KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Two men may have saved the life of an elderly man who was being mauled by two pit bulls on Friday. The 81-year-old victim was attacked at his home on West Tropicana Court in Osceola County.

The man was just trying to grab his garbage can from the curb when the two pit bulls moved in. Robert McIntire saw it happen. His 81-year-old neighbor was down the street being viciously attacked by two pit bulls.

"When I looked, the one dog had a hold of his leg and was just ripping on him," McIntire said.

McIntire ran home to grab his Stevens .20-gauge shotgun from his safe and headed back out.

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"I shot once at the ground to try to scare the dog and he didn't even move. So I asked the neighbor, 'Should I shoot him?' and the neighbor didn't really say nothing. The guy on the ground says shoot him and kill him," McIntire said.

Even after being shot, the male came back. McIntire hit the dog with the butt of the gun.

Meanwhile, his neighbor, Ramon Santiago, grabbed a shovel and hit the other dog, scaring it off.

The dog who was shot died. The other dog was taken to Animal Control. Both dogs are owned by a neighbor. The owner said the landlord demanded he get rid of the dogs. Right now there is a criminal investigation.

The elderly man was flown to the hospital with serious injuries to his legs.

The sheriff's office said the elderly man have died in front of his home if it weren't for his brave neighbors. The sheriff's office said neither of the men faced any sort of charge.

The dog's owner was not facing charges because the sheriff's office said there was no indication of any negligence on his part and because he turned over the surviving dog. The dogs' owner also turned over the female dog's five puppies, which appeared to be only a few weeks old. As cute as they are, there is a good chance they will be put to sleep because of their aggressive mother.

There should be a decision on the puppies in the next few days. The health department is also testing the dog who died to determine if he had rabies.

Eyewitness News does not know the elderly man's condition.