There's emotional debate generating in Darby over the town grocer's 18-month-old German Shepherd dog. The city judge ordered People's Market manager Greg Bergren to take "Rocky" to the Bitterroot Humane Association to be euthanized.

The court said the dog bit two people, a 14-year-old boy in March, while the child was in his own yard, and an adult man who was walking on a Darby street in April.

Bergren pleaded guilty to the charges, although he said he's not 100% convinced that his dog is guilty. Bergren said he never would have made the plea had he known the outcome would be the death of his dog.

"It's hard for me to understand what happened," said Bergren," and I'm not denying whether yes or no. But I think the big thing for me is it's hard for me to see a dog that smart and that loving actually have to be put down with no other options."

The dog has been a fixture at People's Market, where grocery staff and delivery drivers enjoy the dog's company. The grocer was to give the court documented proof that Rocky had been euthanized. But when he took the dog to the Humane Association he learned it was closed on Wednesdays.

That's the date that documents had to be on the judge's desk. Now, the Association said the person who performs euthanizations is on vacation until the end of the month.

Judge Chee Burnsides said he feels Bergren had plenty of time to carry out the order. The judge said "we'll have to wait and see what happens." Other than that, he said, the court has no comment.