A dog became the unlikely victim of an attempted robbery Friday morning in San Francisco, police said.

A man was walking with his canine companion around 3 a.m. near the corner of 22nd and Bartlett in the Mission District when he was approached by two young men, said Officer Gordon Shyy.

One of the suspects grabbed the dog while the other one drew a knife and threatened the man. After a brief verbal altercation, the suspects released the animal and fled on foot. Police were looking into whether the suspects may have been trying to steal the dog itself, Shyy said.

Shaken but unharmed, the victim then realized that his dog had been stabbed by one of the suspects. He called police, who responded and drove the dog to an animal hospital, where it died from its injuries.

No arrests have been made, Shyy said.