PALMETTO BAY — A homeowner opened fire on two stray dogs that attacked his pet black and white cat on Thursday, killing one and wounding the other, according to village police.

The incident occurred at about 6:45 a.m. in the 9300 block of SW 180th Street, according to Commander Gady Serralta of the Palmetto Bay Policing Unit.

The dogs mauled the homeowner's cat to death before the homeowner fired his handgun. The incident took place in the homeowner's backyard. "A homeowner hears a noise in the backyard. He's not sure what it is. He feels he need to bring his protection," according to Serralta, who said the man discovered the dogs mauling his pet. "As he tries to get them off his cat the dogs turned toward him."

Serralta added that no charges will be brought against the homeowner, who was not identified by police. "It's a sad incident," Serralta told Patch. "I cannot fault that guy. He didn't chase the dog …. It was clearly his property and he was suffering a major loss."

It was not clear what type of dogs were involved in the attack but at least one appeared to be a pit bull mix. Both were believed to have been picked up by animal control in the past.