ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- An Orange County deputy shot three dogs in their owners' yard. The owner had called deputies to his house to report a crime. That's when the dogs got loose and charged.

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Richard and Kathy Johns said they've had several items stolen from their property in recent weeks. So they called the sheriff's office again, this time to report a stolen motorcycle. Half a day later, one of their dogs is dead and two are injured.

"He's standing right across from me, firing at the dogs right in front of me, and it just didn't make any sense," Richard Johns said.

Johns can't understand why a deputy had to shoot all three of his dogs including his mastiff, Sammy. Late Sunday night, the deputy entered the owners' property to fill out a stolen motorcycle report, when the mastiff and two rottweilers became aggressive.

"They came out when the owner came out. The dogs were not on any chain or leash. It didn't appear that they responded to any type of voice command, 'cause they kept charging at the deputy," explained Lt. Joe McKenna, Orange County Sheriff's Office.

"Next thing I know, I hear shots. And I looked out the window and my dogs were getting shot," said Kathy Johns.

According to Kathy Johns, her husband called the sheriff's office warning them to call before they arrived. Instead, the deputy walked right past warning signs and entered the property.

"My dogs are here to protect my property. I have signs up. The officer could have used mace," said Kathy Johns.

In the deputy's defense, the sheriff's office said the deputy had the right to fire his gun, because mace doesn't always work and a taser is good for only one shot. His response, then, was well within policy.

"A dog can easily kill," said McKenna.

According to animal services, the dogs don't have a history of any aggression. The owners were cited for having aggressive dogs.