Yes, the owners were not at all responsible for the dog, but the dog could've been taken from his owners, tested for adoption suitability and then put up for adoption, if possible. The owners should have had to pay for all of this, too and be charged with negligence and not be allowed to own any more dogs until they can prove they know how to care for them. The dog got into a fight with it's "son" as I understand it, and not a neighbor's animal or a human, so it just doesn't make sense to put it to sleep, if it didn't hurt the dog or a person. We are getting into a dangerous area when we make judgements on what someone/thing "might" do, in the future, since none of us can know the future.