Hunter kills cancer victim's puppy

VICTORIA, British Columbia, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A 4-month-old puppy purchased for a 12-year-old Canadian boy battling brain cancer was killed by a hunter in British Columbia.

Nick Rose, who lives with his family in Quadra Island, told the Royal Canadian Mounted Police his son's Jack Russell terrier bounded down the driveway Saturday and was killed by a shotgun blast fired by one of two hunters standing on the road, the Globe and Mail reported Tuesday.

The puppy belonged to his son Max, who has undergone brain surgery, radiation treatments and chemotherapy for the past four years. It was a replacement for a family dog that died recently, Rose said.

RCMP Cpl. Craig Peterson said the identity and whereabouts of the unidentified 21-year-old suspect was known to police and that charges of dangerous use of a firearm and endangering an animal would be processed Tuesday.

"He says he will turn himself in but there hasn't been an arrest made yet," Peterson said.

Rose said his son suffered a setback after seeing what happened to his dog.

"Max has been struggling like a champion," he said. "He's been traumatized by this and it's sick."