relatively quickly.”
He said the boy is “associated with that residence.”
Bell wouldn’t confirm the age of the youth, other than under the age of 18 so he can’t be named, but other media have reported him to be 15.
The boy faces charges under the Criminal Code with killing or injuring animals and arson causing damage to property.
Bell said the teen was held for a bail hearing.
“It’s important to remember given his age, you certainly can’t excuse this type of behaviour with the catalyst of there might be something going on emotionally or psychologically,” he said.
“But obviously we all love animals and it takes quite the imagination to get to somebody’s level who’s capable of hurting an animal. So we’ve got to stop for a second and remember this person is probably not in their right state of mind and hopefully they can get the assistance that they need.”