LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- Two Lakewood men whose pit bulls attacked another neighborhood dog have their animals back and the owner of the injured animal is not happy.

Wendell Bottorf's Australian shepherd mix is still recovering from last Thursday's attack. The two pit bulls apparently escaped from their outside pen and nearly bit Bottorf and his grandson while they were trying to save their pet, 7NEWS reported.

Animal control officers recommended the pit bulls be put to sleep but instead a Lakewood judge on Wednesday ordered Ezekial Maestas and his father Rudolph to pay Bottorf's vet bills.

"I just thought they'd put the dogs to sleep, and then today found out they gave them back to the owners, gave them a fine, and that was it. So now I get to live around here and worry," Bottorf said.

Bottorf said he's thinking about moving.