ALOHA, Ore. -- A man who killed his neighbor’s pit bull with a machete told deputies he did it to save his own dog’s life.

Deputies responded to 3660 SW 174th Ave. in Aloha after a man reported a dog was attacking his dog.

The man told deputies he attempted to stop the fight using a stick, but the attacking dog would not leave his dog alone. The man said he then got a machete and hit the attacking dog, stopping the fight.

Deputies took the injured pit bull to Dove Lewis Animal Hospital, where it later died. The man’s dog also suffered machete wounds but was recovering, Dove Lewis officials said.

Authorities were consulting with the District Attorney’s office to decide whether to pursue animal abuse charges against the man, said Sgt. David Thompson with the Washington County Sheriff's Department.