A witness said the three dogs escaped from a home and attacked a woman and her dog as they were walking on a street in north Seattle.

Mike Murphy said he heard the attack from the open door of his home and ran outside to help.

DISCUSS: Pit Bulls

"I was just trying to look big, yell a lot and scream and growl, as funny as that may sound," said Murphy.

Murphy said the Cocker Spaniel, known as Tobey, was being pulled down the street by the pit bulls while the dog's owner did her best to fend off the attacking dogs.

"I think she went down twice trying to protect her dogs," said Murphy.

Seattle police officers arrived and shot one of the pit bulls in the leg. The dog is expected to survive. The other two were taken by Animal Control officers.

Tobey's owner, who declined to talk on camera, said her dog has a large hematoma. The dog suffered numerous bites and will spend the night at an emergency veterinarian hospital.

The woman was bitten on the hand during the attack.

A KIRO News crew tried to talk to the owners of the pit bulls but was asked to leave.