The Colorado man accused of slaughtering his pregnant wife and their two young daughters was more concerned about the family’s pet than his own family, according to a neighbor.

Charyle Hallowell told Radar Online that Chris Watts loved the Dachsund dog who survived the massacre earlier this month.

Hollowell said the dog “was barking up until the cops took him away.”

As CrimeOnline previously reported, friends of the Wattses said they were caring for the family’s dog until extended family could take him into their possession.

The dog reportedly got the attention of neighbors frequently, with Hollowell telling reporters that he “made more noise than the family did..”

On the day the family disappeared, however, the barking was different.

“It was like he was being punished or hurt or something,” the neighbor said. He was just howling. Because we had a dog, I said, ‘What the hell is that all about? So we called the police and asked them to check on the dog. And it turned out that he was OK. They did a wellness check on the dog.”

Investigators believe the suspect killed his Shanann Watts and their children inside the house. Their remains were reportedly located near his Chris Watts’ workplace.

He is expected to appear in court again on Tuesday.

“I don’t know if at the time of the murders, if the dog was in the house,” Hallowell said, suggesting that the killer “may have put him outside at the time or something.”

The neighbor speculated that it appeared Chris Watts “cared more about the dog.”

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