Teen in custody after Mississauga house intentionally set on fire, dog found injured

Investigators are alleging a male youth is responsible for injuring the dog found inside a burning Mississauga home he allegedly ignited.

A teenager is in police custody after emergency crews were called to a house on fire in south Mississauga late Thursday morning and found an injured dog inside.

The incident happened at 407 Atwater Ave., near Canterbury Road, which is west of Cawthra Road and north of Lakeshore Rd. E.

Peel Regional Police said they were dispatched to that area at 11:38 a.m., along with fire and paramedics, after a passerby called 911 to report a fire at the aforementioned residence.

At the scene, firefighters encountered a fire and quickly brought it under control.

The fire substantially damaged the home. The cause is still unknown.

Crews also located a dog in a doorway with “some injuries,” Const. Tyler Bell told reporters at the scene on Thursday afternoon.

Bell said the animal has since been taken to a local veterinary hospital for treatment.

At this point, police said they do not know exactly how the animal was injured, nor the extent of its injuries. Police previously said that the dog may have been stabbed.

And while there were initial reports that there may have been someone in the house, Bell said the only person found there was a youth, believed to be 16 years of age, along with an injured dog.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

“What we know to be true now is that the fire was intentionally set. We have taken a male youth into custody,” Bell said.

“He was associated to the address here and believed to be responsible for both the fire and the injuries sustained by that animal.”

Bell said the youth was located and arrested in a nearby creek.

He would only say that the charges he is facing are “likely arson-related” and will depend on the damage sustained during the fire.

Bell added that additional charges may also be laid in regard to the maltreatment of the animal.

The mental health state of the accused will also be taken into consideration, he said, given the “strange” and “bizarre” circumstances of this incident. They will also be provided with the proper resources, if that is the case, Bell added.

Neighbours told CTV News Toronto that a family with a little dog lived in the home, along with the teen in question. One area resident said that the dog serves as a therapy animal for a man across the street who just lost his wife.

The investigation is ongoing.

An investigator from Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services has also been called to the scene to determine the origin, cause, and circumstances of this fire.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Mike Walker