A Glendora police officer killed two pit bulls that were mauling a 67-year-old retired Fire Captain Monday.
Retired Pasadena Fire Captain Milford Fonza was attacked while he was on a morning walk in the 1600 block of South Sunflower Avenue about 4 a.m.
"I was horrified," said Fonza. "I thought if I didn't keep fighting, they would have killed me."
Glendora Police Officer Matt Fenner was on routine patrol in the area and happened to drive by when he saw the attack.
Fonza told police that he had tried to fight off the animals for nearly four minutes with his wooden walking stick, but the stick broke in half.
"They were trying to bite for my throat," he said. "If they would have got to my throat they would have killed me."
Fonza said he kept trying to poke the dogs with the broken stick but was 'running out of gas' and his legs began to give out.
"My thoughts were just to try and stay alive," said Fonza. "Just try to do my best to fight with all my strength and stay alive."
When Fenner arrived on the scene, he saw Fonza trying to pull himself up over a wall in an attempt to escape, but the dogs pulled him back down.
"As Officer Fenner drove up, one of the dogs circled around out into the street to attack the man again, and Officer Fenner intentionally hit the dog with his police car in an attempt to stop the attack," said Glendora police Lt. Tim Staab.
Fenner radioed for help and got out of his car to help the man, who was still being attacked by the first dog.
When Fenner got out of his car, the first dog turned and advanced upon him, and he shot the animal, fatally wounding it, Staab said.
The second dog limped away, and an arriving officer followed it onto the grounds of a nearby elementary school, where it was contained until animal control officers arrived and tranquilized it, Staab said. The dog died at a veterinary clinic.
Fonza was hospitalized with injuries that included puncture wounds to his face, arms, torso, legs and groin, and a separated or broken shoulder.
The dogs were not wearing tags, and authorities were looking for their owner.
Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @NBCLA // Facebook: NBCLA
