The attack happened around 11 a.m. outside a home on Holman.
The officer, who was looking for a suspect involved in a crime a few days ago, reportedly entered a gated yard to speak with the homeowner. That's when her dog, a Boxer mix, came running outside and attacked, witnesses said.
"The dogs ran and saw the officer at the door," said witness Brad Batteau. "So the officer reached for his gun, but he didn't get to his gun fast enough. The dog was chewing, attacked him, you know was chewing his hand.
"After that the officer fell on the ground, and the dog bit him on the back. Then the dog bit him in the leg."
Batteau said he yelled at the dog, and the woman inside the home came out and grabbed the dog to pull it back inside.
"He had like, deep cuts and his hand, like, it was wide open. I was really scared for the guy," said Batteau.
The officer had dog bites to his hand, arm, back and leg, but he is expected to be OK. He was taken to the hospital to get stitches.
"It's the nature of going through gates and knocking on doors at places where you don't know what's on the other side," said Sgt. Matthew Brady with HPD.
Animal control was called out to assist in the investigation.
The dog's owner, Renny Griffin, said the boxer mix named Tugboat was protecting her.
"My dogs are really good dogs," Griffin said through tears. "We are two single women that live here so they are very good for that… they are protectors. One officer was about to shoot the dog. I got out just in the nick of time. I did apologize to the officer, he accepted my apology. He was very calm and gracious about it. I think he understands."
Although there were two dogs outside at the time, it's believed that only Tugboat attacked. Even so, the owner has to bring both dogs to BARC for a 24-hour quarantine. According to Griffin, animal control says the dogs will be returned to her after that.
(KHOU - June 9, 2015)
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