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PERIGUEUX, France - A 55-year-old French hunter who had to have his right hand amputated after his dog accidentally shot him said Monday he didn't blame the pet, which he still considered "adorable".

The hunter, identified only as Rene, told France Bleu radio the dog accidentally pulled the trigger of his shotgun when he jumped on him while they were hunting Sunday in the Dordogne region.

Rene said he was hunting with three dogs when two of them ran off after a deer while the youngest stayed behind.

"He jumped on top of me for a cuddle" and accidentally fired the gun, shooting him in the right hand, Rene said.

The hunter was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Bordeaux but the damage was too serious and the hand had to be amputated.

"It wasn't the dog's fault," Rene insisted. "And he's adorable! I should have left the (gun's) safety on, that's all."

Image (unrelated) : Gianmaria Zanotti / via Flickr