Members of a Princeton family say their dog might be put to sleep after it did its job by protecting its owner.

Congo, a German Shepherd, is being held in a shelter after he was deemed vicious by a judge after biting a landscaper.

Guy James, the dog?s owner, says on the day of the attack, the landscapers showed up early at his home to do some work. He says one of the men, afraid of his two adult dogs and four puppies, started hitting the dogs with a rake.

James? wife stepped in to stop the situation. He says one of the men grabbed her and forced her to the ground. James says Congo then attacked.

Landscaper Giovanni Rivera was awarded $250,000 in an insurance settlement. Congo was put in a shelter and the other four dogs are now considered potentially dangerous, which means extra fines for the James family. The family is fighting those charges as well.

Meanwhile, animal lovers from as far away as California are writing to the family to send their support for the fight to save Congo.

Judge Russell Annich is expected to put his official ruling on the dog?s fate on record Tuesday, Nov. 13.

The James family says if the judge rules against them, they will appeal.