Max Rose and Seymour, the Jack Russell terrier puppy allegedly shot to death by a passing hunter. (Submitted by Nick Rose)

A man who allegedly shot and killed a 14-week-old Jack Russell puppy on Quadra Island, B.C., on Saturday morning has told police the shooting was accidental, police say.

RCMP are recommending that Cody Wellard, 31, be charged with careless use of a firearm and endangering an animal, Cpl. Craig Peterson of the Quadra Island detachment told CBC News.

Wellard turned himself in to the Westshore RCMP detachment Monday morning, Peterson said on Tuesday.

The Jack Russell terrier, named Seymour, was owned by Nick Rose, who had gotten the pet to lift the spirits of his 12-year-old son Max during his recovery from a cancerous brain tumour. The pup was a replacement for one that had recently died.

Rose said Seymour left their property and wandered out onto the road as Wellard walked past on Saturday with another man police are still trying to interview. Rose said Wellard had apparently been hunting in the area and was carrying a shotgun.

A few moments later the family heard a gunshot and raced out to the road to find Wellard standing next to the quivering dog's body. Its head had been partially blown off.

Rose said Wellard and the other man left the area, before he could report the shooting to police.

Rose said he knew Wellard because the two lived in the same area of south Quadra Island and had a confrontation about four years ago.

Rose told CBC News he believes that Wellard carried a grudge against him. Attempts to contact Wellard were unsuccessful.

BC SPCA spokeswoman Marcy Moriarty said the animal welfare organization will be watching the case closely. If charges are laid and the Crown can prove there was intent, tougher new penalties can be imposed.

"If the individual is convicted, the sentence has now been increased, so that if it's under a summary conviction the maximum penalty would be up to 18 months imprisonment, or a $10,000 fine, and the individual can get up to a lifetime ban on owning animals," Moriarty said.

But it is often difficult to prove intent, and the tougher penalties have not yet been imposed in any animal cruelty case in B.C., she said.

After speaking to police, Wellard was released on a promise to appear in court in Campbell River, B.C., on Oct. 13.