A 15-year-old girl is facing a criminal charge in Sarnia, Ontario, after a family dog had to have its tail amputated due to a severe injury. The Sarnia Police Service reported that the injury was caused by an elastic hair tie wrapped tightly around the animal’s tail multiple times, which cut off blood circulation.
The five-year-old Labrador retriever, named Jagger, was brought to a veterinarian after his family noticed the injury on February 19, 2026. Because the hair tie was a similar colour to the dog’s fur, it was hard to see and had been there for several days before it was discovered.
By February 24, 2026, the tip of the tail had detached, and Jagger required emergency surgery the following day to remove the rest of his tail. Investigators say the teenager, who was known to the family, was using cannabis at the time she allegedly wrapped the tie around the dog’s tail.
The family now faces more than $2,300 in veterinary bills for the procedure. The youth has been released and is charged under the Criminal Code with the specific offence of injuring an animal.
Police are using this case to remind pet owners to check their animals regularly for any hidden injuries or objects caught in their fur. This charge carries potential penalties of large fines or jail time for those found guilty of harming animals.
