Victoria man devastated after dog dies following pit bull attack

WATCH: What was supposed to be an enjoyable hike in Victoria over the long weekend ended in heartbreak for one dog owner. His dog Copper was attacked by a pit bull cross and did not survive. Kylie Stanton explains what happened and where the other dog is now.

VICTORIA – Paul Johnston says his three-year-old dog Cooper didn’t “have a bad day in his life.”

Today, he’s grieving after Cooper failed to survive a pit bull attack.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s not right,” he says.

It happened during a hiking trip at Mount Finlayson on Saturday. Cooper, a Maltese-poodle cross, got into an altercation with a large pit bull cross.

After the attack, the pit bull and its owner quickly left the scene, according to Johnston.

Cooper didn’t survive the night after undergoing surgery for his injuries.

Bylaw officers are asking for more information about what happened. The pit bull’s owner would likely face charges for not having a dog under effective control, and the dog could be put down.

“Do the right thing and give us the information. It could happen again to another dog,” says Don Brown, CRD Chief Bylaw Officer.

The pit bull cross is described as primarily white with brown and black markings. Its owner is described as a man in his late 30s or early 40s, between 5’7” and 5’10” tall with dark brown or black hair and upper body tattoos.