Port Richmond neighbors save man from pit bull attack

PORT RICHMOND (WPVI) -- A man from Port Richmond says he owes his life to his neighbors after his own dogs nearly killed him Saturday morning.

The pit bulls remain at animal control and will be euthanized. They attacked their owner, 37-year-old Luis Rodriguez, who suffered at least seven serious bites all over his body in the attack. But quick thinking neighbors saved his life.

Rodriguez hugged Frances Leach when he saw her following the attack. Leach was one of several residents in the neighborhood who saved his life.

Rodriquez says his 3-year-old pregnant pit bull Nena viciously attacked him, and his 10-year-old pit bull rock followed her lead.

He explained, "One bite me, the other come at me. I was like, 'What am I gonna do?'"

Leach says, "By the time you call 911, he would've been dead."

So she jumped into action, picking up a steel rod.

"I whooped him. I took it to the head neck and back."

Across the street Prince Pulido's wife told him to join in.

Pulido says, "She was screaming, 'They're killing him, they're killing him!' She was screaming, 'You gotta do something!'"

So he grabbed another rod and the two kept hitting the pit bulls, and Luis got free.

Luis was transported to the hospital.

Both dogs were in a fenced in yard when Rodriguez went into clean up. Both had no history of violence.

Now Luis says he's just glad to be back home and his kids are safe.

"I'm glad it was me and not my kids," he said.

Authorities say the dogs have to be quarantined for ten days until they are euthanized.