Doña Ana County Animal Control officers say two adult male pit bull terriers were euthanized after they reportedly attacked a 63-year-old man as he was walking his dog Wednesday morning.
The dogs were said to have been running loose near the intersection of Dalrymple and Trojan Lane, just west of Doña Ana Road. The victim was walking his dog in the same area around 7:45 a.m. when he said the two pit bulls became aggressive and attacked him.
The victim used a pocket knife he was carrying to defend himself, stabbing both dogs. He then reportedly went to his home, got a handgun and fired shots towards the pit bulls. It is unclear whether or not the dogs were hit.
Doña Ana County Animal Control located one of the dogs in a drainage canal near the area where the attack happened.
A City of Las Cruces Animal Control officer located and contained the other pit bull near Hoagland.
Both dogs were microchipped and had up-to-date vaccinations. The owner, Chris Sanchez, 26, was located and voluntarily released custody of the dogs at the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley.
The dogs were euthanized and will be sent to Albuquerque for necropsy.
Sanchez is charged with two counts of failure to restrain an animal and two counts of having a vicious and/or dangerous animal. Both charges are misdemeanors.
The victim reportedly suffered lacerations to his right arm, but told animal control officers he was unsure whether the wounds were bite marks or cuts from his own knife.
His dog was taken to a local animal hospital for medical treatment.