"I just did what I thought was right:" Neighbor steps in, shoots one of two dogs attacking man & his dog

VILLAGE OF RICHFIELD (WITI) -- Washington County Sheriff's officials are investigating a dog attack.

It happened on Monday morning, July 21st.

Sheriff's officials say a 60-year-old Village of Richfield man was walking his Boxer "CoCo" on the street on a leash when two dogs belonging to a 60-year-old Village of Richfield woman ran from a backyard and attacked CoCo. A third dog was apparently trying to break away from the woman.

Sheriff's officials say the man tried to cover CoCo as the dogs attacked.

The dogs were described as Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

While this attack was happening, Sheriff's officials say a neighbor heard the attack and brought out two baseball bats and started to strike the dogs in the head -- four to five times each.

Sheriff's officials say the dogs continued to attack.

Sheriff's officials say the neighbor then returned to his home and grabbed a .22 revolver. As he got to the front of his yard, Sheriff's officials say two dogs came towards him -- entering his yard.

Sheriff's officials say the man shot one round at one of the dogs -- who made it back to the ditch and was still alive about an hour later when the Humane Society helped the owner take the dog to the hospital.

CoCo was taken to the hospital as well.

"(CoCo's owner) was all full of blood. His dog was all bit up, full of blood," Dennis Williams said.

Williams is the neighbor who came to the aid of the man being attacked, and CoCo.

"He was on his hands and knees trying to protect his dog from the pit bulls that were attacking him. The third one was trying to get at him -- but the lady on the ground was holding him back with a chain. After I hit them several times in the head and back (with the baseball bat) -- both of them, I got scared. That wasn't stopping them, so I feared for my life. I got halfway over my lawn, and the two dogs saw me coming and they ran toward me. The first big one got across the street and came up on my grass and I waited until she got eight or 10 feet from me -- and I shot her," Williams said.

Sheriff's officials say they have learned that one of the dogs accused in the attack of CoCo was involved in an unreported bite about two months ago.

All three dogs received quarantine orders after the attack on CoCo and his owner. The dog that was shot was eventually euthanized.

Sheriff's officials discovered that none of the three dogs were licensed, and only two were current on their rabies vaccinations.

Washington County Sheriff's officials say they plan to issue numerous citations against the owner of the three dogs. The Sheriff's Office is also looking into having the surviving two dogs labeled as vicious animals. That would require the dogs' owner to have liability insurance.

Sheriff's officials say CoCo's owner suffered cuts and puncture wounds to his hands, arms and chest.

CoCo suffered cuts to the face, ears and neck.

Williams bristles when neighbors say he is a hero.

"I just did what I thought was right," Williams said.