3 Pit Bulls Shot, 2 Killed By Police After Attack On Small Dog

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Three pit bulls that attacked a man walking a small dog Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles were shot by an LAPD officer, leaving two of the dogs dead.

The attack occurred around 8:30 a.m. in the 500 block of Stanford Avenue near 5th Street, where the victim - said to be in his 50s - was walking his dog, according to police.

The unidentified man suffered multiple bite wounds and was transported to a hospital by ambulance. He is in guarded condition.

The small dog the man was walking was killed by the pit bulls, Madison said.

Two of the pit bulls died at the scene, but the third one survived and was treated for injuries.

Police later said the dogs were shot in order to "preserve life".

The pit bull owner told detectives that his dogs were well-behaved and trained and would come when called.

That was not the case today, said CBS 2's Dave Lopez.

Police used nightsticks on the dog and they continued to act the man and his small dog.

When the attack occurred the man who owned the pit bulls are tried to desperately pull them off the man and his dog, police told Lopez.

The man who owned the pit bulls was not arrested and is cooperating fully, detectives said.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)