"Those are killer-type situations," Bill Bowling told KFOX14 as he described the attack.
Bowling said he was walking with his 9-year-old Australian Shepherd Heeler Cross, Carley, around 8 a.m. when he saw two raging pit bulls race toward them.
"They had intentions to hurt us," Bowling said.
Bowling was able to fight the dogs off with a knife he had on him.
"They pulled us down in the ditch and I had a knife," Bowling said.
Bowling said that a neighbor came out to help him and watched over Carley. Bowling went inside his home, grabbed a gun, and shot the other pit bill.
The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office said that both of the dogs were still alive when they were taken by animal control but were then euthanized.
Carley was severely bitten and is being treated by her veterinarian.
"She's in shock and chewed up but I think she's going to make it," Bowling said. "I'm very blessed to have good neighbors."
Bowling was left with some cuts and bruises to his hands.
The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office said the owner of the pit bulls is 26-year-old Chris Sanchez, who was cited twice before for not restraining his dogs.
"I feel that those owners, you know, need to be responsible," Bowling said.
Sanchez is charged with two counts of failure to restrain an animal and two counts of having a vicious or dangerous animal.
(KFOX - May 23, 2012)
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