A small dog is injured but alive after her owner stepped in during a Rottweiler attack.

Philemon Hutchison, a young man with autism, was walking his dog in the Neilson Road and Sheppard Avenue area when the pair ran into a loose Rottweiler.

Honey, a grey 5-year-old Jack Russell-mix, spotted the dog approaching with no owner in sight.

"All hell broke loose," Hutchison told CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney.

Realtor Suzy Kovacsics lives in the area, and had seen the dog running around.

"I could tell this dog was a little aggressive. There were people walking by and it was kind of barking aggressively. I knew something bad was going to happen."

Kovacsics parked her car and went to find the dog's owner. By that time the larger dog had already spotted Honey.

Kovacsics said the Rottweiler went right after the much smaller dog, and "started tearing her to shreds."

"I couldn't get Honey away because the Rottweiler had its teeth clamped on to her leg," Hutchison said.

Kovacsics said Hutchison was "absolutely amazing," and stepped in to protect Honey from the Rottweiler. He managed to separate the dogs after a 30-second attack, scooping Honey up in his arms.

"He gave me the dog as I was sitting in the car and I was just covered in blood everywhere," Kovacsics said.

Kovacsics started her car and rushed Hutchison and Honey to a nearby vet. Honey needed 10 staples where her skin was ripped apart, and will likely need further care.

Hutchison told CTV Toronto the Rottweiler's owners offered to pay $1,200 toward the vet bills, but the family has already spent $2,500 on Honey's care.

Toronto Animal Services is investigating the incident.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney