The victim in Saskatoon’s first homicide of the year had a good heart and never went anywhere without his pet pug, friends say.

Rodney Wailling, 45, was a great friend, those close to him told CTV News after confirming his identity as the victim in last week’s homicide.

He never left home without his pet.

One friend even said Wailing carried the dog around in a case on his bike.

“They were best buddies,” he said.

Wailing died in hospital after he was found injured in a home on the 200 block of Avenue I South on Jan. 11.

A 27-year-old man, Daniel Forest, has since been charged with second-degree murder and breach of court conditions in the case.

Forest turned himself in to police Saturday, one day after officers asked the public for help in locating him as a person of interest.

He made his first court appearance Monday in Saskatoon Provincial Court and is scheduled back in court on Jan. 31.