WASHINGTON — A man who shot and killed his neighbor's dog Saturday exercised lawful deadly force, according to police, but the incident left the Rottweiler's owners shaken and upset.

Victoria Gladitsch and her two young children were inside their house in the 400 block of Peach Street about 8:30 a.m. while her husband, Jerrod Gladitsch, was outside working on his truck.

Their dogs were tethered out back when one of them, a Rottweiler named Keiser, began barking. A neighbor two doors down was in his yard with his dog, apparently drawing Keiser's attention.

Gladitsch said that her husband checked on the dog and was going to bring him inside after pouring some antifreeze in his radiator. Instead, Keiser broke loose, and the family ended up burying him after several gunshots erupted.

"I was hysterical — Keiser is like my child," Gladitsch said Monday. "It's very scary, very scary for my children."

But it wasn't illegal, according to Jeff Stevens, deputy chief at the Washington Police Department. The neighbor, who was not arrested and is not facing criminal charges, had a concealed carry license and lawfully discharged his weapon in defense of himself and his dog.

"He carries a pistol and remarked that the Rottweiler has been aggressive in the past," Stevens said. "He decided before the Rottweiler attacks him and his dog, he's going to shoot it, and he did."

The neighbor did not respond to a message seeking comment Monday. According to a police report on the incident, the neighbor told police the dog ran at him "growling and showing his teeth." He drew a .25-caliber pistol and fired seven rounds.

Keiser retreated to the back yard between the two houses and perished.

"A person on their property is authorized to use force to defend themselves," Stevens said. "That's a lawful use of force."

Gladitsch, however, disputes claims of her dog's aggressiveness. While the neighbor told police he had prior experience with Keiser, Gladitsch said her dog has not been the source or prior complaints. Stevens also said he knows of no reports about the dog to police.

"We've never had an issue with Keiser with anybody," Gladitsch said. "I'm assuming he was scared of the breed."

After Saturday, she's more scared of something else: stray bullets.

Matt Buedel can be reached at 686-3154 or mbuedel@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @JournoBuedel.