It's every dog owner's nightmare.

"I was yelling and screaming, 'He's killing my dog, he's killing my dog,'" said Ken Sweeney.

Sweeney was talking about his 11-pound Maltese named Tigi getting attacked. It happened outside his parents' house in Burlington in May.

"He just took her right out of my hands," said Sweeney. "Bit into my hands, right through, and then bit into her. I was just wrestling with the dog trying to get her away."

The pup was taken to the animal hospital but didn't make it. Sweeney says the attacking dog was a 130-pound Rottweiler that lives across the street.

Burlington Police Ofc. Javier Canessa responded to the scene and says the Rottweiler was not on a leash. He testified that the large dog was getting out of the car when it ran over to Sweeney instead of into its home.

"She told me she always parks in the driveway, just opens the garage door, and the dog just runs in," Canessa said.

But not this time. Burlington Police tell us they only get a handful of dog attack reports a year. The police commission is looking at this incident since a complaint was filed to the group. It's investigating whether the Rottweiler is considered vicious and what steps should be taken if it is.

No one was at the meeting to represent the other dog so, WCAX News stopped by the owner's house. They said they were shocked and that they were never notified the discussion was even happening.

The Rottweiler's owners, Brandon and Melissa Harding, didn't want to speak on camera but gave us a statement that says in part, "We are disappointed that we did not receive any notice about the hearing this evening and wanted the opportunity to speak on behalf of our dog and provide evidence and supporting documentation defending his character."

The couple also told us they specifically reached out to the police department asking about the status of the incident, but never got a response. At the hearing, a mail receipt was presented as evidence that the owners were told about the meeting, but the Hardings insist nothing was in their mailbox. No one said they specifically want the dog put down, but Tigi's owners want something done to keep the area safe.

"The dog definitely should be removed from the neighborhood,” said Fred Tardie, who also owned Tigi. “He's a loaded bullet waiting to be fired."

The commission did not make or announce a decision on this case Wednesday.

Commissioner Jim Dunn explained what can happen in similar situations. "There's everything from requiring that the dog remain tied up or fenced in, or muzzled as you heard out there," he said. "We could order the dog removed from the home."

The commission couldn't give us a timeline on when the decision would be announced but said it will be soon.