WINTER PARK, Fla. -- An adopted chow mix was killed by other dogs at an auto yard and the Winter Park vet who adopted the dog out thinks the new owner should be criminally charged.

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VET SPEAKS: In "Disbelief" After Dog Ends Up Dead
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Dr. Randall Cannon told Channel 9 the man was supposed to return the dog, named Bear, after a 24-hour trial period. The vet techs have proof other dogs injured Bear and Eyewitness News found out the new owner ignored it.

There are plenty of signs warning "bad dogs" and others who work at the auto yard say it was the bad dogs that killed a very good dog that never should've been there. Both Winter Park police and Orange County Animal Control are now investigating Stellios Billis, the dead dog's owner.

It took six months to rehab the former stray dog named Bear and the man who wanted to adopt him from the Fairbanks Animal Hospital in Winter Park was only supposed to keep him for a one-day trial.

"We started calling. He didn't return any of the phone calls," Dr. Cannon told Eyewitness News.

Instead, Dr. Cannon said, an employee found Bear at an auto yard with apparent bite marks on his head. When Cannon went back to reclaim his dog, he was already dead.

"I was told Bear had been viciously attacked and killed by the other three dogs," Dr. Cannon said.

Eyewitness News confronted Stellios Billis about it at his auto shop where Bear died.

"I was on vacation for a month, so I don't know what happened," Billis said.

Animal Control reports show Billis has been in trouble before for a dead Rottweiler on the property and had even been cited for neglect. This time, another man on property said Billis knew what happened.

"He said you saw the dog with injuries and left and didn't do anything about it," WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen told Billis.

"I was here Saturday and Monday I left," he said.

"Why am I hearing two different stories here?" Rasmussen asked.

"I have no idea," Billis said.

Cannon complained to police and Animal Control and said he wants Billis held responsible.

"This has gotta stop and this guy shouldn't be allowed to adopt any more animals. Period," he said.

Billis told Eyewitness News he never knew about the one-day trial period even though the vet's office says they made it very clear. If Billis doesn't face criminal charges, Cannon said he may go after him in civil court.